Warm weather this month means good fishing in all of the local freshwater locations with pretty much all species available.

Local stocked lakes such as Rowville and Karkarook have been producing both redfin and trout for patient anglers using baits such as maggot, and dough/powerbait mixes. Most of the trout have been around 200g in weight and the redfin around the same. One of the key factors to increasing your chances here is to make sure you create a good berley trail and don’t just throw all your berley in at once, make sure you always have a small amount in the water to keep the fish interested. Adding small feeder cages to your rigs works wonders for attracting fish directly to your bait.

The ‘main lake’ in the Rowville Lakes system has been producing redfin for anglers spinning small Blue Fox jigspinners around the reeds and lake edges, while coarse anglers using a maggot/feeder cage combo have been catching both roach and carp. Down on the Peninsula, Devilbend Reservoir has been a little quiet lately, and while this doesn’t mean that there are no fish to be caught, reports of captures have been few and far between. If you’re thinking of heading down to the area make sure you stock up with a few different baits and lures to increase your chances, as the rewards there can be brown trout larger than 3kg, so it pays to be prepared.

Meanwhile Melbourne’s Yarra River has still been producing most of its usual species this month from the odd large cod down around Eltham, to some nice brown trout in the cooler waters up above Warburton. While the cod fishing is rarely red hot, when you do come across them it can make it all worthwhile. Large scrubworms and yabbies fished around slower sections with log jams and rock bars will normally get the attention of the cod, just make sure you remove the claws of the larger yabbies as they will dig their way under logs and into crevices and snag you up.

If trout fishing is more your thing, the stretch from Woori Yallock upstream has been producing the goods. You will notice a lot of lure and fly anglers the further upstream you go, and with good reason, as some of the fishing around Warburton can be excellent, and it is only an hour from the hustle and bustle of suburbia. Small hardbody lures in the 40-60mm size range are excellent trout catchers here, with lures such as Rapala’s CD5 a definite winner. Fly anglers will rejoice in the fact that this time of year can be excellent for fishing dries for surface-sipping trout. Yarra local Morgan Taggert has been tying up some of his own dries and he has had trout climbing all over them during late afternoon rises.

If you have had some angling success in these areas lately send me a photo to go into the draw for a chance to win a Compleat Angler store voucher valued at $100. Email it to --e-mail address hidden-- and don’t forget to include your name, the name of the species, and the area you were fishing.

For up to date fishing information contact the guys at Compleat Angler in Dandenong on (03) 9794 9397 or drop in and see us at 241 – 243 Princes Hwy, Dandenong. We are open 7 days a week. For all our latest fishing reports and to download information sheets go to www fishingcamping.com.au - Ian Debar