All through June Lake Mulwala was departing at a rapid rate! With the planned draw down in full swing, it was only going to be a matter of time until the lake became un-fishable due to not being able to get a boat on it.

Over the Queen’s birthday long weekend a group of local businesses banded together to fund earthwork extensions to the Yacht Club ramp to allow fishing to continue. This will prove to be a godsend with all anglers making the trip to Mulwala now having a great launching place. Thanks goes to the Mulwala Water Ski Club, Phil Smith’s Boat Hire and Lake Mulwala Fish Camp and Ski for funding this project.

Various groups travelled form far and wide to brave the cold but with their efforts came rewards. The best report I received came from a crew of half a dozen young fella’s from Wagga. Over three days they caught 31 Murray cod, of which 26 of them amazingly measuring more than 60cm. Dean Stanbrook’s best fish measured in at 96cm while Elliot Woo, Steel Willis and Luke Gaffney all caught good fish in the 80cm range. Their lures of choice were Big Mong’s and large AC’s.

The most productive report I’ve ever received came from David Scott. David and his mate Charles Swanton spent an afternoon casting Bassman Spinnerbaits into some back lagoons while the lake was receding. For their efforts they were rewarded with 52 cod and two redfin. Ironically, amongst their numerous double hook-ups and fish caught on consecutive casts, only one fish was of legal size.

Personally I had a few trips out with some very pleasing results. The most memorable was with a customer I got talking to who was tripping around Australia with his family, Mick Vasica. Mick and family had been in town for a few days and hadn’t caught any fish, which was starting to get them down. So I offered to take him out, which he accepted with excitement. On a very windy morning I was lucky enough to put Mick and his 10-year-old daughter Brianna onto six good redfin. To see the smile on Brianna’s face after catching her first ever fish was priceless and likewise to see Mick who was so happy for her.

On return to my store after the fish, Mick invested in some new fishing gear along with a few casting lessons to accompany his new toy. The story gets better as that afternoon I received a call from him; he had caught a great 1kg reddie on his very first cast. Lures of choice for the reddies were 60mm Viking Talismans and Koolabung Blades. To top off a great new friendship, Mick gave me an antique split cane rod and red cedar reel, circa 1920s as a thankyou that I now proudly display above the counter in store.

Another trip I had was when good friend Ted Barber from the ‘Mitta Crew’ brought a few mates over for a look at the lake and a quick fish. The boys were lucky as their arrival coincided with the best fishing I have ever seen in the lake. In just over two hours we managed to land eight cod and three redfin with the best measuring 63cm.

Cray season is well under way but as usual reports of decent returns have been scarce. Most have been coming across a few without many being able to take home their bag limits.

Finally, the million-dollar question: what’s happening with the lake and water levels? From the best information I can obtain, the lake will start to be refilled in mid to late July. Apparently it will be kept at around 95% this season, approximately 100mm higher than the 2008-09 season. For up-to-date info about water levels, the best web site I have found belongs to Goulburn Murray Water. Google GM Water and have a look at Yarrawonga Weir. The lake will become fishable again once the water levels reach approximately 20%.

For any more info give either Vanessa or myself a call at Lake Mulwala Fish Camp and Ski a call on 0357441667.