Locals catching crankbait-crunching golden perch

SHEPPARTON

Nick Brown teamriverrats@hotmail.com

I have been receiving some positive reports from the Goulburn River lately, with some nice fish caught around Arcadia, Murchison and in the heart of Shepparton. Single-bladed spinnerbaits, Old Mates and Tremors have all featured in recent reports, with dark colours working best.

Bait fishing for natives has slowed up a little, but there is still a heap of carp on offer for those anglers using worms, and who are just keen to catch a fish. Worms or corn floated around the shallows has been the best way to target carp recently.

BROKEN RIVER

The Broken has slowed up a little bit recently. Sessions of 6-10 fish have been replaced with sessions of 2-3 fish.

Casting small hardbodies around larger timber has been a great way to target cod. Lipless crankbaits with single hooks have been working well for yellowbelly. Gun spots recently have been the two weirs, below the Benalla Lake, and also the Goulburn Broken junction.

Worms are outstanding carp baits, and chicken has been working well for cod.

It won’t be long until we see the channel system around Shepparton drop for the winter period. However, prior to this you can still have some fun chasing cod, yellowbelly and redfin in the channels.

The bridges seem to be holding more fish currently, with some reports of 2-3 yellowbelly being caught in a half hour session under a local bridge. Slow rolling Hide Up 150 crankbaits with the odd pause has worked well. Some fish have smashed the crankbaits at the feet of the anglers, so make sure you retrieve your lure right to the bank.

KIALLA

Catfish, yellowbelly, redfin, cod and carp have all been reported recently from those fishing Kialla lakes. They aren’t in high numbers, but there is still plenty of activity in the lake.

Carp and catfish have been caught on worms just off the edge of the drop-offs, which are usually 4-6ft from the banks. These species seem to bottom feed around these areas, so you can run your sinker just about your hook.

Casting small cranks and jerkbaits has still been a great way to target fish on the edges. The odd redfin is also being caught off the top on small cicada type lures, with the ‘shake and pause’ method working best.

Out a bit deeper it’s best to be casting small chatterbaits or beetlespinrigged soft plastics, and slowly rolling them back with the odd pause.

SHEPPARTON LAKE

Trout amongst the weed are now being reported, with some nice fish being caught early in the morning and late in the afternoon.

Small jerkbaits, crankbaits or plastics have been the best way to target these fish. You will get hung up on the weed a lot, but if you can get a decent run through the weed you will get plenty of action, with the trout very active at the moment.

There have been some redfin caught on Bent Minnows running just below the surface, with both boat ramps being the best areas. Bait fishing with PowerBait and worms has also worked well in the low light periods, especially for those anglers fishing their baits under a float.