The stream trout season is now closed and will re-open on the first weekend of September, leaving local anglers with few stream options.

River blackfish and eels can be a lot of fun on light gear and are a good alternative when the stream trout season has closed. Blue Rock is still fair game for anglers looking to chase trout in the region with many fish trolled up in recent months on lures on a flat line.

Amongst the typical pan-sized brown trout some surprisingly healthy rainbows have been caught, which is very exciting. Bass are still active and plenty are caught on lures and bait presented deep amongst structure. We should also see some good-sized redfin being caught over the coming months using the same techniques for winter bass.

Targeting river blackfish and eels over winter is only for the game, as they are best targeted on dusk and well into the night. You’ll need to rug up, as once that sun sets it can get very chilly and damp, but the hunt and sense of adventure can be a lot of fun.

The key spots to look out for along any stream are dark pools and deep holes, which provide river blackfish and eels the perfect habitat to snare their prey. They are ambush predators and can take their time before seizing a well-presented garden or scrub worm. Occasionally, river blackfish have been known to take lures, but this is very uncommon.

Key rivers holding river blackfish and eels include the Lang Lang River from Hallora right down to Lang Lang, Bunyip River at Labertouche flowing down to Koo Wee Rup, the Tarago River and the Latrobe River and its tributaries. The season for river blackfish south of the Great Divide closes on 1 September until 31 December. Eels can be targeted all year round.

Blue Rock presents anglers with land-based, boating and kayaking options over winter. No matter what you do, check the weather and dress appropriately. Blue Rock gets very cold over winter as it sits below the foothills of Mount Baw Baw. The wind can pick up very quickly too, so ensure you are aware of what the weather is doing for the day before heading out.

The walking track from the Tanjil Arm Boat Ramp to Blue Rock Road provides anglers with a large area to easily access the southwest banks of the lake, ideal for fly casting, lure casting and bait fishing. The other boat ramp near the dam wall also has plenty of access to the lake and depending on what the wind is doing on the day, you can usually escape it from either boat ramp.

Feel free to send me a report or photo, particularly if you have any success stories out on Blue Rock Lake or if you have been targeting eels and river blackfish. Please email me any questions, too. Happy fishing!