Shades Fishing News

The Primary Industries Department says it should know in the next 24 hours what caused of the death of hundreds of bony bream at Lake Bonney in the Riverland.

The fish were found washed up on the shore on Tuesday.

The Department’s Vic Neverauskas says samples of water and fish collected from the lake are being tested.

He says there have also been unverified reports of dead murray cod.

Mr Neverauskas says that in winter, a kill of bony bream happens after a cold weather snap, but this time that is unlikely to be the case.

“The fact that this is happening in warmer weather would suggest that temperature is not the issue with this one and we’ll certainly try to look at if we can find any cause-effect with the current situation,” he said.

“It’s a wait and see for the first couple of days, the critical thing is to get those water samples into the laboratory and have a look for whether or not there’s anything in the water that might be causing the problem.”

Source : ABC News

The redfin, or English perch, was introduced to Australia from Europe about 1860 and has since become widespread throughout much of New South Wales and Victoria, and inhabits our local impoundment Lake Burrendong and the Macquarie River.

Redfin are popular with some anglers because of their eating qualities. They are also voracious predators of other fish and invertebrates, and can destroy recreational fisheries in enclosed waters by building up large numbers of stunted fish, eliminating other species and devastating native fish populations by carrying the EHN virus.

This disease is unique to Australia and can cause mass mortality in juvenile redfin during the summer months.

A number of native species, including silver perch, Murray cod, mountain galaxias and particularly Macquarie perch, are highly susceptible to the disease, and EHN virus may be one factor responsible for the decline in various native species in the past couple of decades.

For these reasons, redfin are considered a serious pest in NSW. It can be recognised by its pattern of six or more tapering bands on the sides of the body and red pelvic, anal and caudal fins.

It has a humped back behind the head, and a large mouth. It grows up to 60cm in length and 10.4kg in weight, but is more common at 30-45cm.

Redfin is usually found in still, slow flowing freshwaters as it feeds on crustaceans, worms, molluscs, insect larvae and smaller fish.

Anglers at Lake Burrendong have been using a variety of methods to catch redfin of late, including bobbing, surface popping, and both trolling and casting lures.

The NSW DPI has the following suggestions on how anglers can help:

o Large redfin are good sport and eating fish and there are no bag or size limits on them. Please keep all redfin you catch and don’t release them into our waterways or dams.

o Don’t transfer redfin between waterways or introduce them into farm dams. New populations of redfin can quickly build up to large numbers, leading to stunted fish and can quickly replace other recreational species.

o Don’t use live redfin (or any other live finfish) as bait in freshwater - it’s illegal and carries a high risk of infesting new areas with redfin.

o Obtain a permit to stock fish - and buy fingerlings from a registered hatchery to prevent contamination with unwanted species.

o Prevent unwanted hitchhikers - check, clean and dry boats and gear between waterways. Ensuring your boat and trailer are free of weed before re-launching can help avoid the possibility of spreading redfin eggs and juveniles.

o Assist efforts to restore our rivers by taking part in a RiverCare or LandCare project or by conserving and restoring riparian vegetation on your own land.

o Take part in native fish restocking programs with your local angling group.

For more information go to www.dpi.nsw.gov.au.

Splitrock fishing

There are some very dense weed beds at Splitty at the moment, and anglers stripping lipless crank baits and minnows on the edges are scoring some big yellowbelly.

Keepit

Trolling methods still continue to yield good catches of yellowbelly for many anglers. Rotating through a variety of lure colours, including both fluros and natural patterns has made it easier to find what the flavour of the day is for resident natives.

Burrendong

With the Federal Hotel’s Wellington Fishing Club fishing competition just around the corner, some big catches of redfin were reported this week. Some anglers bagged between 20 and 30 fish averaging around 30cm in length. Locating schools and bobbing worms and yabbies has been a very successful method.

Macquarie River

Shrimp activity has increased incredibly in the last few weeks, with our local river’s food chain well and truly in working order. Weed bed edges are proving to be a great spot to cast for some fighting fit golden perch, and the odd silver perch.

Glenbawn

Australian bass in Lake Glenbawn have fired up over the past week, with some 45cm plus fish proving hard to stop for many visiting the dam. Kokoda Wee Wop’s, Chubby’s, and Alex Ritmo Tango hard bodies are all taking fish on the points and edges.

Source: Dubbo Daily Liberal

Steve Cooper

THE biggest event on the anglers’ calendar this summer is the opening of Murray cod season in Victoria and NSW on Monday, December 1.

In terms of publicity and public involvement, the Murray cod opening has developed into a more anticipated event than the trout opening.

Cod stocks in Victoria’s northern rivers and lakes have gone from boiled sweets to chocolates.

The fishery is testament to the determination of Fisheries biologists in Victoria and NSW to renew Murray cod.

In many waters, the species has been brought back from the brink of extinction to a dominance it held when white settlers arrived.

Almost three months after cod season closed, most native fish anglers are starting to think about where they will be heading.

Some anglers will take the first week of December off work to chase cod because early season fishing can be excellent.

If you are planning a cod trip, now is a good time to find where the cod are, and which rivers and impoundments hold enough water, so you can decide where to go.

Long-term stocking in Lake Eildon in Victoria has seen hundreds of thousands of Murray cod released and anglers trolling large bibbed minnows down deep in the Delatite Arm can do well. Cod in excess of 25kg have been caught in this water.

Victoria’s Kerang Lakes have been stocked with cod. Lakes Boga, Charm and Kangaroo, and Middle Lake don’t hold monsters, but they do have legal size cod.

Victorian rivers to try include the lower Goulburn, Broken River (Benalla to Shepparton) and the Loddon River, above and below Bridgewater.

The Campaspe River from Elmore to Echuca has cod but is a small boat or bank fishing option.

Along the Murray River, there are many opportunities.

The Mitta Arm at Lake Hume (classed as Victorian water) and Lake Mulwala at Yarrawonga (classed as NSW water) produce good results.

Lake Mulwala is generally regarded as the most productive cod fishery in Australia in terms of numbers of cod caught.

Gunbower Creek, near Cohuna, produces cod as does another anabranch, the Little Murray River near Swan Hill.

The Murray River upstream of Swan Hill to Pental Island is a consistent stretch of water.

Alternatively, the Wakool River at Kyalite or the Edward River upstream of Kyalite fish well for cod early in the season.

Other places along the Murray worth trying are Boundary Bend and further downstream from Euston Weir to Wemen.

The Murrumbidgee River at Balranald, Maude and Hay has earned a reputation for producing good numbers of Murray cod early in the season.

Tackling up for cod isn’t difficult. Most bait fishers prefer 6-8kg threadline outfits.

To rig up, use a running sinker to a No. 2-4 straight hook or a 6/0 Suicide pattern. A leader of a minimum 15kg breaking strain should be used in case you hook into a big cod, which will wear through lighter leader material.

Best cod baits include bardi grubs, shrimp, yabbies and scrubworms. Cheese baits also do well.

Lure trollers tend to use baitcaster outfits, with a large difference between the rod rating and the line used.

The popular rod is rated for about 6kg but the reel will be spooled with 15kg breaking strain braid to stand the wear and tear of timber.

When using an outfit configured this way, set your drag on the reel to suit the rod, not the line - otherwise you may end up the owner of a two-piece rod.

The same outfit can be used for casting lures into snags.

When you attach your lure, use a loop knot as clips or snaps have a nasty habit of opening up at inopportune times - like when you are hooked up.

As a rule of thumb, the most productive early season lures are in bright or fluoro colours.

Successful cod lures include Stumpjumpers, Mongs, Halco Poltergeists and Scorpions, AC Invaders and Oargee, and spinnerbaits and mumblers like those produced by Bassman.

* Steve Cooper can be heard on the Casting Off program on Radio Sport927 between 4.30am and 6.30am on Saturdays.

Source : Weekly Times Now

BATHURST yesterday struck a devastating blow against invasive feral fish species when 400 recreational anglers hauled more than 80 carp and redfin from the Macquarie River.

Groups including as many as eight family members fished for just over six hours, landing redfin as small as two grams to whopping carp that tipped the scales at 6.75 kilograms.

NSW Fisheries’ Education officer Brett Smith was amazed that the initiative of the Bathurst RSL Fishing Club, staging only its second annual BCF Carp Blitz, has rid the Macquarie River of so many “rabbits of the river” in only a few hours.

Mr Smith congratulated the members of the fishing club for being among the first in NSW to cotton onto the Fishers for Fish Habitat project that aims to improve the native fish habitat on waterways across the state.

The fishing club collected gold coin donations to be matched dollar for dollar to buy quality native murray cod, yellowbelly and silver perch to stock local waterways.

“This has been an amazing day for Bathurst because of the large number of fish of breeding potential that were removed from the river,” Mr Smith said.

“When you calculate that just one of the carp that have achieved between two and six kilograms has a capacity to on breed, producing as many as 50,000 more carp, this is a huge environmental impact for the good of the river, water quality and native fish habitat.

David Roberts, 34, caught one of the last fish before the 2pm weigh-in, hooking a massive 6.75 kilogram carp from a spot he occupied with friends just up from the Denison Bridge.

Source : Western Advocate

The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is currently undertaking research involving freshwater fish movements in many waterways throughout NSW, including the Macquarie River.

Anglers are urged to check all fish that they catch for a tag or microchip to assist with research that is vital to our fisheries’ future.

NSW anglers who catch a tagged fish in their region are asked to freecall 1800 185 027 to report the date of the catch, tag number, place of catch, length and species of fish.

Anglers will be posted the details of the original tagging location and rewarded with a 75-millimetre ‘Oar-Gee’ plow lure, which is a Murray Cod specialist.

Species to be tagged include native fish such as Murray cod, silver perch, golden perch, Australian bass, catfish, mullet and bony bream, and introduced fish such as European carp, goldfish and red-fin.

The participation of anglers has greatly contributed to the success of a study on the migration patterns of fish along the Murray-Darling River system, and it is hoped that anglers will keep up the good work.

NSW DPI researchers have found that the study of tagged fish and the reporting of anglers along the Murray-Darling River system has proved to be very valuable.

Studies from fish tagging is providing vital information on the movement patterns of native fish, which will help manage their populations.

It will also provide important biological information on introduced species, which can be used to develop better methods for their control.

Freshwater fish ecologists with the NSW DPI, together with their counterparts from the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment and the South Australian Research and Development Institute, have tagged fish along many of the major rivers within the Murray-Darling Basin with microchip tags similar to those used to tag pets.

Automated tracking stations which record the movement of fish through fish-ways are being progressively installed along the Murray River, and unlike previous tagging studies that relied on recapturing the fish, the tracking stations automatically record the location of the fish as they swim through the fish-way.

Fish have also been externally tagged with yellow tags that can be easily recognised by anglers.

Contact details to report the re-capture of tagged fish are printed on each tag.

During peak fishing periods, scientists have been receiving more than 100 tag returns in a week.

Receiving so many responses can slow down the processing of tag replies, but anglers can rest assured that all reported captures will receive a response.

Since the tagging of fish began in 2001 more than 10,000 fish have been tagged and released into the main channel of the Murray and Murrumbidgee Rivers.

A further 500 fish have been tagged in the Shoalhaven catchment.

This large scale tagging of fish will be ongoing in numerous rivers within NSW for a number of years.

Anglers who clean their catch may also find a microchip in the shoulder of these species.

Each microchip contains a unique number and fish can be identified if anglers are able to return the tag.

Initial results showed that some fish have moved more than 500 kilometres along the Murray River in as little as three months and as far as 1700 kilometres over two years.

Source: Dubbo Daily Liberal

Scientists say increasing numbers of Murray cod are dying in the lower reaches of the river.

A scientist at the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), Dr Qifeng Ye, has been monitoring Murray cod numbers since 2005.

Dr Ye says the increase in cod deaths this spring has been noticeable.

She says the drought and low water levels could be to blame.

“The number of Murray cod is pretty low that we collected, so we still need to think about an improved mechanism of efficient and cost-effective way of assessing the Murray cod abundancy in the lower Murray,” she said.

Source : ABC News

TASMANIAN freshwater anglers, normally content to cast a line and forget about distractions such as the economy and politics, are mobilising for the fight of their lives.

They fear the centrepiece of a $115 million world famous trout fishing industry — Arthurs Lake, in Tasmania’s highlands — is under threat from an ill-conceived irrigation scheme.

More broadly, they are concerned the rush to “drought-proof Tasmania” with a series of 11 irrigation schemes, costing taxpayers $240 million, could create an ecological disaster on the scale of the Murray-Darling.

“We have got a crisis on the doorstop of Tasmania’s lakes and the Government is talking about 11 irrigation schemes for which there is no known science and which promise to alter the nature of Tasmania,” says Richard Dax, executive officer of Anglers Alliance Tasmania.

Mr Dax is marshalling his forces to oppose one of the first ofthe irrigation schemes, the Arthurs Lake Pipeline.

It is a $61 million plan to take up to 28,000 megalitres of water each year from Arthurs Lake to the lower midlands, where — 73km away — decades of drought have farmers in despair.

The problem is that Arthurs Lake, like many of Tasmania’s highland lakes, is also feeling the effects of record low rainfalls.

A mecca in Tasmania’s brown trout fishery, Arthurs Lake is already 5.4m below full supply, according to fishermen.

If it drops further, they fear turbidity — murkiness — will become a problem here as it has in other “over-exploited” lakes, such as Lake Sorell and Lake Crescent.

Turbidity is a turn-off to anglers and cashed-up tourists who flock to the region.

Former guide Neil Grose, publisher of The Tasmanian Sportsfisher, says: “The whole economy up here is built around fishing — the place exists because of trout fishing.”

Mr Dax will next week begin talks with the conservation movement to broaden the fight beyond the state’s 30,000 anglers.

Turbidity is already an occasional problem in Arthurs Lake and Mr Dax says the water level has fallen 1.5m below a level set in 1993 in an agreement between fishermen and Hydro Tasmania.

Anglers are demanding a full environmental impact study before the pipeline proceeds and argue endangered species, including freshwater crayfish and several species of galaxias fish, are also at risk.

The body responsible for the Arthurs Lake Pipeline proposal is the Tasmanian Irrigation Development Board.

It argues the loss of 28,000ML a year from the lake for irrigation will be compensated by Hydro no longer diverting exactly the same quantity for power generation.

But with Hydro dams still only at 30 per cent capacity because of lack of rainfall, the argument is not washing with fishermen.

“If these drought conditions continue, it is quite likely the Hydro will want their bit as well,” Mr Dax says.

Water is already being diverted from Arthurs Lake to Lake River to meet the uncapped rights of a number of irrigators.

Irrigation Board chief executive Jock Chudacek concedes there is no guarantee Hydro will not decide to divert water for power generation, but argues the irrigation deal does nothing to increase the potential demands on the lake. He agrees, however, that action is needed to end uncapped water rights for the Lake River irrigators.

And he assures anglers that all irrigation schemes will be subject to environmental impact studies.

Alan Harradine, the Tasmanian Government’s general manager of Water Resources, is urging calm. He says all water development proposals will need to meet state and federal statutory approval processes and National Water Initiative requirements.

Source: The Australian

Steve Cooper

MANY anglers keep a journal or diary of their fishing. A diary gives the angler a history of what happened, an opportunity to reflect, and hopefully a crystal ball into the future.

Most of us believe that history, at least when it comes to fish movements, will repeat.

If you are not right, then at least you can say you were guessing with some authority.

Moreover, when someone says the fishing isn’t as good as it was 20 years ago, you can turn to your diary and make an assessment based on the written word, rather than a badly chaffed memory.

Don’t be surprised if you find the fishing has improved.

When I began keeping a fishing diary, there was a tendency to write more than necessary. After a few years, the trips become shorter, at least in words. The flowery prose gave way to factual information.

To that end, the diarists among us keep notes and list the factors we think are important - things like tide, wind, barometer, bait used and, always, moon phase.

Saltwater anglers can become obsessed by the moon.

Some prefer the new moon for snapper, and the full moon for bream and gummy sharks.

In the freshwater, anglers appear more interested in barometer readings, especially in lakes but also on rivers where native species like Murray cod are being sought.

I believe fish react to outside influences, and that the same rules do not necessarily apply to all waters, or the same fish wherever they are caught.

Sometimes, though, you come across a recurring sequence that seems to indicate when and where certain species will come on the chew.

Time and tide are considerations for thinking salt-water anglers, and the overriding influence on tide is the moon.

Therefore, whether you think moon phases or tides, you are still thinking in lunar terms.

Even many freshwater anglers will fish only when the moon is down, or on the dark side.

Lunar cycles play an important role on the habits of fish; defining that role is difficult.

Next to the sea, the moon is the strongest primeval urge in us.

Science has proven that some living organisms respond to the moon’s phases.

The feeding cycle of oysters is influenced by lunar change, and fiddler crabs change colour according to the moon.

Theorising about fishing is easy, but as most anglers probably realise, fish are not always predictable. It’s what keeps us coming back.

Most anglers have reasons as to why fish bite better at certain times on certain baits.

But for all the theory, fish don’t always co-operate and coming up with a logical answer why fish don’t do what they are supposed to do is the hard part.

Anglers regarded as experts by their peers don’t always know the real reasons behind a hot bite, or lack of bites.

Experts are those anglers who have just experienced a hot bite and caught plenty.

The fact that any fish were caught could have been either a stroke of luck or pure genius.

The big question lies in discovering why and when fish can be expected to bite.

In the late 1960s, John Alden Knight’s Solunar Tables became available in Australia.

Knight believed there were major and minor periods of activity when fish were more likely to feed, and this was due to the moon: its phase and proximity to the Earth and the position of the sun at the same time.

It was a complicated theory but one I followed through with regularity for a few years by keeping a diary of my fishing with the relevant lunar notes.

There was some merit in Knight’s predictions.

Melbourne computer guru Tim Smith has come up with a similar theory and put out a small booklet called Tim Smith’s Solar & Lunar Fishing and Hunting Times 2009.

If you are into moon phases and fish predictions, and want to maintain a diary, then the Anglers Journal & Almanac, which contains Tim’s lunar predictions as well as other information including tide charts and journal entry pages, is worth a look.

Anglers Journal & Almanac is published by the Australian Fishing Network, RRP: $24.99.

* Steve Cooper can be heard on the Casting Off program on Radio Sport927 between 4.30am and 6.30am on Saturdays.

Source : Weekly Times

The boys at Rapid Release have put out another DVD to follow up their first ‘Cod Almighty’, aptly named ‘Cod Almighty 2′, you can view the trailer and purchase here.

The gang take on some mighty Murray Cod in this their second foray in video of some of the biggest catches I have seen. With great tips and full of knowledge, both these DVD videos are a must have for any keen Murray Cod fisherman, chasing the legend.

It’s fast paced action coupled with insider education that brings you up to speed for the day you hook onto that monster your always chasing. Some of the biggest fish caught on film, don’t miss out.

Local fishermen and women have again this week reported some of the best fishing in times gone by, with golden perch, silver perch, European carp and the endangered trout cod feeding aggressively along many stretches of the Macquarie River.

Matt Campbell, Jason Walters, Tina Sykes and I enjoyed a ‘once in a blue moon’ lure casting session that saw 14 fish come to the net in just a little over two hours, and incredibly nine of the fish caught and released were trout cod.

Penalties for being caught in possession of a trout cod are severe and it is totally illegal to fish for the species, but they are becoming a more regular bi-catch for those fishing for golden perch and murray cod, when in season, along the Macquarie in and around Dubbo district.

Trout cod have officially been known to grow to 16kgs or 35.2 pounds and are a highly aggressive fish with plenty of potential to become a self-sustaining freshwater sport fishing species. Local legends even speak of the species reaching a massive 30kgs, or 66 pounds, in the Dubbo region.

It is fantastic to see the species thriving in certain areas in the Macquarie River, and if all anglers continue to respect the endangered status assigned to the species, it may not be long until we see trout cod population numbers soar to a level where they may be legally targeted by freshwater anglers.

If you happen to catch a fish you suspect of being a trout cod, but are not quite sure, one way of telling for certain is by looking at the jaw area.

A trout cod’s top jaw overhangs the bottom, whereas a murray cod has a larger bottom jaw which overshoots the top. Trout cod must be released without harm immediately after being caught.

Matt Campbell had a run-in with a 62cm trout cod late on Sunday afternoon on the outskirts of Dubbo whilst casting an AusSpin TwinSpin half ounce spinnerbait in electric purple, and did well to maneuver the ‘Trouty’ out of dense structure, across the weed bed and into the bank to be released.

The fish pulled line off the reel at will and was beautifully coloured. Well done to Matt on a great catch.

Burrendong Dam

Mark Rich of Wellington reported some amazing happenings in a bay off the Macquarie Arm of Burrendong Dam this week, as thousands of massive European Carp moved into the shallows to spawn.

Mark managed to scoop up around 180 of the carp with a landing net in the shallows, with the average weight estimated at 10 pounds.

Mark was left wishing he had twenty mates up in that bay with him that afternoon as thousands of carp may have been removed. Well done to Mark on getting rid of as many of the pests as he did, and thanks to the kids who busily dispatched all the carp as they were placed up on the bank.

News from DPI

A fisherman who failed to pay for a recreational fishing licence has ended up with a $600 fine - enough to have taken out licences for the next 24 years, Minister for Primary Industries Ian Macdonald announced earlier this month.

The man was found fishing off Sow and Pigs Reef in Sydney Harbour when he was apprehended.

“The man was issued with a $200 penalty infringement notice, but elected to take the matter to court,” he said.

“The magistrate found the man, from Denistone, guilty in his absence, and when he failed to appear for sentencing, brought down the $600 fine.

“The maximum penalty for this offence is $2200.

“With the three-year licence fee at $75, the fine would have bought eight renewals.”

All recreational fishers in NSW are required to pay the fishing fee, unless exempt. Those who already have a fishing fee receipt are also reminded to check that the receipt is current and valid before going fishing. Visit www.dpi.nsw.gov.au for more information.

Source : Dubbo Daily Liberal