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Tambo River
  |  First Published: June 2016



Three hours from Melbourne and only 30-minutes from Lakes Entrance is one of the most well known bream rivers in not only Victoria, but Australia. It’s iconic among all fishers whether lure or bait throwers, and over the years has seen a fair share of trophy-sized bream and other species captured.

PRIME TIME

The Tambo can be fished with great success all year round. The best method to target bream in the warmer months when the shallow water heats up and the fish become more active, is to throw hardbodied lures around the edges and rockwalls. The fishing is exceptional in the winter months when the fish start to school up pre-spawn. Cricket scores of fish can be caught during this time of the year, which can make for some top-notch fishing.

THE GEAR

Like most estuary fishing, a light 2-4kg graphite spin rod with a 2000 size reel is best to chase bream and flathead. A reel spooled up with 6lb braid and a long 4-6lb fluorocarbon leader is ideal for casting lures at bream. You might want to bump it up a little if fishing the snags, as light leader doesn’t last long around barnacle-encrusted snags. If specifically targeting flathead, then 8-12lb leaders are a good starting point with a 1/8oz jighead and your favourite plastic tied on the end.

BAIT AND LURES

Softies for bream are a go-to, and you should make a Squidgy Bloodworm Wrigglers in 80 - 100mm your first choice in plastics. Fishing blades in the open water and along rockwalls is very effective, and one of the easiest ways to catch bream and other species. Smaller hardbodies like Lucky Craft Pointers and Bevy Shad 50FCs are dynamite among the structure and rockwalls.

BEST METHOD

When targeting bream in the winter months a quality sounder is essential. Locating schooled up bream in open water and casting small blades to the fish is by far one of the best methods and most enjoyable ways to spend time on the water.

MOTHER NATURE

Dusky flathead rules and regulations have changed recently so just remember that the size limit for dusky flathead is now 30-55cm with a total possession limit of five fish per angler. Letting the bigger fish go will ensure stock levels of fish are maintained and the breeders are left to do their thing. Fish for the future.

HOT TIP

It’s important to adjust the drag on your reel to suit the surrounding and environment that you fish. When fishing for bream in snags you want to have it locked up making it easier to pull fish from the timber and not get busted off.

Have the drag backed off when fishing in open water for bream and flathead. You won’t pull as many hooks from the mouths of fish as you aren’t required to pull them from timber in a white knuckled affair.

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