The days are now getting shorter and the weather a lot milder, which means the trout are more active at waters such as Fyans, Wartook and Bellfield. The trout typically get very aggressive this time of year in the lead up to spawning, which makes for some great lure fishing opportunities.

The native fishing is now tapering off with only the occasional yellowbelly and cod being taken at Taylors Lake, which generally goes a bit quiet as we head towards winter.

The Wimmera River is now extremely low and in very poor condition, so there won’t be a report on it this month. The river desperately needs a good flow of water to flush out all the stagnant and salt affected areas. If the river doesn’t get a good flow this year the whole system will most surely die.

The run of good redfin fishing continues with decent reddies being taken at Cherrypool and averaging around 300-500g with the odd bigger fish to 1.3kg also about.

Walking the banks and casting small spinners, soft plastics and minnow lures has been working well, particularly in the mornings and evenings. Baitfishing with worms, yabbies and gudgeon has been very successful on the reddies with tench, blackfish and common carp also being caught.

The stretch of river below Rocklands and at Fulham has been fishing well with numbers of redfin to 500g also being taken along with the occasional Australian bass. Walking the banks in the early mornings and in the evenings has been best while casting spinners and soft plastics at the snags.

There has been some terrific fishing over the last few weeks despite the low water levels. Anglers fishing from small boats are having the best run of success with many browns and rainbows from 300g to a bit over a kilo being common, along with the occasional big brown over 3kg.

The best method of fishing has been to baitfish with the ever-reliable bug or ’couta mudeye suspended below a bubble float. If you are super keen on chasing the bigger browns, the best time to be fishing is in the evenings and after dark.

The slightly deeper area on the wall side has been most productive. Trolling has been very difficult due to all the weed but drifting and casting soft plastics, spinners and small minnow lures has been producing some good trout as well as some very nice redfin.

Even though the lake is very low, small boats can still be easily launched in an area on the south shore.

The run good of yellowbelly and redfin is now starting to taper off a bit with the cooler weather but if you pick your days, weather and barometer wise, some good catches can still be had.

The best method has been to walk the banks casting small lures, spinnerbaits or hogback spinners in the few areas where the weed isn’t too bad. The redfin have been mostly small but a few good fish to 600g have been about. The yellowbelly have been averaging around a kilo.

A few decent Murray cod have been caught and released over the last month by anglers fishing for yellowbelly, and these cod have been around the 70cm mark. I also know of a very large cod estimated at around a metre long taking a bait of cooked and peeled prawn, but after a long battle on light line the big cod rolled over the line and snapped it. It left a crowd of onlookers staring in awe at the power of these great fish.

The fishing has started to pick up a bit over the last month with some brown trout to 1.3kg, a few rainbow trout and a few small redfin being taken.

Warook has a reputation of being a bit on-and-off but on the right day the fishing can be terrific. And it is great to fish in such an idyllic bush environment surrounded by mountains.

Trolling lures, such as Tassie Devils, Stiffy Minnows and Rapala Minnow Spoons, has been working well. The timbered areas and near the island has been the most popular trolling spots.

Baitfishing with mudeye under bubble floats or peeled yabby tail fished unweighted has been working well, especially at the wall area.

The lake is very low at the moment and the boat ramp now only just reaches the water, but small boats can still be launched with care.

The fishing continues to thrill both locals and visitors alike with great rainbow trout and redfin catches. The rainbows have been averaging around the 1kg mark and the redfin have been mostly small with the odd bigger specimen to 500g being taken.

Trolling small minnow lures and winged lures has been working well. Baitfishing with mudeye or casting soft plastics has also provided plenty of action. However, with the huge number of small redfin you will lose many mudeyes before you come across a trout or two, which is why I prefer to lure fish when targeting the trout in this lake.

Anglers fishing from small boats powered by electric motors are having the best captures, but good fishing can also be had from the shoreline, particularly in the mornings and evenings.

Captures

1

A decent redfin taken from the Glenelg River using mudeye for bait.