A koala has tried its hand at fishing, manning a rod on the Murray River in northern Victoria.

The marsupial appeared to be every bit the relaxed fishing enthusiast, unpertubed by surprised onlookers.

Lorraine Johns, who filmed the bizarre event, told 9NEWS her family was spending the day on the river fishing at Strathmerton near Echuca and were having a picnic when the koala grabbed the rod. 

“We just turned around and there it was holding onto the fishing pole!” she said.

The koala hung around with them for an hour or so, she said.

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