Casting bankside is a very productive method to catch Murray cod
whether you are prospecting the Yarra down south or the Severn up north. Roderick Walmsley explains.
Photos Roderick Walmsley and Andrew Wilson

My feet were soaked through my shoes as I made my way across the open paddock and ultimately to what we were hoping was a productive little stream. The morning dew lay thick on the ground and the clear farm air put a spring in our step. We jabbered away about the possibilities as we walked.
The little creek gave away its presence as we poked our heads through a bit of scrub. It was flowing at a reasonable rate and at first glance seemed relatively clear. It wound its way up and over a hill on the top side and meandered through some thick bush on the downstream side.
We were in no rush and studied the little waterway for a bit to see if any fish gave themselves away. Lures were tied on and a small back eddy drew both of our attention. As I was the newbie to this type of fishing I was presented with the first cast. I had chosen a shallow diving hardbody that ‘waked’ across the surface of the water. It was a proven cod catching lure and due to its weight could be cast with reasonable accuracy.
The lure landed hard up against the opposite bank and any thought that I had as to whether there would be any fish in such a skinny waterway disappeared in an explosion of spray. The lure vanished from the surface and I immediately leaned back, while walking up the bank to move the fish away from the cover. It was a brief but torrid tussle and in what felt like seconds the cod was gently lifted from the water and lay down on the moist grass next to the bank.
I was still shaking slightly from the excitement as I looked down at its beautiful colours. After a few quick photos, the fish was released to entertain some other fortunate angler at a later date. It was the start of an exceptional morning that saw us catch numerous cod of various sizes from some of the smallest pieces of water that I have fished. It had been a long time since I could honestly say that I had enjoyed myself so much while walking the bank!
Walking the bank is truly one of the oldest forms of fishing, yet many of us seem to ‘forget’ just how effective and enjoyable it can be. I say ‘us’, because I definitely sit in that category. Fishing out of my tinny has been the priority for quite a few years with the advent of modern technology. With improved sounders, electric motors and four stroke engines who wants to walk the bank anymore? Well the truth is; I have been missing out on a lot of excellent fishing and breathtaking scenery by being so one minded in my fishing pursuits. This back-to-basics approach can be a great way to change your fishing focus. Let’s take a look at some of the necessities and tricks of the trade to help you find some of these little honey holes.

Katie Wilson in the water but very happy with the result.

FINDING THE FISH
The obvious first step would have to be finding the fish and one of the best tools for this is Google Earth. I remember when we were growing up; Google Earth was something only talked about very briefly by the chosen few that had access to the internet. These days it is a household name amongst the fishing fraternity, but probably more so among the land based fishos. There no longer needs to be any doubt as to whether there might be some water behind the hills. Instead, a coursery look on your mobile phone or PC can confirm it. The New England Tablelands are littered with small streams that snake through the country side. Some of them hold more fish than others and it could take a fair bit of exploring to find the sweet ones. The plus side to this is that when you do find waterways that hold good numbers of cod and good sized models at that; you will enjoy it a lot more.
Many of these waterways are located on private property and access to them can be very limited. If you do the right thing and gain permission to fish on a property then remember to respect the owner’s land and do the right thing. This way you will open more doors and greater fishing opportunities. Do the wrong thing and access property without permission and you will not only spoil it for yourself but potentially any other anglers that want to do the right thing. There are waterways on accessible land and some of these are simply tiny little streams no wider than a bathtub, but you will be surprised at just how many cod (and good quality ones at that) these diminutive waterways can hold.
WHAT TO TAKE
The key thing to remember is to travel light. Most of the waterways that you fish will be relatively shallow, with only the odd deep hole. You will also be covering a fair bit of ground on foot while making a few quick casts to prospect the area. If there is a fish there and he or she is in an aggressive mood, it shouldn’t take too many casts to elicit a reaction.
A single medium action bait cast outfit of around 6 to 7 ft should suffice. A popular rating would be something like a 6’6” rod of around 4 to 7 kilograms. Rods in this range usually display a slightly softer tip which helps when casting some of the lighter lures. Not all cod like to eat large lures all the time and when it comes to the smaller streams and creeks a medium-size lure will often get more bites and ultimately more hook-ups.
A braided main line of 20 to 30 lb on a baitcast rod is almost a must. Most of the fights will be short lived and full on tussles with plenty of opportunity for the fish to bury you on either side of the stream being the norm. When you do hook a fish, you need to move them towards you quickly so don’t be shy to put the hurt on them. A leader of similar breaking strain or perhaps a touch stronger is a good starting point. My leader of choice is usually in the vicinity of 30 to 45 lb, depending on the type of structure that the creek is littered with. As a rule of thumb: start heavy and work your way lighter.
If your preference is spin tackle then that’s fine and something similar will suffice. The outfit you ultimately choose is entirely up to you and will really depend on what you are more comfortable casting with. You can also look at taking a spare rod with you but it can get in the way if you are trekking numerous kilometres through bush or bankside vegetation and putting it down at each spot can quickly become tiresome. A good idea is to take an extra rod, but leave it in the car. At least that way if you do happen to break your rod then at least there is another within reach.
A small backpack containing some spare leader line, a variety of lures, a camera , some drinking water and at the very least a basic first aid kit with some sort of snake bite aid is a must. Most of these areas are reasonably remote and having these bare essentials could be a matter of life and death. It may sound dramatic but they don’t weigh much at all so having them with you isn’t much of a chore.
Try to keep a variety of lures in the backpack to cover a few different scenarios. A spinnerbait or two in a few different sizes and colours should be first priority. A couple of variations of hardbodied lures – for example a shallow, medium and deep diver in floating models would cover most scenarios. The floating models are easier to retrieve through structure when walking the bank. If you enjoy the entertainment that a surface strike from a cod offers then a few surface lures are also a definite. One other lure that I never leave behind is the mumbler or chatter bait. It has often tempted the fish into biting when most of the other lures have proven unsuccessful; and lastly a few plastics just in case. Add pliers for hook removal and braid scissors, some sun screen and a decent hat and you are away.
A pair of good walking shoes can also determine whether your bank fishing experience is a pleasant one or not. Choose a pair that can get wet and one that features good grip on the soles. Ankle support is a big plus to save you rolling an ankle too. I have done this and it was a long and painful walk back to the car. Cod are generally found in areas that are littered with rocks. These can be precarious to walk on at the best of times. Add to the equation a bit of water and they become even harder to negotiate.
SAFETY
You will be doing most of this fishing a reasonable distance from civilisation and even though you might not always be that far from help, a serious fall or injury can make that farmhouse just down the road feel like a long way off. Many of these remote locations don’t have mobile reception, hence why they are still very productive fisheries. It therefore pays to let someone know where you are going and at the very least what time you will be back. I always head out with a mate as I enjoy the company.
Bank fishing can really be good fun and in a day and age where technology seems to be cluttering our fishing, it’s a nice way to get back to the basics. Good fishing to you all.
Roderick Walmsley is a professional skipper and keen amateur angler. He now works on the north Queensland coast.