Trellys Fishing Report
Corio Bay
The inner harbour of Corio Bay fished quite well over the long weekend with plenty of fishing reports coming through with the Geelong waterfront starting to produce some top fishing. Around the moored boats has been super productive with reports of anglers catching pinky snapper, salmon, flathead and trevally. Casting soft plastics such as Z-Man slim swimz have been by far the top tactic to undoing a few fish around there at the moment.
Clifton Springs
The Bellarine Peninsula has been of fire as of late with King George Whiting Reports going strong with the east side of Clifton Springs proving to be an absolute hot spot. Fishing anywhere between 4-6 metres with the runout tide and fresh squid or pipis as bait has been lethal with bag limit captures on offer with fish up and over 40cm thrown into the mix. Bit of burley definitely helps with the aid of a burley pot on the bottom. Some seriously good fishing on offer at the moment down there so get on it! Calamari have been in great numbers along the peninsular as well and in similar areas to the whiting, just in a bit shallower water. Lime Green squid jigs have been a standout in size 3.0.
Ocean Grove
Offshore Ocean Grove is still producing plenty of tuna reports, although they were a bit slow over the weekend the days either side of it fished very well. Trolling diving and skirted lures proved yet again to be very productive, nomad DTX minnows yet again proving their weight in gold. When the fish have been seen cruising or busting on the top casting topwater lures into them has been working very well, Maria Loadeds and Nomad Riptides have been standouts for this.
Barwon Heads
The bottom fishing off Barwon Heads has also fired up a bit over the past week with gummy sharks starting to show up in good numbers with Gone Fishing Charters getting stuck into quite a few. Either anchored or drifting anywhere between 30-50 metres has all been quite productive. Fresh baits such squid and salmon have been the best baits so far.
GOULBURN RIVER
Over the next 3 to 4 weeks we will see the Goulburn River run a lot higher and faster due to environmental flows. The Goulburn River in most major locations like Seymour, Nagambie, Murchison and Shepparton fished well on the initial rise. But it’s not all doom and gloom with the rise as the fish will still bite in the back eddies and newly flooded banks. If your bait fishing chicken and scrub worms are going well but you may need to up your sinker size. For those lure fishing I would do similar and cast heavier spinnerbait but don’t be spooked by the water levels as we are very used a high Goulburn.
BROKEN RIVER
Yellowbelly continue to bite in the Broken River and this week towards Benalla has fished super well with lipless crank baits working best. A tip for the Broken with lipless crank baits such as a Jackal TN60, Balista Jaggernaut 65 is to run single hooks or cut the forward-facing treble off so the lure becomes less snaggy. You also get a great hook set running single hooks. Bait fishing reports have been dominated by shrimp and scrub worms again put towards Benalla but also around Broken River Drive in Shepparton.
WARANGA BASIN
We are still getting some great reports from Waranga Basin with some huge bags of Redfin being caught with trolling small Codgers or probably Old Mate divers working best for the lure fisherman. Those bait fishing have found drifting worms or Yabbies working best around Harriman’s and the bait club in about 10/12ft. This week we have also been getting a few reports of some monster Yellowbelly being caught at the basin. Jay Kotsanis managed to land a 50cm Yellowbelly on a Reidy’s little lucifer recently which is a super effort in the Basin.
IRRIGATION CHANNELS
The Main Eastern Channel out towards Shepparton East has been going well lately casting Spinnerbaits, Jackals and soft plastics rigged with a beetle spin. Slowing your retrieve right down has been the key to getting the bites this past couple of weeks. If your bait fishing this week scrub worms or yabbies close to the bank has been a great method for both Cod and Yellowbelly.
TOURNAMENT TALK
The ABT rolled into the Hunter valley this past week with a hand full victorians making long haul up the Hume to fish both Lake St Clair & Glenbawn. Round 3 started at Lake St Clair Friday with a 50 boat field hitting the water for pre fish followed by the main tournament both Saturday & Sunday. Reigning 2 time AOY (Angler Of The Year) Mathew Langford took out the win for the pros catching his big bags on small Jerkbaits on the edges. Small chatterbaits and surface lures also worked well for other anglers throughout the weekend. The show then moved an hour down the road the A very full Glenbawn Dam. Pre fish was held on Monday with many anglers left scratching there heads after a tough day or practice. But two Anglers didn’t struggle come day 1 of Round 4 with current AOY pro Matthew Langford weighing in a bag over 1.5kgs heavier then his nearest opponent. Former Trellys Shepparton staff Member Nelson “Gary” Rouw smashed the Non boaters division with a 2.585kg bag for his 2 fish. Both Matthew and Nelson continued there hot form on day 2 and managed to fill there bags yet again. Small Jerkbaits, Chatterbaits and blades did the damage. Shepparton local and Trellys member Nick Brown had some great practise sessions Pre Fishing with Langford but had 2 Tournaments to forget with double doughnuts at each event spoiling his run of 7 top 15 finishes.
