When fishers of both salt and freshwater think of spring targets, the majority will narrow it down to two main species – dusky flathead and golden perch. Andrew McGovern shares some of the best techniques to get you amongst both species this spring.

The months that define spring provide the best chance to catch good numbers of both species while also being the prime time to nail a large specimen. There are numerous factors associated with fishing for both species that will deliver consistent results; however, the one underlying theme is water temperature. The most obvious reason that water temperature is vital to success is the metamorphosis out of winter and cold water, into warmer spring conditions. Like the majority of creatures, fish feeding habits slow down in the cold and energy is conserved. Fish require fat and protein to not only catch their prey but also to digest it. Some species find it harder to digest food in cool water temperatures then others and as a result have developed the ability to remain relatively dormant through winter. This explains why many store fats and protein through autumn. After all, they need to sustain condition and functional health.
The initial sign that the water is warming occurs when weed beds begin to sprout out of various substrates. This in turn kick-starts a flow on effect to every living organism that utilises the waterway to live, reproduce, and prosper. The emergence of weed beds has wide reaching effect on the environment both above and below the water. Microorganisms will suddenly appear to feed and multiply on and throughout the weed beds. Various types of water birds will forage through the weed for these tiny balls of protein and in the process leave droppings in the water. These droppings further feed the microorganisms to the point where crustaceans, tiny foraging fish, snails, worms, grubs and other fresh and saltwater invertebrates begin to feed on them. It is this explosion of activity that begins to attract predators such as flathead and golden perch.

FROGS IN THE RACKS
The best areas to find flathead through spring are around the upper reaches of estuary and lake systems, away from the influence of the cold ocean water. However, there is a large amount of water and a huge number of features that may hold fish.
An area that has proven itself as a big flathead attractant through spring is around the racks. Normally associated with bream, big, lazy female flatties lurk around these shallow areas in good numbers from September right through to December. While fishing around the racks over the years, there have been countless occasions where smaller hooked fish have been shadowed by large, dark shapes.
The distress signals sent out by the struggling hooked fish obviously attracts the attention of nearby crocs. I can recount at least three genuine monsters in excess of 90 cm eating the small fish on the end of the line and taking off with it. On all three occasions we battled the big croc for a short time before a totally destroyed, half scaled, dead small fish returned to the boat.
My latest encounter occurred while fishing across a small weed patch next to a set of out-of-the-way racks when I hooked an average south coast lizard. As I brought the fish across the weed, a big croc, perfectly camouflaged, appeared from the centre of the weed and engulfed my smaller flathead in one implosion. The big fish took off, away from the racks, peeling line at surprising speed. The take had occurred within a few metres of the boat so I suspected the bigger fish was not actually hooked but instead, just holding onto its meal.

The author nailed this big golden over a prominent point using a Jackall Squirrel.

Several minutes passed and I began to gain light in between a few trademark power surges by the flattie. I started to wonder if the big fish had fully swallowed the smaller fish and that I may be a chance of bagging a PB frog. As the big fish came within visual range of the boat we knew it was in that 80 to 90 cm bracket, but as many would know, flathead sizes can be deceptive and they often appear bigger than they are once on the brag mat. With only a metre or so left to work the big girl into the waiting Environet, she proceeded to open her mouth before we watched the 47 cm flathead slide straight out of the bucket mouth… both our jaws dropped. Amazingly the smaller flathead barely had a mark on it and was still kicking. I was shattered to lose that fish but in hindsight the memory of seeing that smaller fish being regurgitated right in front of us is a memory I’ll treasure more than holding the big girl for photos. These sorts of incidences are not isolated to just the spring months as you will also find big flathead meandering around the racks during late winter and summer.
When you consider that wherever oyster racks exist, the water is going to be relatively shallow and therefore it will be warmer than deeper areas of the estuary. However, all racks aren’t the same. Look for racks that are set in large shallow bays where there is minimal current. The tide will slowly push water up into these bays rather than power through if the racks are near deep, fast moving channels. The deep channels will bring cold water, particularly on a run in tide and are far less likely to hold flathead in numbers than the large, shallow sweeping bays. In addition to the above-mentioned benefits, the crisscrossing of the supporting structure of the racks provides perfect cover, not only from the feathered predators above, but also for schools of small minnows. As the minnows drift near the bottom they become fair game for the well camouflaged flathead that lay in stealth on the bottom.

Fishing land based can provide some excellent golden perch action in spring when working lures inside weed beds.

FRINGE BENEFITS
A huge benefit of chasing spring goldens is that both river and impoundment fish will school up. In one impoundment two years ago we marked up several, absolutely massive schools of like sized golden perch. We estimated the schools were at least 300 fish strong. At the same time the fisheries team was there, netting to take samples of natives, and they told us the school was likely over 1000 fish. Even more jaw dropping was that we found three separate schools of similar size within a few hundred metres. What this means for spring time golden fishers is that catch rates should be high – if you manage to find the schools of course. In saying that though, because the fish are generally condensed in tight schools, picking up the odd lone fish along the way doesn’t occur as frequently as it does during summer or autumn.
With this in mind, the emphasis remains on finding the fish. There are numerous areas where goldens can be found schooled up in impoundments during spring with dense clusters of standing timber, near deep holes adjacent to inflow areas or creek beds, suspending above old river beds, or prominent points, being a few of the prime areas. To cover all these features in one trip may not always be possible so the first area I fish (and will spend a good portion of my first day on an impoundment) is across prominent points. Not all points are the same though and it is the surrounding area that can dictate just how attractive the area is to a bunch of golden perch.
One key factor is having weed beds running close to the point, particularly along the edges where the depth increases as the point runs out from the shoreline. The other key element is finding deep water close to that point. In this case I classify deep water as being between 4 to 6 metres. We have found that fish will hold in this depth of water while in a passive or shut down mode. Then during certain parts of the day we find fish will move up onto the point to feed and search for food. When fish are nosing around the point, and at times close to shore, is the time we have found them to be most responsive to lures. What triggers them to move away from the school to start feeding is still a mystery; however, it is a matter of consistently working the prominent point that will see you in a position to capitalise.
These fish are best targeted from a boat while working a variety of presentations from the shallow edge back to the vessel. This strategy will allow you to prospect for fish near the shore and along both edges of the point, which may not be possible to effectively work from the shore. Sinking presentations such as soft plastics, spinnerbaits, and soft vibes have a distinct advantage over other styles of lures as they can be paused and allowed to track very close to the bottom. If you do choose to fish from shore, suspending minnows worked along the edge of the point and over the weed beds is highly effective. Impart numerous pauses and ensure you rip a retrieve or two at a higher than normal speed as this can often spike the interest of a nearby fish. The same theory is applicable to river fish; however, your lures will be worked along rocky points and weed beds are generally not as prevalent as they are in impoundments.
GAME PLAN
The biggest issue facing spring fishers is whether to hit the fresh or the salt. My plan each spring is to review the tides and select days where there is a run out tide occurring sometime from mid to late afternoon in the estuaries I want to fish. These days are pencilled in for my flathead assault. The alternate week you will find me poking around the weed beds of one of my local freshwater impoundments in search of that pot of gold. One of the advantages at this time of year is if you find fish, there will generally be more in close proximity. By utilising some fishing nous, spring fishing will mean good numbers of fish and give you a real hot chance to knock over a personal best of one of our two most popular recreational species.
Andrew has been fishing the Canberra, Monaro, Snowy Mountains and south coast of NSW region for almost 40 years and is considered one of the country’s most innovative and competent anglers. He has been a freelance journalist for almost 17 years, has written two extensive books on the region, and featured in numerous AFN tactics DVDs. He regularly undertakes all forms of fishing with casting soft plastics for trout, chasing kingfish from the rocks, pelting baits from beaches, and luring his local estuaries amongst his favourite pastimes. Andrew is currently a Pro Angler with Jarvis Walker Australia and endorses their range of products.