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This solid Murray cod was taken on a Koolabung Codzilla surface lure.

Anglers digging bardie grubs for bait these past few weeks will no doubt have noticed that they are starting to turn. By this I mean they have reached the stage where they transform from grubs into moths and this happens about this time every season. Over the next few weeks these large moths will break free of their earthen tunnels and take to the wing to produce the next generation. The timing of this event is predetermined by the seasonal change and the prevailing rains that are hoped should follow. The moisture acts to soften the hard earth lined cap on the tunnels making it easier for the moths to break their way through the crust. It also allows the next generation of grubs to burrow deep out of harm’s way, where they can grow fat on a diet of fine vegetation and gum roots. Murray cod too are in tune to this event and they will now turn topside to seek out and feed on a heaven sent harvest that beckons an easy meal. Anglers would do well to seek out and use a range of surface lures that mimic the struggling action like that of these large ghost moths. Most tackle shops will have a range of surface lures that will vary in size from the smaller models right through to the larger end of the scale that look more like a wounded duck than a struggling moth. But they all work; it’s just a matter of getting them in front of a hungry fish.
 Lures for surface fishing are many, but I tend to favour those that create maximum water displacement at minimal speed. Several that meet this criterion are both the 100 and 120mm Koolabung Cod walkers and Jamie Fletts Depth Charge range. Most of these are larger styled lures that tend to attract bigger fish. Buzz baits too are an effective top water lure that create plenty of sound and have an excellent hook up rate. Bassman do an upsized version that carries a larger blade and sizable hook. Buzzbaits do need to be worked a little faster but the hanging hook ensures that most strikes load the rod. Fishing the surface works best during periods of low light and dawn and dusk into the night are the most productive times. Over the next few weeks Murray cod will feed at their best from the surface as they scoff down a bounty of top water tucker. Some of our smaller rivers have begun to produce for those anglers in tune to this event with the Wakool and Murrumbidgee proving popular. Similar results can be expected along the Murray as anglers come to grips with top water tucker time and the use of surface lures on Murray cod. 

Steve Cooper holding a solid Gummy shark.

What a great time of the year to wet a line as wherever you look most species of fish seem to be on the chew. Along the southern coastline, Kingfish and Blue fin tuna are feeding out wide and anglers are gearing up for some long awaited fun. If you don’t have the means to travel the distances offshore often needed to target these fish then don’t panic, as there’s plenty more on offer a little closer to shore.  In our sheltered bays and harbours small boat owners are catching plenty of big whiting and snapper and a good run of calamari squid has anglers grinning to the tune of a great feed. It’s almost a fishing platter as there are so many scale clad treats available for the catching. Off the beaches, Mulloway and a variety of sharks are carving their way through a number of different baits that include arrow squid, pilchards, salmon and mullet. Weed is about your only problem as it makes fishing the surf hard work. But get it right and the rewards are often very sweet. You just never know what’s coming next from the beach with some absolute monster rays set to test your stamina and tackle to the distance. Gummy shark have been numerous in number both offshore and land based with some hefty fish weighing at 30kg or more. Remember these larger models are generally breeding females that should be returned to the sea. As there are plenty of smaller sharks being landed in the mix, it’s not hard to pick up a feed. In many estuaries including the Glenelg River on the Victorian, South Australian border anglers are cashing in on a good run of school jewfish on bait and lures. Bream have also been prolific on bait and some excellent estuary perch have been caught casting small minnow styled lures around the downed timber and the undercut banks. In many of the larger inland lakes redfin have been a winner with some fish weighing in at 2kg or more. Hume has been a consistent spot and there’s always a chance at a giant cod or a thumping golden.  Anglers are still catching a few golden perch along the Murray on bibless lures and spinnerbaits and a few cod are being landed on an assortment of baits and lures fished around the snags. As mentioned earlier, it is a great time of year to wet a line as it seems that everything sporting fins and scales is happy to have a feed. From here on in as we head towards some kinder weather, fishing in our own local waters will only improve.       

Yum- A great feed of yabbies.

On a recent yabby fishing expedition I come to realise first hand that the humble farm gate chain might possibly be the most expensive metal known to mankind. Or at least it might seem that way to those that scratch out a living from the land. Each and every link is valued to the point that to squander but one extra to allow for ease of opening, would be nothing short of a terrible waste. Over time in the bid to preserve links, many farmers have developed their own specific set of angles and weight related positions required to gain enough slack chain to slip the latch. To understand the way of the link is to spend many years on the land and even then you will happen upon those that will test you to your very core. And so it was as we pulled the Ute to a stop right in front of what could best be described as the gate from hell.  Shining in all its splendour, it had centre piece a big red Private property badge beaming forth for any would be passers to take heed. No problems there, as we had full permission to venture beyond its bounds where we would bask in the yabby rich waters that were now but a few hundred meters away. Ten minutes on and it was more than evident that the placement of the keep out sign just like the links of chain, could have been another on farm saving. Whilst pondering the right of passage, a wayward arm brushed the electric fence and believe me there was no shortage of cash wasted on this little beauty, as it reverberated every joint from head to toe. The after effects were a mild tick and stutter as we gave the gate a miss and hoofed it across country, bait nets and bucket in hand. For the next few hours we caught numerous big fat yabbies on string lines baited with fresh meat. With the bucket full to overflowing we headed back to the gate, climbing over carefully to avoid the chances of another shock. Later that day, talks with the farmer on the gate in question revealed the effects of the drought had pulled the chain tight to the point that it could not be opened. There was however another gate just down the road a little that would have provided access had we known. But he did go on to say that there was a trick to this other gate as it could only be opened by looking to the north whilst standing on one leg, singing the national anthem with your tongue hanging out. And even then it was a struggle. We have decided to shout a new gate chain on our next visit and while this humble string of metal may not may be made of gold, the chance to catch a feed of yabbies from a private dam is.

Looking good- With three sizes and six colours to choose from the codwalker range of surface lures from Koolabung are sure to be on the menu of a few big Murray cod.

Koolabung lures is proud to announce a few new additions to its popular range of surface lures. The Codwalker has been a very productive top water lure for Murray cod these past few seasons racking up its share of quality fish. With that in mind the range has now been increased to three different sizes. These include a 120mm a 100mm and a 70mm model. These come in an exciting new range of six colours and are already proving that fish like variety. These new sizes and colours are currently available in the following tackle outlets and are set to go into others over the following weeks..

Tackle World Canberra (02 6280530)

Mulwala Fish Camp & Ski (03 5744 3133)

Q Tackle Geelong (03 5277 3271)

Got One Mildura (03 5022 8444)

JC”S Bait & tackle Swan Hill (03 5033 0407) 

Adventure Camping & Fishing (03 5722 4622)

Inside Outback Myrtlford (03 5752 2392)

This skinny water giant was caught on a 120mm koolabung Codzilla in less than three meters of water.

Peering over the side of the old wooden bridge, the small bubbling creek running below would be no more than a short hop from bank to bank. Regardless of this it held many fishes and amongst them the biggest trout I had ever seen. At 10lb or more its size seemed out of place in the crystal clear stream but its cunning had been born of living in such confines and try as I may it took several years to finally hook and catch that marvellous fish. Since then I have had many skinny water encounters where giant fish have exploded from virtually nowhere to engulf bait or lure and provide some of fishing’s finer moments. When it comes to skinny water giants they don’t come much bigger than a monster Murray cod. To tangle with one of these freight trains in the confines of a snag ridden creek or smaller river is a challenge in itself, but one I am always happy to oblige. I remember all too well the first giant cod I saw hooked in one of our smaller rivers and the explosive mayhem that followed. Casting lures along the Murrumbidgee River downstream of Balranald with fellow fishing writer Dave Hodge. We had managed several cod, the biggest a modest 4kgs and a couple of solid golden perch. Just off the end of an old submerged log, I had a savage strike on the lure that near ripped the rod free of my hand.  My offsider seized on the opportunity, sending a well weighted cast straight to the exact location and within several winds of the handle his lure was smashed by an unseen giant. Within seconds the fish turned tail and ripped several meters of line from the reel that was being governed to the tune of a heavy thumb. With the rod loaded to crackling point, the unseen giant churned the water and continued to power through the snag turning the rod, reel and angler inside out. Unstoppable was the best way to describe the encounter and dumbfounded and down a lure was the end result as the fish found its home deep in the snags. Fish are where you find them and since that first encounter we have come to learn that even the smallest waters can hide the biggest surprise. Preparation and the right tackle go a long way towards levering these giant fish from amongst the snags. Larger sized lures are more inclined to draw the bigger fish from their hideouts and the 120mm shallow running Codzilla was designed for this style of fishing. Spinnerbaits too should be fashioned with larger blades to promote maximum pulse and flash. We run 50lb braid and 60lb leader and fish a relatively heavy drag setting, the rest is measured with the thumb. Make no mistake, some of the biggest cod happily reside in some of the smaller rivers we fish. The Wakool, Edward and Murrumbidgee are just to name a few and are worthy of a cast should you feel the need to experience firsthand some skinny water giant cod action.                

Darren Brant turned a fat reed caught bardie grub into a nice Murray cod.

In the great sport of angling it seems you learn something new on just about every outing. And so it was on a recent trip to the Murrumbidgee River where the art of catching bardie grubs for bait was taken to a whole new level. The trip had begun with high expectations of landing a few nice cod on lures and while the water clarity was good, the falling river had the fish fairly tight lipped. After a bazillion casts for one strike that turned out to be golden perch it was a unanimous decision to break rank and have a go at drowning some bait. Of course before this could be done we were going to have to go out and collect a few grubs from the surrounding bush.  This is where the learning curb began as while we had remembered the shovel as you do when you head to the river; we had unfortunately managed to leave the bardie wire at home. Never mind, one of our group assured us he could extract these fat grubs from deep in their earthen tunnels with the use of a fine piece of riverside reed. This would be interesting to say the least and after collecting several long pieces of reed from along the river’s edge Phil pinched the thin end of each piece flat before tying a small knot in it. The trick he went on to say was to lightly touch the grub on the head, of course this is all done by feel. Once the grub grabs the reed just above the knot with its pinches, you quickly yank the grub clear of the hole. Sounded good in theory, now all that was left to do was uncover a few holes and put it to the test. After puffing and snorting for some fifteen minutes or more in the hot sun we managed to uncover several grub laden holes rimmed with the bark coloured silk that assured an occupant. This was backed up by flicking the rim as it made a distinct popping sound if a grub was hidden inside. Down went the weed and within seconds the grub had taken hold and was jerked skyward and caught in the users free hand as it cleared the tunnel. I was almost tempted to make an appeal with a boisterous “how’s that” but the splendid catch left little doubt the grub was well and truly out.  Just to prove it wasn’t a fluke several more were extracted in quick succession with minimal fuss and all caught in similar fashion. After witnessing this great new trick it was back to the river where several cod were landed on the freshly caught grubs. It appears that just when you think you know everything there is to know about fishing and all that goes with it, along comes something out of left field that proves the art of angling, like mathematics can never be learnt in a single lifetime.  What a handy little trick should you happen to leave your grub wire at home.

What’s under the tree for the fisho this season.

 
 It was the night before Christmas and all through the house every fisho was sleeping and wasn’t it grouse. When I opened an eye ball, what did I see but a Jolly red figure crouched under the tree.
Now I wasn’t quite sure but I watched on to see who this round bearded fellow might turn out to be.  In one hand a fish net, the other a rod, he had to be careful on just what he trod.
With several bright lures all scattered around, the split rings and trebles made a light jingling sound. High on the top where the star used to be was the latest and best Cod Almighty DVD.
It’s just about now things slipped up a gear as out from the sack come a six pack of beer. A deck chair was next and a punnet of worms and Santa kicked back for some fishing he’d earned.
Out with the line and into the tank, and the goldfish went skyward in one well timed yank. Seems Santa was good with the rod and the reel and in no time at all he had filled his new creel.
But catch and release is what Santa did best so onto the brag mat for the measuring test. Then back in the water each fish was released with the aid of lip grippers to protect from the teeth.
With a flash set of sunnies to cut Christmas light glare six dozen new spinnerbaits fell down from his hair. As he reached out to move them you wouldn’t believe but a brand new fish finder slipped out from his sleeve. 
Next from the sack a new motor he drew, it runs on a battery and so quiet too. Some sinkers, some hooks and out came the rest, all fishing attire to look finely dressed. Now back up the chimney as Santa was done he’d managed to leave heaps of great fishing fun.  So what do you get for the fisho this year? I’m sure Santa has left a few great ideas here.  

 Codmac would like to wish all a Merry Christmas  and a happy new year.

With water clarity fairly poor at the moment many anglers are turning to bait. This nice Golden perch ate a shrimp worm cocktail.

With the recent rains, anglers fishing our local waters will have noticed that water clarity has become in some cases very dirty. This is especially so in many of our smaller rivers where sudden runoff has a greater impact on water quality.  In these instances the age old debate on bait verses lures comes to play and while both are very effective in their own right, understanding how each works can help put a bend in the rod at the end of the day. Both bait and lures will work in dirty water so long as you, the angler understand a few basic steps on how to best present either method.  Fish use many senses to hone in on prey, these include sight where visibility aids in spotting a target. Sound where vibrations are detected through the lateral line announcing the arrival of a meal before it gets there. And smell where fish detect and are drawn to certain scents that are dispersed throughout the water column.  While it is true that lures work best when water clarity is good, some of our biggest cod have been taken on them in the dirtiest of conditions. With minimal visibility fish now react to a passing lure on a reflex basis. This has a habit of bringing undone those big old reluctant fish that have acquired a masters degree in lure recognition. It’s important to remember when fishing lures in dirty water that you will need to slow everything down, this allows the fish time to detect the vibrations and position themselves to intercept the lure when it arrives. The lateral line on larger fish like Murray cod is very effective at picking up small vibrations and provides the ability for these fish to hunt live prey even under the cover of darkness. Rattling lures are also effective in poor water clarity as are the larger bladed spinnerbaits that create extra pulse and sound as they rotate just above the snags. While fishing lures is harder under conditions of poor water clarity it is still a viable method for those that favour their use.  Bait on the other hand works exceptionally well when the water is dirty. Firstly fish are more inclined to leave the safety of the timber and move about in search of an easy meal. Runoff water or heavy rains help disperse a variety of different food items into the river. Worms, grubs, moths and other insects are all part of the smorgasbord that helps draw hungry fish away from cover.  Most of these items will be found in the shallows or along the dirty water line around the edges of eddies and large submerged tree trunks. All are good locations to soak a few baits under the current conditions.  Larger baits are most effective, several worms and a couple of shrimp cocktailed on the hook exude plenty of scent as does a fat Bardie or wood grub.  As for the bait versus lure debate, I would be inclined to have an each way bet as both will produce the goods when used in the correct manner to best suit the conditions.     

The 120mm Codzilla is gaining a big rep when it comes to landing giant Murray cod.

It’s not long now and we will be heading into what looks to be a ripper cod season. In a few short weeks, anglers will be dusting off the tackle and breaking out the lures in the hopes come opening morning, they might just be lucky enough to land the big one. With every new season comes an expanding range of tackle and techniques that are sure to put the angler one step ahead of the catch and this season looks to be no different. The ever evolving range of lures available to anglers has grown over the past twelve months with a few proven models racking up some very impressive catches before the close.  Blades have proven very effective on the Golden perch during recent times, with several incidental catches of cod to 15kg proving they will be a serious contender once the season opens. The new larger 80mm range are sure to be popular amongst anglers looking for that each way bet. Whilst still small enough to tempt golden perch, they are big enough to attract the attention of cod. To come up with an even larger blade in size is the next frontier as far as lure makers are concerned. And while there are a few finding their way onto the market at present, in my opinion they are still a little on the heavy side to fish to good effect.
A favorite lure towards the end of last season and one that will make big in roads over the coming months is aptly named the Codzilla. This is just one of several cod lures that the Koolabung company produces with some of the other lesser known models set to be a force in the future.  The Codzilla itself is designed with a slim profile to enhance lure action and improve the strike to hook up ratio. And that is exactly the results we found with some excellent big fish captures and very few missed opportunities. It’s great to have full confidence in your gear and to know that when that elusive strike does come you have given yourself every chance of staying connected. Hard to get last season, these lures are now becoming more available as demand grows.
It would hardly be a new season without something fresh from the Muldoon camp. Mullavey has created several very effective cod lures, but I feel that the new spindly fish models would be amongst the best.  There are two sizes and running depths. The 140 has a deep and shallow running model and the 100ml the same. Few, if any lures on the market cast as well as the 100ml spindly fish. Another new look lure set catch the anglers eye is a Mudeye creation simply called The One. This 120mm timber lure is a great representation of the local bony bream which are a bait species that make up the larger part of a Murray cod’s diet.  These shad styled lures will be ideal to cast around the weed beds and fallen snags or ideally trolled down deep amongst the hidden timber.  These are just a few of a much larger range of lures available for the coming cod season. Good luck with your selectionand the fish they are likely to catch come the opening on December 1.   

Shane Atze with a nice squid caught on fly.

You’ve got to applaud the conviction of the dedicated fly angler as they push their chosen sport to the bounds. Dare not tell them it can’t be done as no fish known to angler cannot be tamed by fur and feather and nor will there ever be for that matter.  Their enthusiasm to manipulate the simple sport of angling into an aeronautical nightmare thwart with a thousand and one variables is at times questionable. And something to be pondered especially when many of us struggle to outwit our quarry on conventional tackle using simple methods. Still, they toddle on in their own world with all the determination of a madman, the obsession realised only with the cry of ‘yes’ as the hook is set.  Never mind the same fish could have been caught for a pittance and tenfold on worm and hook.  It’s about the hunt, a package if you like, where numbers are nothing and costs are the burden of those who fail to realise the challenge.
 In this case the target species is a saltwater hunter that’s adept with the ability to blend and change colour at a moment’s notice.  An ocean born chameleon, the squid is a fearsome predator that appears from seemingly nowhere, thrusting forward two long hook clad tentacles that entwine and draw the struggling prey towards a parrot like beak. Embraced in its grip, there is no escape and its prey is killed and torn into manageable bite sized pieces before being devoured.  This time the hunter becomes the hunted in a match where the final move hinges on fur and feathers.
Drifting the weed beds in the quiet ocean bay, the cumbersome fly, a hand crafted creation that resembled a small baitfish takes to the air. It dances gracefully above the water before gaining the distance required, touching down near a weed encrusted pylon where it slowly sinks in the clear blue waters. With a short, sharp strip of the line, the mass of fur and feathers springs to life looking all the more real as it jerks its way just above the sea grass. A few more strips and a taunting shadow to the right slowly rises from the sea floor and ghosts the fly with a cautious eye. Not fully convinced, it pauses briefly before locking onto its prey and spearing forth its two long tentacles. The spur clad harpoons find their mark and encircle the fly in their deadly grip. In that instant the hunter knows its mistake, recoiling under a jettison of water it desperately tries to release its prey. But just like the barbs on its tentacles the fly too holds a shaft of finely tipped spins that now hold fast to the sucker clad limbs.  A cloud of black ink, a last means of defence will do little to help as the squid is drawn towards its captor.  A wry smile says it all and adds fuel to the obsession that is fly fishing. Just notch this catch up as one more victory for the fluff chucker’s as they tick their way through a seemingly unlimited list of what can be taken on fur and feather.