The Murray River below the Yarrawonga Weir

The Home of the Trout Cod

    This section of the Murray River is the start of a very unique part of the Murray-Darling Basin, it has been designated as an area that requires a certain amount of protection and hence this is why there is a closed fishing season during the entire Spring season (Sept-Nov) and an all year round set of restrictive NSW fishing regulations. Anglers are only allowed one (1) attended rod with no more the two (2) hooks or a two (2) trebled lure & setlines are totally banned all year round. The reason for such strict regulations is because this section of the Murray River which starts from the Yarrawonga Weir wall and ends at Tocumwal Road bridge has one of the last two known wild populations of the fully protected and endangered Trout Cod. The other known wild population is in the Seven Creeks area near Euroa Victoria and another population in the Murrumbidgee River. The Trout Cod which has been over fished to very low numbers has been given recognition and protection that it needs and it is in this part of the Murray River that we hope to help resurrect this unique fish back to where it once was before European settlement. It's mainly due to its very aggressive nature that this fish has been easily caught and over fished in the past. Also the change in which the river system has received due to irrigation etc. has contributed to its low numbers as well.

    Although the Trout Cod is protected and should never be targeted by anglers they do quite often get caught by anglers targeting Murray Cod & Golden Perch. And if you ever happen to hook up with a mature Trout Cod you will definitely have fond memories of the event as these are the most aggressive fish that will be found in the Murray-Darling basin. The kick & rod shake is something to be witnessed and you will quite frankly be taken by surprise as to the ferocity this fish can produce. Trout Cod have been known to grow to lengths of 800mm or more and you could imagine what one of these steam trains would be like once hooked up. Due to their aggressive and ferocious nature they have succumbed to many an angler over the years and this is part of the reason why they are in such low numbers. It's as if they defend their territory with such gusto that anything that passes near by is swiftly met upon and hence why lures are very productive and do catch Trout Cod readily. When fishing the river below the Yarrawonga wall it really is a good idea to flatten the barbs on your lures so if Trout Cod are caught they can be released without causing them any additional grief trying to remove the trebles out of their mouths.

    This part of the river has some great habitat to go casting lures, there's plenty of sunken timber on both sides of the river and great trolling runs for most parts of the river in this area. Certain times of the year the river fishes better than others and the most common productive time is when there is a significant increase in outflow from the weir and the Golden Perch seem to mill around the swirling current & froth opposite the Yarrawonga Caravan Park. At times many anglers bag out rather quickly and lure caster's do struggle a little when the river is stirred up by the increasing flow. But when the annual irrigation season comes to an end (usually April) there is a very short window of opportunity when the river drops suddenly and the current slows down and the water clears. It can be a fantastic time if you can time this with your visit as this phenomenon only tends to last for 4 days to a week or so. The weeks following this time of year if there has been no rain can be very productive also as the water does get very clear and lure fishing is the most productive method to be used. There have been many large Murray Cod caught off the bank just next to the boat ramp directly below the wall when the water clears up and the current drops off. Casting close in to submerged snags will be the best productive method and keep persisting in an area for a while as the Murray Cod do need to be stirred up a little but if they are there they will eventually show all intruders (your lure) who's the boss.

    So if you are planning to fish this unique and classic part of the Murray River be sure you are up to scratch with the current NSW Fishing Regulations and adhere to them. Ensure you handle all your catch with care and if you happen to hook up with a Trout Cod be sure you do your best to release them back into the water as quickly and as safely as possible. And be aware the NSW Fisheries Officer's do patrol this area frequently so have a NSW fishing regulation with you so you do not make any mistakes as in this part of the river the Fishing Officer's are not very forgiving and they will deal with you to the full letter of the law so be warned.

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Revised: 29 Jan 2008 .