It’s amazing how quick things can turn around in the world of fishing. This time last week there was snow on the hills and the rivers were flowing hard and cold but that was last week, now we have days in the mid-20s and the water has warmed up and so have the fish.

Lake Eildon has produced more metre plus fish in a weekend than I’ve ever seen, huge brown trout taking just about any lure that goes past, Yellow belly and Redfin feeding on the flats and schooling up around the timber and drop offs.

Trolling the edge of the timber or just in it on the inside of the lake is where most trout seem to be during the day, but first and last light they are feeding closer to the banks with heaps of reports from cod fishos saying they have had large trout follow and attack their swim baits and large lures meant for cod.

Yellow belly and redfin are being caught from the banks in the inlets and shallow water on worms and yabbies as well as grubbing or bobbing around the trees, Delatite arm, Jerusalem creek towards the camp grounds, flats in Big River, Goughs bays and Coller bay are the spots to target.
Murry cod are moving about and the usual areas are producing with 35cm to metre plus being caught on lures, swim baits, surface lures, spinner baits and yabbies and worms.

Land based fishos are picking them up on worms, cheese and yabbies along the main wall and the main boat ramp at night. Remembering that the is a closed season on cod now for all rivers and streams but not lake Eildon, but the problem here is the rivers that come into the lake are becoming larger as the lake fills. So to my understanding on this is these rivers are defined as running water so my friends in fisheries have stated if the water is running past you or your boat, you are fishing in the river, so be aware of this when chase cod

The rivers are still running hard but have cleared up well and some really nice wild fish and stonkers are taking spinners, shallow divers, flies and bait. The pondage has been up and down in water levels so when it’s down the old faithful gold kroc and pink Tassie are the choice and powerbait, local dough and maggots are the go to when it’s up .

Until next week
Fish Hard
Cheers Craig

James Anderson
Author: James Anderson

Founder / Director of Lake Eildon Tourism, in operation since 1998 - James is a father of two, has a strong passion for the Lake Eildon area having grown up in Eildon - and today, heads a digital media agency - Turbo 360.