March brought on typical wet season weather patterns and a significant amount of rainfall throughout the region. As a result the water level on the lake has gone from 90% up to 98%, with a total rise of about 1.2m in height.

The recent rise in water level has created a section of water among the weed where barra can now roam and hunt baitfish, which in turn has opened up opportunities for some exciting top water fishing options. The ZMan range of soft plastics is perfect for this situation. The Hard Leg FrogZ, Pop FrogZ and Pop ShadZ rigged with TT 6/0 Chinlock weedless jigheads should prove to be successful in the coming months.

April and May are traditionally some of the most exciting and successful months throughout the season to target barramundi. As the weather cools down leading into winter, barra tend to feed more aggressively to gain much needed weight and see them through the colder months. As they get feistier it’s essential to have appropriate mainline and leader. As a minimum you need 30-40lb braid for your mainline and 60-80lb monofilament for your leader. If you fish lighter you are putting yourself at risk of a lost fish. Impoundment barra are not leader shy, so you are better off going a little bit heavier in line class to maximise your chance of boating a fish.

Over the next couple of months we normally see winds from the southwest, south and southeast. These are good wind directions, and as long as they stay consistent, these barra will bite. Spots to keep an eye on will be Insane Bay, Jacks Bay, Heart Bay and the point opposite White Rock, to name a few.

Jackall Squirrels and Smash Minnows in the Boney, Uroko Ghost minnow and Pink Eye Suji colours have been without a doubt a standout performer. ZMan 6” SwimmerZ, and the ever-reliable Pro Range Slick Rigs have been working well. All of these lures have worked best with a simple slow roll back to the boat, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to mix it up with an aggressive twitch or fast retrieve every now and then.

Through the ‘Sponsor A Barra’ programme, barra were released at around 180mm and tagged numbers were allocated to the individuals that purchased them.

The team at Lake Monduran look forward to seeing you over the next couple of months for some barra action. Please contact us for info on fishing and accommodation on (07) 4157 3881, email --e-mail address hidden-- or give me a call on 0410 599 147.