Peninsula With the recent expansion of the GoFish Nagambie tournament zone to include Murchison I thought it was a good idea to get out there and share some of the expectations, challenges and rewards you are likely to face when fishing this well-known monster Murray Cod hotspot.
THE LOCATION
Situated on the Goulburn River, Murchison is a small rural town and farming community that relies on the river and channels as its main water and irrigation source. Because of this, the water levels in the Goulburn river that run through Murchison can fluctuate from one day to the next making it a challenging, but extremely rewarding place to fish.
THE ZONE
The tournament zone ends at the Murchison football and netball club just off River Road and includes all waterways back towards the Goulburn weir.
There is a boat ramp at the end of Campbell’s Bend Road that is accessed via a four-wheel drive track with plenty of trailer parking and very easy manoeuvrability to launch and park safely.
THE RIVER
With the fluctuating water levels it can be a challenging waterway to chart. When the river runs low, there are parts of the river you could walk across, the structure is very visible and the stock banks are left high and dry. When the river runs high there is plenty of structure that sits just below the water level and your prop becomes a makeshift chainsaw! Be aware!
There is plenty of structure – PLENTY. From small fallen trees and branches to monster red gum tree trunks and root balls, there is timber and hiding spots everywhere.
FISHING FROM THE BANK
There are ample opportunities to fish from the Murchison banks and these are highlighted in the GoFish Nagambie Tournament zone maps. Upstream from the boat ramp at Campbells Bend you will find nice soft sand banks to fish from with very easy access.
For those of you that are wanting to walk the bank, flicking at the exposed structures as you go, you will find that the riverbanks can become quite steep but not impossible to navigate.
The benefits you will have fishing from the bank over being on the water is that you will be able to access the back of the structures where cod like to sit in wait, get in behind some low hanging willows where yellow belly like to school up and be very selective on where you fish the slack water pockets that are proven holding grounds for Cod trying to nab an easy feed.
FISHING FROM THE WATER – BOAT OR KAYAK
Because of the unpredictable nature of the Goulburn river through Murchison with the ebbs and flows, the smaller structure and broken tree branches are constantly on the move. It really is a perfect spot for smaller boats and kayaks that can manoeuvre through tight spaces. There are no shortages of anchoring positions that provide great opportunities to cast in tight on those exposed logs. The centre of the river runs at an average depth of 4 to 6 meters and holds some deep pockets up to 8 meters. The amount of submerged structure makes it difficult to troll through the strike zone, so checking the water depth and matching that to the dive depth of your lure is crucial for a successful hook up.
ADDITIONAL TIPS, BAIT SELECTION AND OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
With Murchison having so much structure to fish, weather on the land or the water, flicking surface is a must on those early morning sunrise sessions. Those monster cod could be hiding anywhere and could be hungry at any time. Your chances of getting one off the top are far more favourable during the periods of low light when they feel more comfortable to venture out for a feed. When the sun starts to peek through the eucalyptus trees, stay on the shaded side of the river and get a few more flicks on the top before changing to your hardbodies or your spinnerbaits. When you do change lures and tactics and start flicking and retrieving hardbodies or spinnerbaits in and around the tight structure, try to visualize what that fallen tree or root ball may look like underwater. Chances are if you have a clear mental picture of that structure before you cast, you will be far more confident that you are casting into the pockets that are holding fish and won’t waste casts out in no man’s land!
If you are choosing to bait fish go with your old trusty! Be it chicken, cheese or natural baits like grubs, worms and yabbies they are all tried and true cod catchers in Murchison. If you want a local tip, the go to is freshwater shrimp. River shrimp are in good numbers through Murchison and easily caught with a bait trap. If you are bait fishing, try to not get distracted, it is very easy to park your rod in a holder and pick up your phone, sort through your tackle box or get stuck into your breakfast. If the fish do come to make an enquiry, make sure you are home to answer the call! That’s one call you do not want to miss! The 80k Cod call!
Happy fishing and stay safe!
TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOU, YOUR CAREER AND HOW AFN CAME TO BE?
AFN was formed in 1987 when we first started publishing Freshwater Fishing magazine. Before that I was the Victorian editor for Modern Fishing magazine. I published Freshwater Fishing mainly because none of the major magazines really wanted to publish freshwater articles.
From 1987 to 2000 I continued work as a Roof Tiler until moving over full time into AFN.
Back then trout were easily the No 1 target for freshwater anglers and even bass in NSW were bigger than cod.
We slowly pushed cod as they became bounced back and became more widespread and popular.
Back then there were virtually no Murray cod in impoundments in Australia.
MY DEFINING FISHING MOMENT IS
Strange, but probably getting into television. It’s very difficult doing a TV Show – fish generally don’t like cameras! I started very late too, probably 55 before I got really involved and being in front of the camera wasn’t a real driver for me. I had worked with Rex a couple of times over the years and of course did a series of How To Tactics DVDs.
But – TV has really taught me to be organised in my fishing – anything less and you’ll fail. It’s also taught me to be practical and be very adaptable. Take your opportunities and make the most of them.
I loved working with Alvey last year – they are an iconic Aussie company – and I just love surf fishing.
Equally my first Murray cod out of the Billabong creek (probably only a 45!) was defining – they were a rare commodity then in the 70’s.
I KNOW I’M ONTO A GOOD FISH WHEN
When a bite becomes just a continuous run. Braid is just something that gives you so much better feel than the old days with mono.
The Kimberley last year was a perfect example when you’re expecting a 2kilo reef fish and you get hit by a 20 kilo GT! It just loaded up and kept going.
THREE BITS OF GEAR I COULDN’T LIVE WITHOUT ARE…
Braid
Fly Outfit
My Boats
MY LURE OF CHOICE IS
I just love fishing all lures and in my job I need to know and understand how to fish them in all situations – salt and fresh – big small – heavy and light.
BUT I do love spinnerbaits! A lot of anglers think uni dimensionally with spinnerbaits. I’m very much multi dimensional.
If I had to nomination one style of lure give me my spinnerbaits – especially my over-sized suspending baits – big cod just love them!
MY CAREER HIGHLIGHT IS
I don’t know, maybe it’s not happened – maybe it never will! Lots of highlights – but if I had to nominate it was probably hooking and losing and SEEING a 30 pound brown in the Huon river in Tasmania.
That’s motivated me for years – I now know that they exist in Australia!
THE AFN FISHING SHOW TAKES YOU TO SOME AWESOME LOCATIONS, WHAT ARE YOUR TOP 3 SPOTS THAT AUSSIE ANGLERS MUST FISH
- Your own backyard! I love finding incredible fishing in my backyard. So Murray cod I the Yarra river or mulloway in Port Phillip bay
- Kane Dysart once said to me that flats and offshore fishing at Exmouth is the best fishing in Australia – He was right!
- The backcountry rivers of New England are amazing, granite, clear water and Murray cod that seem to always bite!
THERE’S BEEN 159 ISSUES OF FRESHWATER FISHING, WHAT’S BEEN A HIGHLIGHT STORY?
Probably the one on going to New Zealand and poaching their mega trout in the canals. I just loved doing a detailed map on where to go and how to do it! I was the camera man on that trip and Nige and I had to work it our for ourselves.
He got a 37 pound brown that I filmed and I got a 29 pound brown just before we went home. We got a great TV show and a great article.
Lots of Aussie anglers have since gone there motivated by the article and used my map and had great trips as well.
EVERY AUSTRALIAN ANGLER HAS SEEN AND IS JEALOUS OF YOUR BOAT. TELL US ABOUT IT AND SOME OF THE MODS YOU’D RECOMMEND TO ANGLERS?
I’ve been lucky there as it’s a US bay Boat and came pretty much fully finished (as most US boats do – the reason why I bought it!) It’s a Bluewave – Pure Bay model and is some 10 years old now – in my opinion Bluewave are the best in the world. (I’ve driven to Hogan in it one up – all I needed was a wet suit and it got me there and back!)
Mostly I’ve added electronics and the bow stuff has really improved my fishing results.
Having transducers at and on the bow make that bow mounted Lowrance really useful.
WHAT’S YOUR TOP TIP FOR TARGETING AUSSIE NATIVES LIKE MURRAY COD OR GOLDEN PERCH?
Keep casting and keep expecting – then you won’t miss it.
I’m no different to anyone – sometimes it’s 1000 casts between fish! I like to just pepper – Get them over as quick as I can then get into a bite that gives one every 20 or so cast!
Mind you goldens can be much for forgiving though.
So, I was asked the question, “What are your top 5 tips for fishing Nagambie?”
As always, these questions are hard to answer when it comes to fishing, because things change from week to week, and this leads into my first tip…
- BE READY FOR CHANGE
This is a tip you take with you to most waterways, but even more so with Nagambie. Water systems change from week to week depending on the weather conditions, water level and flow and the behaviour of the fish. You need to always be adaptable to the situation and realise that things can change.
Here is a short few rules to go by:
Cold change, low barometer, cold water from Eildon – in these situations you will find the fishing to be very slow. The Golden Perch will shut right down and the cod will as well. Your best chance of landing a fish in this situation is to use bait, or fish your lures extremely slowly. The shallow margins of the lake will fish the best and most likely in the afternoon, especially if there is a bit of sun. You need to expect the fishing to be tough, so don’t give up because everyone has the same conditions.
Warm weather, stable pressure & sunny – this is perfect for active fish, especially if there is a warm week leading up to the event. This is where you want to be casting and trolling and trying to cover as much water as you can. If you’re fishing around a lot of other anglers, try to find a good area and stay there until you have covered the water. The shallow margins out away from the main river channel will fish best early in the morning and they will be good to work as they will see less pressure.
2. DO YOUR RESEARCH
Do a research trip! Nothing beats visit the lake and spending some time fishing before competition day. If you want to have a chance at winning the comp, do your research. Spend some time on the lake so you understand how the system works, the kind of structure and test different techniques and try to come up with a plan for the tournament. That’s my second and also an extremely important tip.
3. FISH SHALLOW AND DEEP – WORK OUT WHERE THE FISH ARE FEEDING
On the day the fish could be feeding shallow, or they could be feeding deep… maybe even both. Whatever it is, you need to work it out. Early morning I would start in the shallow and see if it works. Chances are you’ll find fish on first light and then after the sun rises you may find they could go off the bite. This is when you might need to find water deeper than 3m and fish in those areas. Once you figure out a pattern, stick to it for the event as this will give you the best chance are taking out a prize.
4. WORK HARD FROM THE BUZZER
I know this is an obvious one, but it is critical for success! Don’t stop… keep fishing and fish hard. Be up well before the start of day one and on the water ready to implement your plan. And then fish flat out for the entire duration of the competition. The more time on the water fishing, the more chance of encountering that $80K cod.
5. GO NATURAL
My last tip and this is more leading towards the competition is to use natural presentations. If you’re a lure caster I’d still be throwing spinnerbaits and hardbodies, but swimbaits will come into play. With so many lures being thrown around you will need to use something as natural as possible and Carp imitation swimbaits are hard to beat. They aren’t the easiest lure to fish but working them in the shallow margins and past the standing stumps is where they come into play.
The other options which is as natural as you can get, is to use bait. In a competition like this using large yabbies, bardi grubs and shrimp is a great option. Not only will you catch numbers of fish but you’ll be in for a good chance at the winning cod.
Bonus – Enjoy the event
As a bonus tip for GoFish Nagambie, make sure you have fun! This event is all about sharing and enjoying this passion we all have for fishing. Start a new conversation with someone, share your stories or if you caught a fish, help someone out if they are struggling.
Fishing is all about having fun and enjoying your time on the water!
