Shades Fishing News

THE Environmental Protection Authority is poised to make a decision on a penalty for Goulburn Murray Water for its involvement in hundreds of fish deaths in the Loddon River.

The water authority released an environmental flow into the river on March 10 for stock and domestic purposes, overflowing the Serpentine Weir.

The Salisbury West Landcare Group said they discovered “hundreds of dead native fish and carp” days later.

The EPA can fine organisations up to $240,000 for offences under pollution provisions of the Environment Protection Act.

An EPA investigation found between 100 and 120 dead fish including Murray cod, golden perch and European carp on March 16 about three kilometres from the Serpentine Weir.

The fish were found scattered over two kilometres.

EPA Bendigo manager Jeff Cummins said yesterday that the water authority had met with the EPA last week.

“We’ve now got a much better understanding on what went on, but a decision on any sort of penalty has to be made at the Melbourne office,” he said.

The Advertiser reported on April 8 that landowners were up in arms about the fish deaths.

“They should have never done it,” Salisbury West Landcare Group secretary John Vanston said at the time.

“Nobody was told about it.

“The river has been getting replenished with fish and then they go and do something like this.”

Source: Bendigo Advertiser

Landholders around the Wakool River System gave State Member for Murray-Darling John Williams a first-hand look at the desperate condition of the waterways recently.

Mr Williams met with members of Merran Creek Trust at landholder Geoff McDonald’s Woodleigh property to talk about the immediate concerns of the trust - ranging from the impacts of acid sulphate soil, salt intrusions being caused to Merran Creek and its surrounding environment landscape and wildlife, and why Section 323 of the Water Act is hampering farmers’ attempts to effectively make a living.

Mr Williams said it was critical that he met with the trust to get a first-hand look at the dire situation and to hear landholders’ concerns regarding the Wakool River System.

“It was honestly very sobering and horrific to see what was a beautiful and forging landscape next to Merran Creek . . . eaten away by lack of water because of conditions forced upon landholders under Section 323 of the Water Act,” Mr Williams said.

“Under the Act the Department of Water and Energy has imposed on irrigators, Merran Creek . . . has only received two `pulses’ of water . . . a year for the past two years.

“Due to the government imposing and enforcing the 323 temporary water restriction on the trust system, it enables the department, to the environment’s detriment, to close Merran Creek and disable the irrigators any form of irrigation.

“This then has severe ramifications to Merran Creek and the Wakool River System.

“There are increased fish kills, huge salt intrusions into the creek, and the build-up of acid sulphate soil which kills trees and the reproduction of crayfish.

“The lack of water has also seen the diminishing of massive amounts of bird life and kills to Murray cod,” he said.

Mr Williams briefly met with South Australia River Murray Minister and Water Security Minister Karlene Maywald.

While acknowledging that the South Australian Government might call on NSW for water if there was low rainfall during the next financial year, Mr Williams said it was imperative however that if this happened the constituents in the MurrayDarling electorate and their water needs did not suffer in the process.

Source : Country News

Local fisherman and conservationists will be very pleased to know that Nagambie Angling Club members were part of the restocking of native fish into the Goulburn River and Nagambie Lakes system recently.

The anglers released some of the fingerlings at Kirwan’s Bridge on Sunday 15 March and also took part in a Fisheries Victoria project of releasing golden perch and Murray cod hatchlings into the Goulburn River on Wednesday 18 March.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Seymour Labor MP Ben Hardman, was present at the release of the 230,000 small fish and joined the Angling Club’s secretary Wally Cubbin and Fisheries Victoria’s Russell Strongarm in releasing some of the fish from a small boat on the Goulburn River at Mitchelton. Bruce Wilson, from Fisheries Victoria, delivered the hatchlings in their fish tanks from a hatchery near Narrandera to the river site.

“The release of the fish signals a welcome return of the stocking of native fish,” Mr Hardman said.

“In total, more than 250,000 perch and Murray cod will be released this year into the Lakes region, including Lake Nagambie, Goulburn Weir and the adjoining Goulburn River and backwaters.”

“With fishing in the Lakes on the increase and thanks to the hard work of the Nagambie Angling Club, stocking has resumed in this area for the first time in fifteen years. Similar numbers of fish to those introduced today will be released into these waters for another four years.”

Mr Hardman added, “The Nagambie Lakes area is close to large population centres and provides good access to all types of anglers. It is hoped that the many waters of Nagambie Lakes will become the focus of fishers in central Victoria over the coming years.”

As he joined the Club members in the day’s fish release, Mr Hardman surveyed the unsurfaced boat ramp, which, they explained, is not very satisfactory. They have wanted a proper boat ramp at the Mitchelton bridge area for years, and asked Mr Hardman to note their request for an upgrade.

Close to one million native fish will be stocked into Victorian rivers and lakess over the next couple of months. Nearly 400,000 trout will also be released, with the aim of enhancing recreational fishing venues for the benefit of the community. The majority of native fish to be stocked are Murray cod and perch, which are both very popular species for angling. Other native species to be stocked into selected waters are trout, cod and silver perch.

Thanks was extended to the Nagambie Angling Club members for their assistance with the local project. Hopefully, in years to come, many of the hatchlings will survive to provide good fishing for the members.

The releases are in line with the Fisheries Management Plan, which gives Nagambie Lakes the potential to offer fantastic recreational fishing opportunities to fishers in the future.

Source : The Euroa Gazette

THE Murray cod fishery in the Murray River is thriving if the numbers of undersize cod being caught and released by anglers is any gauge.

Rod Mackenzie reports the small cod are proving a nuisance to anglers. One of the largest concentrations of undersize cod appears to be at Swan Hill.

Most of the small cod are being caught on bardi grub, cheese and shrimp.

Yellowbelly to 2kg are also being caught and these are taking shrimp and worm cocktails. The Wakool River near Kyalite has better numbers of legal cod and yellowbelly. White Spinnerbait lures are doing well.

Mick Hall reports Lake Eildon is producing good catches of yellowbelly to 2.8kg and redfin to 1.4kg on yabbie tails and scrubworms fished bobbin style among the dead trees. Eildon Pondage has plenty of rainbow trout to 1.4kg and these are being caught on Powerbait.

In the west, Doug Lucas at Colac says anglers are taking advantage of the new boat launching facility at Lake Purrumbete to catch brown trout to 3.2kg and rainbow trout to 1.8kg.

Mudeyes fished under a bubble float or trolled behind a Ford Fender attractors doing well. Downrigger trolling at 10-15m deep is the most productive method.

Doug reports Princetown beach has gummy sharks to 10kg and snapper to 1.4kg, with a steady run of 500-800g salmon at Clifton Beach. Southern bluefin tuna to 35kg and albacore dominate the catch off Portland.

Yellowtail kingfish to 10kg are being caught on the reefs at Killarney. The Fitzroy River is steady for bream to about 34cm but the Hopkins River at Warrnambool is quiet for mainly small bream.

Bream averaging 32-36cm are being caught on crab and minnow in the Curdies River. Anglers motoring to Cape Otway are catching gummy sharks to 20kg. Off Apollo Bay, flathead to 2kg are being taken in 20-30m of water, pinkies are on the inshore reefs and King George whiting to about 1kg are being caught out from Skenes Creek.

In Port Phillip Bay, snapper to 5.5kg are being caught in Corio Bay inner harbour offshore from the wheat silos and in the outer harbour from Point Lillias to Point Richards. Pilchard, garfish and squid baits working.

Salmon to 2kg are schooling off Black Rock and being caught trolling or spinning lures, or flicking unweighted baits.

Calamari squid are being caught along the inshore reefs from Frankston to Mornington pier.

Western Port has King George whiting from 32cm to 46cm being caught along the Middle Spit and Tortoise Head Bank on pipi, squid and mussel.

Snapper to 3kg are being caught off Corinella, along with pinkies, salmon and silver trevally. The bay’s annual run of elephant fish is underway with elephants to 3kg being caught in many areas of the bay including Corinella to Rhyll on pilchard and squid baits.

In the Gippsland Lakes, Hollands Landing is producing flathead and bream near the boat ramp on local prawn and soft plastic lures. In the Mitchell River, garfish are biting near the butter factory and bream are being caught at the Cut and the mouth on prawn and Vibe lures.

The Tambo and Nicholson Rivers have flathead and bream being caught on prawn and soft plastic lures. Lakes Entrance has salmon and small numbers of King George Whiting.

At Lake Tyers, luderick are biting between the jetty and tavern, and the Glasshouse area is producing flathead and bream on prawn and lures.

The estuary at Marlo has estuary perch and bream taking prawn baits. Sandworm and prawn baits are best for luderick and bream at Bemm River.

At Mallacoota Inlet, bream are biting in the Bottom Lake on prawn and metal lures. Flathead are taking soft plastics and live mullet, garfish are in good numbers and taking prawn with luderick and tailor being caught on weed and metal lures respectively.

Source : Weekly Times Now

A great new look to Rod Mackenzie’s new tackle shop, with some awesome fishing lures, and he has added a news feed which I will be checking out regularly for fishing tips and tricks in trying to catch those big murray cod and other Australian natives.

The shop is interesting as it allows you to write reviews for fishing lure products he has for sale, and the customer area is quite nifty with lots of small features. I can now for instance register my interest in out of stock items and be informed automatically when they are back in stock. He also now has a newsletter.

The fishing photos as well are a great browse, I don’t know how he does it consistently bringing in large murray cod on his fishing expeditions!

I’ve been a bit slack with updates on this site, it’s been a busy start to the year and busy fishing season for me, both in some salt water fishing up the south coast of Australia as well as the standard freshwater fishing for murray cod and yellowbelly. I’m also heading up to Queensland to hunt some barra as well.

chat soon!

LAKE Mokoan is a shadow of its former self, with storage levels at record lows.

Drought has seen water levels in the man-made lake drop to 2.4 per cent of capacity, with just 8846 megalitres left in the 365,000-megalitre storage.

The lake will be decommissioned in the middle of the year but Lake Mokoan project director David Jeffery said that had not caused the water shortage.

“It’s entirely due to the drought conditions,” he said.

“We’ve had drought-like conditions in the Broken system for at least the past 10 years.”

The previous lowest water level on record was in February and March in 1983 when Lake Mokoan was at about 4 per cent full.

The lake has not been at capacity since June 1989.

Department of Sustainability and Environment statewide catchment and water program leader Tony Long said between 200 and 300 carp had died in the lake about two weeks ago because of the low water levels.

“There’s been some carp deaths as more isolated bodies of water dried out,” he said.

“There are isolated bodies of water separated from the main lake.

“There was a small layer of water but not enough to allow for survival.”

Mr Long said there was still two major wetlands at the lake with a water depth of between 40-50cm and there had been no fish deaths in that area.

But he said more were inevitable.

So far 107 Murray cod and 4200 golden perch have been relocated from the lake in the past year.

Mr Long said water levels were too shallow to allow any more netting of fish but more may be able to be rescued if they moved to a channel upstream of the wall and the quantity of the fish was high enough and conditions in the channel allowed work.

Mr Jeffery said construction of a $14.5 million pipeline to supply water to Lake Mokoan diverters was progressing “at a furious pace”.

The system will see diverters supplied with water from the Broken River via a pumping station and 27.5km of pipeline which will connect to a 75-megalitre storage pond.

Mr Jeffery said major concrete works on the pumping station were completed and contracts awarded for pump installation and control gear.

Diverters would receive water from the system in March.

Source : The Border Mail

Steve Cooper

MURRAY cod season opened on Monday and Rod Mackenzie reports anglers fishing along the Murray River from Swan Hill to Mildura did well.

Murray cod to 8kg were taken on bardi grubs, shrimp and lures. Good numbers of yellowbelly to 1kg were also caught. Lake Charm has redfin to 1kg being caught on small yabbies.

In the North East, Geoff Lacey reports that the Bundarra and Cobungra rivers near Anglers Rest are producing brown trout to 500g on worms, lures and nymphs.

The Lower Mitta Mitta River is producing good numbers of rainbow trout 900g on green rabbit fur nymphs, worms and lures.

Snowy Creek at Granite Flat has brown and rainbow trout to 400g taking bait.

In the Western District, Doug Lucas says that Lake Bullen Merri is slow with small numbers of rainbow trout to 1.8kg caught trolling and on Powerbait. Lake Purrumbete has brown trout to 3kg being caught from the shore at Hoses and Shag Rocks on gudgeon and minnow under a bubble float.

The Gellibrand and Carlisle rivers in the Otway Ranges are producing brown trout to 1kg on scrubworms, small bibbed minnows and flies.

Doug reports that the Lee Breakwater at Portland is fishing well for snapper to 8.5kg and gummy sharks to 17kg.

The harbour has silver trevally to 1.5kg and calamari squid. The Aire and Gellibrand River estuaries are slow for bream.

The Curdies River is producing bream to 46cm on the east side of the lake on greyback minnow and shrimp. Salmon to 1.2kg and snapper to 1.5kg are being caught from Princetown and Aire River on pilchards. Wild Dog Creek at Apollo Bay has also produced salmon to 3kg.

Brett Torossi at Frankston reports snapper from 2-7kg being caught from Mt Eliza to Chelsea in 13-15m of water, and along the Pt Richards Channel off Clifton Springs.

Average size is 2.5-4kg but some snapper are up to 7kg. Best baits are squid, silver whiting and pilchards. Land based anglers spinning with metal jigs have caught salmon up to 2kg from Mornington to the Patterson River.

King George whiting to 40cm are biting on fresh squid, pipi and mussel in 5m of water from Mornington to Mt Martha and off the entrance to Swan Bay. Calamari squid are going well in the Lonsdale Bight on baited jigs.

In South Gippsland, Western Port is producing snapper in 10m of water from Lysaughts to Crawfish Rock, Corinella and the Corals. Most fish are 2-3kg, but up to 8.2kg. Fresh squid, pilchards and silver whiting bait producing results.

In the Gippsland Lakes, bream are being caught at the mouths of the Tambo and Nicholson rivers on local prawn. Flathead are being caught from the boardwalk and bream off the jetties at Metung.

Hollands Landing has bream and luderick taking prawn at the boat ramp. Lakes Entrance has mullet, salmon, flathead and trevally. Lake Tyers is producing trevally, tailor, dusky flathead to 6kg on pilchard and bream on prawn. Soft plastic lures also doing well.

In East Gippsland, Marlo beaches are producing salmon, flathead, tailor and gummy sharks. The Marlo estuary has bream, luderick, mullet and estuary perch to 1.23kg being caught on sandworm and prawn.

Bemm River has bream biting on worm and peeled prawn at the river entrance.

At Mallacoota Inlet, bream are biting in the Top Lake on prawn and bass yabbies. Large flathead are biting near Goodwin Sands on soft plastics and the inlet has plenty of luderick.

Source : Weekly Times

A NEW $600,000 fishway will make it easier for native fish to navigate the Kerang weir and migrate between the Murray River, the Loddon River and Pyramid Creek in Victoria.

The 47-metre long concrete vertical slot fishway on the Loddon River has 12 baffles to restrict water flow and encourage the movement of fish such as Murray cod, silver perch, golden perch, gudgeon and Murray rainbow fish.

Speaking at this month’s official opening, North Central CMA river health manager Brad Durst said the project was part of the five-year Loddon stressed rivers restoration plan.

Mr Durst said the CMA had worked with landholders to protect more than 200km of river frontage, improve 500ha of streamside vegetation and recreate 4km of fish habitat while removing more than 100ha of invasive willow species.

“We’re also managing environmental water to avoid catastrophic events during the drought,” he said.

“The fishway opens up 50km of the Loddon River to additional fish passage and habitat . . . the focus now turns to monitoring its effectiveness and understanding its impacts.”

Goulburn Murray Water spokesman Greg Stevens said it was the 16th fishway built by GMW since 1997, with construction of the 17th already under way at Gunbower, Victoria.

Mr Stevens said the project was unique because it required modifications to the weir and the bridge 200m upstream to increase water depth.

With a $640,000 budget, Mr Stevens said the fishway was built by GMW crews during the winter “off season” and finished in September.

The project was completed “on time, under budget and with no (workplace or environmental) incidents”, Mr Stevens said.

Source : Weekly Times Now

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

The new 2009 Go Fishing in Victoria calendar is available now free of charge as part of the Brumby Government’s commitment to fishing in Victoria.

Minister Responsible for Fisheries Joe Helper said the theme of the 2009 Go Fishing in Victoria calendar is fish friendly farming.

“Each month has its own colour illustration depicting how farmers and the community can help fish and their habitats by protecting the environment in and around waterways while fishing in adjacent rivers and lakes,” Mr Helper said.

“Activities carried out by the community ranges from calling Fisheries Victoria’s 13 FISH (13 3474) reporting service if they suspect illegal fishing to fencing off stock and using fertilisers responsibly.

“The calendar also lists important fishing dates in 2009 such as closed seasons for species such as trout, Murray cod and blackfish, and important farming dates such key agricultural field days.”

The illustrated calendar also highlights fun events for new and experienced recreational fishers, including details of Family Fishing Festivals at each of the five Premier Lakes next year.

The 2009 Family Fishing Festivals will be held at Eildon Pondage (April 18), Lake Hyland, Churchill (May 2), Kennington Reservoir, Bendigo (August 9), Lillydale Lake (September 19) and Jubilee Lake, Daylesford (October 18).

Mr Helper said access at the Premier Lakes is being developed by the Brumby Government to make fishing more appealing to people of all ages and abilities.

“These lakes offer great fishing as well as facilities such as toilets, barbecues, picnic tables and playground equipment to help make the fishing experience more enjoyable for the whole family,” Mr Helper said.

“The Family Fishing Festivals teach children skills that will enable them to fish more successfully on future trips to premier lakes and other Victorian waters.”

The calendars and Family Fishing events are part of the Brumby Government’s $3.2 million Go Fishing in Victoria initiative which aims to increase participation in fishing by improving facilities and promoting angling as a fun and healthy outdoor activity for the entire family.

To obtain a free copy of the calendar visit your nearest DPI office, send an email to go.fishing@dpi.vic.gov.au which includes your postal address, or call the DPI Customer Service Centre on 136 186.

For more information about the Go Fishing in Victoria initiative visit www.dpi.vic.gov.au/gofishing

(Ed. Note : The 2009 Calendar is not available for download from the DPI site, you must email or ring the customer service centre )

Source : Candy Broad MLC