AFTER a three-month closed season, the 2009-10 NSW and Victorian Murray cod season re-opened yesterday.

Most native fish anglers will be thinking it's about time.

Yellowbelly have been on the bite in many waters, with some big specimens among them, but Murray cod, many of them small fish, are proving a problem.

It has been a case of out of season and undersize to boot; at least the quantity of small cod bodes well for the future of the fishery.

I am always in awe of the size Murray cod can reach in what are relatively small waters.

The Murray River may be long, but it isn't more than a couple of hundred metres wide in most stretches, and there are few holes deeper than 10 metres.

To see a huge lump of a fish 30 or 40kg break the surface on the end of a line is amazing.

The first time this happened I was gobsmacked.

The start of Murray cod season is like someone releasing a steam valve full of pent-up anticipation.

There is something of a carnival atmosphere; similar to the way I remember trout opening when I was a teenager.

A major event for many anglers is the 10th annual Cod Classic at Lake Mulwala on December 5-6.

Organiser Tony Bennett anticipates 1400 boats, 3000 anglers and their families will descend on Mulwala and Yarrawonga to compete for the $125,000 prize pool that includes eight fully rigged-out boat and motor packages.

For anglers uninterested in the social mores of cod fishing competitions, there are plenty of alternatives away from what some would regard as "the madding crowd" of competition anglers.

Murray cod can be caught in many waters.

Fisheries Victoria release the bulk of its Murray cod into the Avoca, Campaspe, Loddon, Little Murray and lower Mitta Mitta rivers.

Lakes Hume and Eildon are also stocked and produce reasonable bags.

If you prefer NSW options then the Murray, Murrumbidgee, Edward and Wakool rivers are all worthy waters and relatively easy to access.

You would think after a couple of hundred years of settlement, anglers would know just about all there is to know about catching cod.

Well, if you thought that you would be wrong.

Like the flow of our rivers, tackle innovation and development is forever on the move.

Favourite natural cod baits include bardi grubs, shrimp and yabbies.

However, Murray cod have a catholic bent when it comes to food with a well-documented liking for golf balls because they resemble bird eggs, freshwater mussels and live birds such as shags.

Four or five years ago cheese, especially mozzarella, became enlightened bait for cod anglers.

One innovative angler, Stephen Harris, developed a bardi grub mould whereby cheese was the main ingredient. As good as cheese is, last season saw many cod caught on raw chicken breast.

Just to add a bit more diversity, you can also catch cod on boiled eggs, small tomatoes and the spinal cord out of cattle.

When the cord is cut into 100mm lengths and placed on a hook, it resembles a bardi in the water.

A new cod season generally heralds the release of improved fishing tackle or at least the tweaking of tackle that was available in a different form last season.

Lures usually appear in a range of new colours, and this season it looks as though fluoro is in for many brands.

Even plastic skirts for spinnerbaits are available in fluoro colours, and there are soft-plastic lures that glow at depth in the river.

Fishing rod trends are for lighter tips and heavier butts.

The lighter tip helps with casting lures or light bait, the heavier butt gives the angler more grunt and lifting power during a fight with a big fish.

About the only thing that won't change this season, or next for that matter, are the fish.

Murray cod numbers continue to grow in many rivers and impoundments and we anglers are the luckier for it.