What a month to go fishing! There are just so many options on the Central Tablelands at this time of year and with steady weather patterns, warm days and cool nights. it’s also a great time to camp. So why not combine the two?

While the drought still lingers on the fringes, most areas in the district have received good rainfall.

It will take rural economies years to recover in monetary terms, another good reason for those from the city to head west, spend some money, catch some great fish, meet some great people and have a great time.

You never know, you might like it that much that the shackles of city life could be shed forever. Ah, yes, I can see you nodding your head – wouldn’t that be nice?

The best golden perch fishery in Australia (I don’t think I’ll get to much argument there), Lake Windamere is still producing the goods. With rising water levels this month, the fishing should be sensational.

Pulling the boat up on the bank, getting out and hoofing it is still one of the best ways to fish the dam.

Look for little rocky reefs that extend down into the water. If there is some fresh green weed nearby I can nearly guarantee you there will be a golden perch in the vicinity.

Lures such as the Deception Shrimp, Tilsan Bass or Rapala Shad Rap are a good starting point when working the banks in this fashion.

Bait-fishing for catfish and silver perch is also very popular at this time of year. Worms are a good starting point along with shrimp and small yabbies.

If the banks are quiet, try heading out into the trees to bob your baits. Fifteen to 20 minutes on a tree is enough; if it’s quiet, move on to another until you hit the jackpot.

Trolling big lures for a cod is also a good option at this time of year, especially later on in the month.

The district’s rivers and creeks of are in the best condition I have seen them for seven or eight years.

It’s amazing how quickly the trout bounce back. I have already heard of a few browns over a kilo caught in the Fish River.

Fly fishing during March is about as good as it gets around here and rivers such as the Cambells, Fish, and Duckmaloi should all be working well.

Lure fishing with small minnows, bladed spinners and soft plastics is also a good option. An early morning walk on the river with a light spinning outfit is a great way to start the day.

With cooler surface water, trout will spend a lot longer searching for food at or near the top – great news for those anglers who have been suffering over the Summer.

Early morning is still the best time, especially for trolling Tassie Devils, spoons and the like.

Lake Lyell will be your best bet for this style of fishing because the rest of the lakes in the district, such as Lake Wallace and Thompsons Creek and Oberon dams all have limited or no boating access – which is great for those of us who like our Trout fishing with a fair slab of silence.

So give your quality of life a short shot in the arm and along the way help a recovering rural economy!

Look forward to seeing you on the water and, remember, you can catch me bright and early on 2KY’s Hi-Tide radio program with Kieran and Bruce between 5am and 5.30 most Saturdays.