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Any rain helps
  |  First Published: December 2004



We have had some hot, dry spells punctuated by occasional rain. Our impoundments have risen slightly but are still very low before what promises to be a hot Summer.

The sporadic rain produced a few small, but welcome, rises in local rivers. The warmer waters and rising rivers produced spells of good fishing where bait anglers took some good catches of golden perch and cod, which were returned to the water prior to the December 1 season opening.

With water clarity improving in some of our rivers, the lure fishing scene should kick into gear this month.

With the opening of the cod season a lot more anglers should be on waterways such as the Macquarie River around Dubbo. Let’s hope the cod had a good opportunity to spawn.

BOURKE TO TILPA

The Darling River has remained stable and water clarity has gradually improved. Anglers have taken some good fish around Brewarrina, Bourke, Louth and Tilpa. Bait anglers have fared best with goldens up to 2kg falling for yabbies, prawns and worms.

The lure brigades are taking a few fish but murky water is still hampering their efforts. A few anglers have reported recent catches of mostly small cod.

The Darling is showing signs of clearing and if this continues there should be some good lure fishing. Casting or trolling large deep-diving lures should work. Although the carp will be active over the next few months, baits of grubs, yabbies, prawns and worms should account for native fish as well.

FORBES TO HILLSTON

The fishing along the Lachlan between Forbes and Hillston has certainly improved, with the warmer weather and some rain the catalyst. Anglers using worms, shrimp and yabbies have taken golden perch to a kilo and caught and released Murray cod to 5kg. The river has remained clear in parts and several fish have been taken on deep-diving lures and spinnerbaits.

The few storms that passed through the area in November produced some new water. The river should continue to fish well for natives through December.

Bait and lure anglers fishing the deeper holes should take some good fish. Bait anglers will no doubt encounter lots of active carp.

DUBBO TO NARROMINE

Few anglers have fished the Macquarie River around Dubbo in past months due to the closed cod season. Those fishing the river closer to Warren took some good golden and silver perch on lures and bait. Small yabbies and worms accounted for a lot of these, as did deep-diving lures and spinnerbaits.

This month should produce some good fishing. The warm weather should bring on some good Murray cod action on bait or deep-diving lures.

We are still in the midst of one of our worst droughts in Australia. I know that doesn’t come as a big surprise for 99% of the population but recent increases in water allocation for the Lachlan and Macquarie river systems following some rain in October left me wondering if some of our public servants have worked it out yet. A small amount of rainfall does not a drought break!

The decision was made shortly after our recent elections and made me think that I shouldn’t really be surprised, should I?

A well-conditioned Darling River Murray cod, taken on a yabby bait., about to be released. Cod caught over the past few months have had to be released because of the closed season, which ended on December 1.

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