With the recent expansion of the GoFish Nagambie tournament zone to include Murchison I thought it was a good idea to get out there and share some of the expectations, challenges and rewards you are likely to face when fishing this well-known monster Murray Cod hotspot.

THE LOCATION

Situated on the Goulburn River, Murchison is a small rural town and farming community that relies on the river and channels as its main water and irrigation source. Because of this, the water levels in the Goulburn river that run through Murchison can fluctuate from one day to the next making it a challenging, but extremely rewarding place to fish.

THE ZONE

The tournament zone ends at the Murchison football and netball club just off River Road and includes all waterways back towards the Goulburn weir. 

There is a boat ramp at the end of Campbell’s Bend Road that is accessed via a four-wheel drive track with plenty of trailer parking and very easy manoeuvrability to launch and park safely.

THE RIVER

With the fluctuating water levels it can be a challenging waterway to chart. When the river runs low, there are parts of the river you could walk across, the structure is very visible and the stock banks are left high and dry. When the river runs high there is plenty of structure that sits just below the water level and your prop becomes a makeshift chainsaw! Be aware!

There is plenty of structure – PLENTY. From small fallen trees and branches to monster red gum tree trunks and root balls, there is timber and hiding spots everywhere.

FISHING FROM THE BANK

There are ample opportunities to fish from the Murchison banks and these are highlighted in the GoFish Nagambie Tournament zone maps. Upstream from the boat ramp at Campbells Bend you will find nice soft sand banks to fish from with very easy access.

For those of you that are wanting to walk the bank, flicking at the exposed structures as you go, you will find that the riverbanks can become quite steep but not impossible to navigate.

The benefits you will have fishing from the bank over being on the water is that you will be able to access the back of the structures where cod like to sit in wait, get in behind some low hanging willows where yellow belly like to school up and be very selective on where you fish  the slack water pockets that are proven holding grounds for Cod trying to nab an easy feed.

FISHING FROM THE WATER – BOAT OR KAYAK

Because of the unpredictable nature of the Goulburn river through Murchison with the ebbs and flows, the smaller structure and broken tree branches are constantly on the move. It really is a perfect spot for smaller boats and kayaks that can manoeuvre through tight spaces. There are no shortages of anchoring positions that provide great opportunities to cast in tight on those exposed logs. The centre of the river runs at an average depth of 4 to 6 meters and holds some deep pockets up to 8 meters. The amount of submerged structure makes it difficult to troll through the strike zone, so checking the water depth and matching that to the dive depth of your lure is crucial for a successful hook up. 

ADDITIONAL TIPS, BAIT SELECTION AND OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION

With Murchison having so much structure to fish, weather on the land or the water, flicking surface is a must on those early morning sunrise sessions. Those monster cod could be hiding anywhere and could be hungry at any time. Your chances of getting one off the top are far more favourable during the periods of low light when they feel more comfortable to venture out for a feed. When the sun starts to peek through the eucalyptus trees, stay on the shaded side of the river and get a few more flicks on the top before changing to your hardbodies or your spinnerbaits. When you do change lures and tactics and start flicking and retrieving hardbodies or spinnerbaits in and around the tight structure, try to visualize what that fallen tree or root ball may look like underwater. Chances are if you have a clear mental picture of that structure before you cast, you will be far more confident that you are casting into the pockets that are holding fish and won’t waste casts out in no man’s land!

If you are choosing to bait fish go with your old trusty! Be it chicken, cheese or natural baits like grubs, worms and yabbies they are all tried and true cod catchers in Murchison. If you want a local tip, the go to is freshwater shrimp. River shrimp are in good numbers through Murchison and easily caught with a bait trap. If you are bait fishing, try to not get distracted, it is very easy to park your rod in a holder and pick up your phone, sort through your tackle box or get stuck into your breakfast. If the fish do come to make an enquiry, make sure you are home to answer the call! That’s one call you do not want to miss! The 80k Cod call!

Happy fishing and stay safe!

We don’t want to make outrageous statements BUT Nagambie is fishing as good as it ever has with most fishos coming away with a cod or two in the bag…and decent cod at that. Here’s the lay of the land for you.

Here are the top spots for the last two weeks fishing the Goulburn River in and around Nagambie.

MITCHELLSTOWN

A lot of Murray Cod between 50 to 65cm are coming in from between Chinamans Bridge and Mitchellstown Bridge. Flick surface lures or spinnerbaits into the lagoons around the lily pads.

LAKE NAGAMBIE

Reports coming in that the Mitchellstown side of the lake is doing all the damage at the moment. Chris Galea getting a 92 model of the top with Stump Jumper.

Off the boardwalk, you’re in with a decent chance of Reddies, Yellowbelly and smaller cod in town. Stick to worms and small yabbies.

KIRWANS BRIDGE

Kirwans Bridge Yellas have a big appetite at the moment particularly around the reed beds and overhanging willow trees..plenty of yellowbelly schools hiding out waiting.

MURCHISON

Below the weir, Murchison East through to Arcadia is fishing really well. The river is looking reasonably clear, nice height and isn’t flowing too quickly. Casting spinnerbaits in around the timber is producing the good. These trees are holding big numbers of shrimp, so the cod are hanging around too.

River Conditions

PERIOD

Monday 6 January – Sunday 19 January

WATER TEMP

AM 18.9’c average

PM 21.3’c average

WATER LEVELS

Water levels have been significantly fluctuating lately due to flow of water through the weir due to irrigation.

Location

GOULBURN WEIR

The weir has been fishing well for redfin and the occasional golden perch. Small soft plastics with a jig spinner have been absolute dynamite. Often finding them in schools of 50+ at a time. They are hungry and have been chomping at most small lures that go past their nose. Although small, with the average size between 20 and 25 cm, they are great fun for the kids over the school holidays.

KIRWANS BRIDGE

Kirwans Bridge has been producing some good fish on underwater lure and surface fishing. Success has been found more around the reed beds and less on the exposed tree stumps. Reports on the average fish size have been between 50cm and 80cm all on lure.

LAKE NAGAMBIE

The lake has given up some great fish over the school holidays. Small redfin and nice golden perch have been caught right off the boardwalk. Casting small soft plastics and plastic nymphs into the underwater weed beds have been the go to combo for getting a hook up. Bait fishing up in the North West corner between Della Island and Teddy Bear Island has produced nice Murray cod in the 60 cm + size. There has been a heck of a lot of watercraft activity on the lake over the holidays and I still managed to hook a 63 cm Murray Cod on chicken with a jetski blasting up and down!

MITCHELLSTOWN

Should be nicknamed “Yellowtown” Murray Cod have been hard to hook up on this strip lately! The golden perch on the other hand have been on the bite! Tried and true techniques have been the go, casting spinnerbaits at tight structure. And fishing the golden hour has been the most successful for consistent hook ups.

HUGHES CREEK

Also known as the Hughes Creek Highway. The boat ramp at the Mitchelton Bridge has been getting a belting and most are opting to head up stream towards Hughes Creek. There are plenty of fish being caught from the pup’s to the big dogs! Natural baits have been producing the best results – Earthworms and yabbies.

Other Information

There is plenty of food on the water at the moment with the bug hatch and spawning bait fish. It is making for a pretty spectacular show with Cod and Carp breaking the surface to grab a quick bite.

Murchison has been fishing well too. Casting baits into the slack water pools that form off the side of the flow hold some great fish. The morning sessions fishing from the sand banks have been the go to!

It is a very hard season for Bardi Grubs. No tackle shops are selling them and chipping is producing very few for the laborious task.

Things are just starting to get interesting on the Goulburn River and Nagambie Lakes. A 114cm Murray Cod was caught near Tahbilk Winery on a delicious cocktail of Chicken and Cheese, a metery was caught downstream of Hughes Creek on a grub AND young Adele pulled in a 103cm Murray Cod trolling an Old Mate diver on the lake. Just call Nagambie meter city!

From the bank, the boardwalk in town is also providing a good return on Murray Cod with an 80cm caught just yesterday.

Getting good numbers of Golden Perch bobbing soft plastics around the willow trees at Kirwans Bridge.

Over the last month, we’ve heard of over 15 fish over the meter mark and plenty more between 60 cm to 80cm caught in the Goulburn, showing just how damn good our fishery is at the moment.

Nagambie is firing up! Plenty of good reports coming in. Murray Cod on bait in the Mitchelton stretch from Mitchellstown bridge back towards Seymour. Bardi Grubs proving to be absolute dynamite. Reports also on cheese, chicken, scrubworms and even the old left-over gourmet sausages coming up with the goods!

Trolling along the deeper water has also proved fruitful. Big hardbodies like AC invaders working well.

If you’re casting, a Bassman Spinner and Jackall Gantarel seems to be the go in the smaller backwater sections.

Still in the same area, Reddies are on the chew for small yabbies and worms.

Further downstream towards the Leisure Park, surface fishing with paddlers on the far side of the river to the caravan park has been producing Murray Cod frequently between the sizes of 60 to 85cm.

If you’re land-based, there are plenty of Redfin and Yellowbelly being caught along the boardwalk towards the old Rowing Club. Bait is doing most of the damage on small worms and yabbies. Also give 3 to 4 inch soft plastics are crack too.

Around Nagambie, from Northwood Road to the Wineries, there are some good numbers of Redfin and Yellowbelly, mainly on bait such as worms, yabbies and shrimp. Try tying off near some of the willow trees in the backwaters.

Getting some massive Carp in the shallower backwater areas such as Majors Creek, a nice bunch of worms on a size 6 wide mouth hook and a running sinker should do the trick.

The water is still a little cool and seems pretty dirty around Kirwans Bridge, however getting reports of some nice Redfin and Yellowbelly being caught. You’ll have to work pretty hard for them, sounding up schools before fishing or moving every 15 minutes is the way to go. Bobbing yabbies, shrimp or 3 to 4 inch soft plastics is working well in the area.

Below the weir from Murchison East, Toolamba, Arcadia, Shepparton to Undera are all fishing really well for Yellowbelly. Water is at a good height and is nice and clear, perfect for lure fishing. Small spinnerbaits are the standout.