Lithgow/Oberon

LITHGOW/OBERON Glen Stewart

stewie72@bigpond.com

It might be cold outside but right about now could be some of the best fishing you’ll get locally on rainbow trout. A false spawn on the windswept gravel banks of TCD (Thompsons Creek Dam) takes place at this time you maintain some loose contact with the spoon as it drops because they are quite often taken on the drop. Ditto soft plastic presentations as they pendulum back to a steep bank you may be on. Bigger brown trout are also a possibility when lure casting in such a way.

LAKE WALLACE

Wang Dam might be considered a bit of hands together.

That said, in a way it will always be a niche market. The frigid temperatures overnight and in the mornings do have a tendency to sort out which anglers are sane and which are not.

I’m definitely in the not-so-sane category, and love everything about the whole deal. It has been interesting watching the

cod that are still yet to be realized, and working it out on your own terms, in your own way is a very special journey that I’m hoping more anglers will embark on.

Which brings me to a favourite quote of mine when it comes to letting the bigger cod go.

“In letting go we sign off on a memory. What it

took to get to this moment will depend on how deep Bigger lures can certainly elicit a greater reaction out of larger trout at this time of year. Gaden Trout HatcheryGadenTrout Hatchery it’s etched.” Gaden Trout Hatchery Hope to see you on the water soon. Until then, tight lines. See how premier sport fish are bred and raised!

Rainbow trout in TCD are best targeted with lures away from the main false spawning areas. Trout moving between pods seem to react to lures more aggressively in this scenario. Gaden Rd (off Kosciuszko Rd) * * * * * 12934 leaping fish * 4 species aquaria, breeding ponds, AV show beautiful picnic–BBQ area smoked trout for sale find out about kids fishing workshops.

of year, and if nothing else it’s visually exciting as an angler to witness such events.

As for the catching part, well… that can be a totally different story. More than once I’ve viewed frustrated anglers cursing these fish with the kind of colourful language that prison wardens would hear most days.

The fishery gets a real hiding at times. It’s best to avoid the crowds as most pods of fish wise up pretty quickly to what’s going on. They might not disappear but catching one will be damn near impossible. I’ve found that sometimes when such pods of fish are rested, they can be fooled with a careful approach and presentation.

Fly anglers definitely have the upper hand, as repeated presentations of miniscule offerings just cannot be done any other way.

Lure anglers in most cases are better off targeting free swimmers between pods. Aggressive responses can sometimes be triggered by using large shallow diving minnows.

Colourful spoons are also a good option if you’re blind casting out over the flats. These spoons can also be counted down in deeper water – just ensure an understudy when it comes to trout fishing in comparison to TCD, but it’s well worth checking out. Vehicle access and the recent addition of a floating pier sets it apart from TCD, and it’s great for anglers with mobility issues.

Being able to use baits is another option that people enjoy. It’s quite relaxing actually – listening to Sunday afternoon football on the radio, a hot cup of tea in hand, and all the while you’re soaking a Berkley PowerBait down in the depths, waiting for old Mr. Speckles to swim past.

Remember to use a light hook small enough to hide inside the entirety of one PowerBait nugget, and use a running sinker rig. The idea is to get the bait up off the bottom, and keep a very close eye on the set-up. I’ve lost count of the number of rods that I have seen pulled in.

MURRAY COD

Twenty years ago, if you’d asked me to go fishing for cod in some of the local impoundments at this time of year, I would have laughed you off.

Not anymore. The growth of this style fishing has been nothing short of phenomenal, and tackle shop owners and distributors must be absolutely rubbing their broader space evolve. There is most definitely a thread of undergroundisim developing. I totally get it, and have pulled back myself from my normal sharing of information in some cases. Opportunities exist on these big winter impoundment

The author grabbed this 130mm OSP Bent Minnow out of his barra box to target bigger brown trout, and it paid off. Jindabyne. 02 6451 3400 www.dpi.nsw.gov.au Gaden Trout HatcheryGadenTrout Hatchery Gaden Trout Hatchery