Over several days, both week days and weekends, multiple groups of "thieves" have been spotted around various locations and they are getting very cagey and deceptive.

Bags of collected cockles appear to be marked by a stick and left in the water only to be quickly collected just on fading light after sundown.

Just observe, record number plates and report to Fisheries - don't get involved in personal confrontation.

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A couple of locals sent in a brief of their recent land-based trip to the Alpine areas to chase up a couple of wily trout.

Over two consecutive days, they captured (and released) countless trout that were feeding on anything that was thrown at them, however the next day was spent admiring nature, the scenery and pondering where all the fish went.

Nearly every feeder creek or inflow was brimming with fresh water from the adjoining hills and they said it was a promising sign for the anglers, the farmers and irrigators that any remnants of drought was long washed downstream.

This extra water in most rivers added an element of discolouration and these faster, dirtier flows required shiny, flashy reflective lures to provide a little extra dimension of attractiveness.

A fast-cranking speed was essential and most fish were taken by up and across method as the lure just dragged its posterior if allowed to be affected by the water flow.

The Saturday was a real boom day, with fish aplenty, and barely a dull moment as they seemed to be in every run. Although none were monsters, what they lacked in size, they made up for in quantity, and attitude - typical fat, healthy little river rainbows really do go hard.

However, Sunday was a change of pace and conditions. Even though the day was a stereotypical, warm, calm, spring day like the Saturday before it, Mr Trout had other ideas and nary a rod was bent.

That's why they call it fishing, not catching.