Exciting bait fishing at Lake Eppalock

Lake Eppalock was at 88% when I filmed this video, and has filled more since. It is currently higher than it has been in years. With that thought in mind, I grabbed a tub of Jan Juc worms and headed to a shallow grassy bay to attempt to catch whatever was hungry.
The first 4 hours were incredibly slow, with only 1 fish landed (by accident!). The 5th hour turned up the excitement as I landed fish after fish after fish, including a few roach - a species I had never caught before! A big fat yellowbelly and a handful of carp also joined the party.
As the weather continues to warm up, Lake Eppalock should provide plenty of fishing action in the months to come.
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JAN JUC FISHING WORMS - Order online and have them posted out to you!
www.fishingworms.com.au/
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VFA Roach rules:
vfa.vic.gov.au/recreational-f...
VFA Carp rules:
vfa.vic.gov.au/recreational-f...
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SOCIALS:
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#lakeeppalock #eppalock #fishing

[@peterriley6444]

Great to see you back on the Tube - a recent update from Fisheries The 2022 Victorian Recreational Fishing Guide lists a bag limit of 5. This bag limit of 5 was changed to no limit as at 8 September, 2022. Fishers are encouraged not to return roach to the water as they can impact other recreational species

[@RKJFishing]

Thanks heaps Peter! I did see the rules after I got home haha. I'm glad I got it right

[@gregcornell6910]

It’s great to have you back with regular postings. ✊🏾

[@RKJFishing]

Thanks so much Greg. Now that the rain has backed off a little and the weather is warming up, I should have some more coming soon hopefully!

[@grazzasfreshwaterfishing]

Great Vid Rohan - epic Yella Belly. Been a lot caught of late mainly from the bank on worms. Thanks Grazza

[@RKJFishing]

Thanks Grazza! Hopefully I can get back over there soon

[@vincentdonnellythemadfishe5158]

Great to see you catching a fish well lots of them. You looked in your element. Great to see you again.

[@RKJFishing]

Thanks so much Vincent, It felt great to be catching again

[@robbiefishing]

This was so awesome, well done. What a pleasant surprise right near the end. I love the way you just correct people on carp rules before they even start lecturing. Haha brilliant. Massive thumbs up from me. 👍👍

[@RKJFishing]

Thanks so much Robbie! Nobody has said a word about the carp, but I reckon between here and social media I've heard about 7 different versions of what the roach rules are hahahaha

[@Urbanfisho]

There's LOTS of k/b 'experts' out there! I'm SURE you've encountered walk up 'experts' whilst out fishing! I know I have, always full of 'advice', about nothing Robbie!

[@trueaussieray9093]

Urban fisho..Carp have been around for centuries mine and your granddaddy's were fishing for them long before we were born... maybe just maybe some other people might know something a little bit more than you.. just because you're doing something they're not at that point in time doesn't mean they don't know what they're talking about... keep an open-minded happy fisherman..

[@Urbanfisho]

@@trueaussieray9093 Not here.

[@blainesellars1548]

Hey mate well done 👍🏻 what a beautiful yellow!

[@RKJFishing]

Thanks heaps Blaine! haha yeah I wasn't expecting that!

[@lenlemaic7849]

Good to see you back Rohan. Now that Yellowbelly is spectacular. On the condition scale it's a ten out of ten.

[@RKJFishing]

Thanks Len, it was a beautiful specimen wasn't it?

[@glenbaker4024]

Good one Rohan, well done.

[@RKJFishing]

Thanks Glen

[@134rwa]

That was a fun day, and it was surprising how shallow they were biting, and that big Yellow Belly was quite the bonus.

[@RKJFishing]

Cheers Russ! haha yeah I think the yellowbelly was chasing those small roach around

[@puteraabadifishing8852]

I like spot, and your fishing style thank you man

[@RKJFishing]

I appreciate that!

[@trueaussieray9093]

Very picturesque spot that! It's hardly a job when you're at them sort of places! Glad to see the weather is warming up! Fun to be had! Further down in the comments I read ther is a bag limit of 5 and not allowed to return Roach back to the water...?? That's the silliest thing I've ever heard of..

[@RKJFishing]

You're right about that Ray. The weather took far too long to warm up haha. People are confused about the rules, there used to be a bag limit of 5, but that was removed at the start of this month. It's also not illegal to put them back, they have the same rules as redfin. You're "encouraged" not to put them back, but you're allowed to release them where they are caught from. You are not allowed to transport them while alive

[@jefflouis5658]

Between Covid and floodwaters my fishing too has been constricted. Great to be back into it though.

[@RKJFishing]

You're right about that Jeff, it's been a long time! Bring it on

[@bec-tomlawson9195]

Nice to see you back Rowan and what a nice yella nice catch mate

[@RKJFishing]

Thanks so much

[@peterhipwell4632]

A ripper session great to see you catch a yella well done

[@RKJFishing]

Thanks heaps Peter

[@Dan_welds]

Well done mate some great fishing

[@RKJFishing]

Thanks buddy!

[@philliphickey2687]

Great video Rohan. Haven't fished Eppalock might have to give it a go.

[@RKJFishing]

Thanks heaps Phil. If you give it a go, try to find a shallow grassy bay like I was in - with the lake being so full they are up there looking for new sources of food. Good luck!

[@trueaussieray9093]

Looks like a beautiful spot

[@jemuelvella7906]

Roach under same field as redfin. Encourage to return but not force too. But very nice to eat right size.

[@RKJFishing]

Thanks mate, I found that out after I got home hehe. It's good to know they are good eating!

[@kneebs711]

impressive haul rkj!

[@RKJFishing]

Thanks Jimbo!

[@chriscoyne4827]

Great session on the fishing well done great to see you back as well. There's actually nothing about roach part from they gotta be 35cm to keep so I'm guessing you gotta put them back undersize.

[@RKJFishing]

Thanks Chris. The rules in the link I shared say they have pretty much the same rules as redfin. No bag or size limit, and not illegal to release them where they were caught from

[@mezi919]

Nice!!

[@darylC_2306tiger1]

G'day Rohan, what a great session that was, and a beautiful Yella as well, strange that the roach had a bag limit of 5 but fishers are encouraged not to return them to the water, now I think there is no bag limit so I guess they are now classed as vermin just like carp. Cheers.

[@RKJFishing]

Yeah they did change it, they have exactly the same rules as redfin now. Thanks heaps mate

[@orange3too]

thanks for the great videos. what of the hook in the roach and any bird that eats the fish/hook?

[@RKJFishing]

That's a good question actually, I had never considered that before

[@craigdargie6929]

G'day Rohan. Great video mate. A good carp is a dead carp and you removed a few. I haven't fished lake eppalock for years. Maybe next time I'm at the mother in laws. I haven't caught a roach for years either. We used to get a few in the local creeks in the Yarra Valley but, not for me anyway, for a long time. The yella was great. Keep up the great videos mate.

[@RKJFishing]

Thanks so much Craig. Definitely give it a shot next time you're around, especially while it's full like this

[@billyboy1441]

good stuff matey

[@RKJFishing]

Thanks Billy

[@garyjohnson1295]

Great to see you enjoying the fishing again, eppalock was good fishing from the bank now they have fences up everywhere. Never heard of Roach in eppalock, first I have seen and I have been fishing for many years. Can you eat them? Are they introduced??

[@RKJFishing]

Cheers Gary, I had no idea either! Apparently they are nice eating but their close resemblance to carp might prevent me from giving them a try lol. Yes they were introduced in the 1800's at a similar time to redfin, and they have pretty much the same rules as redfin as well.

[@garyjohnson1295]

Thanks for that

[@wayneberry8703]

G’day Rohan, good to see you getting rid of a few Mud Marlin old mate, a good yellow belly and some roach, good stuff 👍🏼. I was just watching Robbie’s latest video and he caught heaps of carp also. Thanks for a great video mate.

[@RKJFishing]

It's good to see the carp biting again actually, they have been really weird this year haha. Thanks Wayne

[@wayneberry8703]

@@RKJFishing cheers mate

[@BlackCountryPiker]

What a cracking session matey, those roach are perfect live bait for pike fishing here in the uk 😂

[@RKJFishing]

Thanks heaps mate. I'll have to check up on the rules again to see if we're allowed to use them as bait here also, I reckon the cod would smash them

[@BlackCountryPiker]

@@RKJFishing awesome 👍

[@madivan3638]

Thanks Rohan. Eppalock is the only place I have caught roach though I have heard of them being caught in the lakes and reserveoirs around Kyneton. As they are introduced I put them in the same category as Carp, Tench and Redfin as remove them from the waterways every time I can. And Yes I also include trout in that category.

[@RKJFishing]

Thanks Ivan. I've had a few people name other places they have caught roach in the comments, but I don't think they are overly widespread.

[@Urbanfisho]

@@RKJFishing You CAN get them in various streams and lakes around Melb.

[@blainesellars1548]

Hey mate great to see you again looking forward to this

[@RKJFishing]

Thanks heaps Blaine, hope you enjoyed it mate

[@blainesellars1548]

@@RKJFishing it was awesome! Well done 👍🏻 what will the rules in the end?

[@RKJFishing]

They have similar rules to redfin, you're allowed to put them back where you caught them from, but not allowed to transport them anywhere

[@blainesellars1548]

@@RKJFishing thanks mate!

[@jamesbowen2030]

How deep of water did U catch that yellow belly in ? Nice roach iv near seen them till now I now what to look for now

[@RKJFishing]

Based on the angle of the line I'd say it was about waist deep out there. I reckon he was chasing a few of those little roach around haha

[@mdmelbourne6076]

Lake Chop A Lot Rohan, I’ve only got red fin there and turtles lol 😂

[@RKJFishing]

I was very surprised I didn't catch a redfin! I hope to head back soon with the yak and some lures though.

[@asiis1000]

Ripper video mate, which end of eppalock is this? don't think i've been anywhere near that spot

[@RKJFishing]

I'm not sure exactly where because the water is so high, but it's around twin rivers somewhere

[@asiis1000]

@@RKJFishing thanks mate, love that end of the lake will have to do more exploring once the water's down

[@lewis5605]

Is that a new change to carp being able to return them dead? I thought I read about a year ago no returning dead or alive in case they have eggs

[@RKJFishing]

No that rule has been like that for quite a few years if I remember correctly. I put a link to the carp rules on the VFA website in the description if you want to check the current wording on it

[@boonysfishing1417]

Fished Eppalock on Friday from a boat for only 1 redfin. It was very quiet.

[@RKJFishing]

I had a mate tell me the same thing actually! This was filmed last Thursday, sounds like the day before you went haha. I heard the lake is close to 100% now, I'm hoping to head back after the next rain and fish it shallow again

[@captainfrank01]

That's what I would call fishing in a minefield Rohan! Did you cut the video on the carp dispatch because a) you whacked your foot b) it flipped again or c) you are spared us the gore? Well done on those roach, I've caught them overseas but not here - they are carp family so I guess 'the rules' should probably be the same.What a great day you had, good to see another video!

[@RKJFishing]

I spared the gore Frank, KZbin can be a bit funny about age restricting videos (especially lately apparently). It turns out we have identical rules for roach as redfin here in Victoria, we're allowed to release them but not transport them. Thanks so much mate

[@downunderfishing105]

Tried carp fishing yesterday before the footy but didn’t get a bit going saltwater fishing tomorrow

[@RKJFishing]

ah bugger. The carp have been very hit and miss so far this year. Good luck in the salt!

[@downunderfishing105]

@@RKJFishing yep hoping for a big salmon the lite gear it will be an awesome fight

[@borneosama-itah713]

Fishing 🇮🇩👍

[@scottbutler3128]

Hey mate love your videos On the roach you are not allowed to return them to the water and there is a 5 bag limit on them don't know what there like to eat though keep the videos coming mate

[@RKJFishing]

Thanks heaps Scott! They updated the rules at the beginning of September, there's no bag limit now, and we're allowed to release them back where we caught them from, but not allowed to transport them anywhere else (the same rules as redfin)

[@trueaussieray9093]

What's the silliest thing I've ever heard of.. a bag limit of 5...but yet you're not allowed to return them to the water..

[@Urbanfisho]

Lake Creppalock!

[@RKJFishing]

haha

[@Rocco10104]

Wow mate you’ve lost a lot of weight looking amazing, drop the workout routine

[@RKJFishing]

haha thanks heaps mate! I've lost 50kg all up

[@ZombieObsidian]

Where are some good land based spots. Never fished the area but going up in the morning

[@RKJFishing]

Hey mate there's tons of access around Randell's Cove that you can drive in fairly close to the lake and heaps of room to spread out

[@nateonsnags4697]

5:23 Goodnight

[@RKJFishing]

😂

[@mattsfishingcampingkayakin2005]

Hey Rohan I just looked on the website and it said not to put roach back

[@RKJFishing]

Not sure which website you checked mate but in Victoria it's not illegal to release them where you caught them from

[@mattsfishingcampingkayakin2005]

@@RKJFishing I just typed up on the internet and it said not to release them

[@mattsfishingcampingkayakin2005]

The same one you put In the link

[@RKJFishing]

You can interpret it however you like mate, but the way I read it it's not illegal to release them.

[@mattsfishingcampingkayakin2005]

@@RKJFishing ok I went fishing today

[@dantemadden1533]

At the the start of the year I caught two roach, I didn’t release them alive because they’re invasive and not a native fish, I left them for a bird to have a feed

[@RKJFishing]

haha awesome, I bet they enjoyed the feed

[@jemuelvella7906]

Roch not bad eating like redfin. I return the Roach. As bigger ones pretty good, . Like redfin.

[@lewis5605]

Cannot understand why there is bag limit on roach and you don't have to kill them!

[@RKJFishing]

On their website it says the bag limit was removed earlier this month. It didn't make a lot of sense to me either haha. There's a link to the roach page of the VFA website in the description if you want to see the recent change

[@lewis5605]

@@RKJFishing yeah I had a look the limit is now 8 hahahaha

[@mrFU]

will have to start calling you John Cena now I know you wear jorts

[@RKJFishing]

hahahaha

[@T.J-and-Soul]

How much do janjuk pay you each video? If it's free worms they should be ashamed. You do you bro

[@RKJFishing]

I don't get paid anything mate, I just like to spread the word about good products. True story: a couple of weeks ago I purchased a tub of nathalia nightcrawlers on the way through a small town at a servo. They were literally half the size of the Jan Juc worms I usually use lol

[@T.J-and-Soul]

@@RKJFishing well mate honestly don't shout them out. If they were sending you 5 tubs of worms a week yep then acknowledge. Ok I won't go on but fark em if you are only beneficial to them.

[@debbiestephens6958]

You don't need to show killing the fish just be happy to catch them.

[@RKJFishing]

Thanks for the feedback! I hope you enjoyed the video otherwise :)

[@bennuballbags2]

kill roach, they are as damaging as carp

[@RKJFishing]

I only kill what I have to mate. Everything else gets to live (unless it's dinner lol). If I didn't go fishing that day, the roach would still be there regardless.

[@sg7392]

Great video looks like a good spot to kayak out past the grass a bit. Cheers Steve from Seymour.

[@RKJFishing]

Thanks Steve! I definitely plan on returning to that bay with the yak in the near future