The holidays are over but who forgot to tell the cod? Never before has the fishing in Lake Mulwala been so good!

Don’t get me wrong, Lake Mulwala is known as ‘the lake of a thousand casts’ and can leave the best fishos broke at day’s end after pulling ‘donuts’, but that’s highly unlikely at the moment.

The news of a ‘metery’ always brings excitement and anticipation for those in search of a piece of the action. Since the season opened at least 20 or more have been reported. All fishing methods have accounted for many memorable moments but the surface action stands alone. Following closely behind is the sub-surface action, a style of fishing that is quickly becoming trendy. Lures that can be worked in the top 300mm of water are getting great results. There is no reason why this great start to the season can’t continue.

The following is a bit of proof that January was a month to remember. Thanks to those who supplied us with reports. Ash Thompson and kids with several nice cod and a Yella, “Bomber” Thompson with 30+ cod mostly undersize from a night of casting small hard bodies, Glen Becker with a 74 and 80cm from cast TN60 Jackalls, young Ned Welsh with a 75cm on bait, local boy Jesse Clarke 80cm on the troll, Aaron Farrugia 84cm sub-surface, Cain Peatling 108cm trolling (his second for the season)Harry Crawford 105cm, Tim Smith 110cm and Rick Doyle 112cm all casting spinnerbaits. The following impressive list have all been taken from the top - John Jardine 80cm, Ron Cudley 87cm, Sam Consolo 95cm, Paul Moskaljuk 98cm, Robert “Cookie” Cook 98cm, Wally Cjepa 99cm plus another metery, Garry Dowell 100cm and Corey Banfield with a 110cm beast.

I had the pleasure of accompanying Glen Dominick for a night of surface fishing. Being an avid bait fisho, Glen had never caught a cod on a lure before let alone off the top. After a crash course in casting and lure retrieval techniques, Glen proved to be a pro. To see his excitement after receiving a few hits was gold, especially after landing one that measured close to 60cm. The evening saw us get nine hits with each landing two cod.

Apart from these fish there has been a multitude of others reported. Some great reports have come from downstream below the weir in the river with an 80cm trout cod being one of those. The yellas have also been biting for those working small yabbies and shrimp around the timber.

With the competition season upon us, there are a couple more coming up in the near future. The next is the His & Hers Partners Classic, March 5, a great day for understanding couples to share time together in the boat. To round out the comp season is the Cod Nationals, April 17 - 22, five days of serious tournament fishing for the dedicated green fish angler. It’s guaranteed that once you have fished a Cod Nationals you will never miss it again.

• If you’re visiting town call into Lake Mulwala Fish Camp & Ski, the shop with the big green cod out the front (opposite the Post Office) in Mulwala or check out our new store located between Rivers and One Zac in the main street, Yarrawonga and say G’day. We’re Yarrawonga/Mulwala’s fishing specialists and specialise in all things ‘green’! For any information on the upcoming events or fishing reports give us a hoy on 03 5744 3133.

Jesse Clarke with his mates and 80cm Cod.