Gulpa Creek feeds into the Edward River. In our experience a cod is more likely to sit around wood, undercut banks and any deeper bend than in open, even water, so that is where you should put the fly.

Murray cod are the reason to fish here. They are recorded in the creek, and NSW stocking records list a release of them. Treat each cast as a chance rather than a promise.

The creek also holds small native fish: Australian smelt, Murray River rainbowfish and unspecked hardyhead. Eastern gambusia, goldfish, European carp and oriental weatherloach are recorded as well, and none of them is a target here. The small natives are what a cod eats, so a slim baitfish pattern is a fair place to begin.

Take any Murray cod season or closure from the current NSW fishing guide first. Within what it allows, warm months are our pick, since cod are usually more active when the water is warm. Fish early or late, and in the hours after dark on a warm night if the rules and your comfort allow. Give the creek time to settle after heavy rain.

Use an 8 to 10 weight, a sinking or intermediate line and a short, strong leader. Cod hit hard and turn for the snags, so use gear that lets you stop them.

Start with a large dark Woolly Bugger or similar streamer. Cast tight to the wood, let it sink, then strip it slowly past the cover with long pauses. A cod often takes on the pause or as the fly turns away. Work each snag with a few casts from different angles, then move on. If nothing follows, try a smaller baitfish pattern that suggests a rainbowfish or smelt.

A big fly needs a big hook set and steady pressure. Keep the rod low, steer the fish away from the timber, and land it quickly. Wet your hands, keep the fish in the water and return it unhurt if you are not sure you may keep it.

The access card names an access point. Treat it as a location, not a statement of permission, and respect any fence or sign you meet.

As on any bush creek, tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back, carry water, and watch your footing on soft, undercut banks. Take care with snakes in warm weather, and never wade where you cannot see the bottom.

No water-specific rule was found for Gulpa Creek. Before you fish, read the current NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development fishing guide, check its closed-waters list and take any season, bag and size limits and licence requirements from it. Murray cod carry their own rules, so check them before you go.