The massive rainfall experienced around the state has discolored the rivers and lakes and negatively affected the fishing.

Lake Eildon has risen to nearly 41%, a massive increase with the inflow at one point a whopping 50,000 megalitres a day.

Reports indicate that the fishing in the lake is poor, no doubt due in part to the rain and run-off. A few of the bays are dirty and because the water has covered a lot of new ground, there are many fallen trees and logs now floating on, or just below, the surface of the water. Boating anglers should be vigilant and travel at a safe speed.

The Eildon Pondage is currently at 37% and is very dirty. As such, the fishing is a non-event and is probably best left until it clears up. If you want to persevere in these conditions, fish with bait such as earthworms, scrubbies and PowerBait.

The Goulburn River’s water temperature is 9.4 degrees. The fishing has been very poor because the river is running very dirty. Of all the reports I’ve received only one angler caught a trout of a pound in weight on earthworms.

Regular contributor Peter Emilan gave the river a go recently and told me that he and friends discovered the river was badly affected by the storms in the Eildon area.

They saw a heap of trees that had been knocked over the by the storms and did not even bother fishing the river given the sediment load and poor visibility.

With the Goulburn running so dirty it’s surprising to see the Rubicon running clearer, though very high and fast. Some flyfishers have managed to take a few trout from the backwaters of this river with the most successful fly being size 12/10 gold bead head nymphs.

The good news is that this river will drop and clear quickly, providing good fishing very soon.

The Acheron is running high, fast and turbid which is making the fishing difficult. Some bait anglers have been fishing the backwaters with earthworms and scrubbies, and taking the odd small trout from half a pound to a pound.

The Yea River is extremely dirty and there’ve been few if any fishing reports. Baitfishing the dirty backwaters with bait should produce a few trout from this river though.

Further up in the Murrindindi River, the water is a little clearer but flowing high and fast. A few anglers have taken the odd small trout to 300g on weighted nymph patterns in the slower backwaters.

This small creek, like the rest of the feeder streams, is flowing high and fast with the backwaters the only worthwhile fishing option. Some bait anglers are catching small trout on earthworms and PowerBait using a running sinker rig.