Like most others this time of year, it is a bit of a struggle to concentrate with more than a few “mind wanders” at the moment – I wonder if fish get hay fever, that would be funny. A fish sneezing and saying “I just had air come out of my nose”. 

I told you the mind wanders.

I know a lot of locals have been heading off on some pretty good trips in the last couple of weeks. 

Copeton and Wyangala have been very good to a few groups with close to 100 yellas being caught at both dams respectively. 

The majority of the fish caught have been big hubcaps or pigs with only single digit numbers being below 50cm for both dams. I also know that 98 per cent of all these fish were returned to the water so others can have a fun time as well.

The past couple of weeks I have received a lot of photos from very proud parents with fish their kids or grandkids have caught. A couple of photos are of six-year-old Toby Jobson fighting and catching a trevally at Hervey Bay.

In the picture you can see the fish is nearly bigger than Toby. 

For those who have been lucky enough to catch a decent sized trevally, you will know how hard they fight and how much of a struggle it is to actually land one, so I have to say bloody good job Toby.

I wonder who was more excited, Toby or his father Steve. 

It’s great to see young kids getting out and having a go at all types of fishing – it is no longer put a worm on a hook, throw it in the water and wait. I am pretty sure my first half decent Trevally came when I was about 25 and it was only half the size (now I am starting to get jealous). 

The wand weavers have been out and about as well now that the streams are open.

There have been some mixed results up in the high country, with some blokes catching good numbers of small fish and others only a couple – nothing really to write home to mum about, but just being there is a plus. 

The wand is not just for high country trout, you can use it for any fish anywhere as the picture of Bruce Duff’s 30kg-plus sailfish from Exmouth shows us. 

A 30kg sail on fly is another very good capture (and release). 

I am pretty sure the gear used might be just a little heavier than what you would use trout fishing, but the skills would be the same.

I was asked this week if it was legal to throw carp back if and when caught in NSW.

My immediate thought was no, but I contacted a mate at fisheries and was told that in fact carp can be returned back in the water alive in certain areas of NSW and ACT.

The only fish that is not allowed to be returned live to water in Australia are red fin. Red fin are a class one noxious fish and therefore cannot be returned to the water alive anywhere. It is also illegal to put them in farm dams – who said you don’t learn anything from this column. So as much as most of us don’t like carp and like reddies, the reddies are a bigger threat to our environment, which makes another good excuse to go fishing – “but honey, I am helping the environment”.

Like I said at the beginning – a bit higgilty-piggilty with concentration this week, but I’m trying – some people would say very trying.

Burrinjuck hasn’t really changed from last week, a few more fish being landed but that’s only because a few more people going fishing. Bibless cranks are the better lures at the moment, just remember that the fish will soon realize that these rattling things thrown by hundreds of people have ouchy bits on them so don’t be scared to try something different even if it only a little bit different

Blowering is pretty much the same as the ’juck. I do know of a young bloke fishing off the bank caught and released a 1.2m cod on a worm. Picture and name of said young fella when cod season opens in December – I won’t put pictures of cod in the paper out of season. I know it’s not illegal to catch and release them (as a by catch) out of season, it’s just my decision.

Talbingo and the Alpine lakes have been a little slow with not many reports coming in, not saying they aren’t fishing, just not many reports. Tantangara has had a few fish reported with some decent brown caught on flat lined Tassies, obviously the water temperature is still a bit cool, the same for Eucumbene and Jindabyne as I haven’t heard anything

Hume Weir is possibly the place to be with some decent reddies and the so-called 10lb reddie that was supposedly caught there last week. The fish has been doing the rounds on social media for the past couple of years, but there were some 3lb and 4lb fish landed just the same and some nice yellas recorded.

Mulwala still needs the water to come up a few degrees and the cooler nights aren’t helping, a couple of yellas but nothing much otherwise.

Murrumbidgee River is pretty good with some nice yellas, mainly on bait being recorded. Carp in some numbers are starting to be seen so get the kids and get into these with worms or corn.

The south coast has seen some albacore at the 1000-fathom mark and the warmer currents are starting to move down, hopefully bringing the bigger tunas. There’s a few gummies drifting baits just outside as well.

Eucumbene 49.6%

Blowering 63.1%

Burrinjuck 80.1%

Jindabyne 66.6%

Tantangara 20.2%

Talbingo 61.8%

Mulwala 92.9% 

Send your photos to craig@waggamarine.com.au or 0419 493 313