Winter Murray Cod Off the Top!

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There is an old argument among fly fishermen as to which is more important knowing where the fish are or being able to present the fly to them. Knowing where the fish are, is certainly nice however if you can’t reach them or present the fly you are simply not in the game. Even if you have no idea where the fish are but can cast well enough to cover the water with finesse you are likely to find success.

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The technique is to cast your fly across the river, small stream or lake close as possible to any structure. Immediately being to twitch, strip and rip the fly back in a similar way you might fish other large trout or saltwater flies. Often action is instant and cod boil at the fly being surface or sub-surface. A constantly moving fly will entice more strikes from the fish, than a non-moving fly, but a game changer could be the differences if that retrieve isn’t working. Quick 1 – 2 strip then a very long pausing, so long that it feels like you should tweak again – that’s the game changer right there! Even tho they may reject the fly, casting several time in the same location could produce another savage strike. Quite often the same fish will rise, boil and break the surface behind the fly. As the fly desperately swim away from the fish, it will finally take it with a huge swirl or splash and race off with it.

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The talk of the day and weeks to come will be all about you landing a fish on fly. Maybe you’re first time or the hundredth time, for me it’s always a great feeling and for your fishing partner as they get involved too by lip griping or netting the fish and also taking the photo. The bug is hard to shake once you have landed a native on fly and the only thing you talk about is the last time you were out hooking up or the next time you can get out on the water chasing these magnificent green backs. In your favor too around the camp fire while enjoying a yarn about how big you’re biggest is; or the one that got away. If you have caught a Murray Cod on fly and i can tell you now not too many anglers can say they have, you will always have a story to tell.

GOLDEN PERCH FEVER 2014/15 COD OPENING….

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Golden Perch fever, not the start I was intending for as it’s the new season for Murray cod and a week late for myself and Steve. The 2014/15 open was at Central Victoria on the Loddon River just out of Bendigo…. With big fish in mind as it’s been along 3 months while the season was close as there in breeding times. I tied a few different flies over that period and big was the size I’m going for long tails with huge profile and the good old favorite colors Red/Black and Purple/Black. Once on the river the water was looking great and with not much boating traffic we had all rods blazing for the cod!

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A few hits and dropped cod early in the trip it all turned to GOLD after that. Continuing casting in to shady areas with timber structure most surrounded by weed beds the yellas fell head over heels for the kaos flies. Accurate placement was the key as once the fly was in the zone BAM yellas all over them not a second lost. In all over the past couple of days 4 Golden Perch boated and 3 all around the 40cm plus mark I did manage a little rat which had a huge appetite.

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Above picture where the spots we targeted and other heavy structure chasing those green backs. Well I’m off up the river in 3 weeks to try and open the cod account with my rods crossed. Enjoy your fishing…..