Tips for begginers
Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 9:29 am
I have received a number of pms from people seeking out advice on catching cod. They usually seek advice on access, locations and fishing methods. I guess regular posters who live in 'cod country' such as davek, barra mick and drew 2 also get pms asking for help. It is great that people are keen to chase cod and other natives using modern sportfishing methods.
In most pms people are very polite and I am pleased to help out. Others get shitty if I don't identify a specific bend on a river where I catch fish.
Honestly, every where I go in the warm months I catch cod. Some locations are better than others but all produce. I've been out with davek when we have accidentally caught cod while chasing redfin!
A good way to learn is to contact one of the regular posters if you are heading into their territory and invite them to go out with you. Once they get to know you and find out you are not a d***head who is going to massacre fish, have rave parties on the bank and leave rubbish they will become more forthcoming with assistance. I met davek a few months back, we got to know each other and have had some great trips. We have shared locations knowing neither one of us will wreck it for the other.
As to locations the best way is to do some reading, use google earth and then explore. That's what I do and how I find my spots. It is almost rediculously easy to catch cod, at least small ones, in the lower reaches of rivers such as the Goulburn, Broken, Ovens and the Murray between Yarrawonga and Echuca. Using mozarella cheese as bait and stumpjumpers you should get cod every day during the warm months - just don't expect monsters.
As a generalisation there is a higher number of cod in rivers of lower average size than in stocked impoundments. If you want bigger average fish try in stocked waters. In rivers though you will probably get more strikes.
As to methods it is very hard to convey detail in an email. Youtube clips are a great teacher and Robbie Alexander has some great ones - I recommend that novices watch a few of them, he has clips on most topics related to lure fishing with cod. Most people are familiar with fishing methods for hard body lures; soft plastics are a bit different and spinner baits very different. Again, watch some clips. People are getting excited about surface fishing for cod. Again, watch some clips. People like Rod Harrison and myself have been doing it for forty years, but it is only in the past decade that the method has really taken off. Ditto with flies.
Adrian has some great threads on trout fishing which provides some insight and are great for beginners to study. Perhaps over time a few of us can create some similar things on natives.
There is a thread on a proposed cod trip in a few months. I would strongly advise newbees to come along. The more experienced blokes will teach you some basic methods and you will develop contacts for future trips. You can also develop some great friendships.
Just put in the time and you will get results and grow in confidence. If it dries out a bit this arvo I might have another crack at the surface cod tonight!
Best Wishes
Truedogz
In most pms people are very polite and I am pleased to help out. Others get shitty if I don't identify a specific bend on a river where I catch fish.
Honestly, every where I go in the warm months I catch cod. Some locations are better than others but all produce. I've been out with davek when we have accidentally caught cod while chasing redfin!
A good way to learn is to contact one of the regular posters if you are heading into their territory and invite them to go out with you. Once they get to know you and find out you are not a d***head who is going to massacre fish, have rave parties on the bank and leave rubbish they will become more forthcoming with assistance. I met davek a few months back, we got to know each other and have had some great trips. We have shared locations knowing neither one of us will wreck it for the other.
As to locations the best way is to do some reading, use google earth and then explore. That's what I do and how I find my spots. It is almost rediculously easy to catch cod, at least small ones, in the lower reaches of rivers such as the Goulburn, Broken, Ovens and the Murray between Yarrawonga and Echuca. Using mozarella cheese as bait and stumpjumpers you should get cod every day during the warm months - just don't expect monsters.
As a generalisation there is a higher number of cod in rivers of lower average size than in stocked impoundments. If you want bigger average fish try in stocked waters. In rivers though you will probably get more strikes.
As to methods it is very hard to convey detail in an email. Youtube clips are a great teacher and Robbie Alexander has some great ones - I recommend that novices watch a few of them, he has clips on most topics related to lure fishing with cod. Most people are familiar with fishing methods for hard body lures; soft plastics are a bit different and spinner baits very different. Again, watch some clips. People are getting excited about surface fishing for cod. Again, watch some clips. People like Rod Harrison and myself have been doing it for forty years, but it is only in the past decade that the method has really taken off. Ditto with flies.
Adrian has some great threads on trout fishing which provides some insight and are great for beginners to study. Perhaps over time a few of us can create some similar things on natives.
There is a thread on a proposed cod trip in a few months. I would strongly advise newbees to come along. The more experienced blokes will teach you some basic methods and you will develop contacts for future trips. You can also develop some great friendships.
Just put in the time and you will get results and grow in confidence. If it dries out a bit this arvo I might have another crack at the surface cod tonight!
Best Wishes
Truedogz