Dust off the baitcasters my trousers, hitchhikers to destinations unknown. The track I weave glistens behind me in the grass, it’s a track, a journey I’ve taken many times on this day. But this is not just any day, it’s cod opening day! The click of the thumb
LITHGOW/OBERON
Glen Stewart stewie72@bigpond.com
The predawn glow out to the east has me smiling, the air is cold, my breathing is heavy. Droplets of dew
retrieve be smashed? Gosh, I hope so! Cod waters, specifically smaller rivers and creeks, really amplify my anticipation, you just know where a good fish is going to hold. The flipside is that it is more than likely going
Ben Chifley Dam near Bathurst is well known for its redfin, so go prepared to get some fillets – redfin are the bomb on the plate!
Long walks will hopefully be rewarded with some opening day cod… where will your first cast be? propel forward off my boots with every stride like little glass tracer bullets, grass seeds piggyback
bar will be a nervous one. It’s been three months in the waiting. Will my first cast be on the money? Will my first
to be a one shot pony, so try to get it right the first time (no pressure). Some casting practice in
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the backyard will definitely hold you in good stead. One thing is for sure, once hooked, they will know where home is, whether it be an undercut logjam, or a rock-filled cave no doubt filled with a tangled web of expensive lure bling from seasons past. Larger cod water has its attractions too, and boat-based waters such as Wyangala and Burrendong offer fresh troll runs, pocket casting at bays filled with rocks and pushed up logs. The anticipation is something to behold, and that first bump, that first hit, that first hook up is what we live for. I just hope the season is a good one for you all.
hours of the morning before going a little deeper as light levels increase is the way to go. Pay particular attention to any depth sounder you are running. It’s your eyes underwater and the good ones don’t lie. Adjust your lure depths to suit what fish and bait concentrations you’re seeing. Repeat runs in productive waters are the go. Do a loop, and chances are hookups will be repeated – what’s not to like about that? BEN CHIFLEY LOTTERY DIP It should be a good summer of fishing in Ben Chifley Dam with good flows in late winter and early spring, and the water has had a good opportunity to turn
the upper reaches, possibly pushed down out of stocked waters upstream. Golden perch and cod can also be targeted by casting or trolling the rock walls and weed beds. Standard techniques apply in most circumstances, with a leaning towards anything that looks like a redfin in the late afternoons and early mornings. Native fish tend to use these lowlight periods to move away from structure to prey on the hordes of smaller redfin. Speaking of redfin, larger specimens will also cannibalise on the smaller ones, so if you see bigger arches on the sounder off to the side, chances are that’s
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Balista Hunchback down the hatch!OR Here’s hoping » 2HP » SHORT EF TO 90HP LONG SHAFT cod season gets off to a great start. FI C IE » SILENT » CLEAN N U L Weedbeds RFflush. BASS WE HOPET » Pover and what they are. Cast OW E
Yes we do live in hope,
away
will be rejuvinated, baitfish from the school and work WERRIBEE COREY GAUCI MARINE ������������������������������������03 8763 2565 and Lake Lyell bass are numbers will explode, your lure erratically for some SUNSHINE DAMIEN HYDE MARINE �����������������������������������0455 276 833 very hit and miss, and to and life in general will be bigger rod thumping action. WALLAN DAYS MOTORCYCLES & MARINE �����������������������03 5783 3500 be honest, that’s just how I good for anything with fins Redfin are so good AVAILABLE AT to HINDMARSH (SA) FITCH THE RUBBER MAN ������������������� 08 8346 5193 like it. It’s often hard work and gills. eat, so go prepared with an MOOROOK (SA) MOOROOK MARINE ��������������������������������08 8583 9185 and hard yards, with just Ben Chifley Dam is a real ice slurry, sharp knife, fillet FRANKLIN (TAS) FRANKLIN MARINE ��������������������������������� 03 6266 3768 rewards for those who put in mixed species dam. Trout board and you will not be LAUNCESTON (TAS) C�H SMITH MARINE ���������������������������03 6344 1166 the effort. numbers are nowhere near disappointed. BURNIE (TAS) BURNIE MARINE SERVICES ����������������������� 03 6431 3082 The trout in Lake Lyell what they used to be, but I’m Hope to see you all on
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will come a little easier, and flatline trolling the early
hearing a few whispers of the odd one getting caught in
the water soon. Until then, tight lines!