Structure comes in many forms like the giant pylons supporting this road bridge.

 It comes in many forms, both natural and man-made. As varied as it may be, it all has one thing in common; it is the home of fish. A sanctuary from predators, or a place to explode upon unwary prey, understanding structure will help you catch more fish. Murray cod are the snag masters, it’s their domain and understanding where and what constitutes the type of snag most likely to hold large cod is for the most governed by time itself. Time of the day is important, time of the year another factor and possibly the most telling, the amount of time a particular snag has lain in the water.          

Everything breaks down over time, including large fallen trees. The remnants of a stump on the bank partially submerged in water are most often overlooked in preference for snags that hold more visible structure. This is a big mistake; the benefit of fishing these old trees is for the most their skeletal remains lay strewn close to the bottom. These old snags provide cover enough to hold the biggest of cod whilst ensuring your lure spends the majority of its time in the strike zone instead of riding high over branches. The smallest stump on the bank can hide the biggest surprise underwater. Weed beds are another form of structure that attracts both predator and prey alike. Like a giant curtain, large fish hide in its many pockets while smaller schooling fish like bony bream are funneled along its edge as they form into dense nomadic schools as the water temperature cools down. When working lures around weed beds, either sit back and cast into the indentations and pockets or cast parallel, working your lure along the edge of the weed curtain itself.

 Man-made structures are many, the numerous timber pylons of a jetty or boat ramp will often hold schooling golden perch. A larger version of this parallels the giant vertical pylons that support numerous road bridges that span the river. Whether fished vertically with lure or bait or trolled past with deep diving lures, they are a sanctuary to fish and an opportunity for anglers. Even permanent lights that shine bright upon the water become a form of over head structure that under the cover of darkness will often draw fish. These lights draw insects that in turn fall onto the water’s surface attracting fish.  Like fishing itself, not all forms of structure are sign posted with a “here I am.” Understanding structure is to work out how certain things impact on the way fish are likely to behave. Where they can best hide from prey or where they are most likely to find a meal? At either end of the scale structure plays an important role when it comes to catching more fish.