Interesting time of year as we drift deep into winter. It has always fascinated me that some of us hang up the gear and wait for better weather while the seasoned anglers continue to come in the shop buying big lures and showing photos of their catches.

Plenty of big cod are being caught trolling large lures all the way from The Narrows in Barmah to Torrumbarry. I believe it is important to find an area that you think there is fish or your sounder is showing a fish, then work it hard several times before moving on.

Right now is a very good time to walk the banks and cast lures and spinnerbaits into the deep pools and snags, especially in the Campaspe and Goulburn rivers as their levels have been relatively low over the winter. This is a great way to spend a few hours and for those who either don’t have a boat or just want to try something different, it producers some great fish and at times some good variety with golden perch and redfin taking the same lures as those used to target cod.

With the cod season going into recess shortly it is your last chance for a while to catch your dream fish. Some reports are coming in of some great redfin being caught in the channels and lakes on worms. Redfin are great fish on light gear and excellent table fare, so a running sinker rig and 1/0 hook would be a good way to start and have some small yabbies to go with the worms and move around a bit till you find some fish. The redfin are often in patches and if you land in the right spot, the reward is a lot of fun.

As the month goes on it is about this time the golden perch start to get active out at Kow Swamp. Either bait or lures will tempt these fish with many locals swearing by Jackalls as the best lure. While they do cost a little more, they continually get results.

So winter can be a good time to rug up, get yourself out of the house and catch some great fish like the ones caught by Ben Starkey in our mighty Murray river all on deep diving lures. He always enjoys his angling this time of year, so give it a go.