Fishing on The River Murray

After much thought on where to go fishing next in my mad search for something bigger, we decided to go to a place that is an old favourite of ours called "Greenways Landing". Located between Mannum and Swan Reach on the river Murray, its a beautiful and quiet place with waterside shacks and some easily accessible free camping.

Time and date was locked in for a 9am Wednesday morning pick-up. After loading the gear, we set off for the 1hr 50min journey to our destination. Upon arrival we quickly unloaded and set up camp by the water’s edge.

The sun was blinding and we knew It was going to be a hot one at +39C and the forecast was +43C for the following day Thursday. With bait prepared and rods baited and cast at different ranges, 20m 30m 40m and 50m, it was time to crack a tinnie to cool down.

After 1hr and no action, we recast our rods further out at 60m 70m 80m and 90m.

This is when we got a visit from a feisty brown snake. i would have got a better picture of him trying to get into my bait bag, but that is where the camera was. i managed to capture a shot of him when he came to see what i was doing with my rods.

With the high temperature, he moved very fast.

Within 10 minutes of the snake visit, the first fish was hooked at 80m range. It held its position in the deeper water and used the current of the river to add to its weight taking line for the first 20 seconds. With a ping, the line went slack and it was thought all was lost. Then while reeling in, contact with the fish was made again; it was swimming straight in towards the bank. A good fight was had in the margin before the net was slipped under number one for the session.

The second bite came within minutes at 90m range and again a good fight was had before slipping the net under this one.

Another 15 fish were caught that afternoon, all of similar size before darkness fell and the mosquitoes moved in with having me for dinner at the top of their list.
Itching like mad from the bites and hiding under mosquito mesh, we chilled out in the dark with a beer and scanned the Milky Way galaxy which spread right across the sky with Orion in the middle. Sorry no photos.
Up at first light, the rods were baited and cast to 80m where we had all the action the previous day but the action was slow. With very few bites.

It quickly started to heat up and become uncomfortable to be out in the + 43C.

We decided to call it a day and pack away, we had the smallest fish of the trip but probably the best looking, a fully scaled mirror.

Back at home now as i type this, iv'e counted 18 mosquito bites that need some fresh aloe applied and i'm thinking "where can i go next"?