Well the wait is finally over cod season is upon us and its set to be a cracker.

Early reports where very promising with a lot of anglers catching cod in the closed season while chasing yellowbelly. The rivers are still very unstable up and down up and down so this has meant bait fishing has been the best method.

It’s not everyone’s favourite way to fish but it has been getting the results so I will be putting the shrimp nets in and on the end of a shovel to get some worms for the weeks leading into Christmas.

I think once the water cleans up the fish will aggressively take lures so lure anglers should be patient and hopefully the wait will be worth it.

If the river is too high or dirty don’t pack the rods away because there is plenty of other options around Shepparton.

I personally didn’t get out enough a few trips to Burrinjuck and a couple of kayak session was about it so this cod opening I will be going all out to land a monster.

The lake has been on fire with trout, redfin and yellowbelly on the bite. It’s a great place to fish from kayaks or canoes as once you get out to the drop off and the weed banks the fish seem to be easier to catch.

If you don’t have a kayak or canoe there is plenty of spots to bank fish, casting a bunch of worms early morning or just on dark seem to be the way to catch the trout. Will be very interesting how the fish handle the predicted hot dry summer.

Another option is the channels, this spring saw a lot of different species caught in the channels with big yellowbelly and cod being caught in between redfin and trout.

There is no better feeling when you have a light redfin set up and you land a nice cod or yella. Make sure you watch your steps when fishing the channels as there are always snakes in and around the banks.

I will hopefully have reports of some new areas in the coming months due to moving football clubs. So keep an eye out for the team river rat’s boat out Toolamba and Murch way and make sure you get over and say g’day.

Wish everyone a safe and merry Christmas and a happy new year.

Mitch (net-man) Reeves with one of the author’s yellowbelly.