"

Redfin are dam good fun
  |  First Published: December 2009



Now that Summer is in full swing, Blowering Dam’s resident redfin have really started to fire.

Good catches of these tasty critters have been fairly common and most people who have targeted them have been rewarded with a lovely feed of succulent fish.

Trolling is probably the most productive method at this time of year. Best lures are AC Slim Invaders, Stuckeys (especially the small version) and the small StumpJumpers.

These lures get even better results when a 1” or 2” soft plastic is added about a metre or so up the leader. This rig really stirs the redfin’s competitive nature and can be the difference between fish and no fish on tough days.

Although trolling aimlessly around the lake will get you a few fish, best results come from trolling until you find a school and then turning around and trolling back and forth through the area.

Alternatively, after catching one on the troll, pull up and cast small lures. My favourite for this is a lipless crankbait but if schools are really deep and hugging the bottom then ice jigs are a very good.

Also if the schools are really shallow then small spinners like Celtas, Rooster Tails and Bangtails are worth a shot.

Bait fishing from the bank can be productive during the warmer months. Early and late in the day, try the shallower margins and during the middle of hot days head to the deep water around points, old creek beds and standing timber.

Worms are your best bet for redfin but a juicy wood grub or bardi grub would be a better option if you wish to land a big native.

COD AT NIGHT

Night trolling for Murray cod is always good in January and this tactic is becoming very popular; the dam wall area looks like an enormous Christmas tree some nights.

With all the people trolling for cod at night you seldom see anyone hunting them on the cast, particularly at Blowering. I have not done much myself until this season but after some sensational results this is all about to change.

So many people target these big fish at night because the fish feel more at ease in the dark and go out looking for a feed rather.

Most night trollers find best results from lures running in mid-water rather than bashing the bottom, which is the norm during the day.

Many big cod have been caught at night over the years so it’s worth being out on the water at night some time this Summer.

MURRUMBIDGEE

Cicadas have appeared in good numbers this year along the Murrumbidgee River. These floating protein pills make an easy meal and have been a big part of the Murray cod diet.

Because a lot of the cod attention is focused upwards this month, they will be keen to hit surface lures around and after dark. If you can’t seem to get a cod to come to the top, I recommend casting big flashy spinnerbaits, especially in the middle of the day.

The Murrumbidgee also has a healthy population of redfin are fairly large and willing to hit almost any lure.

I generally don’t bother to target the redfin although you would catch a lot more by using small lipless crankbaits, soft plastics or spinners.

I stick with my cod lures like spinnerbaits, Chatterbaits and large lipless crankers and find that the big redfin still attack these lures.

Bait fishos generally do well this month with shrimp, bardi grubs, wood grubs, worms and yabbies, in that order.

If you’re taking kids bait fishing in the Murrumbidgee, it always pays to carry a can of corn kernels so that on those really slow days when you just can’t get the natives biting, you can throw out a handful of corn kernels to get the carp feeding.

That way the kids can have some fun catching fish while doing the waterway the world of good.

I don’t care what anyone says, as a kid or an adult for that matter, catching carp is more fun than not catching anything at all.

Reads: 6882

Matched Content ... powered by Google




Latest Articles




Fishing Monthly Magazines On Instagram

Digital Editions

Read Digital Editions

Current Magazine - Editorial Content

Western Australia Fishing Monthly
Victoria Fishing Monthly
Queensland Fishing Monthly