Fishing Victoria Forum

Would a head torch put the cod off? I assume no lights shining on the water would be the ideal scenario but that sounds like a good way to lose lures and/or break an ankle in a rabbit burrow.

The best time to surface fish is bright moons

99 percent off the time you dont need a touch while fishing

Bm

4liters wrote:Would a head torch put the cod off? I assume no lights shining on the water would be the ideal scenario but that sounds like a good way to lose lures and/or break an ankle in a rabbit burrow.

I reckon the head torch is one of the top 5 inventions for fishing, and you should have one. I definitely avoid shining it into the water but on a dark night will briefly turn it on to check things out on the water.

barra mick wrote:The best time to surface fish is bright moons

Years ago I used to do a lot of surface fishing for trout at night. I found that my best catches happened on dark starry nights. When the moon was out I caught less and picked up most fish near the bankside shadows. With cod back then they were pretty scarce and I caught most around twilight so I didn't notice any pattern. When I lived in FNQ and chased barra I found that rule also worked but in clear water. If I fished where the water had a bit of colour then the full moon was the best conditions to fish under. I suspect barra mick where you fish there is that a bit of colour that makes all of the difference and makes the moon important.

What I learnt with barra I have applied to cod and the pattern seems to be working:

1. clear water fish moonless or fingernail moon, dark coloured lures;
2. clear water if the moon is out but it is cloudy (diffused light) dark coloured lures;
3. clear water full moon fish in the shadows with a light coloured lure;
4. cloudy water full moon fish with a dark coloured lure;
5. cloudy water no moon fish with a light coloured lure.

I had the experience a few weeks back where I fished clear water, the first half of the night was starry, second half with a moon. The first half of the night I used strategy 1 and caught 5 cod. The moon came up and I caught no fish till I changed to strategy 3, after which I caught another 5 cod. They aren't hard and fast rules but sort of what I work to. I think a full moon also possibly stimulates latent tidal urges in freshwater fish - some research backs that up.

There's no doubt having moonlight makes the fishing easier. I am lucky to have great night vision and I love fishing under a starry sky - I simply look up at the stars when retrieving and I am in awe at the majesty of the universe.

Best Wishes

Truedogz

Thanks for the very informative reply.Off to the tackle shop I go.Will have a crack around Murchison/ Toolamba this long weekend.Will report back.Thanks again n tight lines.

feralhunter wrote:Will have a crack around Murchison/ Toolamba this long weekend.

This weekend the activity will spook the fish a bit. I'd suggest peak time to fish will be at dawn. Check out spots in the arvo and then get to them early with surface lures. You still might pick up fish in the evening but it might be harder. Even if you get a single boof you will enjoy it.

Best Wishes

Truedogz

Truedogz wrote:

feralhunter wrote:Will have a crack around Murchison/ Toolamba this long weekend.

This weekend the activity will spook the fish a bit. I'd suggest peak time to fish will be at dawn. Check out spots in the arvo and then get to them early with surface lures. You still might pick up fish in the evening but it might be harder. Even if you get a single boof you will enjoy it.

Best Wishes

Truedogz

As usual there will be a fair crowd in that area on the long weekend but good luck with it, cheers davo

Went to Goulburn today fished the bridge on the Heathcote Nagambie Road had a couple of hits and landed a nice 45cm cod, lot of fun on a really light bream style rod with 6lb braide.

Hendo55 wrote:Went to Goulburn today fished the bridge on the Heathcote Nagambie Road had a couple of hits and landed a nice 45cm cod, lot of fun on a really light bream style rod with 6lb braide.

Nice cod :thumbsup:

Hendo55 wrote:Went to Goulburn today fished the bridge on the Heathcote Nagambie Road had a couple of hits and landed a nice 45cm cod, lot of fun on a really light bream style rod with 6lb braide.

Nice work mate

I went out this evening for a quick flick with a plan of fishing down the river towards Murch but I ended up chatting with a friend I ran into for an hour. With time running short I surfaced fished a couple of spots closer to home out of the wind. I picked up this nice fish just on 70 cm, my second biggest off the top for the season:
I also got boofed by another fish a bit smaller that briefly hooked up.

It just shows that quick sessions can produce fish - you won't catch them if you don't have a line in the water.

Best Wishes

Truedogz