With a good flow pushing through the Murray over the past month the fishing has slowed in many areas and the run of cod on lures has taken a back seat to golden perch on bait.

It seems the evolving world of angling has made sure that as one door closes, another one opens. Never mind, as long as something is on the chew most anglers are more than happy to wet a line.

The high river did little to deter the Easter pilgrimage to the banks of the Murray as seasoned anglers and would-be campers arrived on cue in numbers not seen for a few years.

It was refreshing to again see visiting anglers enjoy the fishing and camping along the mighty Murray. During the holiday most who wet a line landed a feed for Good Friday and it seemed golden perch were top of the menu.

Good numbers of perch have been biting well in the backwaters on mixed baits that include shrimp, yabbies and scrub-worms. Anglers can expect the perch to continue feeding in these areas while the river flows remain high.

Catfish continue to be a common catch and carp are as numerous as you can imagine.

While cod captures have slowed, anglers fishing grubs on the edge of the current line have reportedly caught fish to 10kg and more.

Lure fishing has slowed along the Murray but this is expected to change as the flows recede and the river settles and levels out. If you are wondering when this will happen then you will have to look to the heavens as rain will be the deciding factor.

It’s amazing how river flows influence fish and while the rising waters along the Murray slowed the cod fishing, the opposite came into effect as the Edward at Moulamein had a small flush of blackwater.

Huge numbers of cod stacked at the junction where the billabong runs into the Edward River. The same thing happened last season and provided a free-for-all that turned on some very easy cod fishing.

Unfortunately easy fishing draws not only genuine anglers but an unwanted element that cares little for bag or size limits.

What amazes me the most is that once the word is out, anglers travel from near and far to wet a line and it seems anyone who’s anyone knows about the hot bite – except Fisheries.

After a phone call last season by a local who had some concerns, Fisheries arrived four days later and stayed for a day and did not return.

We fished it three times in the following weeks and if were endowed with the similar powers to those bestowed upon Fisheries we could have impounded enough equipment to open a used car lot and boat yard.

It’s a very easy place for Fisheries to stamp their authority because all fishing takes place virtually in front of the boat ramp within a stretch of a few hundred metres of river.

I know Fisheries are stretched but surely commonsense would see such locations take precedence while these hot fishing events are taking place. Just a few bookings for undersized fish would instil the fear of God into the growing band of meat gatherers that openly flaunt the laws. Fisheries have already put in one appearance this season and those that care for this fishery hope to see more of them.

The Kerang Lake system continues to fish well with Lake Charm producing good numbers of redfin and golden perch.

While water clarity is good in Charm at the moment the redfin are going better on bait than lures. Local whitebait and shrimp have been the best baits while soft plastics and blades are the most productive lures.

Kangaroo Lake has a few golden perch on bait and lures but it seems Lake Boga has been the pick of the stillwater this season and if the redfin continue to grow at the rate they are, then look out come the Spring. It seems redfin are back big time with almost any old puddle holding a resident population.

All up, the fishing has slowed a little but that’s to be expected with the higher flows.

With the lakes fishing well and the river set to drop, perhaps we will see some action on big cod as we head into the cooler months. I guess we will just have to go with the flow and see what happens.