Whether it’s a Christmas gift for mates and family or a New Year’s resolution for yourself; if you’re just getting into Murray Cod fishing, it can be very daunting sorting through the stack of gear available, but no need to worry, because Rhys, cod fishing extraordinaire is going to share his handy tips for buying your first cod rod.

LEARN TO USE A BAITCASTER

If you’re new to this style of fishing the first thing you need to know is that a low profile baitcaster reel is a must. They are also known as overhead reels and they look and function very different to the more common spin or thread line reel. Spin reels are perfect for bait fishing, much easier to use, especially with kids.

Baitcasters are more accurate and they provide you with more control over your line and lure. This is a must when casting for Murray Cod because you need to be extremely accurate when casting at structure.

Baitcasters might annoy you at first but keep practising. Chances are you will get a mess of knots on the spool, commonly called ‘birds nests’. This is all a part of the learning process.

WHAT TYPE OF ROD TO BUY

As you now know, you need to get a baitcaster rod to match your reel. Here are a few key features to look for in a rod:

Material: graphite

Length: 5ft6in – 6ft2in

Weight: 3-5kg to 6-8kg

Taper: medium – heavy

Action: fast

This is just a guide to go from as the best rod depends on the area you are fishing but it can also be a personal thing. Some anglers prefer a lighter rod for flicking lures easily (myself included), whereas other anglers prefer a heavier rod. If you stick within the above recommendation you’ll be right.

This is a question I get asked a lot and the prices can sometime be overwhelming, especially if this is your first rod and you’re just getting into fishing.

HOW MUCH SHOULD I SPEND

Occasional Angler

If you’re just starting out and you only fish a few times a year then you don’t need to spend too much. You should be able to pick up a combo which will include a rod, reel and line for between $80-120.  This is a cheap setup and won’t last you forever but it’s a good start.

Regular Angler

The next step up is someone who fishes once a month or maybe 6-8 times a year. You’ll want to buy each component separate rather than in a combo. Look at around $60-100 for the rod, $120-150 for the reel, and then you’ll need $30-50 spare for braid.

Keen Angler

If you’re someone who is looking to fish every second weekend or possibly more than I highly recommend investing some money and getting something that’s top quality. Not only will it perform better, make casting easier and more accurate, but it will last you a lot longer. For the rod $100-200, for the reel look between $200-400 and a good quality braid will cost around the $40-50 mark.

Last of all I want to touch on some of the best brands on the market that you should look at when buying your first setup.

WHAT ARE SOME GOOD BRANDS?

Abu Garcia, Shimano, Daiwa, 13 Fishing, Quantum make outstanding rods and reels. If you find something within the price range I talked about you’ll be sure to have a good quality setup.

Other good brands to also have a look at are; Pflueger, Lox, Penn, Rapala, Dusk, Wilson and JML.

With cod opening just over a week away, we’ve touched base with the local authority on Goulburn River cod, Steve and Ross Threlfall to hear their thoughts on what lures you need in your artillery to smash cod season on the Goulburn River.

BASSMAN SPINNERBAITS – The Codman series from Bassman Spinnerbaits is an absolute classic and must have in every native anglers tacklebox. The vibration these lures put off make this spinnerbait absolute cod candy, they just can’t resist. The double Colorado blades are designed for slow moving waters like the Goulburn River.

CODGER LURES – Designed in Shepparton with the Goulburn River Cod in mind, Codger lures provide the perfect, wide action that Murray Cod can’t resist.

STUMPJUMPERS – the StumpJumper is a Victorian icon. With proven swimming action and unbelievable anti-snag capabilities combined with the snap-lock bib that allows anglers to instantly alter the action and characteristics of the lure, these are absolute crackers for the upcoming cod season.

OLD MATE LURES – Locally designed and with Murray Cod specifically in mind, the Old Mate Lures action showcases quick diving capabilities. Whether its trolling from the boat or casting from the bank, Old Mate lures are a must have for the tacklebox.

LIVE TARGET FIELD MOUSE – this is the perfect treat for cod stalking in heavy cover and for cod waiting to ambush their pray. You’ll get the most out of this one when skirted across the tops of pads and grass mats. It also has an incredible side-to-side walk the dog action when used in open runs.

JACKALL POMPADOUR – this lure is the ultimate surface lure. It’s a simplicity is what makes it such a stand out. You can fish it as simply as cast and slow retrieve or twitching it under trees or above snags. The Jackall Pompadour features rattling that imitates a cicada or chattering bird, buzz blades on the rear create bubble attractant and the wings create possible the coolest action and noisiest topwater lure you’ll find.

The tournament zone provides anglers with some cracking spots to land that winning catch.  GoFish Nagambie ambassador and cod fishing genius Rhys Creed, give some insight into the best spots to target within the tournament zone.

The tournament area reaches from the Goulburn Weir and includes everything upstream to the junction with Hughes Creek, a massive 30kms upstream. All backwaters, billabongs, lagoons and creeks within this area are included in the competition zone. These areas include, Majors Creek system and Sandy Creek.

This waterway is an angler’s paradise with plenty of heavy timber, standing trees, overhanging structure, willow trees, thick weed beds and a river channel that provides the lake system with depths varying from half a metre down to 11m deep in some locations.

Minimal water flow makes for great fishing opportunities and allows for a range of different fishing styles including; bait, lure and even fly.

Here is the hot tip on some of the key areas to fish within the zone;

GOULBURN WEIR

Goulburn Weir is the largest expanse of water on the Nagambie Lakes system and it is loaded with standing timber… which means cod!

The main river channel snakes its way through to the weir wall with shallow flats stretching out either side of the channel. The big fish will reside in the river bed and move out onto the flats to feed during low light periods.

The best way to fish this area is to stay in the river channel and cast past the drop off and onto the shallows. Then retrieve your lures down over the edge and into the deeper water, hard bodies are the pick of the lures for this technique.

KIRWANS BRIDGE

This area is loaded with so many options, so much structure and great fishing opportunities.

Fishing around and underneath the old timber bridge is dynamite and is one of the best structures to fish in the entire river system. Golden Perch school up around the pylons and can be caught by trolling alongside and underneath the bridge. Casting lures at the bridge is also successful and big cod sit under the bridge in the river bed.

There is plenty of standing timber in the area with plenty of shallow edges, willows, deep section of river, standing tress and reeds.

DELLA ISLAND

Some of the best fishing is right on the edges of these channels. As you can see it is less than a metre of water on the flats and then it drops off into deep water. Small bait fish and prey will move onto the flats and then make their way back into the river channel… this is where the larger predatory fish like Murray Cod and Golden Perch will be sitting ready to ambush!

Put your lure in this zone and you will find fish!

MAJORS CREEK

This is a little hidden gem… a fishos paradise! Majors Creeks is loaded with great structure including; standing trees, back waters, weed beds, reedy edges, large fallen logs, overhanging trees and even lily pads.

Golden Perch love all this structure and will hang out close to the standing trees (especially the thinner twiggier trees), reedy edges and the spindly ends of fallen trees in this area. Throw out some smaller lures 1/2oz spinnerbaits, 50-70mm diving Hardbody lures and 60mm Lipless crankbaits.

Half the fun of fishing is tinkering and playing around with all the gear that comes with it. Accessorising and personalising is a big part of the fun. Here are some cheap and effective ideas for keeping your tackle and gear in good condition.

1. Keep your tackle from rusting by keeping the silica gel packets found in packaging and put them in your tackle trays with lures and hooks. They absorb the moisture and help prevent rusting. A very simple and cost-effective solution to keeping your lures in good condition.
2. Pimp your tacklebox to offer better protection to your lures. All you need to do is line the bottom of your tray with super soft adhesive tape (available at Clark Rubber), there are multiple widths available so find a fit that suits your tray. This will prevent lures from moving around in the box ensuring less damage, tangling and rust. 
3. Keep your fishing rods tidy and organised with this quick easy storage solution. Simply install a couple of wire shelves on the walls of your garage, one above the other. This will create a tidy and decluttered space for rod storage and take away the worry of tangled lines and hooks.
4. A simple and easy lure rack that not only keeps them neat and tidy and creates a great display to show off your impressive collection. All you need is a piece of wire mesh to mount on your garage wall.
5.  This is the simplest DIY tip of them all. Use a safety pin to keep hooks organised.
6. The lure junkies amongst us will swap lures several times per session. Instead of putting wet lures back in the tackle box, just stick a piece of closed cell foam rubber to the side of the hull with silicone.  Lures and spares can be stabbed into this, allowed to dry and ripped out with little effort.

Being able to head down to a local waterway like Nagambie and catch beautiful native species like the Murray Cod and Golden Perch is something very special. These fish bring us joy, excitement and for some, a time to escape the day to day bustle.

Check out these proper handling techniques to ensure the fish we love continue to flourish.

These fish are very important to us, communities and to the environment and that’s why we need to do all that we can to look after and protect them. Catch and Release practises are become more and more popular among anglers which is great to see… but we also need to understand proper handling techniques to ensure the survival of the fish.

As there is going to be a lot of anglers at the GoFish Nagambie Tournament, it’s important that we all understand these follow few tips:

• Be Quick – when you bring a fish up to the boat make sure you are quick to bring it aboard, take a photo, and measure the fish and release. Fish cannot breathe out of water so it’s important to keep this process very quick.
• Use a Rubber Net – a large net is a great tool for handling native fish as you can leave the fish in the net and in the water, while organising your camera and brag mat. While the fish is in the water it can still breathe and gives it time to calm down. Also important to use rubber mesh or fish friendly nets, rather than the old green, rough, knotted nets as these do damage to the scales and eyes of the fish.
• NEVER Lift by the Jaw – always support the weight of the fish when lifting it from the water. Never hang it by the jaw as this puts pressure on the neck of the fish, which can cause it to break and the fish will die slowly after release. Always lift the fish horizontally by using one hand under the belly and the other with a thumb grip on the jaw of the fish.
• Use a Glove instead of a Lipgrip – sometime lipgrips are okay to use especially with smaller fish but buy a glove instead and use this to hold the fish. Not only does it provide a better grip on the fish it also won’t damage their bottom jaw which is what can happen with a lipgrip.
• Never lay fish on a hot deck – always wet down your brag mat, dunk it in the water before laying the fish down to measure it. If you don’t have a mat make sure you went down your deck or wet a towel. A hot and dry deck can burn the protective coating off the fish and leave it open to parasites and diseases.

These are some of the more important things we can do to help protect our native species while handling them. Follow these and there will be more fish for future generations to come!

With Cod closing fast approaching, we thought we’d whet your appetite and put the spotlight on they Murray Cod’s sidekick, the oversized football, the true slob of the Goulburn River. We are of course talking about the Golden Perch and with big prizes up for grabs for the yellas, it might be wise to read our pointers for fishing Nagambie Golden’s.

Drum roll please…

With Spring being by far the best time of year to target Golden Perch, its time to switch from Cod to Perch mode and practice reeling in the super fun Goldens. These tips could well help you land that PB Golden.

THE IDEAL CONDITIONS

When it comes to water temperature, Golden Perch are like Goldilocks and the three bears. If the water isn’t ‘just right’ the fishing will be tough going. Too hot or too cold, and the fishing will be a real slog.

As a general rule of thumb, when the water hits 14 degrees the fish will start feeding and do get caught, but 16 to 18 degrees is right in the hitting zone for the Goldens. They become very active when the water reaches this temperature.

As for the time of day, they don’t call the last hour of light the ‘Golden Hour’ for nothing. It is by far the best bite period of the day. The water temperature will be at its peak during this ‘Golden Hour’ as the river and lake would have been baking in the sun for the duration of the day. This is by far the pick of times for chasing Yellowbelly.  

LOOKING POINTS

The Goulburn River and Nagambie Lakes is absolutely littered with hot spots for snagging Golden Perch. When looking for hot spots, keep your eyes peeled for fallen timber, sand bars and weed beds. Whether fishing from your boat, kayak or the bank, you want to have one of the aforementioned pieces of structure nearby. Structure and timber give the Yellas somewhere to retreat if threatened or a hideout from the current waiting for a meal to pass by. Where weed beds provide a smorgasbord of food including their favourite menu item, shrimps. Both provide great opportunities to catch a big Golden Perch.

LURE CHOICE

Spinnerbaits, hardbodies, jigs, vibes, blades and plastics all deserve their spot in the Golden Perch Tackle Box.  

Spinnerbaits are the perfect casting lure with excellent accuracy. They provide a great a option for casting at timber and weed beds. Fishing from the bottom up is a great way to tick off the whole water column. We recommend allowing the spinnerbait to sink to the bottom before beginning the retrieval.

Hardbodies are another very effective casting lure and would also be the troll lure of choice.  

Smaller lures are more likely to entice the goldens rather than the Murray Cod. The goldens can’t resist the noise and vibration small jigs and vibes make and just have to have a go at them. Jigging plastic vibes and switchblades in various ways can attract even the most reticent golden.

LEADERS

Use fluorocarbon leaders because they can’t be easily seen by the Golden in the beautiful clear waters of the Nagambie Lakes and Goulburn River. 8lb in the clear lake water; 10-12lb in less clear water or heavy structure; and 30lb leaders in the river areas.

THE RETRIEVAL

Mix up your retrieves. Although a slow, halting roll is usually best, goldens are like us in that different incentives work at different times. For example, it may be early in the morning when they’re still a bit sluggish and disinterested, so persistence will pay off. Or they may have just fed and be enjoying a siesta, or they might simply be feeling a bit lethargic. Trying different tactics might just find the right one that will appeal to the mood of the slob at that moment.

RETURN TO PREVIOUSLY FISHED AREAS

Just because you’ve fished an area without any luck, don’t dismiss it for good. Go back again later because you’ll often get some bites next time around.

And voila! If you follow these tips, the big Goldens will follow soon after. Another quick tip for nothing, when you have success remember what worked for you and try to replicate it!

Nagambie Lakes is an incredibly unique waterway. It includes sections of the Goulburn River that open up into the lakes basin before turning into billabongs and backwaters as it meanders its way to the Goulburn Weir. The river is the life blood of the lake and runs through the middle carving a deep section, while shallow areas run off it into the lake.

The lake is loaded with standing timber which is every angler’s paradise! Murray Cod and Golden Perch call this waterway home and live in amongst all the heavy timber and structure.

There are so many fishing options and access to the waterway here. There are more than five boat ramps scattered across the lake and you can fish in the basin or you can head up-river and fish the flowing water.

The lake is home to a strong population of native fish and has some monster Murray Cod lurking in these waters. The big fish hide out in the deep sections of the river bed and will feed on the drop from shallow to deep water as the bait fish move off the shallows.

Tip for Targeting Big Cod in Nagambie: During the night the metre plus fish will also move into the very shallows to feed; sometimes they can be found in just a foot of water! At first light they will still be feeding so using large surface lures is a very successful technique. Fish in shallow areas that are close to the river bed, with heavy timber and cover. Don’t be afraid to cast right to the bank as well.

Remember this tip come the GoFish Nagambie competition in April next year. It might just help you catch that winning fish!

GoFish Nagambie is a tournament for all. Whether you like consider yourself a top shelf angler and fancy your chances at the biggest cod, or if you identify as occasional angler who’s for the mateship or if you’re first timer that’s wanting to give fishing a go, it’s always good to take it back to basics.

Fishing for Australian natives can test the patience from time to time, to increase your chance at catching a Murray Cod, take it back to basics and follow some of these simple yet effective tips.

KNOW AND UNDERSTAND YOUR LURES

• Hard bodies are great for trolling and flicking lake walls and river banks

• Spinnerbaits are perfect for working and targeting structure

• Swimbaits can be used to imitate injured fish and are typically used the first few feet from the surface of the water

• Surface lures are widely seen as the most exciting way to catch Murray Cod

• Soft plastics are great for fussy cod. The more life like you can get the better!

• Lipless crankbaits work great on the troll

FISH AT LOW LIGHT PERIODS

Dawn, dusk and after dark are the best times to fish for cod. During periods of low light, cod leave the safety of their structure and more willingly swim around in search for prey aka your lure!

FISH THE STRUCTURE

If fish aren’t actively out hunting, you can safely bet that they’ll be in a nice holding place in and around some kind of structure. Target these areas with your spinnerbait and you might just have some luck.

BE ANNOYING

Cast at likely spots multiple times. Sometimes cod just aren’t in the mood to feed and your perfect cast will go ignored. Even if the cod aren’t hungry, if you persist and annoy the cod, an aggressive territorial strike can still result.

BE PERSISTENT

You’ll have many and we mean many, fishless trips. Its just the way the cookie crumbles. There are so many variables that turn natives on and off including barometer, water temperature and water level and other various unpredictable things, that all play a huge part in Murray Cod fishing. The more time spent on the water, the more likely you are to land a big cod. Time spent fishing is also time spent harnessing your skills, learning and practising. There is no such thing as a wasted trip.

YOU WANT BIG FISH, RIG FOR BIG FISH

If you want big fish, you need to be rigged and prepared for big fish. Big fish doesn’t have to mean you are sacrificing catching the smalls either. You’re betting being over rigged on a small fish than under rigged for a big fish, so don’t be afraid to use heavy gear.

The Murray Cod is the icon of Australian inland waterways, our largest freshwater fish and also the 4^th largest in the world. There are historic records of cod reaching sizes of 1.8m long and over 100kg. They are most commonly caught in the 40-70cm bracket with captures up to 130-140cm popping up every now and then.  

If you want to up your game and finally land that meter cod, it pays to know and understand the Murray Cod’s habits and patterns. Read on to step it up and take it the next level.

They are a tough fish that can be found throughout the Murray Darling Basin; from Southern Queensland all the way down into Victoria and South Australia. They have the ability to live in a range of climates and conditions and have been able to survive the harshest of droughts.

With a life span of up to and beyond 45 years of age which makes some fish out there twice as old as me. With all these years of experience the larger fish become extremely intelligent and hard to catch. That’s what I love so much about targeting Murray Cod. They manage to push us to our limits and we need to be on our toes to try and trick them into biting. The Murray Cod is a prized sports fish among anglers with fish over the metre mark, classed as a trophy or milestone size for anglers.

Murray Cod are an ambush predator and are lazy. They spend most of their time sitting close to structure; logs, deep holes, rocky areas, willows, shade and any other form of cover they can find. They usually sit in still water, away from faster flowing current and only move from their home (structure) to feed. Majority of the time they will find a home that is close to flowing water and they will sit in wait for food to come to them.

They attack their prey with such extreme power as they inhale and swallow them whole. The Murray Cod has a large bucket mouth that can suck in food from a foot away. They have pads of needle sharp teeth that grip and hold onto larger prey.

They feed on anything that is alive and comes near them… and I mean ANYTHING! From the more standard; yabbies, shrimp, juvenile fish, moths, grubs and worms to the extravagant; Murray Crays, ducks, water fowl, turtles, eggs, lizards, rats, mice, snakes, mussels and basically anything that comes in contact with the water.

They are lazy as I said, but they can be extremely aggressive and powerful when they are hungry. Their large plate shaped tail is built for quick accelerate off the mark. They have poor endurance, but they are built for moving quickly to take their prey.

More information on Murray Cod and tips on how to catch them in Nagambie coming soon. Make sure you keep up to date with all my tips around the GoFish Nagambie competition by subscribing to the newsletter.

There’s no denying that we love fish and fishing of any kind. Let’s face it, we don’t need an excuse to get back to basics in the great outdoors, hang-out with mates or family and spend some time with our favourite aquatic friends, wetting a line. However, there is something special about the mystique behind the Murray Cod, and we are going to shed some light on why we are so obsessed with the big Native Greens.

The Iconic fish of Australia.

Murray Cod are beautifully marked. They are the largest solely freshwater fish in Australia, growing in excess of 150 pounds or near 70 kg. They are the apex predators of our rivers and lakes. The hits are explosive, especially when using surface lures. They’ll eat anything that falls in front of them; ducks, snakes, mice. Anything. Best of all, they’ll eat all kinds of lures. Hard body lures, spinnerbaits and surface lures. This species is awesome!

The boof.

The famous Boof! That initial greeting as the Murray Cod engulfs the lure can best be described as sudden and violent and often, your lure will come off second best. The Murray Cod are a strong, powerful fish capable of delivering a strike factor that has few equals. We don’t need to tell you, the adrenaline is like no other.

The challenge.

Cod are an extremely aggressive and territorial species that will hammer anything that comes within range. However, they can be just as fussy at times too, and landing a Cod can be a huge challenge.

The satisfaction.

Sometimes the difference between catching and not catching can be literally inches. Therefore, casting accuracy is essential. You’ll find times when you get a territorial Murray Cod, constantly dragging your lure through their home will induce a reaction bite BUT this can be 10 casts or 10,000 casts. There is nothing more satisfying than persistence paying off and getting the cod after multiple casts.

The Places they take you.

Its not just the cod, its often the places you end up in search of our mighty Murrays. Murray Cod tend to live in the most picturesque locations. Thank you very much Murray Cod for choosing such beautiful homes. From gum-lined rivers that cut their way through agricultural fields, to spectacular gorge country with large boulders.

The Cod evolution.

Gone are the days of the kill and grill era of Murry Cod. This species is now revered as one of Australia’s great sporting fish and we love targeting them. The good news is that numbers are on the rise thanks to the introduction of a closed season, size limit, banning of set lines and catch and release gaining popularity has really helped see a steady increase in the population size. License fees and restocking has also played a huge part.