Tackle Tactics » Tips-Techniques » Sweetwater-Impoundments-Brackish » Murray Cod - Grind it out
Murray Cod - Grind it out
By Jacob Iedema
With another Murray cod season in full swing, Jacob Iedema shares with us his search for this iconic species and why, as tough as the bite can be at times, it’s well worth grinding it out... especially when you’re in search of your first greenfish.
It was the winter of 2022 when I first got the chance to target the amazing freshwater native that is the Murray cod. The preparation included gearing up and planning my approach to target these special fish. I gathered a selection of poppers, surface walkers, spinnerbaits, large soft plastics, swimbaits… you name it, I had it. So, when it finally came time to fish, I was itching to wet a line. At the time the adrenalin was pumping, and I didn’t understand the slog that lay in front of me.
I made my way down to the waterway that I would be fishing, late one winter's afternoon in central NSW, equipped with an Okuma Cerros 7’, 5-12kg travel spinning rod and an Okuma ITX-4000 reel, spooled with 15lb Platypus Pulse X8 Braid. It wasn’t ideal, however travelling with a one-piece Komodo baitcast rod wasn’t an option on this trip.
I began my adventure by peppering snags, holes, and lily pads with spinnerbaits, working my way through the system without so much as a hit. When the sun had disappeared below the hills and a bright pink and purple lightshow was cast upon the sky, I resorted to topwater lures, eager to get a topwater strike. All afternoon I pursued the mighty Murray cod and at the end of the session I was left empty handed.
The next morning was a chilly minus two degrees, which was solemnly welcomed as I woke up before the birds, rigged my gear and made for the waterside. I pursued the topwater bite for a good hour, before switching things up and rigging a ZMan 5” DieZel MinnowZ in Hot Snakes colour on a TT HeadlockZ HD jighead, with a Jig Spinner attached for extra flash, vibration, and snag resistance.
Half an hour into peppering snags, drop offs and weed beds, I had my first encounter with a Murray cod. On a slow winding retrieve, with the occasional pause to allow the lure to touch the bottom, the lure was absolutely annihilated! What followed was a big heavy weight, with massive head shakes and the intermittent lunge for cover. As the cod surfaced, I witnessed its mottled green and gold pattern, as the fish crocodile rolled on the surface of the water. Then, with my thumb safely securing the fish in the mouth, I could finally relax and enjoy the beauty of the fish.
It wasn’t a very big cod by any means, but it was a cod and that’s all that mattered. After a quick photo, I lowered the fish gently into the water and after swimming the fish for a short time it kicked off with its powerful tail and faded into the weeds.
With one fish under my belt, I stuck it out for the rest of the morning with the same DieZel MinnowZ rig. My retrieve consisted of casting at snags and letting the lure sink to a desired depth or all the way to the bottom, depending on the cast. From there a slow wind, with a periodic twitch and pause was all that I performed. Another hour passed and once again I felt the smack of a cod smashing the lure from its ambush position.
Initially a few clicks of drag were stolen from my reel, so I thought I had hooked an upgrade from the previous fish. However, the rest of the fight that ensued proved otherwise. A slightly smaller fish surfaced shortly afterwards, and it was a fish that fought well above its weight. Although a big cod is a goal of mine, I wasn’t going to be disappointed with the small ones. This was a well-conditioned, low-fifties fish, with stunning colours. After its release I continued fishing for another few hours, before calling it quits for the morning.
That afternoon was the start of a three-day dry spell. I fished for eight hours each day for the following three days, only resulting in a follow from a cod each day. Although it was cool seeing a cod eye off a surface frog and swim right up in the shallows following a lure, it was a hard slog.
So, here’s what I learned from chasing Murray cod for the first time.
Be prepared. I know it sounds obvious but being able to change lures to fish finesse or fish for a reaction bite is vital to cracking the cod code. I only caught fish on one morning. The one window I had where the fish were biting, I managed to find a lure they wanted to eat. Now it could just be a coincidence, but I fished a plethora of lures that morning and every session in fact. I found a lure the fish didn’t mind having a crack at. Whether it matched the baitfish, juvenile cod or just annoyed the fish into biting, I cracked the code and caught fish before it shut down again. Slow days are just all part of cod fishing but making the most of the days where the fish are a little more active is the key to success.
And that leads me to my second point, put in the time. Putting in time while fishing for cod is critical for making the most of those good sessions. If I decided to sleep in the morning that I caught the fish, I would have walked away completely empty handed for my efforts. Weathering those fishless sessions is all worth it in the end to ensure you don’t miss out when the fishing is red hot.
Now, I can’t stress enough how important local knowledge is when cod fishing. Whether it’s lure tips or location pointers, local knowledge is invaluable. Popping into the local independently owned fishing stores is a great way to learn from the experienced fishos in the area, while stocking up on a few lures that the fish really fancy. These independently owned stores can often be some of the best tackle stores you’ll ever walk into.
Finally, the key to enjoying Murray cod fishing to its full potential is enjoying the experience for what it is, with the fish just a bonus. With picturesque backdrops, endless symphonies of native bird songs, pristine waterways, and fresh air, with a mind cleared of the stresses of everyday life, that can’t be too difficult, can it?
Now, even after grinding out the fish that I caught, I can’t wait for the next chance that I get to chase these special native fish again, remembering that the experience is everything and catching fish is just a bonus.
Tight Lines!
Jacob Iedema