Complete archive of RegularFeatures:
The big bass bite back
Brett Geddes | First Published: May 2017 » Feature Articles / Victoria /
“I’m convinced that this liberation of bass is the greatest stocking success of native fish we have ever seen in this state.” This is what I said during my recent conversation with Gippsland’s Senior Fisheries Officer Errol Parmigiani. He agreed and told me about the countless number of bass caught in rivers, creeks or dams over the past few years. Victoria is now on its way to being a bass fishery that may one day challenge states north of the border.
Hopping onto the Hopkins for hot fishing
Mark Gercovich | First Published: May 2017 » Area Articles / Victoria & Tasmania / West Coast / Warrnambool /
May has the potential to be a great month for fishing locally. Sometimes we get protracted days of calm sea conditions before we head into the depths of winter. River species, like trout and estuary perch, also get on the move as we head into the cooler months.
Catching tasty Tassie plate fish
Kelly Hunt | First Published: May 2017 » Area Articles / Victoria & Tasmania / Tasmania & Flinders Island / Tasmania /
May is the start of the colder weather. It’s a fact that summer has long since departed, but there is some good news for fishing here in Tasmania at this time of year. May is where the Tasmanian autumn has really kicked in and weather patterns are fairly settled.
Welcome to Lakes Entrance
Peter Jung | First Published: May 2017 » Feature Articles / Victoria /
The East Gippsland Lakes system is the largest lakes system in Australia and its final destination before entering the Pacific Ocean is Lakes Entrance.
Warm water Warrnambool is worth the wait
Corey Gallagher | First Published: May 2017 » Regular Features / Kayaking /
In last year’s September issue, the Kayak Hotspot featured Warrnambool’s Hopkins River and specifically focused on the downstream sections of the river and in particular the ski run – definitely one of the better places to fish along the river during the cooler months.
Fish moving into spawning mode
Shane Lowery | First Published: May 2017 » Regular Features / Area Report /
May can be one of the best months of the year for fishing in the far southwest of the state as we transition out of autumn into winter. Cooler temperatures and fresh inflows into the rivers signal the start of recruitment and spawning behaviours from most fish species in our estuaries, which means great fishing.
The staple reddies, yellas and cod
Andy McCarthy | First Published: May 2017 » Regular Features / Area Report /
As soon as the irrigation season draws to an end and the water level starts to rise, the cod fishing should go absolutely off its head. With a bit of luck the lake will still be around 65%, which puts it in a great position to go close to filling even with an average winter. It seems that quite a few yellowbelly have been taken recently around trees. They seem to school up with large numbers of redfin.
It’s getting quiet on the water
Jim Mcclymont | First Published: May 2017 » Area Articles / Victoria & Tasmania / East Coast / Marlo /
For the first time in several months I have to report the fishing is not as good as in previous reports. As the water cools the fishing is quietening off. Bream seem to be patchy. Some anglers are getting their bag and others are reporting getting very few to take home.
Mix it up, Buttercup
Luke McCredden | First Published: May 2017 » Regular Features / Area Report /
The weather transition has well and truly hit as the hot days are seemingly behind us and the cooler temperatures start to set in. This isn’t a bad thing for fishing, just for the fishers in some cases. Personally the cool, crisp mornings of autumn and spring are what I love and what set the scene for some really solid fishing.
Changing conditions around Bendigo
Roger Miles | First Published: May 2017 » Area Articles / Victoria & Tasmania / Freshwater / Bendigo /
Fishing conditions can change very quickly and the Loddon River is a perfect example of this. In last month’s report I wrote about how productive the fishing had been in this river system. Soon after writing the report a significant flush of water was released down the system.
Bar Crusher 730HT with Suzuki 225hp 4-Stroke
Steve Morgan | First Published: May 2017 » Regular Features / Boating /
Victorian built Bar Crusher boats have definitely carved themselves out a solid niche amongst discerning plate aluminium boat buyers nationwide.
Best time to chase trout is on frosty mornings
James Perry | First Published: May 2017 » Area Articles / Victoria & Tasmania / Freshwater / Horsham /
Cold foggy mornings are here. There’s no better time to chase trout! While the Sunday fishers are still tucked up in bed, we get out on the water to watch the sunrise, along with a trophy trout or two. The chilly mornings we come to expect of May are like a doorbell to the big trout that call our lakes home. Now the hard part is deciding what lake to choose.
Pesky trout are picky pouters
Daniel Piazza | First Published: May 2017 » Area Articles / Victoria & Tasmania / Freshwater / Eildon /
As we prepare ourselves for the cooler months, the fishing on and around the Lake Eildon district can be some of the best. Of course I’m talking about the pesky trout. As we all know, it can be difficult to wrangle a nice feed from a morning’s session, but what better way is there to spend a day with the family or your best mate, than chasing Eildon trout?
Salmon and tailor schools back in for a term too
Steven Pryke | First Published: May 2017 » Area Articles / Victoria & Tasmania / East Coast / Lakes Entrance /
Over the past month the weather has changed and colder days have gradually brought the lake’s water temperature down. Massive whitebait schools have turned up and schools of Australian salmon and tailor have followed.
Snap up the late season snapper
Lee Rayner | First Published: May 2017 » Area Articles / Victoria & Tasmania / Central / Port Phillip Bay North /
Cooler mornings and perfect autumn days have made their way into this part of the world. Just to keep us on our toes and let us know that winter is around the corner, the early southerly winds have been absolute crackers. This month, I’ve got my fingers-crossed for more calm weather, because this is one of my favourite months of the year to be out on the water in this part of the bay.
Whiting and gummies highlight a solid month
Adam Ring | First Published: May 2017 » Area Articles / Victoria & Tasmania / Central / Western Port /
‘Steady as she goes’ is the theme for this month’s report. I wouldn’t say the fishing has been outstanding, but it’s far from being horrible. That’s what is keeping a heap of boats piling into the boat ramps of Western Port. Gummies and whiting are the main captures with pinkies and elephant fish also showing their faces.
Redfin to finish up this autumn
Rod Shepherd | First Published: May 2017 » Regular Features / Area Report /
Late autumnal weather continues to provide some excellent fishing opportunities for many and none more so than chasing the redfin at Lake Purrumbete.
Bream are spread throughout the system
Rod Shepherd | First Published: May 2017 » Area Articles / Victoria & Tasmania / Freshwater / Colac /
The Curdies River and adjoining lake has been quite conducive for bream. Unfortunately, you could spend many hours trying to find a school on the chew as the fish remain well spread right throughout the system. The river mouth remains closed until the winter rains once again reopen the estuary to the sea. Until then, you’ll need to do some exploratory work and that could take time.
Cooler fish are heating up
Neil Slater | First Published: May 2017 » Area Articles / Victoria & Tasmania / Central / Geelong /
The weather was pretty kind to us over the last month or so and plenty got out amongst the fish. Wurdiboluc Reservoir near Moriac has been fishing well for redfin from tiddler size to 35cm. Minnow lures and heavy spoons have done well due to their distance and water covered while fishing with live minnows has been best for bait fishers. Expect the fishing here to pick up over May as the water cools.
May be time to fish Melbourne
Andy Smith | First Published: May 2017 » Regular Features / Area Report /
Autumn continues to produce the goods in and around the western half of Melbourne’s waterways. May usually sees the fishing really fire up and produce plenty of options for anglers. All the signs are pointing that this May is going to be no different.
Divers surprised to find kings and tuna
Brett Illingworth | First Published: May 2017 » Regular Features / Spearfishing /
What a difference a month makes. The weather recently has really turned it on. The easterlies have been a little annoying, but the elevated temperatures, along with quite a few low swell days, have put the smiles right back on the faces of the local diving population.
Big reds are still biting
Shane Stevens | First Published: May 2017 » Area Articles / Victoria & Tasmania / Freshwater / Ballarat /
Ballarat and district anglers have been scooping the pool over the past few months when it comes to catching quality big redfin in the district. Most of the reports I have mentioned over the last couple of months have been on Lake Wendouree. District anglers are now reporting catches in many of our other fisheries in the district. Wendouree isn’t the only water producing the goods.
Fresh baits are winning fishy mates
Robyn Sturgess | First Published: May 2017 » Area Articles / Victoria & Tasmania / East Coast / Bemm River /
Anglers have had to work hard in the past few weeks for their catch. The easterly wind has been whipping up of an afternoon, so early morning has been the ideal time for fishing.
Hazelwood barra are the main attraction
Will Thompson | First Published: May 2017 » Area Articles / Victoria & Tasmania / Freshwater / Central Gippsland /
After the boat ballot finished, anglers flocked to Hazelwood pondage to try their luck on catching a Vic barra and the results were amazing.
Changing weather means changing wind and water
Will Thompson | First Published: May 2017 » Area Articles / Victoria & Tasmania / East Coast / McLoughlins Beach /
It was a great summer of fishing and now we are on the other side of it. The water temperature is changing and so are the species.
Lake Wendouree Two Fly was too much fun
Tag | First Published: May 2017 » Regular Features / Tournaments /
The 2017 Lake Wendouree Two Fly, hosted by the Ballarat Fly Fishers Club and exclusively sponsored by Hurley’s Fly Fishing, was held on 25-26 March. With lake and weather conditions looking the best since the competition was established in 2015, 34 flyfishers from Ballarat, Bendigo and Melbourne gathered with the expectation of some great fishing on the iconic Lake Wendouree.
Hobie Round 3 at Mallacoota
Tag | First Published: May 2017 » Regular Features / Tournaments /
Over the weekend of 25-26 March, 74 anglers from all over Australia headed to Mallacoota in East Gippsland, Victoria to compete in the Mortgage Corp Round 3 of Hobie Kayak Bream Series 9.
Hobie Mirage Outback
Corey Gallagher | First Published: May 2017 » Regular Features / Testing Booth /
Hobie have a long tradition of quality and innovation. Their products have dominated kayak angling markets worldwide since the introduction of the first purpose designed, pedal propelled fishing kayak, the Mirage Outback in 2001.
Tackling the Queanbeyan River
Toby Grundy | First Published: May 2017 » Regular Features / Kayaking /
The Queanbeyan River is the most frustrating fishery that I have encountered for a long time. There are plenty of big fish in the river and it is a really pretty spot to paddle, but the fish are so fickle and I am yet to work out their feeding patterns. That said, here is everything I know about this river. Despite being very annoying, it’s a really interesting river to fish.
Pittwater is your winter wonderland
Peter Le Blang | First Published: May 2017 » Area Articles / New South Wales / Sydney / Pittwater /
With the change in seasons nearly upon us, most anglers start to find other things to do instead of fishing. However the smart fishers will pick the best tides and moon phases to continue chasing their scaly prize.
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