Murray cod, Australian bass, golden perch and trout share a country and almost nothing else. Matching the approach to the species is most of the battle in freshwater.
This guide sets out a workable starting kit and the key retrieve for each.
Murray cod
Heavy gear: 6–8 kg baitcast or spin, 30–50 lb braid, 40–60 lb leader. Big spinnerbaits, swimbaits and surface lures fished tight to timber.
Cod are ambush predators that live in structure. If you are not occasionally snagging, you are not close enough. Closed season applies in most states from 1 September to 30 November — check your state rules.
Australian bass
Light gear: 2–4 kg spin, 10–15 lb braid. Surface lures at dawn and dusk in summer, small spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits through the middle of the day.
Bass move downstream to brackish water to spawn in winter — fish the estuary reaches then and the freshwater upstream in the warm months.
Golden perch (yellowbelly)
Medium gear and lures that stay in the strike zone: lipless crankbaits, blades and small spinnerbaits worked slowly near rock walls, timber and drop-offs.
Yellowbelly respond strongly to rising water temperature and a bit of flow after rain.
Trout
Ultralight: 1–3 kg, 4–8 lb line. Small hard-bodies, spoons and soft plastics in rivers, or trolling in the highland lakes of Tasmania, Victoria and NSW.
Trout are sight feeders — fish clear water, keep low, and cast upstream so the lure comes back with the current.
Key takeaways
- ▸Cod want big lures in heavy structure; bass want small lures at low light.
- ▸Yellowbelly sit on structure edges and eat slow presentations.
- ▸Trout demand light line and a low profile.
- ▸Check closed seasons — Murray cod and trout both have them.
This guide is general information only. Fishing regulations differ by state and change regularly — confirm current rules with your fisheries authority before you fish.