Jock Mackenzie with a nice Murray cod caught casting the weed pockets.
In recent years anglers have faced a growing menace along the river that is having an impact on not only how but where they can comfortably wet a line. A living carpet of weed now skirts the snags and banks along much of the river and it seems until we have a decent flush through the system we as anglers are going to have to come to terms with the challenges it provides. In angling terms weed is simply another form of structure that fish use to hunt, feed and hide amongst. Being able to read the weed line and choose the appropriate lure or bait is the key to catching fish amongst its growth. In the past few weeks we have found great success casting lures to its edge on the same line that old fallen snags trace under the water. While we cannot cast at the visible timber jutting down though the weed we can take a calculated guess at where the snag might lay on the bottom in relation to the way it runs into the water. Casting lures towards the weed line then working them down to the hidden timber is a great way of coming up tight to both Murray cod and Golden perch. While most anglers will dismiss weed lined snags, they are often passing up a good opportunity that is simply hidden from sight. Gaps in weed beds are another tell tale sign where large hidden snags of rock or timber provide a great ambush spot for native fish. I am of firm belief that areas of cleared weed around some snags are kept that was for easy access by large resident fish.
In sections of water where the weed snakes from the bottom to within a few feet of the surface shallow running lures come into their own. Spinnerbaits or hard bodied lures worked just above the weed will often produce the goods. Buzzbaits and other surface styled lures are also a good option and can be worked between the gaps and pockets of weed during periods of low light. Several nice Murray cod have been caught on surface lures these past few weeks the biggest a solid 35lb making this a valuable method that can work where other lures fail.
Gapes or lines snaking through the weed can be viewed as paths similar to that seen in a sheep paddock. You will often see large carp working the edges of these providing great opportunities with the fly. Other fish will frequent them and the next golden perch to smash a lure cast into the opening or head of a path will not be the first or last to come undone. While weed can be a problem, it can also provide anglers with opportunity and for the time being at least if we intend to catch more fish we as anglers will simply need to weed between the lines.
