As winter weather sets in many will be storing the cod and yella gear away and brushing the mothballs off the lake trout gear – a good idea given cooling surface water temperatures in our impoundments. We’re also coming to the end of another riverine trout season so make the most of the few weeks that are left.

The water level in the Goulburn has dropped as has the levels in the smaller tributaries that flow into the river. The upstream reaches from Seymour have seen trout making up the bulk of anglers’ catches. Both flyfishing and casting small lures have been the most effective methods.

Small spinners, such as Celtas, work well as do Rapala CD3s and CD5s (CD stands for count-down, which means they sink and can literally be ‘counted down’ to the desired depth). Many of the locals use winged lures, such as Tassie Devils, and do extremely well too.

Flyfishers will find success with bead head nymphs with some choosing to suspend it beneath a large dry fly that acts as strike indicator and helps to keep the nymph from falling too deep in the water column and snagging.

Downstream of Seymour, the native fish have been quite active despite falling water temperatures. Whilst Murray cod have been making up most catches, some anglers have taken some reasonable yellowbelly too.

The Goulburn between Undera and Shepparton has been fishing quite well according to Russell Ford.

The Nagambie Lake and Goulburn Weir have provided some good action for those targeting redfin. One of the locals who regularly fishes the Goulburn Weir and connected channels assures me that both of these areas fish well for redfin throughout the cooler months. Although lures will take fish, the best method is to use large yabbies. I was surprised by the size of the yabbies he showed me, but I’m not going to argue with an experienced local who has the points on the board!

This lake has really been a fishing paradise this year. Yellowbelly have been taken in good numbers and at a reasonable size. Bait has accounted for most fish but soft plastics are starting to make their presence felt.

The number one ‘must have’ Mokoan bait though is shrimp. Worms on their own will take fish, but a worm shrimp ‘cocktail’ will double your catch. With shrimp not always easy to get, using a soft plastic that closely resembles a freshwater shrimp is a viable alternative, especially if you use one of the scented varieties. I also like to use berley when I fish Mokoan.

As Lake Eildon is so close to home it is naturally one of my preferred fisheries. Trout will be the most popular target species from now on, and probably was last month too.

Just one tip though when fishing Eildon during the cooler months. Always have at least one deep diver out as well as your Tassie Devils. We’ve caught some very good yellowbelly and some excellent trout on deep divers. Pink and purple colours have been the most successful.

My wife Carol and I have just arrived home after four days fishing the Wakool River at Glenbar Station where we caught many Murray cod between 42 and 54cm. These aren’t large fish but they did provide some excellent sport. Water temperatures varied between 12 and 14 degrees, going to show that native fish can still be caught late in the season when most angler are turning their attention elsewhere in the fresh.