The last siren just sounded for the end the 2013-14 Murray cod fishing season.

If you missed out on any wild fantasy or ambition you had of tangling with some mighty green beast over the past 9 months, it may be time to re-hash your plans, re-stock your tacklebox and start planning ahead for the new season that is only a couple of months away! All anglers must keep in mind that as of 1 September through to 30 November inclusive, the targeting of Murray cod is not permitted while the crays are off limits until next June.

The best northeast bound anglers could hope for over the next month is a good dose of sunshine to bring on a run of early spring yellas.

Fishing the top end of Lake Mulwala around the Bundalong area where you find a little more current is traditionally more productive than the open waters of the lake itself. For anyone that does encounter a cod over the next couple of months, it should release unharmed as quickly as possible.

To minimise cod encounters while targeting yellas, lures no more than 80mm should be used. If fishing the waters of northeast Vic in search of a yella or two, keep in mind that the Murray River below Yarrawonga downstream to Tocumwal it totally closed to all forms of fishing for this period also.

August proved to be a tough month with only limited fish being reported. Kev Brooks finished the season off on a high landing a beautiful 107cm cod on a cast Koolabung lure. Kev has proved time and time again that if you put in the effort, rewards will come. You do not have to be travelling hundreds of kms downstream if specifically looking for BIG cod.

Mark Greenhalgh was another to put a nice bend in his rod and was rewarded with a new PB of 87cm.

Nace Lowe along with kids Amarlie and Archer spent a weekend chasing the crays around the Bundalong area. The crew were quietly surprised at how easily they managed to achieve their bag limits and encountered numerous massive females in the process. One net alone produced a staggering 7 large crays with 6 of them being of legal size!

Fisheries management must be applauded as it could have been easy to ban cray fishing season but a reduced bag limit, increased size limit along with a couple of other changes has allowed anglers to enjoy a favourite pastime, hopefully for many years to come.

Coming up on 25 October is the popular Golden Do$$ars fishing competition, an event designed to specifically target yellas. Entry forms are now available for this and the Cod Classic. Again the Cod Classic promises to be huge and shouldn’t be missed. Call in and see us at Lake Mulwala Fish Camp & Ski, the official Cod Classic shop (Opposite the Post Office) or call 0357 441667 for further information.

Until next edition, happy fishing.