An early morning session on Lake Mulwala showed just how productive this fishery can be, even when conditions look tough on paper.
Image: Josh Read
Recent rain had left the water carrying serious colour, but a noticeable flow pushing through a tributary of the main channel concentrated both fish and bait into a small, highly fishable area. The result: four cod landed measuring 80cm, 94cm, 105cm and 109cm.
What the lake was like
Lake Mulwala was running dirty from recent rainfall, but reduced visibility didn't stop the fish from moving and feeding confidently. The standout feature of the morning was current pushing through the tributary channel. In a lake system, any flowing water acts as a major fish attractor, concentrating bait and creating predictable ambush points for Murray cod.
Conditions were windy to start, dropping to glass calm just after first light, ideal for quietly working through likely holding water and reading the electronics. Navigation was straightforward thanks to the marked riverbed and Garmin Navionics Vision+ charts.
Image: Josh Read
Where the fish were sitting
The channel began in around 2m of water before dropping into an 8m hole on a sweeping bend, then tapering back to 3-5m towards its upper end. Standing weed lined both edges, and the current running through had bait and active fish stacked up.
Most fish were up and feeding, holding in 7-8m of water but suspended mid-water, 2-3m below the surface, rather than sitting hard on the bottom. Some cruised the channel edges while others fed through the middle of the hole. Dirty water, current, bait and sharp depth changes combined to make this channel a standout feeding zone.
Activity ramped up as first light progressed, with the bigger fish switching on, producing the 105cm and 109cm cod, plus a missed fish around the metre mark in quick succession.
Lure selection
The standout performer was a subtle white and chartreuse fly jig, tied by Jimmy from Snowy Valleys Fly Fishing. In the dirty water, that colour combination gave the fish enough to key in on while keeping a natural profile. Long, accurate casts past the fish let the lure work back through the strike zone naturally, and it accounted for every notable fish of the session. This presentation has become a favourite, and it's a pattern we stock a range of in-store if you want one ready for your next trip.
Why Lake Mulwala is worth the travel
Lake Mulwala remains one of Australia's premier Murray cod fisheries because it consistently delivers shots at genuine trophy fish. River channels, standing timber, weed beds, flowing water and abundant bait combine to create ideal cod habitat.
What stood out from this session was how well the fishery performed despite dirty water. The added flow concentrated fish and bait into key areas and created highly predictable feeding behaviour. In a short session, one small stretch of productive channel produced an 80, a 94, a 105 and a 109.
Image: Josh Read
Beyond the fishing, Mulwala is easy to get to. Several quality boat ramps sit around the system, so launching is straightforward no matter where you want to fish. The region also has a number of free camping areas, letting travelling anglers base themselves close to productive water without the cost, though it's worth noting camping isn't permitted everywhere around the lake.
Josh is a valued member of the Lavington Anglers Club! If you're after a fishing community with monthly competitions, big annual events and a genuinely friendly bunch, it's well worth checking them out.
Check out their socials 🙌🏼
| Josh Read | |
| Lavington Anglers Club |
Report courtesy of Josh Read, Lavington Anglers