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Cold water or new water, you decide
  |  First Published: July 2007



At this time of year you have two options: You can fish for natives with the chance of catching a monster but little in between, or seek warmer climes to explore new waters and fish.

At this time of year I like to have a break from native fishing and try something different like trout fishing or, even better, saltwater fishing. The break can give you new perspectives that you can bring back to your native fishing.

If you do decide to stick it out and go native fishing, there is still plenty on offer. The chance to tangle with a monster cod increases over the next few months although the odds of catching a heap of fish tend to go down.  

With the water levels so low, it’s hard to be positive but what I and a few switched-on anglers are doing is going to a regular waters and taking plenty of mental pictures of snags on the banks that are normally covered with water. When the water finally comes and those snags that you took plenty of mental pictures of are submerged you should have a major advantage.  

So take a few minutes next time and take some mental or photographic images for the future – there have to some positives to this drought.

THE RIVERS

The water has been fairly low at the Macquarie but a few clued-up anglers have been walking the banks and casting into the snags and weed beds and have been producing the goods.  

Smaller lures and spinnerbaits worked slowly have been doing the trick. Bait anglers have been catching a few fish, mainly on shrimps if you can get a hold of some. If the water stays low and clear this month with see some big fish come out of this water.

A few good reports of cod and yellowbelly have come from the Darling and the Barwon and this a great time of year to head out west and spent a couple of days away from it all.

This month should see the fishing really take off. Best baits have been yabbies for the cod and shrimp for the yellowbelly. Extra-large lures have been working well and they increase your chances of tangling with a bigger specimen.

A bit of rain will help this system a little and a rise in the level generally means that the fish are on, particularly with bait first.  

The Lachlan will slow down this month and the fish will shut down. A few fishos have reported that jigging live yabbies and shrimp around vertical snags has been producing some good cod. Bait anglers will continue to catch some good fish if they persist and find the vital combination of cover and depth. 

THE DAMS

Wyangala Dam has been relatively quiet but bait anglers have been getting a few silver perch on worms from the bank. Remember to ring ahead and check the condition of the boat ramp before planning your trip because at the time of writing it is 4WD launching only.

Don’t forget the Grabine Classic on August 24 to 26 – providing that the water levels are safe and high enough.

Burrendong has slowed a little but some anglers with a little finesse have been cleaning up on soft plastics dropped straight down among the snags and slowly worked along the bottom.  

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