I think everyone would agree that the past month has been exceptional for us fishos.
The big cod continue to be caught from the Murray around Mathoura, down to the steep banks around Morago.
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Brodie Unwin is having a dream run casting surface lures around the Picnic Point area.
Brodie has landed himself four cod well over the metre mark using the Koolabung Cod Cracker — a 105m, 109m, 110m and a huge 120cm beast.
Sensational effort, Brodie.
Hopefully there are many more to come.
Tom Cotton reeled in his very own giant just upstream from the Lawson Syphon boat ramp.
Tom’s cod measured in at 112cm, casting a Bassman Aussie Crawler surface lure.
Tom Armstrong from Griffith has travelled down a couple of times, fishing around the Benarca Bend area.
Tom has been well rewarded, landing some nice cod up to 101cm.
Tom is also the maker of Legohead Lures.
These lures are highly sought after for their collecting value, and definitely their fish catching ability. Check out @tom_legoheadlures on Instagram.
I was also rewarded with a nice 101cm cod caught on a custom crafted flathead surface lure, along with a few others around the 80cm mark.
Dean and Jake Herberte have been having a great time as well, landing some quality fish.
Dean caught a 96cm on a Reaper Spinnerbait, and Jake a 90cm on a custom crafted lure.
Former local Luke Pearce picked the right bait, enticing a fat 92cm cod into taking his bardie grub that he’d cast out not far from Benarca Bend.
Scott Boyer and family had an exceptional couple of weeks fishing around town with the tally going something like this: 101 Murray cod, 14 brim and 15 carp.
Scott also caught his new PB of 90cm, caught just near the Harfleur St boat ramp.
Well fished, team Boyer.
It’s great to see the young fishos getting amongst the fish as well.
Luke Holloway has been busy fishing around town landing some nice fish.
Ben Muirhead was pretty proud of his efforts netting a few cod around the 55cm mark.
Luke Todd has also been hooking into a few nice fish, with his biggest being a solid 80cm cod on a spinnerbait — with a little help from Noah Bradley.
Isaac Behsman landed a healthy cod just downstream from twin rivers, and Lily ‘Mini Rang’ Westcott caught her new PB cod recently trolling a custom crafted hammerhead lure. Her cod was 68cm.
Shaun Mills somehow landed himself a nice cod around 60cm. That’s one very unlucky fish.
Brodie Barlow was lucky enough to hook into a nice 66cm cod on a piece of cheese.
Mark Kingston is on a roll at the moment trolling up a few nice cod, with a chunky 74cm cod the best so far using an Oargee plow.
Len Virtue blew out his poaching overalls and came away with a couple of nice cod around the 70cm mark.
Tim ‘Wiggie’ Maher and ‘Retro’ Will Gemmel have also been stirring up a few cod casting hard bodied and surface lures around the timber.
Tim got a chubby one early in the morning fishing with Will. It went 67cm with plenty of room to grow.
Whether you’re using bait or lures at the moment, you’re in with a good chance to catch a fish.
Just be patient and give yourself every opportunity to land the big one.
The top baits at the moment are the ever popular cheese or chicken strip.
I would use a size five to eight circle hook with a size three running sinker.
When it comes to lures, there’s two good options:
● Surface lures – It doesn’t matter what surface lure you’re using as long as you can cast it close to the structure and slowly retrieve, you’re in with a shot. I will always upgrade the hooks and add a few extra split rings to help with the hook up rate.
● Diving lures – Select the right running depth of your lure to the depth of the water you’re casting or trolling in. You want your lure about 1m from the bottom.
If you are interested in watching Pat and myself, and some other special guests fishing our local waterways, head to YouTube and look up ‘Ranga with a Rod’. Give it a like and subscribe. I hope you enjoy.
Remember, for all your fishing tackle and camping needs, call in and see Pete at Deniliquin Betta — Deniliquin’s number one fishing and outdoor supplier.
Flyers on the 2022 Deniliquin Fishing Classic are now available at the Deni RSL Club. To register online go to www.denifishingclassic.com.au/.
Report illegal fishing to the Fishers Watch phoneline on 1800 043 536 or report it online via DPI website, at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/compliance/report-illegal-activity. Make the call and make a difference.
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