temperatures are continuing to decrease and with it fishing activity.

Water clarity is varied depending on the location that you choose to fish, but even though catch rates are decreasing there continues to be some quality fish being caught in the region.

Water levels are still decreasing in Lake Eppalock but water clarity is very good with redfin still making up the majority of catches. On most occasions anglers are only managing small numbers of small redfin. There have been the occasional fishers managing to locate a good school of quality redfin. Resulting in redfin to 43cm. Deep diving hardbodies such as Australian Crafted Invaders and Custom Crafted Basshunter lures have been productive options.

Casting soft plastics has also been productive. At the present time bait fishing with worms continues to be the most productive method.

There continues to be small numbers of golden perch being caught bait fishing around the edges of the standing timber. The occasional Murray cod is still being caught between 40-50cm.

Water clarity is currently good at most locations along the Campaspe River and this will depend on the amount of rainfall we receive. Water levels should decrease soon as only small environmental flows will be released over the next few months.

The fishing in the Campaspe River has been average. Small numbers of golden perch and the occasional Murray cod are still being caught in the Campaspe River caught by anglers walking the banks fishing the shallower sections of the Campaspe River. Casting spinnerbaits and hardbodied lures have been the most productive options.

Water clarity remains good but the fishing has been disappointing. Water levels have dropped significantly over the last few weeks. Hopefully the large redfin will fire up over the cooler months this year. This has failed to occur over the last couple of season, but fingers crossed they will fire this season.

We should hopefully see an increase in the numbers of trout in the next few weeks. Trout released into the lake over the last couple of seasons should have had excellent growth rates with the amount of food which has been present in the system, however there are only a small numbers of anglers targeting trout.

Fishing in the Loddon River has been poor mainly due to a significant decrease in water clarity. Significant volumes of water have been released from both Cairn Curran and Laanecoorie which is usually poor and has a negative effect on the fishing.

Small numbers of Murray cod have been caught in the shallower sections of the Loddon River by casting hardbodied lures. In the deeper sections of the Loddon at Bridgewater and Serpentine golden perch have been making up the majority of catches. The best results have been by casting lipless crankbaits and small hardbodied lures.

As the water temperatures continue to cool, greater concentration of fish will move back into these deeper sections: the best tactic is to troll deep diving hardbodied lures.

This quality golden perch was caught by Steve Morris in the Loddon River.