After a year or two of not being fussed either way if I was fishing, the boom in surface action and the results that go with it have me back on the horse again! Lake Mulwala continues to be the number one location for any half-keen cod angler, especially those keyed into what it takes to get one off the top.
Prior planning and keeping a keen eye on the internet or specific phone apps will have you hitting the lake at prime time. Lately we are averaging about two good nights per week with little wind, so make good use of them. Other factors to take into consideration are wind direction and sunup/sundown times.
When it comes to lure choice, anything that makes some sort of splash, popping, paddling or blooping action will be fine. Depending on the areas you fish, lure size has a bit to do with the quality of cod returned. I have seen many monsters landed on smaller lures and small fish on big lures. Wakebaits and swimbaits have also reached a point of being impossible to keep on the shelf. They’re now tricking many a cod that has wised up to other styles of top water fishing.
In saying that, the surface action is great. Your traditional lake methods of trolling and casting lures are now entering prime time over the next few months. For every fish we hear of taken off the top, there will be many more caught down below.
January was a massive month in regards to visiting and local anglers spending plenty of time out on the lake and below the weir on the river. Reports were frequent with numerous great captures recorded. Without fear of wanting to leave out somebody who deserves a mention, I will roll off a few of the bigger ones. Braidy Lewis accounted for a fit 107cm beast on a Bassman spinnerbait in the upper reaches of the lake. This was off the back of a great night’s surface action where he managed 80cm and 104cm on the new Codger surface lure.
Jamie Stewart was another to come up tight on a couple of beauties with a 107cm and 90cm hoovering down his cast Koolabung Wake Snake and Cod Cracker respectively. Shane and Chris ‘Pizza Man’ Huggard ventured up above Bundalong and caught a massive 110cm on Shane’s cast spinnerbait – a great reward for a couple of good fellas.
I was lucky enough to have Marshall Elliott aboard when his surface lure was engulfed by a beautiful 104cm cod. The hit followed by the fight and then the pure excitement and enjoyment of catching a ‘biggun’ off the top was something to behold.
Below the weir, the fishing has been great with most kids catching plenty of small stuff on bait. Worms, cheese and yabbies have been the most productive. I took a couple of youngsters down for a bit of fun. In two hours we landed no less than 20 fish with two legal cod and a 53.5cm yella thrown in for good measure.
With the competition season upon us, there’s some fun coming up soon. The His & Hers Partners Classic is 4 March and a great day for understanding couples to share time together in the boat. To round out the competition season is the Cod Nationals, 16-19 March, which is four days of serious tournament fishing for the dedicated green fish angler.
• 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. Check out our new store located between Rivers and One Zac in the main street, Yarrawonga, and say G’day. We’re Yarrawonga and Mulwala’s fishing specialists and know all things green! For any information on the upcoming events or fishing reports, give us a call on 0439 441667.
Reads: 3693![Marshall Elliot with his 104cm cod taken off the surface.](/img/uploads/d286d5aea2f514f7f8ad2de7081d446a_Benn317_1.jpg)
Marshall Elliot with his 104cm cod taken off the surface.