An autumn evening session on a Victorian waterway has confirmed that Murray cod will readily take lures well into the cooler months, despite the season's reputation for patchy fishing.
Angler Robbie, who documents his sessions for the Robbie Fishing YouTube channel, headed out with fishing companion Sonny on 21 April armed with hard-bodied lures and modest expectations. The pair targeted known cod haunts as the leaves began to change, conscious that autumn can be hit-and-miss for lure anglers chasing Australia's iconic native.
Robbie opened proceedings with a OneWell Sumo in Simpson colour, though the session didn't start smoothly. After snagging his lure inside a hollow log, he was forced to retrieve it using what he described as a "snake retrieval pole" – a long rod kept handy in what he acknowledged was tiger snake country.
After switching to a more natural gold-coloured Sumo, Robbie connected with his first fish. Sonny called the productive cast moments before the strike, and Robbie landed a Murray cod of approximately 40-45cm. The fish had taken the lure convincingly, validating the decision to persist with the natural colour pattern in the fading light.
Eager to test the theory that bigger lures attract bigger fish, both anglers upsized to large surface offerings. Robbie tied on a jointed Blue Dog Paddler, whilst Sonny opted for a Mega Pompadour. The gamble paid dividends when Robbie hooked his second Murray cod of the session on the oversized surface lure.
The second fish, estimated at around 40cm, struck whilst Robbie was momentarily distracted checking his footing on the bank. He admitted he wasn't watching the lure at the time of the take, highlighting the aggressive nature of the surface bite.
Robbie was using a Shimano Curado M baitcaster reel spooled with 50lb line, tackle well-suited to extracting Murray cod from snaggy habitat. The session took place during the evening hours as light faded, with both anglers navigating challenging bankside terrain including fallen timber and thick vegetation.
Whilst Robbie landed two cod in the 40-45cm range, he confirmed that Sonny – who runs his own fishing channel – caught larger specimens during the same session.
The outing provides encouragement for Murray cod anglers who may write off autumn as an unproductive period. Whilst spring is traditionally regarded as prime time for cod on lures, this session demonstrated that the fish remain active and willing to feed on hard-bodied offerings as temperatures begin to drop.
The session was documented in full on the Robbie Fishing YouTube channel, with Robbie directing viewers to check Sonny's channel for his perspective on the afternoon's fishing.
For cod anglers questioning whether to pack away the lure rods as autumn progresses, this session suggests there's still plenty of opportunity before winter truly sets in.
