A sharp dip in temperatures and the best fall of rain we’ve had in months has breathed new life into the local freshwater fishing scene.
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The impact has been felt most in the mountain lakes, with trout moving closer to shore as the shallows cool.
Lake Eucumbene is only 26 per cent full but is fishing better every day as brown trout in the 500g to 1kg range come within casting range of shore-based fishos.
Try flicking Tasmanian Devils, metal spoons, Celtas or diving minnows in bays where the wind has coloured the water and stirred up food.
Fly fishing is also good around the margins, and will improve as hungry fish start cruising the banks for yabbies, worms and insects.
April often sees the first spawn runners make their way towards the river mouths, so the area around Providence Portal could be productive over coming weeks.
In fact, if we get follow-up rain and snow, I’d definitely recommend heading to the portal or the mouth of the Eucumbene in search of an early spawn run brown.
Closer to home, around 50mm of rain has freshened-up the urban lakes. All are fishing well for redfin and golden perch, with late evening the best time to score a native.
There have been a few cod around too. They’re mostly small and are mainly being picked up on baits such as worms, yabbies and even sweetcorn!
On the coast, offshore fishing is excellent as we head towards Easter.
The marlin bite remains steady. There are enough striped marlin and a few blues over the Shelf to keep game fishers interested. If it stays this way, the bluewater will be packed over the break.
Dolphin fish are thick around the FADs and other floating structure. The Merimbula FAD has been especially productive, yielding large numbers of solid dollies at times.
Montague Island continues to produce legal-size kingfish. The key ingredient is current. When there’s some run, you’re in for some fun.
Estuary fishing for a range of species is firing at just the right time. Anglers preparing for school holidays and the Easter break will be happy to hear that bream, flathead, whiting, salmon and tailor and all on the bite.
Salmon in particular are causing excitement in the Moruya River and Tuross Lake. They’re chunky fish, too, and give a great account of themselves on light tackle. They’re mostly schooling around the mouth and lower reaches.
Summer is a distant memory but it seems no-one told the whiting – they’re still taking surface lures at Tuross and in other systems.
There are schools of undersize kings in Merimbula Lake; they’re mostly under 60cm but are awesome sport on bream gear.
