What a difference a week or two makes in fishing! The sun is shining, the bloody magpies are chirping or whatever they do at 5:30am, the days are getting longer, and the fishing is starting to hot up as well. To only think is very very early spring, can it get any better than this?

My old man use to say back on the farm, "wet winter, bloody hot summer boy, mark my words". Yep, it’s easy to forget just how a true winter should be, cold 'n' frosty with plenty of wind and rain.

Down the Camperdown region they have recorded well over 500mm of thus far this year, and we have yet to receive the spring rains around October, November. So one could be optimistic in thinking it's going to be a great spring and early trout season, all indicators are pointing that way.

As I said what difference a week or two makes in fishing... Down Bullen Merri way there has been some thumping Quinnet and brown trout coming to the net. Local Geelong anglers Paul Tamis, Rick Maes, Troy Clifford and Joel Kettner have been busy fishing the lake at night with some great results of fish up to 9+ lbs. Admitingly they had to stay up to 3am in the morning to land the beasts, but really who could sleep with the knowledge of those monsters cruising the margins hungry for a feed.

This action over the past weeks is all due to the bullhead and minnow populations moving into the shallows, getting ready to spawn... Perfect timing for a comp wouldn’t you think? Over all the lake has been producing some fantastic fishing and it should continue and improve with the weeks to come.

Next week sees Purrumbete reopen to boat fishing after a three month lay off, yippee, although the fishing has been somewhat slow over the winter period, due to many factors next week should see the annual open day "Burke St parade" as boats make their way on to the lake in an effort to get the first fish for the opening.

The only trouble will be that the fish won't be used to all that traffic, noise and lures on or in the water, so you’ll need to get on early and be quiet before you go down deep, because that's where the fish will end up. I expect there won’t be to many big fish caught, but you never know. By the way Purrumbete is included in this year's Camperdown Classic over September 3-4-5, so the choice is yours.

Around the corner Lake Elingamite has been steadily going along and doing it's own thing, when you think of great trophy lakes, most of us think the above mentioned. But I can tell you there are and has been some great captures of trout and reddies in this water and it will continue to do so - over the winter there has been excess of a 12 big 3.5kg fish taken from this water.

With the onset of better whether, and more food finding its way into the lake the fish will really start to get active. At the moment the water levels are good enough to launch a 4.5 to 5m boat from the ramp in the next two to three months this will change, so make hay whilst the sun shines.

Lake Modewarre has been giving up the odd brown and rainbow to 1.3kgs but the work is hard and the fish to few and far between for my liking. In the next month once the water clears and the temp rises Moder will start to fire, but not just yet. Wurdibuloc Reservoir is simular to Modewarre so give it miss for a while

Lake Colac has had a few big carp coming to the hook and things are looking good on the redfin front as well. With several locals getting some nice bags of fish up to 600gms, whitebait is still the best to use but the water is cold enough to still put people off from collecting them just yet.

On the Camperdown Classic front (3-4-5 September) things are moving full throttle at this stage with plenty of enquires coming from across the State. With some great fish coming on the bite lately I think we’ll be in for some thrilling captures and some great moments for all who make the trip.

Remember get there early (southern bank of Bullen Merri) to get the best campsites and you can register Friday night or up to noon on Saturday up at the Camperdown Angling Clubrooms. The fun fine system is on again this year with some weird and wacky fine handed out, so bring a few extra $$$ to donate to the “Make a wish Foundation.”

I forgot to mention part of the entry fee is to bring an unopened can of Bundy (for me)... I look forward to seeing you there!

Till next week, stay upright.
Karl

See Karl's previous report here.