big Neil

Will do Luc.

I will do if somebody can tell me how. Thanks Luc. Still planning on coming to Merimbula to wet a line with you...till then. Neil

Yesterday saw very different conditions at Narrandera. The river was down at least a metre and had very little run happening so I knew I was going to have a hard time getting amongst them. However all was not lost and I moved from 1 snag to another picking up a fish each time. Managed 4 of the 5 possible species...all caught on cheese (even though I was using shrimp also). Managed to get Trout Cod, Murray Cod, Carp and Silver Perch. Once again no Yellowbelly (Golden Perch). It's been almost 6 months since I last caught a Golden Perch and that was only 15 cms long???? Where are they? More investigation needed to answer that one, I'm afraid. Anyway it was a hard day but I still managed a total of 11. Neil. Ps...it's good to note that the Trout Cod and Silver Perch are appearing more regularly in larger sizes. They are both listed as endangered, but are obviously doing ok in this neck of the river. Have caught 2 Silver Perch this week, well over 30 cms and very healthy.

Yep that's freshwater shrimp. Neil.

Thank you all for your nice comments, guys. I have recently started exploring the Murrumbidgee at Narrandera where there is a Fisheries Breeding place and they restock Murray Cod and Trout Cod every year. Trout Cod are still on the endangered list and I don't know the extent of their range once introduced into the system. Suffice to say that at 50cm plus these Trout Cod would have to have survived at least 7 years or so...if their growth rate is similar to the Murray Cod. I catch most fish on 1cm cubes of matured cheddar cheese and in fact I've experimented extensively with a paternoster rig loaded with cheese on 1 hook and any combination of "natural " baits (shrimps, yabbies, worms) on the other. Invariably it's the cheese that gets hammered. Caught a few Cod the other day that had tags in them but because I don't take my reading glasses fishing with me I was unable to report the information to Fisheries...lol. Heading out again today hoping (fingers crossed) to get one of the ones that keep busting me off in the snags. Watch this space (lol). Neil.

The impellor has to work in neutral or you would cook the motor whilst idling in neutral. Neil.

Still think it's worth putting your motor in a bin filled with water, as often the ear muffs don't create a good water flow. It won't do any more harm provided you turn the motor off when it's obvious it isn't working. You may well find it does work. I always flush my Yamaha with salt away after using it in the sea and I have no trouble from it...though I have replaced the impellor once. They are only plastic and can be damaged fairly easily. Good tips provided re backing the trailer. As mentioned, use your side mirrors. If the trailer appears in the left mirror...left hand down and if it appears in the right mirror...right hand down. Practise it and it will help. You will be able to find enough info on the internet to allow your mate to change the impellor, just make sure you get the correct one. Good luck mate, Neil.

Hi all, went down to the Murrumbidgee to catch a few and met 2 "grey nomads" at the boat ramp. We got talking and the husband said that he'd never fished fresh water before, so I offered to take him out with me "for an hour". 3 hours later we returned to the ramp with he having 1 Trout Cod and 3 Murray Cod and me having 3 Murray Cod. Dropped him off and took his wife out and she managed a nice little Murray Cod too...I managed 0 , though I did get busted off by a decent fish which got to the snag before I could turn it. Anyway we had a few cold ones and I made the half hour trip home with a couple of new friends. img 2231 is the Trout Cod. All fish returned to grow bigger...till next time. Cheers, Neil.

Hi Nans, you certainly want to ensure the discharge from the pilot hole is working before venturing away from the boat ramp. Try putting your motor into a large bin filled with water and start it again. If it doesn't run through in a few seconds shut it off and run a quick check on the lines (plastic tubing). Unlikely you will find it blocked though. Possible you may have damage to the impeller...especially if the boat isn't used fairly frequently. Outside of that have it checked out by a service person, it will pay off in the long run. Good luck. Neil.

Nice catch, Dave. They put up a good fight, don't they? Big Neil.

Great way to spend the day, mate. Big Neil.

good onya and well done Jett.

Well done. Persistence pays. I like tailor smoked, too. Neil.

Well done. Would have been fun bringing them in. Big Neil.

Had an unusual experience this morning at the Murrumbidgee River when I got this pigeon pair of Murray Cod using cheese. There was a moderate flow in the river and it looked promising. Caught 5 altogether but this is a first. They were 40cms and all were released for future catching. Big Neil

Hi Chrisj 1982, just spent a week up that way and the area seems to be heavily fished. However I think you just need to persist, fish the tides and the areas where fish are likely to be. There's certainly plenty of options and water there. If u have a boat, drifting using soft plastics always works for me...but mainly, don't give up and plod on mate. Big Neil.

Nice Cod and very well done on fly. Neil.

Took Samantha fishing with me for a few hours and we managed 3 Murray Cod in the heat of the day. Biggest was just undersize @57 cms. Caught plenty so far this season but only 1 over 60cms. Good fun anyway. Cheers, Neil.

I'll be heading up to Newcastle in a week or so. Has anybody got any info they would like to share on where I should take my 12ft tinnie for flatties, bream etc? Never been there before so please be specific with any information. Cheers, Neil.

Nice catch. What bait did you catch it on and were you fishing in the lake? Neil.

Ving, the advice that Steve J gave is sound but I would add that a bit of burley helps bring them to you and keep them there. I usually fish on the bottom and use bread to accompany my light as possible sinker. Once I have cast in I flick small pellets of the bread all around my fishing area. Works well here with an odd fish up to 10 lb caught but mostly up to 5 lbs. The hotter the day the better , at least here in the Riverina. Cheers, Big Neil.

Hi Stan, I'm interested in the "fly" which you used to catch Carp. Can you please tell me ,in detail, what it's called. I catch dozens of Carp in the Riverina but never tried fly fishing for them. Look forward to your reply. Big Neil .

Sarge RX8,it's easy to berley for Carp by sinking the bread to the bottom where the Carp will congregate. Saturate several slices of bread then wring out most of the water, whilst squeezing the bread into a firm ball. As long as it's got no air in it , it will sink to the bottom and the Carp will come from everywhere. Best distributed in small ( 1cm dia.) balls over an easily accessible area. Cheers, Big Neil.

Well done guys. Neil.

Hi Baldy, bit more than 4 hrs from Sydney but well run and good, cheap accommodation is the Bidgee Classic. Held at Gogelderie Weir each March and goes from a Fri to Sunday. Usually plenty of Murray Cod and Yellowbelly caught. Cheers, Neil.