Pontoon pals: Long-time Merrigum resident Alan Dennis and his grandson Liam were among the first to put a line into the Dunyak Moira lagoon, which is teaming with cod. The Goulburn Valley Water project has been popular with anglers of all ages since being opened a week ago.
Liam Napier and his grandfather Alan Dennis have a special relationship, one forged on the banks of the Goulburn Valley’s various rivers, channels and dams that have been their go-to fishing spots in search of the “big catch’’.
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The close bond between the avid fishermen saw long-time Merrigum resident Alan use his patriarchal powers to secure his grandson a day off school for the official opening of the Dunyak Moira fishing lagoons, which are now open from dusk to dawn three days a week alongside the Merrigum Water Treatment Plant.
A joint project between Goulburn Valley Water and the Burnanga Indigenous Fishing Club, the two lagoons — which sat dormant for more than two decades — are now teeming with fish and birdlife.
They are even sign-posted for the more discerning angler, explaining how the 12.5-megalitre dam is home to the golden perch variety (known as yellowbelly) and the other is the domain of the prestigious Murray cod – including a 1.2m “monster” who has unofficially been given royal status within the 50Ml lagoon ecosystem (Burnanga Moira, Yorta Yorta for Cod Lake).
And that is where Liam focused most of his attention for the midweek fishing expedition, using one of the purpose-built fishing pontoons to cast his line into areas of the lagoon he felt would be appropriate for a cod of that size.
With the 12-year-old kitted out in his BCF wide-brimmed hat and long-sleeved fishing shirt, his grandfather shared the story of just how he managed to get a gig at the Dunyak Moira site Wednesday lunchtime launch — in particular, how his Shepparton-based grandson wrangled a day off school.
“It was my call,” Alan said. “We go fishing a lot, and I wanted him to be a part of the day.”
Fishing is certainly not the sole domain of the males in the Dennis family. Later in the day, Liam was casting a discerning eye over the technique of his grandmother Jenny as they trawled from the banks of the Gangupka Moira (Yellowbelly Lake).
Alan turned down the passionate pleas of Liam’s two brothers to also attend the event.
Big beast: Rob has become a regular at the repurposed Goulburn Valley Water lagoons and pulled in this giant on the weekend. Dunyak Moira operates on a catch-and-release basis, so the giant was immediately returned to his home.
“His two brothers aren’t as keen. When we go fishing together, the other two usually sit in the car and play their devices, so it was only Liam who got to come,” he said.
Alan, an executive member of Merrigum Bowling Club and renowned sportsman in his own right, is one of the community leaders who will open and close the gates of the property to allow access to the lagoons.
From dawn until dusk on Friday, Saturday and Sunday — along with every day of the school holidays — the lagoons will be open to the public to fish as they wish, on a catch-and-release basis.
It would have been appropriate for the inspired third-generation angler to pull in the first catch of the day, but that honour belonged to the man standing immediately to his left for much of the early afternoon fishing expedition.
That man, newly appointed Merrigum Fire Brigade captain Jesse Speed, pulled in a 108cm cod and sent those at the launch into a frenzy.
No doubt Liam and Alan will be back on the pontoons at Burnanga Moira soon to try to better Jesse’s launch-day landing of the giant cod.
