Time now perfect to cast a line in the Condamine River
CONDAMINE RIVER
OFTEN I’m asked where a good place is to go fishing that is close to town and rarely can I say the Condamine.
While this river system is easily affected by the weather in too much rain or not enough rain the conditions this year have been exceptional.
Even the most common water holes along the Condamine such as Bowenville Reserve and Yarramalong Weir have produced some real quality fish.
The best way though is definitely kayak fishing.
Being able to reach the not-so-common holes has been the key to catching some of the monsters that have been landed of late.
Bait and lure-wise, the trend has been spinnerbaits for the lure anglers and yabbies for the bait fisherman.
With this great weather continuing it’s the perfect time to try yourself at the Condamine River.
CRESSBROOK DAM
CRESSBROOK is continuing some decent form, although all the good reports have come from the same people.
This place can be hit-and-miss if you aren’t going there often.
The safe option is live shrimp. Almost all live shrimp get taken by fish right now although the size isn’t great but it’s good fun.
For anglers who are having success locating schools slow-rolling spoons has been the best option along with casting suspending lures to the edges in the early mornings.
COOBY DAM
NOT much change at Cooby; if anything the fishing has probably slowed a little.
With the water temperature starting to drop pretty low the fish have slowed down and only seem to have small windows in the day where they will bite which is around 10am and 2pm.
Saltwater yabbies still dominate the catches along with live shrimp and Ecogear blades.
LESLIE DAM
LESLIE has slowed a little.
The smaller fish are not as active this week.
There were a couple of big yellowbelly caught and a few smaller cod.
Again saltwater yabbies have been the bait of choice along with live shrimp and Ecogear blades.
The fish are spread out all over the lake and up in the shallows a lot more fish are being taken in around 8-10ft of water and sometimes shallower.
GLENLYON DAM
WITH all the excitement of Copeton Dam over the past year Glenlyon has gone untouched but sneakily it has been producing some quality fish.
Large cod have been taking big swimbaits and surface lures fished tight to the edges while there has also been some good yellowbelly landed jigging the trees.
Early mornings have been by far the best fishing times especially while there is such a high barometer around the area.
The old saying 1020 fish are plenty is pretty spot on.
GOLD COAST FISHING
WINTER is the best time to be fishing around the Gold Coast for most anglers.
Inshore the deep channels fill with big bream, whiting and jewfish.
Slow drifting baits or plastics down the deep channels at Jumpinpin has seen some good numbers of quality inshore fish being landed and the better your bait the better the fish as in getting fresh bait is key.
Pumping your own yabbies or catching your live baits has been vital in getting the best fish.
This theory is the same for offshore while winter also brings in big numbers of snapper, pearl perch, spangled emperor among many other reef fish that flood the close reefs off the Gold Coast.
Again, bait selection is key.
Day-to-day it can change so taking a variety of different baits is your best bet to having the right bait for the day whether it be pilchards, squid or strip baits then working with the currents to know how much lead to use.
It’s all about common sense and getting your baits in the fish’s face.