Golden off the top

[Truedogz]

I'd packed away the surface fishing gear for the season when an old friend from up north rang me. He was heading to South Oz and wanted to catch up by a campfire so we agreed to meet up on the Murray for a couple of nights. I threw a couple of rods in the car and headed up to the river. My mate fished with worms and apart from bites from what was probably crays didn't catch a thing.

This morning a threw out a big cod surface lure (230 mm) in front of camp just to impress him and bang I hooked a 50 cm plus golden right at the waters edge. It got off just as I was trying to get a lip grip onto it, so no pic.

Its interesting that I seem to be getting yellas hitting large surface lures, landing a number the past couple of seasons. It is amazing that they will hit such a big lure given the size of the mouth.

I think goldens can be reliably targeted off the top with smaller lures like jitterbugs and cod wallopers.

The common thread seems to be they strike at the water's edge (so fish lures parallel to the bank) and all the ones I've hooked have been at twilight.

I might experiment a bit next season in the Goulburn Weir.

Best Wishes

Truedogz

[jedgpz]

Golden will hit big lures, had them take number 1 stumpjumpers (not that they are a big lure theses days)
I wonder about the times I have gotten smaller hits on lures in the goulburn as to wether they are goldens.
have seen videos of goldens being taken on surface lures in the Campaspe
Cheers
Jed

[davek]

Good to hear Will, I hope you had an enjoyable trip, cheers davo

[Lightningx]

Sounds like a nice couple of nights with an old friend
That yellow belly is a beauty! Especially off the surface.
Nice work mate.
Cheers :thumbsup: