Rod Mackenzie Online Tackle Shop - Signature Series - CodMac

The latest colour in the Codmac range is sure to tempt both Murray cod and Golden Perch.

Codmac has added a new colour to the signature series Codman spinnerbait range. Sporting a black head and oil slick skirt,it flashes a metallic glow on bright sunny days. The plastic trailer is a dark copper topped mullet that adds plenty of flash to an otherwise dark silhouette. Sure to be a winner on the Murray cod and Golden perch, this new colour is just one of many new inclusions to be incorporated into the Codmac range.

The new X-Ray Blades from Koolabung a must have lure for the serious fisho.

Enter one of the most versatile lures on the market, the new X-Ray Blades from Koolabung  are carving thier way through a variety of fish species. Golden perch, Murray cod, Bream, Flathead and Jew fish are just to name a few. Extensively tested by experienced recreational anglers and A.B.T competition fishos, the X-Ray range of blades from Koolabung exhibit outstanding fish catching abilities and are a must have for the serious angler.Look out for these in the Codmac online store now.

One of fishings finer moments, Rays meter plus cod caught on a Bassman spinnerbait

The joys of angling are as varied as the sport itself. The thrills derived from watching other anglers achieve their goals are no lesser moments than achieving such goals ourselves. So it was recently whilst fishing on the Murray River with Ray Clifford. The cast was to the point, landing in a gap at the buttress of a large submerged gum many years in the river. It screamed of big fish, but so did several dozen others we had probed our spinnerbaits around that arvo. It seemed their giant residents were stricken with lock jaw, intent to remain tight lipped in the face of the flashing blades. Nearing the boat, the motley green shoulders and white belly of a sizable cod powered through Ray’s spinnerbait rolling just below the surface. The words “you’re about to get your first meter cod on a spinnerbait,” were cut short as the rod loaded under the weight of the fish. It was a great fight made more so by the close proximity of the snags. Several times a well weighted thumb was used to persuade the cod to alter course and soon the fish of a few thousand casts lay beaten beside the boat. The grin in the photo says it all and was no less than that behind the lens. Such moments are only equalled in the reliving around the campfire whist sharing an ale or two. To be a part of fishing’s finer moments is to carry the true joy of angling and the memories that will last an angling lifetime.

What do we know about Murray Cod? It seems much of our information on the fish scientifically known as Maccullochella peelii peelii remains somewhat of a mystery.
The Murray cod is an icon of Australian angling. Known in some parts as Ponde, goodoo, or greenish they are embellished with a burden that few other fish would aspire. Stories relating to this species are as common as the many pubs and bars they stem from. Some are founded on fact, while others are sat in judgment by self-anointed experts that lay claim to have seen a Murray Cod once. Their giant frames adorn the walls: motionless trophies trapped in time, a testament of man’s cunning when in reality, a sad reminder of the respect shown an Australian icon. Times are changing and with it the attitude of a growing audience of anglers. The existence of these giant fish relies on new fishing ideals. Positive fishing practises and restraint in the face of a dwindling river system is a responsible step towards perhaps a brighter future for these fish. The Ponde tree is becoming a thing of the past, as is the use of skin mounts for pub and private viewing. We have reached a new age where fibreglass depicts the trophy and catch and release is becoming the norm. Hopefully such images reflect a time almost forgotten.

Tis a saddening sight the angler see’swhen they stumble upon a Ponde tree. Their giant frames adorn the bark,their sunken eyes set silent dark. Iconic trophies dried in skin,where once they roamed the depths as kings.Now each sits in silent stare,these iconic fish will go nowhere.No sadder sight will you seethan the man made plant the Ponde tree.

To consistently catch big fish is far from happenstance; it relies more on an understanding of the fish themselves and the most effective means to catch them. To understand the basic feeding patterns of not just our local river fish but any fish for that matter, brings you one step closer to catching the larger of many different fish species. As fish mature their diet changes, big fish require more fuel to run than their smaller counterparts therefore it seems pertinent that larger items of prey will feature heavily in their diet. You, the angler can take this one piece of information and use it to your advantage, a simple rule of thumb for many fish species is… big bait, big fish. When it comes to lures the definition of large has three notable characteristics. These include a minimal length of 100mm, not including bib. This is definitely the small end of the big scale. The bib itself will constitute at least a third or more of the overall lure length. This should make a 100ml lure at least 130ml long. Bulk and weight make up the last notable difference. Many popular lures used for trolling will weigh as little as 25gm, those preferred for casting even lighter again. Some of the  larger lures weigh more than 70gm depending on their make up, be it timber or plastic. Combine these attributes and pull them through the water. From the perspective of a big hungry cod, size makes it an easy target to spot. Bulk offers a substantial feed and with that large bib creating maximum water displacement, these lures have about as much chance of going unnoticed as an elephant in a rice bubble factory.Over the past few weeks some very nice cod have been landed along the Murray River on some of the larger lures abvailable.  

A nice Murray cod landed on an Australian Crafted 150ml AC Invader. Sometimes big is best.

Cod thumb or perhaps cod hand, either way Murray Cod have very sharp teeth.

If I had a dollar for every lure we have retrieved from the Murray River covered in teeth marks and sporting a short length of mono or braided line, I could possibly retire. To the uninitiated, it’s a great find but it is also a hard luck story of the one that got away. Contrary to popular belief Murray cod have teeth, and while they are not of the style that sharks possess, they are sharp nonetheless. These teeth are like small fine needles, rows and rows of them curved back in a fashion that is designed for grasping and holding baitfish and other items of prey. If you put your hand in their mouth to remove a hook, you will quickly find out that they are also very effective at removing skin. These injuries are often referred to as cod thumb, and are a painful trophy for he or she who has caught a fish. When a large cod inhales a bait or lure, they instinctively throw their head from side to side during the fight. This action is similar to a rasp working across your line and without the use of a heavy mono leader, in most cases the line will part. In time, the fish will spit the lure out and it will float to the surface covered in teeth marks and sporting a short length of line. It’s a revolving tale of cod fishing woe that can be fixed simply by learning how to rig a mono leader.

In fact when targeting any big fish be it Murray cod, Barramundi, kingfish etc it is advisable to use a mono leader. Leader materials are many; Fluorocarbon has been touted in recent times as the be all and end all of leader materials. This is possibly true in lighter gauges when targeting bream, bass and other smaller fishes. When you begin to run leaders 50lb and above many Fluorocarbons will not meld well when tied onto the main line. They display a memory that will often see them spring back from the knot. Softer materials form far better knots that not only pull up tight but also run through the guides more smoothly when casting. Many anglers don’t run a leader simply because they are unsure how to tie one. A simple answer to this problem is to drop into your local tackle shop and get them to give you a demo. There are also a number of books available on this subject with Geoff Wilson’s Knots and Rigs providing several clear step-by-step versions of the leader knot. Next time you have the good fortune to find the gnarled up lure with the short length of line you can fish comfortably in the knowledge that running a leader is one less way to loose a fish.

Yes Golden Perch will take surface lures. This is the third one I have seen caught on top in just a few sessions which proves its not just a fluke. Smaller surface lures seem to tempt Golden Perch where the larger models are more inclined to atract the attention of Murray cod. So targeting golden perch on surface lures is indeed a legitimate technique worthy of further exploration.

This Golden perch snatched a Koolabung Codwalker from the surface in broad daylight

If you are headed to the Murray or any of the smaller rivers over the next few weeks it would pay to bring along a few surface lures.

A nice cod taken on a Mulldoons "Wee Willy Surface Popper".

Managed to land this nice cod and had several more hits on Friday evening along the Murray river all strikes were taken on a Mulldoons “Wee Willy Surface Popper”. Gus also managed a nice Golden perch on the surface next day this greedy fish was taken on a Koolabung Codwalker.