What a great opening to trout season in the upper Goulburn area. Brilliant winter rains that were absent over the last few years were very welcome over the closed season. Virtually all the rivers, creeks and streams in the upper Goulburn area had good flushes of water, from heavy downpours and reliable flows after follow up rains.

Some top quality fish have been taken in the Rubicon, Steavenson, Acheron, Delatite and Jamieson rivers although most of these systems have been slightly discoloured due to great flows. Small soft plastics such as Berkley grubs and Z-Man Grubz have been very successful, with the ability to work slowly and still maintain plenty of tail action to attract hungry trout. Spinning blade lures such as the good old Celtas are also doing the job, and scrubworms have been a stand out bait.

The Goulburn River has been typically unpredictable with its flows, presumably due to required power generation as the seasonal irrigation flows have not started. Fortunately, flows haven’t been needed as much as the last few years. Minnow style lures are attracting the attention of quality trout in the clearer Goulburn system. The number of top quality fish actually visible for patient, wary anglers walking the higher bank, is exciting for the rest of the season.

It’s no surprise that better quality trout, easily viewed with the assistance of good quality polarized glasses, are in virtually uncastable territory. They don’t get that big being stupid, and will quickly learn where they’re safe.

The Eildon pondage has been ever-reliable with more constant stocking of ex-brood fish and catchable sized trout from the nearby Snobs Creek hatchery. The Goulburn Fishing Festival held each year by Victorian Fisheries, to celebrate the opening of trout season, has again been very well attended and enjoyed by plenty of people, old and young.

The pondage is fishing well with local dough. PowerBait in lime green and orange, scrubworms and mudeyes are also proving worth a go. Tassie Devils and Wonder Crocs in bright colours, particularly pink and orange, are attracting some of the big old brood fish, as are lightly weighted ZMan GrubZ in dark colours and motor oil.

Get out there and give it a go, it’s a great time of year to chase a trout in this area, with more natural flows prior to irrigation season. If the rivers are quiet, have a crack at the pondage or run up to the lake. It truly is a great region for fish chasers, here in the upper Goulburn area.