Fishing Victoria Forum

SPOILER: BIG REDFIN ALERT!!!

Had to drive to Ballarat yesterday to take my Dad for a medical appointment. Had a bit if down time, so did what any sane person would do...and that is go for a fish at Lake Wendouree. Some guy there caught a huge redfin on a flyrod and gave it to my Dad. My Dad was wrapped. It was the biggest Redfin I've ever seen - came in at 46cm, which is a big Reddie in my books. I've been browsing the interwebs since, and haven't seen one over 50cm yet.

I only had one rod with me armed with a hot pink Tassie Devil. I reckon I had at least 6 strikes on it - all Rainbow Trout, but they kept spitting the hook each time with their acrobatics. Even though I didn't land one, it was still fun getting regular bites. So I'm still fishless at Lake Wendouree, but hopefully that will change in the future.

Redfin
Not many really big fish are taken in Australia now. A weight of 10kg (22lb) has been recorded, which is heavier than any European record, but fish weighing about 2kg (4.4lb) are more common.

From Encyclopedia of Australian Fishing (1979), Part 39, Bay Books Pty, Ltd, 157-167 Bayswater Road, Rushcutters Bay, NSW, p.1546

That's a good Reddie!
Always enjoy your posts mate.

Went to Lake Fyans yesty and did something I couldn't do the day prior; and that is actually catch a fish, namely a Redfin. Nothing like the gigantic proportions old mate managed to land at Lake Wendouree the other day, but a fish is a fish. Hot pink Tassie Devil did the damage.

Went to Taylors Lake today trying to hook into a few Carp, but the weather wasn't the best; it was windy and blustery with bouts of sunshine and rain (actually there was no sunshine - just overcast conditions). No Carp were harmed during the session! A common occurrence for me at Taylors Lake in recent times, but I did manage to pick up a juvenile Yella, taken on worms.

Redfin

Tackle and Bait
Specialised tackle is not necessary. The only items required are a light rod 2m (6.6ft) long, a 2.7kg (6lb) nylon line and a No.4 to No.1 hook.

From Encyclopedia of Australian Fishing (1979), Part 39, Bay Books Pty, Ltd, 157-167 Bayswater Road, Rushcutters Bay, NSW, p.1547

Headed down to the creek on Melbourne Cup Day and got this bad boy. It did not give in Without A Fight. Pretty devastated I forgot my brag-mat, 'cause this thing was huge, mid-70s I reckon.

I also had one get off - I think the fight from this one really loosened the knot. Conditions were perfect for fishing - warm and humid, and the Carp were quite active, despite only catching the one.

+1

2023/24: 3 (2043)

Got one down at the creek today - slightly disappointed to only get one as conditions were ideal - warm and humid - but one is better than none I suppose...

+1

2023/24: 4 (2044)

Headed down to the creek today for a quick fish after work. Hunted around for some worms with a hand-hoe I bought from Bunnings, but it was pretty dry and only found the solitary one, despite all the rain we've recently had. I was totally expecting the worm/corn combo to get devoured, but it was the straight corn that did the trick in ankle-deep water (as I was hiding behind a bush in the shade). As is often the case, it was 'game over' after that, as I think I scared the Carp away after reeling him in. Not as big as the other few specimens I've caught this season, but still a fun catch.

I got home just after Garry Lyon took his 500th Test wicket, and it wasn't long before it was all over after that.

+1

2023/24: 5 (2045)

I've turned to song to describe my lack of fishing success over the Christmas period:

I've been everywhere man,
I’ve been everywhere man,
Across the desert it’s bare man,
I’ve breathed the mountain air man,
Of travel I’ve had my share, man
I’ve been everywhere…

I’ve been to: Fyans, Bellfield, Lonsdale, Eildon, Rocklands, Wartook, Lauriston, Bostock, Burrumbeet, Purumbeet, Tooliorook, Toolondo, Taylors Lake, Green Lake, Pine Lake, Dock Lake, Malmsbury, Nagambie for FFS!

I’ve been to the Murray River, Yarra River, Wimmera River, Goulburn River, Howqua River, Loddon River, Broken River, Plenty River, Barwon River, Ovens River, Campaspe River - not a quiver!

I’ve been to Gardiners creek, Diamond creek, Dandy creek, Merri creek, Olinda creek, Pykes creek, Broken creek, Skenes creek, Koonung creek, Sandy creek, Snobs creek, Jacksons creek, Bo-Peep creek - what a week!

Can’t catch a fish to save my life, man
Not a bite anywhere, man
It’s futile wherever I go, man
I don't catch nothin’ anywhere…

I’ve used spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, real bait, artificial bait, tassie devils’, stumpjumpers’, rapalas’, strike-pros’, hogbacks’, celtas’, shallow divers’, deep divers’, wonder wobblers, soft plastics, suspended baits, top baits, bottom baits, live baits, frozen baits - all I do is wait!

I’ve been trying to catch Redfin, Threadfin, Yellow-fin, Black Bream, Silver Bream, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout, Golden Trout, Murray Cod, Trout Cod, Rock Cod, Ling Cod, Pacific Cod, Sleeping Cod, Catfish, Blackfish, Gudgeon, Yellowbelly, English Perch, Estuary Perch, Silver Perch - don’t be silly! Common carp, Mirror carp, Koi carp, Goldfish, Barramundi, Yarramundi, Mudsuckers', Mudmarlins' - don’t be funny!

Despite my lack of success over the Christmas period, I did manage to snag a couple in a new location in metro Melbourne on New Year's day. I should have got at least half a dozen, but the hooks I was using were too big and I missed a lot of bites. I planned a return bout today, but the Melbourne weather had other ideas...

+3

2023/24: 5 (2048)

"As no man is born an artist, so no man is born an angler".

Izzak Walton
1593-1683
Compleat Angler. Epistle to the Reader.

I finally did it, I caught a f$%^ing fish!

I spent a few days up in Stawell to see the old man and it absolutely pissed down the whole time I was there. Did head out to the Wimmera River briefly, but it was absolutely heaving when we got there. Should provide good fishing when it settles down though.

Anyway, on the way back into town, driving down the Western Hwy, as I was passing Pykes Creek Reservoir, the sun was out, I had a telescopic in the back (and a can of corn), I was thinking, "I've passed this lake thousands of times and I've never been in here", so I veered of the highway and decided today would be the day I make my fishing debut at Pykes Creek Reservoir. I was actually quite surprised when I turned up - its a large body of relatively clean water - with pleasant surrounds and easy access both off the highway and from the bank. I couldn't help but ponder why it wasn't more of a popular fishing destination. As I waded out and cast a line, I got reading the few threads about Pykes Creek Reservoir on the Fishing Victoria forum. A couple of key points were 'a lot of fish have gone in there, but not a lot have come out' and 'when the carp hit, they hit hard'. That's exactly what this one did; hit hard. When I reeled it in I was actually surprised at how 'small' it was. Judging by the fight he put up, I'd imagined him to be whole bigger, but I wasn't complaining; it's always good to catch a fish the first time you go somewhere, especially when not knowing the lie of the land.

Now if I could just find the secret to fishing Lake Burrumbeet...

+1

2023/24: 6 (2049)

CARPS

Of more than 1450 carp species worldwide, at least five have been introduced into Australian rivers and lakes. The European carp, or common carp (Cyprinus Carpio), is native to Asia, but is now probably the most widely distributed freshwater fish in the world; there are introduced populations on every continent except Antarctica.

From The Reader’s Digest Encyclopedia of Australian Wildlife (1997), Reader’s Digest, 26-32 Waterloo Street, Surry Hills, NSW 2010, p.416

It might have taken me 40km on my bike, but I finally hooked onto a few...

Love it when a new spot pays off...

+7

2023/24: 12 (2056)

It [angling] deserves commendations;...it is an art, and an art worthy the knowledge and practice of a wise man.

Izzak Walton
1593-1683
Compleat Angler. Epistle to the Reader.