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Harry Watson.
AT the time of writing I'm sitting at the computer with tracky pants and jacket on, so we're probably in for the coldest winter for a few years, especially out west of the coast.
The water temperature is already starting to drop in all dams and all the fresh water that filled the dams isn't going to help you find active fish either. The BASS events were a fair indication of fishing conditions over the last three months with Moogerah producing the most bass and biggest in February, but since then things have progressively got slower with Somerset in April only showing a handful whereas earlier on it was reputedly firing.
I'm probably luckier than most guys in that I've seen these dams fill before and exactly the same thing happens nearly every time they flood quickly over new ground with plenty of vegetation.
What happens is that when the water first floods the new areas, the fish go mad in the shallow water, hunting all sorts of food, but then the ground, grass and weeds that are drowned start to rot and ferment thus turning the water a dirty tannin colour and oxygen levels drop, making fish either move out or become sluggish so they become reluctant to chase food too far.
Dams which have ample weed beds, steep sides or pristine runoff areas tend not to be affected as much, like Hinze, Clarrie Hall or Maroon. But Moogerah, Somerset and Bjelke with their flat edges and agricultural runoff seem to suffer badly.
The BASS comps will be all over by the time you read this and next year will be bigger and word has it with electric dams included. That could be interesting getting back on time to measure in considering the guys that were late this year were in power boats. I was pretty happy with my effort of catching the most fish for the three tournaments and coming second in championship points but let’s hope I don't have a bad one in the final. Anyway, it's only fishing.
Since the tournaments and through them many people have asked me why I use spinnerbaits almost exclusively and how do I work them and catch fish on them more successfully? Well in the near future I will be penning a few secrets that work for me and a few other guys in the circuit.
Moogerah dam at the time of writing is pretty shut down with only the odd bass and yella showing an interest. If I had the urge to fish there at the moment I'd go right up the creek and try casting around the trees and edges, but don't ask me why.
Maroon on the other hand is firing but with the cold weather coming you might have to catch a few shrimp to score a feed or put some hard hours in with lures. The surface action is finished for the season and the algae is starting to green up the water which is normal in this dam. It doesn’t hurt the fish.
Hinze is a bit tannin stained, which is understandable with the amount of water that has gone through there this year, but the bass are firing most days - if you can find them. They tend to be moving around a lot, vertically and horizontally.
Clarrie Hall has been firing, but by the time you read this I suspect things will be slowing down on surface lures, so you may have to switch to spinnerbaits or plastics.
If you're getting into freshwater fishing and need some guidance on boats, electronics, rods, reels or anything to do with the sport, why not get it first hand while on the water on a Greenfish charter? Steepen the learning curve and skip all the mistakes most of us make when starting out.
The most satisfaction I get is when someone jumps off my boat and says its the best money they have ever spent and then I run into them on the dam another day and they can't wait to tell you how many fish they are catching - and releasing! Or come on a charter just to relax and catch fish. Phone (07) 5541 2996.