DAIWA FISHING TIPS: 5 Spots for a “Golden” Spring – Marc Ainsworth

Looking for a few Victorian destinations to chase goldens this spring? Then look no further.

Here are five lakes, all of them stocked, where getting onto Goldens is on the cards.

Lake Hume – home to some giants! Produces goldens over 10lb every year. Trolling hard bodied lures is popular, as is casting along the banks with lipless crankbaits like Daiwa Woofers.

Lake Eildon – another massive piece of water that’s been well stocked for decades. Gin clear water can make goldens challenging, but watching them follow lures to your boat makes up for it! Trolling hard bodies is a great way to find schools of goldens in spring at Eildon. Keep an eye on the sounder too. The arches can’t be missed! Then sit off them and cast away. Casting over submerged tree tops is another good approach. Just take the tackle-back or lure retrieval pole!

Lake Nillahcootie – can be dirty, but has grown in reputation as a producer of golden perch over the last five years. Not far from Eildon either, so can be fished in the afternoon if Eildon is playing hard-ball.

Lake Eppalock – still recovering from a tough run of drought years. Big stockings since are now delivering for anglers, but probably not back to its best, yet! Casting at standing trees in 10ft or less is productive, as is trolling hard bodies. Daiwa’s RPM Crank Mid 10 lure will handle both approaches nicely.

Cairn Curran Reservoir – another producer of behemoths on occasion. Trolling is popular, but no reason that casting lipless crankbaits won’t produce too. Like Hume and Eildon, it’s also home to trout and redfin.