The river around Mildura has been running dirty and low for the past month or so making lure fishing very difficult. Fortunately, water clarity is improving which should see lures work more effectively. In the meantime we have seen some nice yellowbelly caught on bait.

Yellowbelly are coming on the bite around Mildura due to the warmer water temperatures and weather we have been experiencing lately. As the sun continues to shine these fish will be caught particularly easily below the locks and weir structures. It is not unusual to see yellowbelly activity at a high around springtime and once the water clears up, all signs point to a bumper yellowbelly summer.

The best way to pick up a yella or two is to fish with bait, particularly around Hattah. Shrimp and worms are proving the best of the bait and even though live shrimp are still difficult to find, the warmer weather should bring them out as the season goes on. It’s great to be able to take the family down the river for a few hours on a weekend and bag a few yellas or have some fun catching large carp on light gear.

Backwaters have been producing some good yellas particularly around snag piles and in eddy currents. Even though water clarity has been poor, a slowly-worked lipless crankbait or small hardbody in the right spot have caught a few fish. Another good method is to tie up to a snag, throw lures along the bank, and slowly retrieve.

Murray Cod season will once again open very soon and is set to be a cracker of a season with some very nice cod caught right up until the close in late August. In the meantime, anglers should not be targeting Murray cod in any way to allow them the ability to nest without disturbance of their breeding.

Redfin should also come on the bite and are great fun to catch on light gear using soft plastics and blades.

Most anglers around Mildura will be waiting for summer when the cod season officially opens. By then, waters should be back to normal levels and we should see a Murray cod season like no other.

This summer should also be a cracker for surface fishing, especially in the shallow waters of local billabongs and creeks. Fly-casting is a great method of surface fishing as you can present really small lures into hard to get spots.