With a dry start to the year we should see some very different fishing conditions in March and April.

In the past two years we have been met with higher flowing water conditions caused either by environmental flows or rain.

Many people in the area are talking about the shallower conditions being more difficult to fish, but I look back 3 or 4 years ago and it was normal conditions to see the Broken River down to a trickle in spots before opening up into big deep pools, or even finding areas too shallow for boats in the Goulburn River.

I personally enjoy the conditions and feel makes finding the deeper drop offs a lot easier, so don’t walk down to the river and drop the lip because it is shallow. Walk up or downstream and you will easily spot the deeper waters.

In the coming months the fishing should stay pretty consistent in our areas as March and April fish very well. If we do get some autumn rains it will be great as the Broken and Goulburn rivers fish best on the rise. But make sure you don’t waste your time, get out onto the water within days of a good rain.

With or without more rain the fishing should be best in the Goulburn towards Moira Park/Toolamba.

The areas around Moira Park are great to access from the bank, park your car up the top and head down to the water with a rod and you should find yourself catching fish or at worst getting bites or hits on both bait and lures.

The fishing recently has been good with reports of good-sized yellowbelly being caught on shallow diving hardbodied lures. Bait has not been as successful as lures in the past; I would suggest using a float when bait fishing as the weed is very thick.

By adjusting your depths on the float you can sit the bait right over the top of the weed beds for maximum exposure to the fish.

March will see two events held in the area with one being the Shepparton Fishing Championships and the Toolamba Fishing Classic. Both events are held in the Goulburn River. For more info get into the local tackle stores the staff should be well aware of both events and can point you in the right direction.

Fishing in the park has really taken off at the Shepparton Lake; the two events prior to the March 22nd event have been great. Rain, hail or shine the locals have supported these fishing days at the lake. I hope to see you all down there on Friday 22nd of March from 6:00pm – 8:00pm as it’s a lovely place to fish.

Warren Hicks with a small redfin caught casting a small hardbodied lure along the weed beds in the Shepparton Lake.