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End of year action
  |  First Published: December 2014



Time flies when you’re working and fishing hard, it’s already the last month of the year. If you haven’t done it already, now is the time to put in an order for some new fishing gear to be placed under the Christmas tree!

We still have a few weeks left before people go crazy over the silly season, so you should be able to get out and find somewhere to have a fish in peace.

There are still plenty of options over the busy Christmas holiday period if you are looking to get out and enjoy the outdoors without a massive crowd. Some of the more popular lakes will be very busy and the best time to tackle them will be during the week and early and late in the day. People will flock to the places like Leslie, Coolmunda, Moogerah, Somerset, Bjelke Petersen and Boondooma. Consider fishing some of the electric motor only lakes if you want more peace or even venturing to the less pressured areas like Cania, Isis Balancing Storage, Lenthalls, Kurwongbah, Ewen Maddock and Wuruma.

The barra lakes around Mackay like Proserpine, Teemburra and Kinchant are worth a crack early and late in the day or even at night. The closed barra season doesn’t apply to these lakes, so you can get your barra fix all year round. Be prepared to tangle with some big, impressive fish.

There’s always somewhere to get away from the crowds if you’re willing to look. Lakes are only one option. The creeks and rivers will also be firing for cod, golden perch and bass. It’s been a while since we have had some good rain to make anything flow so plenty of the creeks and rivers will be clear enough for luring. A rod and handful of spinnerbaits and hardbodies tossed into a kayak is all that is needed to have a fun day.

Get out and Have a Crack

Have you ever flicked through the pages of a fishing magazine or turned on your favourite fishing show and drooled over the fish being caught? These articles and shows are quite inspirational and motivating. There’s no need for us to look on and wish it was us on the end of the rod catching all these great fish. Why not make a resolution for next year to get out and have a crack at catching some of the great fish we have on offer? Start by throwing a few bucks away and planning a trip. I love having a fishing trip to plan and look forward to. An adventure in the pipeline helps me to power through days of work, knowing some great fishing action is just around the corner.

We are so lucky to have all the information we need to catch fish right at our fingertips. Magazine articles, fishing reports, television shows and online videos and other forms of media can be studied to work out just how to go about catching fish. If it’s a new species you’re chasing or an unfamiliar area, we can learn a lot from what is available to us. I believe any trip’s success comes down to planning. The more work and research you do, the more prepared you will be. There’s nothing like a little prior learning before you head off on a trip, it will help with making the right decisions. I was never a boy scout when I was a young fella but their motto couldn’t be truer when it comes to fishing scenarios and finding success. Be Prepared!

Until next month, buckled rods from the Colonel!

South East Queensland
Cressbrook
Closest Towns: Toowoomba, Crows Nest

The bass have scattered around the lake and the numbers seem quite low when they are like this. Fish can be tricky to locate, especially if they are suspended, which is quite common at this time of year.

Lure trolling will be one of the best ways to find and fool the fish into biting. Trolled lures cover heaps of water and this style of presentation is ideal for scattered fish. Deeper diving lures with a small to medium profile will be ideal. Keep a close eye on the sounder to see where the fish are sitting. At times they will only be 5m down but can be as deep as 10m. Choose lures to suit the depth at which they are holding.

Bass Bay between the boat ramps and the buoy line near the pump tower is always worth a look. Trolling up the buoys all the way across to Deer Island can also be worthwhile. The bass will roam all over the place and fish can be caught from up the back of Cressbrook Creek arm to the toilet point up Bull (Beams) Creek, so spend some time searching.

If you are into casting, the fishing may be tricky. Use your boat to draw the fish in and when they school up on the sounder, roll a soft plastic through them. If they are in reasonable numbers, reaction baits will do the job. Tail-spinners are perfect but you can also use 3/8 and 1/2oz blades. The trick is to fish them at the same depth as the suspended fish. To do this, learn how to count them down by finding some flat bottom at the same depth the fish are holding. Count how long your lure takes to sink to the bottom and then use it as a gauge to work out how to wind and count your lure back to that depth. Once you’ve mastered fishing the lure at that depth, you will be able to venture deeper and count the lure down to suspended fish.

The entry fee at the boom gate has been removed but the 8-knot speed limit is still in place. Hours for boating and day use of the recreation area are 6am-8pm. For all your supplies, expert advice and to check on the boating restrictions, call in at Fish’n’Bits in Alderley Street, Toowoomba, or give them a ring on (07) 4636 6850. The boys at the store all compete in bass tournaments and really know their stuff.

Somerset
Closest Towns: Esk, Kilcoy

The bass fishing has been a bit tougher than previous months but the golden perch have fired up even more. Bass anglers will find the fish will start to scatter a little more this month.

These scattered fish are great targets for lure trollers. Trolling deeper divers like Blitz Bagas, Poltergeist Crazy Deeps and Kezza Freaks will ensure you are in with a good chance. December is a good month for average fishers to have a crack at catching both bass and goldens on trolled lures. Because the fish spread out, they are more likely to be encountered in different areas of the lake than when they sit in tight schools.

Working the drop offs to the old riverbed in the main basin will be rewarding and fish may also be encountered on the steep banks or prominent points. In the timber north of Kirkleigh, bass and goldens will hold around the flats, trees and on the river and creek channel edges. Remember there is now a 6-knot speed limit when venturing past the buoy line at the start of the timber.

Lure casters will still be able to catch fish. Look for better concentrations of bass in areas like Bay 13, Pelican Point and The Spit. Locking onto a spot with some fish showing using an I-Pilot electric motor can soon see them bunched up below. It is then just a matter of trying to make them bite. Ice jigging and vertically fished plastics can be two of the best methods to get bites. Reaction baits will work best on bass that haven’t schooled below the boat. If the fish are suspended, try counting the lure down to the right depth and keeping it there for most of the retrieve. Blade baits, Mask Vibes and tail-spinners are all worth trying as one can work better than the other on a given day.

Moogerah
Closest Towns: Boonah, Aratula

Moogerah continues to fish quite well for bass. This month, the fish may scatter or suspend a little more but casting reaction lures will get the bites.

Blades, tail-spinners and lipless crankbaits can be effective provided you put in the time and locate the fish on the sounder. Another good method can be to fish spinnerbaits in the deeper water. To get spinnerbaits down deep enough, try using lighter line. Casting them on spin outfits loaded with 4-8lb braid is ideal. The fine line diameter will allow them to work deeper when retrieved.

Maroon
Closest Towns: Boonah, Beaudesert

Maroon’s bass just seem to be getting bigger and bigger. I have heard of plenty of fish over 50cm in length so far this year. Fish between 40-50cm are quite common, where once a bass of this calibre was hard to find in this dam. I haven’t fished Maroon for some time and have been wondering if their food source has changed. If bulk amounts of bony bream have bred up after the floods a few years ago it could explain the sudden growth spurt.

Bass are being taken using many methods. Surface fishing in the early morning will produce a few fish but so far it has been quite steady. The better action is coming from schooling fish on creek bed drop offs and points.

The schooling bass in Maroon can really turn it on if you have them all to yourself. Look around the drop offs and points using your sounder to locate the schools. Once found, try hopping a 1/4oz blade or tail-spinner through them. When they have been cooperative, it has been a bite on every cast. Of course, it isn’t always like this but if you are looking for a place to get into some schooling bass, Maroon could be the hot spot this month.

If the schools fail to produce or can’t be found, go back to fishing the weed edges. Try reaction baits like silent lipless crankbaits, spinnerbaits and beetle spins.

Darling Downs Granite Belt Region
Cooby
Closet Towns: Highfields, Toowoomba

The golden perch have been steady for the last couple months. Some of the more southern lakes have already fired up, so hopefully it is Cooby’s turn this month.

Fishing live shrimp and saltwater yabbies is usually the most reliable approach. If you are able to find a nice patch of fish, hopping blades and small vibes can be deadly. Try the area straight out from the boat ramp and out in front of the sailing club building. The best depth to target will vary depending on the location of the fish so explore 6-10m of water and try to work out the most productive depth. The bank opposite the boat ramp leading up into Cooby Creek is also reliable. Some of the best fishing can actually come from some of the submerged ridges and drop off when crossing the mouth of the Cooby Creek arm. To find these, you will need a quality sounder, which is capable of locating the fish as well.

Cooby is an electric motor only dam and is well suited to kayaks and canoes. The concrete boat ramp is on a shallow angle when the dam is full and can be slippery in places but a big electric powered boat can still be launched with care. Outboard motors can be left on the boat but must not be used.

Live shrimp and saltwater yabbies can be purchased from Highfields Bait and Tackle on the New England Highway in Highfields. Call in and see Doug and check out the great range of fishing gear, kayaks and accessories he has on display.

Leslie
Closest Town: Warwick

Leslie goldens have fired up and are whacking lures and baits. The Murray cod population is also getting into the action and encounters with them are quite common. Some of the dam’s regulars average a cod every trip!

Lure trolling has been taking fish all over the lake. A lot of the action has been taking place in the upper half of the dam around the drop offs and rocky outcrops. Trolling in over 6m of water seems to be the key, although it pays to run lures at different depths, as sometimes the fish will be suspended.

Casting blades and hardbodies in the deeper areas can also account for good numbers of golden perch and cod. The fish should be even more responsive to cast lures this month and it can pay to toss some bigger offerings, which will have more appeal to the Murray cod. Hopping Jackall Mask Vibes, Transams and other soft lipless vibes around the rocky structure is one of the best ways to get into the fish. If you don’t pull a fish on a new piece of structure after 5 minutes, try moving on and finding a patch which is loaded. It is not uncommon to boat over 50 fish a session at this time of year when using this method. Golden perch are quick to pounce on a hopped vibe and it is just a matter of time until a Murray cod wins the race.

Bait fishers can catch golden perch, silver perch and Murray cod in 5-10m of water. Live shrimp are the best all-round bait but saltwater yabbies are an easily attainable alternative. Worms seem to pull fewer golden perch but can be better on catfish and silver perch.

For any tips and gear for fishing Leslie Dam or the Warwick area, call in and see the guys at Warwick Outdoor and Sports in Palmerin Street Warwick. The store stocks a great range of bait and freshwater gear, which is well-suited to catching our Australian natives.

Coolmunda
Closest Town: Inglewood

The fish fired up last month and the great action should continue for at least another two months. Lure and bait fishers have been scoring fish once they find a productive patch of water.

The area out in front of the boat ramp and off to the left has been one of the best for luring and bait fishing. The flats, which lead up to the creek and river channels can hold a few fish. Usually, most of the fish will be close to the drop off to deeper water. Trolling this edge is the way to go. Choose a lure that dives close to the bottom for your chosen stretch of water. The drop off depth will vary from the basin of the lake to further up around the timber so be prepared to change lures to suit.

Casting lipless crankbaits and hardbodies up in the timbered areas should produce golden perch and if you are lucky a quality Murray cod. These fish can be found in quite shallow water in the mornings and afternoons. During the day, look for structure on the bottom. A side imaging sounder is ideal to find trees lying on the bottom. This type of structure can hold plenty of fish, especially if it is close to a drop off to deeper water.

The Coolmunda Caravan Park is only around 1km away from the lake. The park is just off the Cunningham Highway but far enough away from the noise of trucks to get a good night’s sleep. It offers camping sites, cabins, caravan facilities, tennis courts, a swimming pool, BBQ shelter and a camp kitchen. The park now has an extra two new wheelchair friendly cabins to add to their older ones. Camping is also available near the boat ramp with toilets and hot showers to make your stay more comfortable. To take advantage of this and the great fishing opportunities in the lake and the river below, give the park a call on (07) 4652 4171.

Wide Bay and Burnett Region
Boondooma
Closest Towns: Proston, Kingaroy

The fishing action will be hot this month. Bait fishers will be scoring bass and golden perch. Try fishing inside the timber or around the points in the basin for a mixed bag.

Lure trolling will be awesome this month. The bigger bass will scatter through the main basin and can be caught on medium diving hardbodies in the deeper areas. Lures like the Golden Child, 3m Poltergeist and Smak 12 are ideal. Corey from the caravan park reports lures with tiger stripe patterns have been going off. It always pays to keep a permanent marker or paint pen in the boat, just in case you need to match a lure up to one that is doing the damage. Golden perch will also whack lures, but are more common around the points and closer to the banks. Wandering around with a lure or two in tow will certainly see something loading your rod so be sure to give it a go.

While hardbodies are an easy option for trolling, there are other options. Towing soft plastics, blades, tail-spinners and spinnerbaits using an electric motor can be even more effective. The tricky part is working out how far back to run them and the boat speed to make sure they are swimming at the right depth. If you are lucky enough to run a GPS, the boat’s speed should be a slow walking pace of around 2-3km/h. Lure distance will vary depending on the depth of the fish but start off with around 30m of line out if the fish are about 7m down and mix it up from there.

Lure casters can still catch the suspending bass, although big numbers may be hard to achieve due to their spread out nature. If it is one of those days where the bass follow the boat, they will school up below and can be fooled with ice jigs and soft plastics. If the concentrations are high enough, try various lures at the depth the fish are holding. It is important to count lures down to the exact depth to achieve good catch rates. Find some flat bottom the same depth as your fish and practice fishing your chosen lures while counting the initial sink rate and then the sink rates after a certain amount of winds. It sounds confusing and a lot of effort, but I guarantee it works. By using the bottom as a guide to keep the desired lure depth, you’ll catch heaps more fish when you move back out to where they are suspended. I even write everything down sometimes as different lures have different sink rates.

Boondooma is a great place to camp right near the water and sit by the fire while enjoying the view. You could also stay in more style and comfort by booking into one of the cabins overlooking the dam. The kiosk at the main office does hot food and other basic items. For campsites, cabins and bunkhouse rooms call Corey and Niki on (07) 4168 9694.

Bjelke
Closest Towns: Murgon, Goomeri

Big goldens and small bass will be fired up this month. The goldens can be caught on live shrimp and saltwater yabbies if you are keen to soak a bait. Lure trolling is the other option. Try working the second basin of the lake all the way up to the timber. Look for flats and drop offs to the old creek and troll around these using medium and deep diving lures.

The small bass should be thick in some areas. These fish will hold around the edges in water 5-10m deep. They can also be found out on the flats and the old creek channels where the goldens hang out. Bass will take trolled lures but casting can catch better numbers where good shows are found.

Blade baits will give the best hook-up on these smaller sized bass but they will eat plenty of other offerings if you persist. If you try a blade bait, opt for one around 1/4oz in weight and try hopping and rolling it to see if the fish prefer a particular presentation.

For help catching Bjelke and Boondooma fish, call into your local Bass 2 Barra store. You can see Matthew at Kingaroy or Dylan in Dalby and the boys will have you all geared up and ready for action in no time. Bass 2 Barra stores stock an awesome range of gear suited to chasing our freshwater fish and the boys have all the knowledge to guide you on how to use it.

Isis Balancing Storage
Closest Town: Bundaberg

The hot weather will see some awesome surface action if you are able to get to the dam prior to the sun rising. Fish surface lures around the edges and over the top of any weed, which is just below the surface. The Isis would have of be one of the best surface fishing impoundments we have in Queensland.

One gun lure is the Cultiva Zip’n Ziggy, although similar stickbaits with a walk-the-dog actions will suffice. It can also pay to try a cup-faced popper, especially if you are targeting tighter areas. These lures are perfect inside weed and lily pockets where a slower retrieve is needed.

As the day wears on, the surface action will die off and you’ll need to extract the fish from deeper areas around the weed. Reaction baits will be worth a shot due to the warm conditions. Lipless crankbaits, spinnerbaits and blades can be tricky to fish close to the weed, but once you master keeping them close to it without fouling up, the results will come.

The boys at Bundaberg’s Saltys Tackleworld fish the dam on a regular basis. Being so passionate about their bass fishing, they are the ones to talk to if you are heading to the lake for a fish. Saltys stock a great range of lures for both fresh and saltwater fishing and the Bundaberg area has plenty to offer.

Monduran
Closest Town: Gin Gin

With stable, warm water temperatures at the lake, the barra action should become a little more reliable. The fishing has been pretty tough but there are still barra being put in the boat by anglers willing to give it a good go.

The upper part of the lake above White Rock has been most productive. The barra can be caught around the edges near the spindly timber in bays and on points. If you notice any good weed and lily growth, it is always worth a look to see if there are fish holding around it.

Most fishers are still tossing hardbodied lures. Suspenders and slow floaters that dive a couple of metres seem to be most popular. The warmer water temperature would also mean plastics are worth a go. A faster retrieve can be used with the soft plastic making them great search baits capable of covering plenty of water. Once barra are found, you can slow down and pepper the area because where there is one, there is nearly always more.

The tackle store in Gin Gin, Foxies, stocks a range of effective barra lures. The store will mail order and you can check it out online at www.barratackle.com.au . Be sure to call in and get directions to some of the best barra fishing in the area or pick up one of the detailed maps.

Accommodation can be booked through Lake Monduran Kiosk and Tackle Shop. They look after all the cabins, houses, powered and unpowered campsites, as well as house boats and boat hire. You can also make bookings for Guide Lines fishing charters through the kiosk on (07) 4157 3881. I usually stay at the Gin Gin Hotel, which is about 20 minutes from the boat ramp. The rooms are very affordable and pretty basic but you can get a great feed and cold beer. To make a booking call (07) 4157 2106.

Jamie Bein runs Lake Monduran Barra Charters and fishes that dam more than anyone I know. His regular visits ensure he has a good understanding of what’s going on. Contact Jamie on his mobile, 0407 434 446 or through his website www.lakemonduranbarracharters.com .

Whitsunday Region
Proserpine
Closest Towns: Proserpine, Airlie Beach

This is the time of year wehen the barra move to the main basin of the lake, where they can be caught on trolled lures. The deep water out in the middle within a couple of kilometres of the buoy line at the dam wall will hold some big brutes. Trolling around dawn and dusk usually produces best but fish can also be caught during the day and night. Keep a close eye on the sounder for schools of bait and barra arches and when found, target these areas. If the fish are deep, try deeper lures like Scorpion Crazy Deeps. If they move shallow, chances are they will feed and you should run a lure which tracks at or just above the depth they are showing up at.

There will still be plenty of other barra scattered around the dam. The deep trees, bays, points and spindly trees will all hold their share of fish. Fish smart, put in the time and you should be rewarded. The shallows are best fished from the afternoon through to the morning. After that, the fish tend to bite better in the deeper water where they take hardbodies fished to the trees lining the creeks running through the timber.

When visiting Proserpine at this time of years, it pays to have a tackle box full of lures. Surface luring is a great option in the morning and afternoon. Hardbodies of different depths can be used for casting and trolling and soft plastics are very versatile and capable of targeting fish at different depths. Proserpine barramundi are big powerful fish. The average size is over 1m in length, so be prepared for some mind blowing fishing once you crack a productive pattern.

If you are heading out to the dam, make sure you call in at Proserpine Bait and Tackle. The store is on the highway through Proserpine and stocks all the barra gear you could possibly need. The guys will be able to send you in the right direction and help with nailing the lake’s big fish. The storeowner Lindsay Dobe runs charters on the lake and bookings can be made through the store on (07) 4945 4641.

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