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From hero to zero
  |  First Published: September 2008



What a difference a month can make! In not much more than 30 days Lake Mulwala has gone from a freshwater fishing hot spot to a giant, shut-down pool of cold, dirty water.

With the refilling of the lake after its required draw-down taking less than two weeks, the speed at which the water has arrived left the lake looking like it had been refilled with coffee. At least we do have water, and plenty of it.

It has been forecast that Lake Mulwala will run at a consistently higher level than in 2007, only 300mm below full level.

Once full, I expect the lake will settle down and return to its normal colour and continue to produce fish.

There were a few persistent soul who battled on throughout Winter with limited returns. Andrew Jacotine and friends from Mansfield made countless trips trying to nut out the Winter pattern and they were rewarded with the odd cod to 80cm, but there were a lot of casts and tackle changes in between fish.

Graham Callahan of Mooroopna made a trip over to accompany me for a day in search of redfin. The fish proved elusive but we came across four unlucky specimens to almost a kilo that made the trip home to Cal’s frying pan.

Locals Trevor Beach and George Jovanovic have just started to get a few reddies and hopefully this may be a sign that things are improving.

The local crayfish season proved to be a bit of a non-event, with very limited numbers reported. Mulwala local Pud Payne assembled a crew that put in a fair weekend’s effort chasing the spiny critters, to be rewarded with 11 legal-sized crays from over 160 that were netted.

Anglers must keep in mind that from September 1 through to November 30 it will be closed season for Murray cod, while taking of Murray crays is illegal until next May.

Also a reminder that fishing is totally banned from below the Yarrawonga Weir downstream to the Tocumwal bridge until December 1.

While on rules and regulations, as of December 1 the new minimum legal size for Murray cod will be 60cm, so keep that in mind when the season reopens.

The competition season will soon be in full swing, with many favourite events along with a few new ones planned.

Anyone looking for info on the Cod Classic or Da$h 4 Ca$h, or the new competitions the Yarrawonga Mulwala X-Mass Fisharama, The Golden Dollar$ and the His & Hers Partners Classic, can call me on 03 5744 1667 or check out www.codclassic.com.au

Graham Callahan of Mooroopna with Lake Mulwala redfin of a little under 1kg.

Reads: 1929

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