Fishing Report 25th March 2021

Mar 25 20210 comments

Photo: Jye Gilmore with an Awoonga Barra

Lure Of The Week - Jackall Chibiteral

The Chibitarel is fast becoming a go to lure for Murray Cod and Barra fisherman. It’s natural swimming action and ability to turn backwards on itself when softly twitched is irresistible to big cod and barra. This lure is ideal when chasing highly pressured fish in clear water or when the fish wont commit to striking larger swim baits. With a combination of both realistic colours and contrasting colours there is a Chibitarel to suit any situation.

Adding a chin weight can send the Chibitarel to any depth you wish. A high rod tip retrieve will have it waking the surface and a low tip will allow the lure to swim down to a meter. This bait will be ideal as these rivers clean up.

Find them here: Jackall Chibiteral

Fishing Our Region

This week we have seen a massive change in water levels in a few of our Main Fishing Impoundments. Here's the Latest Dam Levels Please note these levels may change rapidly over the weekend as most lakes are still on the rise.

Leslie - 26%

Coolmunda - 100% and Spilling

Glenlyon - 45% and rising

Copeton - 34% and rising

Pindari - 45% and rising

Moogerah - 41% and rising

Maroon - 90%

Cooby Dam - Lake Cooby remains CLOSED for all boating and fishing activities due to Cylindrospermopsin levels exceeding the recreational water guidelines. Each week water is tested to ensure it meets safety standards for recreational activity (direct contact without water treatment). Cylindrospermopsin toxins have decreased to 0.5 g/L and this needs to be under 0.5. Enterococci levels have once again risen and are currently measuring 40 cfu/100ml (colony-forming units per milliliter) and must reduce to 35 cfu/100ml before we open the lake. Hopefully once the recent rain is settled we see this lake re open.

Cressbrook Dam - Lake Cressbrook will remain CLOSED for all boating and fishing activities as the current rainy weather may cause toxins to rise once again. Testing will be carried out during the week after any inflow from the rain has entered the lake.

Somerset Dam - Reports stay the same during the week with the recent rain, it's been all about the deep bite at somerset with a lot of fish caught amongst the creek bed off pelican point, with a tournament being held on the lake this weekend it'll be a good test to see where the fish are at and how the rain has changed the mood of the fish. Hot bite Sectra Vibration Jigs have again been the standout lure, while deep cranks have picked up great quality fish as well, the Imakatsu IK800 are the ideal Crankbait for this technique. The Kirkligh flats have also been worth a fish with good schools spread through out the area.

Leslie Dam - Finally some great rain in the right area, the lake sits at 25% which is great as we come into winter. Not many reports this week fish wise because of the rain. After the lake cleans up we will see Leslie back to its former glory with some great fish caught, over the past 6 months it has been extremely hard. Targeting the flooded banks with lip-less crankbaits like a Jackall Tn60 will be your best bet, either cast or on the troll. These fish will move shallow up to the new water and feed.

Boondooma Dam - Out of the Sothern QLD Impoundments unfortunately Boondooma missed the majority of the rain, the level stays around the same but a small top up will make that edge bite even better than what we seen in previous weeks. The top water bite has been on everyone's mind as this lake isn't known for this type of technique, Lure like the D Style Reserve have caught good numbers of fish, targeting spindly trees in the Boyne arm has had a lot of success, as the day heats up TN60's and 1/2oz Spinnerbaits have gotten allot of good fish. Still big numbers of smaller fish suspended throughout the main basin out from the dam wall, spoons and heavily weighted plastics have been the go to for the deeper fish.

Glenlyon Dam - Glenlyon has had a huge rise and will continue to flow in for the next few days, this couldn't of happened at a better time, this will push the fish very shallow looking for new ground and bait, as the water begins to clear the fishing should be on fire! Casting shallow swimbaits like the Jackall Gantarel and Gigantarel during the low light periods is the perfect presentation.

Copeton Dam - The fishing is about to get real at Copeton, with the recent rain this lake got a huge rise and now sits at 36% and still continues to rush in. As the banks begin to flood well see the top water bite fire up as the fish begin to move up onto new ground. The Mudeye Rattle snake has already accounted for Multiple fish this season and will only get better as the water settles.

Lake Awoonga - With the full moon only a few days away we have seen good reports and will get better as the days go on, Follow the wind and you'll find the fish is the standard in Barra fishing. The Main Basin still tends to hold the warmer water on the shallow weeded points. Anchoring your boat in 14-16 foot of water seems to be the magic mark and fish towards the weed, the afternoon bite has been the pick of the times, The Molix 140 has again been the stand out as well as the Barambah Boney Shad and Biwaa Kapsiz HD Rigged Soft Plastic, keeping your bait tight to the weeds is key as these fish are sitting in there waiting to ambush any prey..