Good bream caught in Curdies River

The REEL THING with Gary Warren (November 15, 2002)

MEMBERS of South West District Angling Clubs fished at the Curdies River last weekend in the first leg of the Clarke Shield.

Good-sized bream in numbers were caught. Most taken on podworm baits were around the 27cm to 33cm mark.

Podworms were again a successful bait for the bream in the Hopkins River with the areas around King's Head and the Hen And Chickens productive.

THE Glenelg River nearly always produces good bream and lately has been no exception. Both crab and podworms have been producing the best results. The harder crab baits tend to keep the smaller fish away, making a larger catch more likely.

Sections near Dry and Sapling creeks are good starting points. The Barham River is yielding good bream from behind the football ground near the creek junction and poddies have been the hot bait.

Bream in the Gellibrand River are taking scrubbies. While the estuary perch in that river are preferring lures or flies.

There have also been some reports of pup-sized mulloway in the Moyne River. Fish less than 2.5 kg are being caught on worms. Fish this size are best left alone or immediately >returned to the water. But maybe it's a sign of bigger ones to come.

Mulloway have also entered the Hopkins River, so I am sure that anglers will begin angling for them. Reports of captures should start to filter along the grape vine.

LAKE Purrumbete is producing mostly small brown trout at present weighing about 650gm.

Bullheads have been among the best baits fished close to the water edge. The Lake Bullen Merri browns are taking bullheads cast close to the edges, with bank anglers having the best results.

Mudeyes are producing results but most of these fish are the small new release rainbow trout. The rainbows of West Barwon Dam are taking lures and scrub worms.

THE waters of Toolondo Reservoir are worth more than a second glance at present as good brown trout are taking Celtas, Ondexes and Lofty's Cobras trolled or cast near the trees.

Early morning is most definitely the better time to fish.

A FEW seven-gill sharks have been captured from the Lorne pier.

If you are chasing a feed of Australian salmon, Johanna and Wye River beaches have been producing some action.

Killarney Beach has been giving up a few King George whiting to anglers fishing from boats. Some of the specimens have been a little less than 1kg.

Gummy shark are being taken from Gibson Steps and Clifton Beaches with fish fillet successful as the bait.

Lakes host competition

The REEL THING with Gary Warren (November 8, 2002)

THIS weekend Lake Elingamite, Lake Purrumbete and Lake Bullen Merri will host an Australian National Sports Fishing Association fishing competition.

Don't be surprised when you arrive at your favorite fishing spot to see quite a number of boat trailers in the car park.

Hefty browns have been taking mudeyes in Lake Elingamite during the middle of the day. Lake Purrumbete has yielded good browns on bullheads along the edges and rainbows on mudeyes near the weedbeds.

IN Lake Bullen Merri the brown trout are taking trolled Loftys' Cobras around 3m to 4m.

Mudeyes were a successful bait last Saturday before the weather change. Successful anglers were fishing around the Northern Boat ramp.

ONLY a few hours from Warrnambool is the Toolondo Reservoir. Although the water level is low the fishing is great. You do need a 4WD to make access a little easier and a lightweight boat or canoe also helps. Reddies and browns are taking Celtas, Ondexes and Lofty's Cobras cast near the trees in the early mornings.

The water level is well up in the Wurdi Boluc Reservoir and the browns are feeding in the recently inundated land. Anglers fishing mudeyes under a float on a light rig under are pulling some good trout over 1kg.

FISHOS using podworm have been taking bream throughout the Hopkins River estuary.

Anchoring in the middle and casting back towards the banks will usually do the trick, but you may have to move around a little to find the fish.

THE bream in the Glenelg River, near the South Australian boarder, are responding to lightly weighted crab or podworm.

Productive areas are around Dry and Sapling creeks.

Podworm are producing some action in the Barham River where bream are taking them from anglers fishing around the caravan park.

The Curdies River has been producing good bream to those using very light running sinkers above the hook. Podworms have been the hot bait.

GUMMY shark are being taken at Johanna and Clifton beaches with fish fillet baits producing good results.

CLUB CORNER

KOROIT and District Angling Club is holding a fishing competition on the Curdies River this Sunday.

Entry and weigh-in is at the Curdievale boat ramp. Sections are for junior and senior anglers and boat and bank divisions.

The event is the first leg of the Clarke Shield being hosted by Purrumbete Angling Club and supported by Barton's Waste Collections.

The Clarke Shield is open to entries from all clubs affiliated with the South West District Angling Clubs.