Remember your water etiquette at Copeton COPETON DAM
David Allen manager@copeton.com.au
It has been a great year so far at Copeton Waters Holiday Park. Rising water levels through 2017 have led to some of the best and most consistent fishing you could ask for. Yellowbelly, although quiet now, provided anglers with top-notch fishing through summer and autumn. At this time of year there is only one topic of conversation and that is big Murray cod. This season has seen more anglers than ever before fishing the waters of Copeton Dam and this has
led to a couple of issues that need to be considered. Safety on the water is something that every angler should be aware of, particularly when boating in low light and at night. There are an increasing number of incidents involving anglers either moving around the dam, or sitting on the electric motor on banks without lights. This will lead to a major incident if people don’t wake up to just how dangerous this can be. Every day I am getting reports of boats driving around with no lights. This is dangerous and stupid and will end up costing you money or will cause an accident. Be aware that Maritime Services and
Danny’s second cod ever at 115cm.
the police regularly patrol Copeton and the fines for non-compliance can make for a very expensive night’s fishing. Also, do not rely only on your electronics, just because you have a track to follow. You also need to be aware that other boats are using the dam, so keep a lookout and use your lights. The second area of concern that is raising its ugly head is the lack of etiquette that at times is being shown out on the water. It is a very big dam and there is plenty of space for everyone if you follow a few simple rules. • Treat other anglers as you would want to be treated. • Don’t drop in on top of somebody that’s obviously working an area. Give them at least 100m of space. • If you want to fish a location that has someone on it already, do the right thing: approach slowly and ask if they mind if you fish near them. • If there are fishers working an area from the bank, give them some extra space. It is much easier to move to another location if you are in a boat. • At the boat ramp have everything ready to go before you back down the ramp, so you don’t hold up other people. Remove straps, put bungs in and load gear away from ramp. • Do not operate a boat if under the influence of alcohol, as the police will be checking when they are on the water.
Local angler Jared Walker had a morning made in heaven with two whopper cod. His first was 126cm and this one was 127cm. Only at Copeton… If everybody plays by the rules and shows some common courtesy, we will all be able to enjoy the best cod fishing in Australia. Speaking of fishing there have been some fantastic fish caught over the last month, with confirmed captures of a number of fish over 130cm and many over 120cm. I think Copeton is the only place in Australia that I would hear the comment ‘I only caught a 96cm fish.’ Anywhere else that would be a trophy fish that you would boast about to your mates. Danny who works at Copeton caught his second-ever cod the other day at 115cm. Don’t forget the King and Queen of Copeton Competition is running again this year. The biggest cod between 1 May and 30
November wins. Wilson Tackle are again a major sponsor, with two Venom rods up for grabs along with a host of lures from our suppliers. • Copeton Dam is one of the best lakes in NSW to catch
a trophy Murray cod. Dave runs the Copeton Waters Holiday Park and is a great source of up to date, local information on what’s biting. Contact the park on (02) 6723 6269 for information and accommodation bookings.
Jared with his 126cm beast.
Healthy cod are clobbering lures NEW ENGLAND RIVERS
Adam Townsend
Heavy rains in early July have flooded the local rivers and filled the impoundments in only a matter of days. This usually makes for some pretty tough fishing. In saying that, there have still been great winter fish being caught all around the area. The Copeton Dam and Gwydir River catchment seemed to cop the brunt of all the rain receiving over 35,000ML from upstream overnight. This saw the dam rise from around the 47% mark up to 52% in less than a week. I had managed to take some annual leave from work around the same time and got to witness and be part of some pretty exciting fishing with a group of mates. In just a few days fishing, there were over 20 cod caught and nine were over the metre mark. A few golden perch were caught as by-catch.
The most successful technique was casting swimbaits into the wattle brushes with a dead slow retrieve. Surface fishing has also been very productive and has claimed a few very healthy fish as well. Fishers have found early mornings and the evenings to be the most productive times when active fish are looking for a easy meal, although the rewards have been there for the keen anglers opting to try their luck during the day. Yellowbelly (golden perch) are another good option
for fishing during the daylight hours, as they are starting to become more active and are being caught regularly. Slow rolling soft plastics around the grassy banks and wattle has produced quality fish of late. The Pindari Dam and Severn River catchment also received some floodwaters from upstream recently but this hasn’t affected the area too much. The Severn has been fishing just as good as in previous weeks with quality fish being caught day and night on most types of lures. Casting into quiet water (back-eddies)
Another Copeton Dam behemoth cod.
above and below rapid areas is very productive. Pindari has gone back up over the 100% mark and is flowing over the spillway again. Strong numbers of healthy, average cod have been caught all around the dam. Throwing surface paddlers and small swimbaits tight up against the bank is producing more of the bites. If you’re fishing the top end of the dam where water is flowing in then lures that create more of a reaction bite like spinnerbaits and chatterbaits have been a better option. The Beardy River is closed, no reports of late. Tight lines to all braving the cold in the next few weeks. With the cod season drawing to a close at the end of the month, it’s officially one of the best times of the season to be chasing our big iconic Aussie friends as they feed up for the breeding cycle. It only takes one cast to be made in the right area for things to change in an instant, so get out and get amongst them.
A healthy Copeton cod caught on a swimbait.
LEAVEY LURES BIG COD CAN’T RESIST THEM!
The Jew Lure
MAX-D The Murray Moth
Available exclusively through:
Yamba Bait & Tackle • yambabt@gmail.com PH: (02) 6646 1514 - Mail Orders Welcome AUGUST 2017
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