The heat is well and truly here but the fishing hasn’t slowed down. With a bumper December and January, we expect to see some more great fishing in the region through February! With the hot summer weather brings the bugs and plenty of activity on the surface!

Blowering is always a great option at this time of year. Like always, I touch on this lake because it produces some of the biggest cod in the country. Over the start of summer, the lake produced cracking fish for those who put in the effort and most of the fish have been caught in the dark. The lake is packed with holiday goers and skiers during summer, which makes the daytime fishing tough. The heat really throws the fish off and temperatures above 35°C make for tough conditions, so you’re better off fishing in the dark.

The big fish will be on the prowl. Those who cast plenty of lures will find fish. Over the recent weeks, I and a few other anglers have been heading up to the dam on a regular basis. Most nights we come home with nothing. When the fish play the game, the fishless nights are worth it. If you are set on catching a Blowering monster, expect to have over five fishless trips or more before you manage to land a fish. That’s just Blowering!

Trolling large hardbody lures along both steep rocky banks and the flat shallow banks will always work. Lately we have come across a new night time technique which is working wonders. You may have seen us casting soft plastics over winter for big Murray cod – they aren’t just a daytime lure. Casting plastics in the dark is dynamite and a much more natural option compared to conventional lures.

Find a good bank that you would normally work and use your electric motor to slowly move along the bank casting large plastics. Our favourite plastic is the FX Fury. Even better, we have just teamed up with Traps Tackle to design two new custom colours perfect for native fishing: the SF Special and the carp. They’ve already accounted for some monster cod. Rig it with a 3/4oz jighead and a stinger hook and you’ll be set!

The Murrumbidgee is buzzing with activity due to the hot weather. Make sure you fish the first and last light. During the middle of the day, fish will slow right down.

Local angler Grant Higginson loves his surface fishing and has been catching great fish from the river on surface lures. He gets out on the water at first light and casts around the edges tight in against the bank and targets the areas with shade. When you use surface lures, pick the slower flowing water and get your lures tight to the structure. Spinnerbaits and hardbody lures are always gun options in the Murrumbidgee River.

The creek is also fishing well and is very similar to the Murrumbidgee River, in regards to fishing the low light periods. This creek will fish differently depending on the flows. At this time of year it runs high, but over the past few weeks it has been up and down. If it’s low, get out there early and cast surface lures.

It’s an easy technique and all you need to do is cast the surface lure across the creek and wind back. If it’s running high, you’ll have better luck with hardbody lures or spinnerbaits. Cast tight against the bank where you are walking along. You don’t want to be fishing out in the fast water. Target the water right at your feet.

With that said, there is plenty happening this month. As the water cools off, the fishing is only going to get better. With my favourite month of April just around the corner, things are going to get exciting!