AT THE time of writing, we have had a few good storms that have added some life to our local waterways.

Our impoundments are still in need of a lot more water but any rain through the dry months will help matters out immensely. Wyangala Dam is sitting around the 15% level and when I saw it the other day, the amount of blue green algae blooming was not an encouraging sign. Burrendong Dam is holding a bit more water than Wyangala and has been fishing well of late for golden perch and redfin.

The rivers have fished reasonably well through the early part of January for cod and yellowbelly. If weather and water conditions stay unchanged, we should hopefully be in for more of the same in February. The lure brigade have reported the best results through January, so here’s hoping we get more of the same this month.

Prior to being stirred up by rising waters sourced from Queensland, the Darling fished very well for anglers throwing lures. The clearing river turned on some amazing fishing, with local anglers described some of the action as the best they had seen in decades. Then again, when you land three cod to 20kg and a dozen golden perch to 2kg, as one local lure angler did in an afternoon, I can fully understand why they would be excited.

Large (75mm-plus) deep-diving lures in dark colours have been the order of the day. Large lures with a good ‘wobbly’ action that get down deep and agitate the fish have outperformed others in the past month.

Bait anglers have done it a bit tough lately, with the biggest problem being acquiring bait. Worms, shrimp and frozen bait prawns have accounted for most of the fish recently.

At the time of writing, the Brewarrina section of the river was expecting a reasonable rise. The new water was expected to warm up and muddy the waterway. Both these ingredients are expected to put an end to the exceptional fishing of January. Hopefully, the waters will clear through February and the river will again produce some good fishing conditions.

A low Lachlan River has once again restricted anglers taking many good fish in recent weeks. A few fish have been caught around Forbes and downstream in areas where weirs have banked up enough water to make it worthwhile casting a line.

The water in these areas has been clear enough to cast lures and anglers using deep-diving models have taken a few fish, predominantly golden perch from 1kg to 2kg. Bait anglers have taken a few fish, mainly on yabbies and worms.

With the river likely to stay low through this month, local anglers are expecting more of the same. Anglers will do well to target deeper sections with a good selection of structure with deep-diving lures or shrimp, yabbies and worms.

The Macquarie River in the Dubbo vicinity and downstream has again fished very well recently. The occasional storm has pushed some new water into the river, which has improved the fishing. Anglers have continued to take good numbers of cod around 3kg to 5kg with some good golden perch to 2kg. The majority of fish have fallen to large, dark, deep-diving lures such as the Knol’s Native, Stumpjumper and FeralCatt ranges.

Bait anglers have also taken their fair share of fish with most falling to yabbies, grubs and shrimps.

This month local anglers are expecting the good fishing to continue. Trolling and casting lures around the timber should continue to produce, as should soaking a bait. If you are short of bait, phone Brett at Inland Fishing in Narromine.

It is very encouraging to hear of the number of anglers catching and releasing big Murray cod on all our waterways. A lot of anglers are realising that the satisfaction of catching a Murray cod far outweighs killing it for the table.

The cod at Narromine have been readily taking lures trolled or cast into the timber. This one fell for a Stumpjumper.

A few catfish are being taken by anglers on bait on the Macquarie River.