We’re spoilt for choice

TOOWOOMBA

Jason Ehrlich fishability1@bigpond.com

What a different start to the year and autumn season we have had. Last year, we had widespread flooding that left us scratching our heads wondering where to go fishing. This year is more normal and we will be spoilt for choice. Autumn is a pretty good time to experience all the different freshwater options available with all species willing to have

CLOSEST TOWN: CROWS NEST

The fishing has been slow at Cressbrook Dam. A few smaller bass have been caught along with quite a few golden perch. As the days get shorter and cooler, it can be a good time to try bait fishing with live shrimp for both species. The main basin points will be prime locations to try with the points out in front (north) of the camping ground well worth exploring. These points can be accessed by boat, kayak or even the walking tracks around the lake. Bass Bay is another good spot to check out. It is the bay between the boat ramps and the buoy line over near the pump tower. This can be accessed from the shore in the picnic area but you really need a boat to reach the fish in the bay as they position themselves a long way out. There are sure to be other productive spots around the lake and you will need to spend a lot of time on the sounder searching for fish on them. Anglers prepared to do this will be the ones coming away with the biggest smiles on their faces.

Lure fishers can try casting along the edges of the lake. Spinnerbaits, a play in lakes, rivers and creeks.

It is a transition time where fish start to change their habits. This could be a change in diet and therefore lure choices or just a change in environment or the depth they are holding. The cooler weather and shorter days brings these changes on and I find the shorter, cooler days much more comfortable when putting in a big session.

A lot of my fishing reports are sourced from information that filters through tackle stores. One store which has been a lipless crankbaits and chatterbaits will all be worth a go. Keep a close eye on the sounder for any schooling bass. The schools are likely to be found in 6-10m of water and will respond to soft plastics and spoons.

It’s going to be a tough grind at Cressbrook and I don’t think we will see numbers until mid-winter and spring when the bass bunch up together in bigger schools.

• Fish’n’Bits in Toowoomba has all the gear and tips on how to chase the Cressy fish. They are an excellent store specialising in all freshwater lures and tackle. The access gates to the ramp and day use area will be open from 6am to 8pm this month before the hours are shortened in May.

SOMERSET

CLOSEST TOWNS:

ESK, KILCOY

Bass fishing has improved a bit over the last month. This is often a tough time of year to find and entice the Somerset fish but hopefully they keep chewing. The main school of bass which was holding around the southern side of Pelican Point has been more mobile over the last month. They are still moving around the Pelican Point area but they may scatter more into smaller schools making huge help is Fish’n’Bits, Toowoomba. Most freshwater fishers will be familiar with this store and the service they provide offering a range of products well suited to the freshwater angler. Kris George has run the store from Alderley Street for many years but this month a big move will take place and they will be opening in a flash new building closer to the centre of Town. Around mid-April, Fish’n’Bits will open the doors of the new shop at 36 Water Street, Toowoomba. Until next month, buckled rods from the Colonel. them harder to find. Bass have moved tighter to hard structure in autumn over the past years and have been found on hard rock bottom or around submerged timber. When they do this I still search the usual spots but concentre on deep rock piles and ledges, laydowns and tree stumps.

It is going to be a tough month to predict what they will prefer to eat. If I had to take bets it would be chatterbaits, deep crankbaits and maybe even skirted jigs tight to structure. Trolling will slow down but live shrimp will be very effective.

MOOGERAH

CLOSEST TOWNS: BOONAH, ARATULA

Moogerah bass and golden perch will be well worth a shot this month. The fish can be found around the edges of the lake and on the longer, shallower flats. They take a bit of finding but if you stumble across the big schools you stand the chance of banging big numbers. The points opposite the day use boat ramp, out from The Palms and The Spit near the northern ramp are all areas to search. Explore the points and flats in these areas. The fish have been holding in various depths with the shallower ones in 3-5m of water sitting just out from the lake’s edges. These shallower areas have held some of the bigger bass