I am pleased to report that the fishing around Nelson has been very good, especially for bream. Since the mouth was opened last month, we have seen fantastic tidal movement so fishing the incoming tide has produced good fish.

Because of the deep mouth at the estuary, anglers have been using two good, heavy anchors to secure their boats. The tidal movements are significant at present so it’s worth the extra effort to get the best anchors you can. Solid lead anchors with a good heavy rope of about 20m are recommended. The heavy lead helps the anchor sink into the river mud, which is the best grip you’ll get.

Two locals, Jack Thomas and Ron Boyd, fish the estuary about five days a week and don't miss out on a feed too often. Crab is their preferred bait and they take at least fifty for a session, so between fishing and bait gathering, they don’t have a lot of down time.

Down at the estuary it’s worth trying to fish some of the shallow areas. Soft plastic anglers have been targeting the podworm beds with success. Darren Ripper, who fishes the Glenelg River regularly, is putting plastics to the test. Darren is now catching fish in areas that he would have never fished with bait, especially the shallows of the estuary. He has been catching some of his best fish down at the mouth fishing large holes, which feeding bream have created in the podworm beds. Spotting the holes is quite easy because we are only talking about water that is one to two feet deep. A good pair of polarised glasses helps a lot and you should sneak up on the holes to be sure you don't spook the bream. Then cast into them, jig your plastics and hang on. I have just drawn up some estuary maps indicating where you should fish and they’re available from the pub free of charge.

Bream catches have come from throughout the system recently. Hutchesson’s Landing, 20km upstream, is a good spot to start your search. You can put your boat in at Sapling Creek ramp, 26.5km upstream, and fish your way down. Or, if the reports of good fish are coming from further up, fish the banks upstream towards Forest Camp, some 31km upstream.

The Glenelg River flows through the Lower Glenelg National Park. There is at least 56km of good river to fish, so if need be, you can put in at Pritchard’s Landing (42.5km). The Parks Victoria boys have done a great job on this area, with boat ramps and 20 odd camping sites along the banks of the river. The campsites all have picnic tables, flush toilets and campfire areas. Anyone wanting to book a campsite can contact Parks on (08) 8738 4051.

When you come to Nelson, call into the Hotel and we’ll give you the latest on what’s biting and where. We’re just starting a board on which we’ll display reports and photos of recent catches.

Mulloway reports have still been coming from the middle reaches. Trolled mullet or lures have worked well, as have plastics. I can't recommend a particular hotspot at present but it’s worth a go because the mulloway that have been landed have been between 5 and 12 kilograms.

I have weighed fish caught at Simson’s Landing to Sandy Waterhole and all spots in between. All of the good fish have been caught along the banks in between 2 and 10ft of water.

We haven't had the wettest of winters so the river hasn't dirtied up like it can. I can't see why the mulloway would leave a smorgasbord of food in this system. Mulloway enter the Glenelg in search of food and calmer waters although the new schools haven't arrived yet. We usually see them in late October or early November, but the in last two years they have turned up in December. I’ll keep you posted.

The perch have been getting caught upstream around Pritchard’s and further up. One of the Heywood anglers has been catching them using fresh river shrimp, weighted with the slightest bit of split shot and cast into snags along the bank.

Mulloway Straights has fished well for perch to about 2.5kg. They’ve been pulled out of fallen trees that litter the banks everywhere up there. I’m told that one particular angler shoots several rabbits and hangs them in the trees just above the water. Live gents that fall into the drink over the following days attract the perch. Any perch he catches in one spot gets placed in his creel and only released when he changes spots. He reckons they go back and tell their mates about the bad guy in the boat, which reduces the intensity and duration of the bite.

If you require any information on fishing around Nelson and the Glenelg River, we’re happy to send you out an information pack with accommodation options and other activities here and in the surrounding districts. Contact us at the pub on (08) 8738 4011.