Perfect time to be walking banks

Adam

Townsend

For many seasons now, April has always proved to be one of the better months of year to be out on the water, exploring the many creeks and streams the New England Northern Tablelands area has to offer. The days are still warm enough to get the trout and perch species fired up, but also cool enough for you to spend the day exploring the larger rivers or impoundments for Murray cod.

With daylight savings ending, the full moon on the 6th of this month, and the Easter holidays also being on the same weekend, there is a bit to consider while planning a trip here – especially if you are planning on camping around the dam’s edges. The water levels have been inconsistent in recent weeks, with dropping water levels for irrigation, as well as heavy rainfalls in the upper catchments making the banks very soft in some spots. It could be hard finding decent camping spots this Easter so be mindful, and careful when picking and choosing spots to set up – especially the major impoundments such as Copeton and Pindari dams. They are notorious for seeing cars and trailers sink to their axles along the water’s edge when levels recede.

On that same note, it is the perfect time to be walking the banks looking for lures still attached to snags while the water levels are dropping.

The Gotcha Shad Max is a fun lure to throw, as you never know what is going to happen next. The author has caught fish the same size as it, as well as a 1m+ fish from the kayak.

Copeton Dam is currently sitting at 85% capacity after falling from 89% earlier this year, while Pindari Dam sits close to 84% capacity, down from 94% at the time of writing my last report. The new moon will fall on the 20th of this month (dam levels current at time of writing and may have changed in recent days).

With daylight savings now at an end, it will be lighter in the mornings (clocks go back one hour). Surface and sub-surface lures come into their own at this time of year, and are one of the better options in the lower light periods, so it is always worth having a