With the holiday season all but over, most waters in the region will see a slowing of fishing activity over the next few months.
February can be stinking hot and just like us, the fish become lethargic during the heat of the day. It therefore makes a lot of sense to be either early or late when you are considering your fishing options.
Purrumbete has been busy. Lots of boats, lots of anglers and lots of families. The fishing has been quiet overall. Not big heaps of fish, but enough for those who are willing to put the time in. Both browns and rainbows ranging from 500g-1.5kg with the odd bigger fish to 2.5kg are being caught.
Redfin perch are also becoming a big part of some angler’s bags. The trout are mostly falling to mudeyes.
The usual method of suspending them under a bubble has been best, with quite a few anglers also trolling mudeyes behind cowbells and ford fenders. In fact those trolling are also using plenty of flash in front of Tassie Devil style lures as well in an effort to catch the fish’s attention.
The reddies are taking both worms and minnows fished close to the bottom, with quite a few eels being taken on the worms as well. The run of reddies has not been big but that will change as things get hotter over the next couple of months.
On the positive side the reddies out of Purrumbete are excellent eating due mainly to the water quality being so good.
For the bank anglers Geoff Cole of Colac recently had a very early morning start taking a nice brown a whisker under a kilo on plastics along the east side. Remember early or late for the best results especially for those fishing flies as well.
Bullen Merri is still struggling with algae, with only the water skiers using this lake.
Ellingamite has had some very good reports with anglers taking good numbers of trout and big redfin with most methods doing the job. The report of fish being taken on Gulp Minnows in the pearl watermelon colours is of the most interest as it conjures up memories of that great fishing we had at Bullen Merri a few years ago.
Already access to Ellingamite is becoming harder and with the next two months being our hottest and driest things will only get tougher to launch your boat.
The blackfish season is under way and already reports of blackfish to 2kg are starting to filter through. To catch a big fish, yabbies have always been the best bet. A single hook paternoster rig fished close to logs is always a good way to get a quick result. When fishing this method, especially on a hot muggy evening, the action can be fast and furious as some snags can hold 4 or 5 fish.
If you intend fishing after dark don’t be afraid to move into the shallow water as blackfish will take baits in very shallow running water under the cover of darkness. The Gellibrand system with its smaller feeder streams and the Carlisle River are your best bets for an encounter with this little known and great eating Australian native.
Wurdi Buloc is still fishing very well with some extra large redfin being taken on both lures and baits. The trout are still about in fair numbers with the only down side to the high water level being a larger population of snakes about to keep you on your toes.
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