| Having a viable native fishery close to Melbourne is something to
get excited about.
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view
Drifting up to a group of inter-twined snags, let out a
quick cast to cover the front half of the boat, then a boil of water, a groan and a shrill
I’m on, I’m hooked up.
This fish was giving absolute curry on a 6 kg
baitcasting outfit and 15 kg Spiderwire, first screaming off into open water then changing
tack and heading doggedly back towards its own snag.
With a firm hand, soon it was under control and the fish
was guided to the boat. However things never go as planned and the fish took off for the
bottom in a last ditch effort. It was all to no avail though and the 55 cm Murray cod was
soon swimming around in the bottom of the net while we congratulated each other on our
success.
It really was an incredible encounter; the first cast in
a river that we hoped had good lure fishing. Sure, we had heard that people caught fish on
bait and even a few on lures here but you never really give these places credit until you
have been there and done that.
Stocking Success
There are plenty of fish in the Loddon river
system, a situation that has arisen from Fisheries doing a fantastic job with their
stocking program. Since 1989 this system has received 10,000 Murray cod and 10,000 golden
perch a year. The river also receives surplus stockings of excess natives. Add to this
wonderful stocking campaign, a more than willing redfin population and the mix of species
becomes very appealing to mad keen native fish lurecasters.
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view
 All of the fish have been stocked
in the system for two reasons - conservation and for anglers. It is great to see Fisheries
actually stocking native fish in an accessible river for anglers.
It is also interesting to note that the are some oversized cod
(believed to remnant populations) still in the system. These are the major breeders and
should be returned if you happen to hook one. In fact most of the fish should returned to
ensure that this unique fishery remains viable for years to come. A bag limit of one cod
and two gold perch, or less, seems reasonable.
Lurecasting from Boats
Much of the land on either side of the river is fenced from
public access. There are signs which should be adhered to, declaring private property. If
you want access, then drop into the owners/farmer’s house and ask permission; they
are a friendly bunch if approached in right manner.
A boat is the logical and best way to fish the river. It gives
you the ability cover a wide range of snags from many different angles. |
As much of Loddon is slow
flowing the fish can be found anywhere on a snag. This means that you need to pepper any
snag from every direction. Using an electric motor
is ideal for this, as anglers can maneuver the boat around the snags without putting the
fish down. When using an electric motor, we have often fished a particular snag from one
direction, got snagged, motored over to retrieve the lure then cast back in the opposite
direction and hooked-up. It is these changes in presentation that bring about the
best results on the Loddon.
When fishing carry two heavy lead weights that can be quickly dropped
over the side to secure the boat. This allows all anglers in the boat to have a good fish
at some of the more productive stumps and logs.
Lures that Work
We have found that color plays an important part in successfully fishing
the Loddon. Purple, black and pink lures are all extremely effective. The most successful
lure we have used is the No. 2 pink and purple Freshwater Fishing Stumpjumper, closely
followed by Paul Kneller's amazing Deception Lures range. Other good lures have been the
range of new Peter Newell Classic Woods and Halco's Poltergeists. All of these lures come
in colors that will attract the attention of Loddon fish and as cast lures they are
fantastic.
Working these lures to produce the best results is fairly easy too. If
you cast past the snag, the lure can be cranked down to the correct depth by the time it
reaches the snag. Then, using a series of rod flicks and short retrieves, you can walk the
lure through the snag.
Of course each snag presents a different casting option. Some of the
shallow water snags (less than a metre) will require the angler to hold the rod high and
to gently flick it to keep the lure from burying itself in the abundant weed growth. This
is the perfect place to fish a Deception lure as the snags are usually horizontal and the
lure can be enticingly flicked along an edge. Vertical snags create different presentation
problems. The lure needs to get down quickly and run at a reasonable depth to cover the
base of the tree or stump. As the lure approaches the base of the snag start to work the
lure. A really buoyant lure like the Stumpjumper or the Poltergeist will swim forward and
then quickly back up, before diving down again with a staggered retrieve.
With all of these retrieves, once you have started to work the lure,
continue to do so until the lure is at the rod tip. Golden perch especially will follow a
lure out quite a distance from a snag. Fish hitting the lute at the rod tip is common so
keep your concentration up.
The Loddon River and native lure casting will not be for everyone. It is
hard work that requires persistence. On a good day you may catch ten fish, on a bad day
two. This is perhaps the Loddon's greatest advantage over other rivers. If you fish hard
you will catch a Murray cod or a golden perch.
Remember these fish are rare and self-imposed bag limits are the way to
go. In fact, catch-and-release is a better way to go to ensure there are plenty of fish
left for you and others to catch in the future.
Addapted from "Freshwater Fishing" MagazineIssue44. Spring
1998 |
