Lake Eildon cheat sheet
Trophy Murray cod, yellowbelly and trout, the licence and the slot, the three rigs and the kit. One page to take to the water.
Lake Eildon
Cod year-round, best in the warm months and after dark in summer. Yellowbelly peak October and November. Trout best May to September.
Licence
You need a Victorian Recreational Fishing Licence (RFL). Buy it from the Victorian Fisheries Authority or Service Victoria. 3-day about A$10, year about A$42.20 (A$39.70 online), 2026. One licence covers fresh and salt; no separate impoundment permit in Victoria.
Size and bag limits
Murray cod slot 55–75 cm, bag 2 in lakes; golden perch (yellowbelly) 30 cm, bag 5; trout bag 5. Cod over the slot go back. (Confirm the current numbers in the VFA guide.)
Release / do not release
Cod over 75 cm or under 55 cm must go back (wet hands, support its weight). Redfin and carp are noxious; you must not return them to the water alive.
Bank vs boat · season · time → rig
| Fish | From the bank | From a boat | Best time | Rig |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Murray cod | Limited (near ramps, pondage edges) | Yes, the real way, tight to timber | Year-round; warmer months best; dusk and after dark in summer | Cod spinnerbait rig |
| Golden perch (yellowbelly) | Possible near ramps and the pondage | Yes, around the timber and points | October and November best; into summer | Cod spinnerbait rig (lures) or inshore bait rig (bait) |
| Brown / rainbow trout | Yes, the pondage and shore near inflows | Yes, trolling the deep water | May to September; deep troll in summer; dawn and dusk | Trolling rig |
Bank only is mainly a pondage trout trip. A boat adds the cod, the timber yellowbelly and the deep-water trout.
The rigs
50–60 lb braid → FG knot → 40–60 lb mono/fluoro leader (a rod length) → spinnerbait, swimbait or surface lure
FG knot · Palomar or non-slip loopMain line → running ball sinker → bead → swivel → leader → snelled bait hook(s), or a light paternoster off the bottom
Snell · PalomarLine → downrigger release or leadcore for depth → leader → winged lure, spoon or minnow
Palomar (the workhorse)What you need
A cod trip is one heavy outfit and a box of big lures. Yellowbelly bait and the trout troll are separate light kits, so pick your fish.
The knots
| Knot | Ties | Used by |
|---|---|---|
| FG knot | The heavy braid-to-leader join, slim and strong. | Cod spinnerbait rig |
| Palomar | Hook, swivel, lure, leader; strong on braid and fluoro, the workhorse. | Every rig |
| Non-slip loop | A fixed loop at a lure for free movement. | Cod lures (optional) |
| Snell knot | Bait hooks on the running-sinker rig. | Inshore bait rig |
Learn the FG knot for the cod rig and the Palomar for the rest. Wet every knot before you pull it tight.
This one page is the printable I take to the water.
Give me an email and I will show it to you, ready to print. A one-page reference: what's on by month, the licence and rules, a rig for every fish, the shared tackle box and the knots.
I'll send you the cheat sheet, and email you when I add a new place to fish. Nothing else.