Fishing after the flood

ROBINVALE Rod

Mackenzie

codmac@bigpond.net.au

With the Murray River returning to what’s considered normal levels, there is a strange quiet among anglings that parallels the last three floods.

It seems our mighty Murray River once again swept by black water is all but barren of native fishes in many sections and ruled by an explosion of carp. While our native fish are unable to tolerate these toxic floods, the carp breed en mass and with no natural predatory fish to keep their numbers in stock, they are now out of control.

Robinvale is producing carp, with no reports of perch or cod as yet. Locals are also hoping this will change.

The Murray River at Mildura is producing a few small perch on bait and plenty of carp as well. If you slip downstream to Wentworth there are heaps of yabbies all the way along the main Murray River past the junction of the Darling River. The fresh flows of the Darling have been somewhat of a lifeline to much of the aquatic life from where it enters the Murray and flows downstream.

There were plenty of reports of big dead cod downstream of these flows earlier on, but smaller fish and yabbies should be about in good number. The Fort Courage area was a great yabby destination after similar events in 2010-11. Some good perch were also caught down that way, as well as good numbers of catfish.

Where has this all gone so wrong? Pretending this has been happening forever is not lost on the river residents and anglers that have spent much of their lives seeing what is normal. It is also not lost on the fishing related businesses that have seen tackle sales spiral downwards since the first event in 2010-11. It’s not just the fish that are drowning in this toxic mess!

Swan Hill reports from the Murray River this past month have been very mediocre indeed, with a single golden perch caught at Pental Island. Other reports include nothing but carp in the main Murray River. Local anglers are hoping this will change.

In the lakes it’s been better news with Charm, Boga and Kangaroo all producing good numbers of redfin and golden perch on bait and lures.

The Murray River at responding

The Darling River continues to be the shining light when it comes to putting a bend in the rod or a feed in the pot. Good numbers of perch are still running in the river and taking bait and lures, and the yabbies are thicker than the hairs on a cat’s back. We have had several great trips in as many weeks, and each and every time we have caught plenty of perch and more than enough yabbies.

When you use the words normal and flood in the same sentence, this is what you get. An explosion of aquatic life that rejuvenates the rivers and provides a bounty for all. A normal flood is just nature taking care of itself.

I hope to have better news in my next report, as in my experience there are always pockets of fish that escaped the black flows. It just takes time to find them.