Getting into the winter cod game by Jacko Davis

You have three casts and then dip your rod in the water again. It's light, you can see but only a short distance as the thick fog blocks your sight. It's 6:30am, your fingers are borderline frozen, and the thermometer reads -3°C. You can only get three casts in before your guides freeze over and the next cast becomes impossible. Cold is an understatement, but this is the struggle an angler must endure to compete in the winter cod game.
Friends and family members who aren't the committed angler you are will say you're crazy or insane. 'What's wrong with you?' they'll ask. But they don't know the feeling of success when a metre goodoo slips into your oversize landing net as you exhale another thick white fog of air and high five your buddy like you just won the lotto.
Targeting big Murray cod in winter is not for the weekend warrior, it's a game of commitment and proper preparation. It's not easy, but anything you have to work hard for the reward. This game is one I've come to love over the last few seasons, along with many other Murray cod enthusiasts. I've collected plenty of scars and learnt a lot, yet there is still much more to learn. We are still in the early stages of understanding the full potential of this game, but from my book of experiences thus far, this is what I've learnt.
PREPARATION
Probably the most important aspect of fishing through the heart of winter in any waterway where conditions consistently drop well below zero is the need for proper preparation. The first time I fished Copeton, I'd seen nothing but monster Cod flooding social media coming from its waters. I recruited a mate and basically promised him cod on tap. How wrong I was. Mid May was the time of year and with a bucket load of confidence we rocked up with a travel bag that consisted of a pair of flip flops, two pairs of footy shorts, a few T-bangers and a loan hoodie. It quickly became apparent that we were not set up properly to fish in the conditions and after three days on the water we returned home with a solid case of the flu and a busted ego from not even getting a touch.
The moral of the story is to be prepared. It's going to be cold and the prime bite periods coincide with the coldest parts of the day, so dress according. A good set of rainwear is mandatory, as it may not only rain but everything will still be wet. Adventure brands such as Kathmandu, Macpac, Patagonia and the like all make quality jackets, so pick one up. Thermals are great. I wear them as a base layer. Fingerless gloves matched with hand warmers are almost compulsory when it's gets below zero, as there's nothing worse than trying to wind a baitcaster when you can't feel your fingers. Beanies and neck warmers must also go in along with the most important piece of them all, ugg boots. Do not leave home without a pair!
AREAS TO FOCUS
Putting your efforts in the right areas is crucial to success when fishing throughout winter. Bait is the key and finding it is your ticket to success. Using your sounder to scout around and locate congregations of bait is a widely used practice by many seasoned anglers. You don't necessarily need to find cod on your electronics, as long as you are able to locate bait then it's a given that the predators won't be far away.
A good time to scout for bait is during the middle of the day or in periods that aren't regularly considered 'prime bite times' for Murray cod. Under a high sun bait will be congregated in deeper water, but when the light dims down this bait will be pushed up into the shallower margins of the lake by larger predators lurking below. Mark these areas and pinpoint the closest shallow margin to this bait, and it's here you'll want to concentrate your efforts when the sun begins to drop.
Of course, Murray cod fishing isn't restricted to fishing the low light periods and into the night. Often winter is associated with fog, and these low-lying clouds can cover the sun for long periods through the morning, extending the 'bite window'. When the sun finally breaks through it often means the fish will head a little deeper, following the bait. You can continue to fish the bait in the deep, target fish holding tight to structure or go back to camp, rest up and prepare for another big effort that afternoon.
A common phenomenon in our impoundments is the first light bite and it's at its most prevalent in winter. It's all about fishing the shallows, as this is where the bait will congregate during the low light periods for a few reasons. The main reason is the predation by the larger fish, predominantly cod, pushing them up to the shallower margins. It's here in the shallowest depths where the bait is somewhat safe from predation during the cover of darkness. It's when the first light hits the water that the feeding frenzy begins. The baitfish know that they must leave the shallows otherwise birds will smash them, and thus they must make a run for it back to the deep. The cod know this and will hold on the outside edge where they are comfortable and pick the bait up as it comes through. You can often see it first hand, and at Copeton I've pulled up on banks in the middle of the night, shone my headlight on the water and the amount of spangled perch or bobby cod holding right on the edge is unbelievable. Often when you find the right areas where the bait is 'making a run for it' the surface of the water turns into a 'bubble bath' as the cod gorge themselves on baitfish just below the surface. It's in areas like this that the confidence blows the Richter scale and it's only a matter of time until it's game on.