As the water warms in late spring an increasing number of golden perch are being caught in Lake Eildon. There are still trout too, especially for those prepared to fish deeper.

Last month I reported there had been golden perch caught. This must have been a wake up call for them, as they are now being caught in good sizes and numbers.

Lake Eildon has dropped back to 22.5% of capacity, showing a decrease of a couple of centimetres per day.

Shane Gordon of Colac emailed me a report of his first trip to Lake Eildon. He stayed in the Goughs Bay area and caught two golden perch of 3kg and 3.5kg by flicking StumpJumper lures around the trees.

Alan Bumpstead also dropped me a report of his latest trip that netted a 2kg rainbow trout and two brown trout of 2.3kg and 3kg on old Baby Mudbug lures between Big River and Goughs Bay. He also landed three golden perch of 1-1.5kg on imitation yabbies worked close to the rock walls.

Rick Formica of Outdoor Pleasure in Mansfield reports catching golden perch around the Goughs Bay area in his Hobie kayak. Rick’s been going out a couple of times a week catching three golden perch each trip. Trolling diving lures like Manns 15+ and Oargee has been his best method, as well as casting rattlers around fallen timber.

Vicky at Totally Trout in Alexandra reports yabbies are accounting for some big golden perch, one of which was 6kg and was caught around the Fraser Park area. There were also two others of around 5.5kg taken around Jews Creek. Lures such as Oargees, StumpJumpers, AC Invaders and Auspins have been favourites for the golden perch.

Fellow VFM contributor Steve Haughton visited Eildon National Park with the Silvertop Angling Club over Melbourne Cup weekend. Steve caught a 2.5kg rainbow trout on a small yellow and green StumpJumper, while trolling in Stockyard Bay. He also caught two brown trout on a Crown Seals lure. His dad Mike caught a 700g rainbow on a yellow deep diving lure, and his mum Marianne caught a 600g trout on a Crown Seals lure. Brett Van Deelen caught a 700g redfin by bobbing a yabby.

Gazza at Eildon Bait and tackle informs me 15,000 trout have been released into the Lake at locations such as Jews Creek, Fraser Park and the Main wall.

Brown trout have been caught on worms around the boat ramp at Fraser Park; other trout have been reported taking deeper diving lures. As the surface temperature of the Lake is warming up the trout are going deeper. Redfin are also being caught on deep diving lures, as anglers target the golden perch.

Gazza also reports another 500 trout released into the Pondage, 100 of which are 1-5kg with 400 around 1kg. Good-sized trout of 2.5-3.5kg have been caught, with maggots being the best live bait. PowerBait in rainbow, pink and chartreuse have also been effective.

A 61cm rainbow was caught on lime twist PowerBait, while a pink Tassie Devil snared a 3kg rainbow trout. Bead head nymphs, caddis and orange spinners are the choice of flies at the moment.

The Goulburn River has been running at a steady 2000 megalitres for a number of weeks, with the released water temperature moving up around the 15oC mark.

Shazz and Sue at Thornton General Store have had a number of anglers calling in for their wonderful food. They report brown trout taking scrubworms around the Thornton area. Celtas have been enticing trout to 750g.

On a recent trip I did through the Breakaway area with Hooked On the Goulburn Fishing Tours, trout up to 1.5kg were taken on fire minnow and brown trout CD5 Rapalas.

The Rubicon, Acheron and Big rivers are all producing nice-sized trout on bait, lures and flies. Worms are the best bait in most cases. Celtas have produced best results as far as lures go. Hot Creek Caddis was the choice of fly suggested by Geoff Hall at Thornton Fly Fishing Centre.

Until next month, Happy angling!