As is to be expected during this time of year, the fishing in the Murrumbidgee and its tributaries is pretty slow and like most winters it’s only the big guys that are playing the game.

It’s common knowledge that big presentations are the most effective way of hooking a trophy fish through these colder months. Two of the best big cod lures available are the 150mm Australian Crafted Invader and the large Custom Crafted Hammerhead. The trick is actually persisting with these big lures and being prepared to put in the hours to hook a good fish, and with the close of the cod season only just around the corner it would be worth making the most of the limited time left.

It took longer than usual for the really cold weather to kick in this year but it is definitely here now. Some very cold fronts have pushed through the Snowies in the last month or so which tends to put a lot of the fishermen off. Winter fishing is actually quite enjoyable, with very few anglers on the lake and good fishing throughout all the hours of daylight. It makes for some peaceful fishing and provided you are prepared for the cold with appropriate clothing you will be fine.

The vast majority of browns would most likely be back from their spawn run and these fish should be your focus if you’re planning a trip to the lake. These post-spawn fish are always looking to pack on the condition they lost during the run.

Bait fishos should look at fishing live baits like scrub worms and bardi grubs. Fish them unweighted with an open spool less than 3m from the bank.

The lure guys should be use darker natural coloured lures. Soft plastics are the most versatile from my point of view. Plastics enable you to fish the lure very slow, and this is a key part of winter fishing. The famous saying with plastics is ‘if you think you’re fishing them slow… slow it down some more’. You will catch more fish this way and, more importantly, the majority of the fish will be bigger than average browns.

For those throwing flies around it’s pretty difficult to go past a simple black or olive Woolly Bugger trailed by a black or brown bead head nymph. This is a very consistent rig for Eucumbene and has worked for me throughout winter for the last couple of years. Don’t forget to fish it slow and as close to the bottom as possible.