Warrnambool winter trout options by Mark Gercovich

Winter is a time when many trout anglers pack away their gear. For most it is an enforced lay off as there is a closed season in place for trout in streams and rivers in Victoria over the winter period. Happily, a few rivers in the state remain open due to their classification as sea run trout fisheries. A good place to find such winter trout options is around Warrnambool, in the southwest of the state.

WHY THE SOUTHWEST?

What makes perfectly sane individuals want to go and fish for trout in the coldest months of the year? In the southwest rivers it is all about quality of fish rather than quantity. Unlike other trout waters in the state that provide large numbers of fish, but with a small average size, southwest fish average 1-1.8kg, with enough 2kg plus fish around to keep you soldiering on in the cold weather. There can be a lot of water between fish though, and many nice looking locations, good casts and nice drifts go unrewarded.

There seems to be a number of reasons why rivers in the region produce such quality fish. There are abundant forage fish species in the waterways to assist the trout in growing quickly. Various species of Galaxias minnows and gudgeon, along with small mullet closer to the estuary, combine to provide plenty of accessible feed for large trout. Most techniques for catching these southwest trout are based on this piscatorial diet - but more on that later.

The region also receives its fair share of rain, even in this past decade of poor falls for the entire state. It seems the higher the water and the more flood events that occur, the better conditioned the fish become. Stocking rates are also quite low in some rivers, which allows large trout plenty of river to call their own so they can continue to grow. Finally, access to many sections of the local riverbanks is difficult, which reduces angling pressure.

WHY WINTER?

The cooler months of the year are the best for targeting these fish for a number of reasons. The beginning of the spawning drive just before the season closes can see trout become more