With trout season now in full swing and afternoon hatches becoming more frequent November should see some productive fishing in the rivers and creeks.

The river experienced some water fluctuation in October due to irrigation needs and seems a lot of anglers get turned off by high flow. Don’t let this high water deter you; some of the best fishing can be had at this time. Find the flooded margins, slow moving pools, and structure and undercut banks.

Whether using hardbodies, fly or drifting a bait your first cast should be hard up on the bank’s edge. Nevertheless, anglers using spinners and small plastics have been landing trout to 3lb. For bait fishers, I suggest using maggots at this time of year.

This river has been hit very hard by recreational anglers but still holds some great fish, and is one of the only places to hook a brook trout in Victoria. Catch and release fishos are doing a great job to keep them in the system. Shallow running hardbodies have been working for fish around the 1lb mark but the occasional fish to 3lb has been caught.

This little pristine creek holds plenty of trout around the 200g mark. It is very rewarding to sneak up on a feeding fish and entice into a strike. Fish the shadows and steeper banks. Small plastics, spinners and emerger pattern flies will be my pick for November.

Longer days are here so it’s imperative to protect yourself from the elements. Hat, sunscreen and a good pair of polarised sunglasses. My Spotters sunglasses are with me on every trip, they alone have counted for many fish. Walk slow and scan, especially around your feet as there are also plenty of wriggle sticks. I suggest some thick socks and long pants. – Jarrod Biles

• For your next guided adventure, give Jarrod Biles from Walkabout Tours a call on 0488 448 826. Specialising in Victorian Waters, Jarrod can hone your skills and teach you all the tips for catching trout, Murray cod, yellowbelly and redfin.

The rivers that feed Lake Eildon are packed with many great fishing opportunities. The area has received a boost of fish stocked from The Wild Trout Fisheries Management Program – 5000 brown trout per year in the Upper Goulburn River, Howqua River, Jamieson River, Big River and the Delatite River.

It will be exciting this season to see how the fish release over the pass year have grown and developed from last season. A good winter and lots of snow has given the fish a good start, and if we get some good spring rains this year these fish will explode into some of the best fishing we have seen for some time.

So get out there and see the new fish. Catch and release is always a good policy to keep our trout rivers alive.

This year was one of the best opening seasons, which saw big specimens and a lot of fish over 2lb. There were even a few over 4lb when the river was low and clear. With the irrigation season starting early this year, due to hot weather in October, will have an effect on the fishing or the way we fish the Goulburn River. When the river is running around 10mL it will require a different approach. Along the slack water (sides and back waters) the flow is slower, whereby fish food will get stuck and attract predators. As the hot weather builds, so does the food supply with caddis, beetles, duns, ants and an assortment of other prey.

If you find the food, you’ll find the fish. Stay away from the middle of the river as it is too fast for the fish – they’ll burn up too much energy. The fish will be at our feet and close to the edge, so be careful not to spook them.

The Goulburn River is easy to fish when you understand it.

The Rubicon is a fast freestone stream that offers a great variety of water for anglers; slow long pools to fast runs in the head waters. This river can be broken up into two sections – upstream of the bridge on the Thornton-Taggerty Road and drown stream of this point.

The upstream part of the river becomes a tumbling mountain stream rock/gravel bed and pool/run type best for fly and lure fishing methods. The lower section is a delightful water with snaggy bends along the valley flats. Eventually the river enters into the Goulburn, which is very good for bait drifting – an excellent technique for fishing these smaller rivers. – Craig Foulis

• If you’d like to try fly fishing or just get all the best tips for your next trip, give Craig Foulis a call from High Country Fly Fishing School. He can be contacted at --e-mail address hidden-- or call 0400 716 934.

What’s working at the Goulburn River:

FLIES

• Elk hair caddis size 12-16

• Adams Wulff size 14-16

• Copper bead head size 12-14

• Caddis grub bead head size 10-12

BAITS

• Earth worms

• Mussels

• Maggots

LURES

• Soft plastics

• Minnows

What’s working at the Rubicon River:

FLIES

• Geehi beetle size 14-16

• Bead head hare’s ear size 12 14

BAIT

• Worms

• Mudeyes

LURES

• Minnows