Fishing

FISHING SPOTS AROUND GIPPSLAND

Central and West Gippsland abound in destinations for anglers seeking a great recreational experience in spectacular natural settings.

Wild trout thrive in our free-flowing mountain streams, bream and flathead are abundant in our coastal lakes and salmon and sharks are plentiful off the beaches along our coastline.

Eels, spiny freshwater crayfish and blackfish are common throughout the area. Inland lakes are productive with trout and redfin plentiful in most waters, our coastal estuaries are populated with sought after snapper and flathead.

Whether you want to spend quality time with family and friends fishing one of our inland lakes such as Lake Glenmaggie, Blue Rock Lake or Lake Narracan; or simply wish to enjoy the regions beauty and solitude while fly fishing a high country Gippsland mountain stream such as the upper reaches of the Latrobe, Thomson or Macalister Rivers, our region is the place for fishing. The sport of trout fishing will challenge the most ardent angler.

 ADA RIVER – North of the Yarra Junction/Noojee Rd, 14km west of Noojee.
Fast flowing stream with rock and sand bottom. Contains abundant brown trout.

 HAWTHORN CREEK -  Noojee: Tributary of the Latrobe River
Take the Neerim North Road 3km East of Noojee on Baw Baw Road or Neerim North Road just north of Neerim Junction.
Contains eels, river blackfish, abundant small brown trout, and spiny freshwater crayfish. 

LOCH RIVER -  Noojee
Out of Noojee on the Loch Valley Road.
Fast flowing stream with mud, sand and gravel bottom, joining the Latrobe River at Noojee. Contains many small brown trout, some fish to 600g, blackfish, spiny freshwater crayfish and eels. Last stocked 1969. 

PIONEER CREEK – Noojee
Off Yarra Junction Road.
A small stream containing brown trout to 320g, average 100g, river blackfish, eels and spiny freshwater crayfish. 
 
TOORONGO RIVER - Noojee
Approx 5 Km east of Noojee on Mt Baw Baw Road.
A clear, fast, flowing stream, mud, sand and gravel bottom. The valley is largely cleared but there is dense cover on the banks. Contains brown trout and blackfish.

BEAR CREEK -  near Warragul

Take the Bona Vista Road from the funeral parlour south of freeway at Korumburra Rd.

A small, narrow tributary of the Moe River. Generally contains small trout less than 220g, eels and spiny freshwater crayfish.

HAZEL CREEK – Warragul (runs through the township of Warragul past the netball, bowls and tennis courts, and along the southern edge of the showgrounds)

A  narrow, deep tributary of the Moe River contains small trout, eels and spiny freshwater crayfish. Not heavily fished.

RED HILL CREEK -  Buln Buln East

Between Warragul and Neerim South. Take Bloomfield Road at Nilma, then into Old Telegraph Road just prior to Crossover

A small, narrow,deep creek with spawning facilities for trout. Contains small trout less than 220g, eels and spiny freshwater crayfish.

SHADY CREEK -  Neerim

Take Neerim East Road or Sheffield Road out of Neerim South.

A small, narrow, deep creek usually providing spawning facilities for trout. Contains eels to 825g, blackfish to 110g, brown trout to 550g, average 110g and spiny freshwater crayfish.

MOE RIVER – 3 km west of Yarragon

Located between Yarragon and Darnum on Princes Freeway.

A large drain, 10-15 metre wide flowing through open country, mud and gravel bottom. Some deep pools. Contains mainly carp and eels.

TANJIL RIVER -  Willow Grove
Above Blue Rock Lake accessed via Willow Grove Hill End Road
Clear, fast flowing stream rising in deep  forested country, rock and gravel bottom. Numerous small brown trout, with some fish to 680g, average 120g. Also contains a few smaller rainbow trout and carp in the lower section flowing into Blue Rock Lake.

BLUE ROCK LAKE - Willow Grove
Accessed via the Moe/Willowgrove Road or Trafalgar/Willowgrove Road
A large storage dam on the Tanjil River. Trout stocks monitored annually.

Contains some brown trout, redfin, and some rainbow trout, also. Carp are very common and trolling the lake produces some good trout.  Can be fished successfully from most of the shoreline.   Boating is permitted but restricted to a max. boat length of 4.3m; max. power of 7.5 kW and a speed limit to the storage of 8kph. Boat launching and picnic facilities at both the north and south ends.

TANJIL RIVER -  Willow Grove

Below Blue Rock Lake, accessed from Moe- Erica Road
Steep forested country opening out to cleared flats, mud and sand bottom. Mainly brown trout, some rainbow trout, abundant blackfish, good freshwater crays, carp, eels and tupong. Carp most abundant near the junction with the Latrobe River. In summer has larger trout populations.

LATROBE RIVER   -   Noojee to Lake Narracan Wall

Accessed from Noojee- Neerim Road, Trafalgar -Willow Grove Road or  Moe-Erica Road crossings.
A clear, fast flowing stream with mud, sand and gravel bottom. The valley is largely cleared but there is dense cover on banks. Contains mainly brown trout to 700g and blackfish. Also eels, tench, redfin, spiny freshwater crays and carp to Willow Grove. The best fishing is in spring and autumn. Best fishing area is Noojee, with brown trout. SEE ALSO HAWTHORN CREEK

LATROBE RIVER  -  Lake Narracan Wall to Power Station Wall

Accessed from various points where the river is close to road.
Deep, dirty water for 1.5 km, mud bottom, contains predominantly carp to 4.5kg and eels. A few brown trout are taken on spinners just near Newborough North.
 

LATROBE RIVER -  Yallourn Power Station Wall to Lake Wellington 

Accessed from various points where the river is close to road.

Large, fairly fast, deep and dirty, mud bottom. Temperatures usually higher than nearby waters due to the influence of the power station, subject to floods, contains mainly carp and eels. Some black fish, some redfin and brown trout are caught close to Lake Wellington. Most angling is for carp but some good bream, estuary perch and yellow eye mullet fishing is available at select times.

ABERFELDY RIVER- Aberfeldy

 Access by conventional vehicles limited to the Walhalla/Aberfeldy Road (a narrow gravel road) and track crossings for 4WD vehicles.

Some off-road tracks may be closed during the winter

A clear mountain stream running through steep forest. Rock and gravel bottom with areas of exposed stream bed and gravel banks joining deeper pools. Most of the river is wadeable. Contains brown trout, short-finned eel, river blackfish, Australian smelt and occasional rainbow trout.

JORDAN RIVER- Aberfeldy

Access limited to road crossings and forestry tracks.

A small fast-flowing mountain stream running through steep forested country, rock and gravel bottom. Numerous deep holes but most of the river is wadeable. Contains brown trout, a few rainbow trout, short-finned eel and river blackfish in the upper reaches.

CARINGAL SCOUT CAMP - Tyers Junction (western Tyers River branch)

Before Erica on the Moe/Erica Road. (22km from  Moe).

Contains trout and eel.

THOMSON RIVER- above Thomson Reservoir

Access limited to road crossings and forestry tracks and many of the smaller tracks are subject to a seasonal closure from May to November.
A clear fast-flowing stream running through steep forests. It is mostly shallow but there are deep pools.  Rock, rubble and coarse gravel bottom. Most of the river is wadeable. The area provides pleasant fishing with large brown trout from the reservoir entering the river during May/June. Contains brown trout, a few rainbow trout and river blackfish.

THOMSON RIVER BRIDGE – Horseshoe Bend Tunnel

Accessed by turning right off Tyers- Walhalla Road(from Tyers) onto Cooper’s Creek Road, go 1.2 km along this road,crossing a bridge, immediately after bridge on left take narrow one vehicle track from which the tunnel is signposted.

Alpine walking track

Containing trout, blackfish and, in season, fresh water crays.

THOMSON RIVER - Thomson Reservoir to Cowwarr Weir

Access is limited to a few road crossings. There is access by conventional vehicle to downstream of the dam, to the flow gauging station (off the Narrows Track), Walhalla, Coopers Creek and Bruntons Bridge.

The Low Saddle Track, (off the Narrows Track) is accessible only by 4WD because of its steep gradient.

Flows its entire length through steep forests with dense native vegetation.  There are extensive reaches of fast, shallow water, and numerous deep pools up to 4.5 metres deep (e.g. at Bruntons Bridge). The river bed is almost all a mixture of rock, boulders, rubble and gravel, with small areas of sand in the pools or on bends. The best fishing area is from the dam wall downstream along the Narrows Track/Road, but some walking is necessary to reach most of the river. Contains brown trout, good numbers of large river blackfish, eels, tupong, small Gippsland spiny crayfish, Australian smelt, common galaxias, pouched lamprey, short-headed lamprey, southern pygmy perch and occasional Australian grayling downstream of the Walhalla Road bridge.

Platypus is abundant. The numbers of all fish are low at the Coopers Creek and Bruntons Bridge road crossings and these are not good fishing areas although the latter site is a very pleasant picnic/camping area (no facilities).

COWWARR WEIR (Thomson River)

Signs to Cowwarr Weir from the Traralgon-Heyfield Road, near Cowwarr.
 Picnic facilities, non-powered boats only permitted. No boat ramp.  A small weir on the Thomson River. Good access around the banks.  Contains brown trout, carp and redfin.

Fish from downstream can by-pass the Weir and move upstream into the upper Thomson River. A rock ramp fishway was built on the weir in 2000. Stocked with trout

THOMSON RIVER – Below Cowwarr Weir. 

Accessed from Cowwarr-Heyfield Road

Contains blackfish, brown trout, carp, conga eels, eels, goldfish, mulloway, rainbow trout, tupong and crayfish.

 
THOMSON RIVER- upstream of Lake Wellington

Accessed from crossings between Sale and Cowwarr.

Has deep pools, is slow flowing, has logs, willow roots and patches of  vegetation providing fish cover. Contains  brown trout, some river blackfish, eels goldfish, mulloway, rainbow trout, tupong and crayfish.

NORTH CASCADE CREEK, Thomson Reservoir

Access is from the Thomson Valley Road.

A small fast-flowing tributary of the Thomson River, running into the western side of the Thomson Reservoir, through native forest. Width is 2-3m with cascades and rapids and shallow water. Sand and rock bottom. Contains small brown trout and rainbow trout.

RINTOULS CREEK - Tyers
Approx 12 Km north of Tyers on Walhalla Road.

Contains eels, blackfish, tupong and brown trout.

TYERS RIVER - Above Moondarra Reservoir and also to Latrobe River

Crosses Erica/Moe Road, approx 20 Km North of Moe.

Fast flowing clear stream running through steep forested country, gravel bottom. Access limited to road crossings. Contains brown trout, blackfish eels, tupong and spiny crayfish.

NARRACAN CREEK - Thorpdale to Lake Narracan

Take Moe/Thorpdale road (Coalville Rd) from roundabout.
Small mud and gravel-bottomed stream flowing from open hilly country to open river flats. Contains brown trout average 350g, eels, small blackfish and spiny freshwater crayfish. Fished  mainly above Moe. Turn left on Thorpdale Road. 
 
NARRACAN LAKE - Moe (also known as Yallourn storage dam).
North of Moe and Newborough.  Travel Moore St, Moe or John Field Driv0e, Newborough.

Very muddy. Contains mainly carp, some brown trout, redfin and goldfish. A very popular water for bank fishing for carp with worms being the best bait.
 

BECK’S BRIDGE -  Moe 

Beck’s Bridge Road, 2km north of Moe CBD.

Contains trout and blackfish.

MORWELL RIVER – From Strzeleckis to Latrobe River

Enter via Vary’s Road – Driffield, or Yinnar Township, or Morwell River Road, Just south of Boolara Township
 

Originates in mainly cleared hills, rock and mud bed through cleared river flats. A popular stream. Contains a lot of brown trout, also has eels, spiny freshwater crayfish, carp, goldfish, tupong and blackfish. Upper section is very good for fly-fishing.
 

WILDERNESS CREEK  - Driffield
8Km south of Morwell on Strzelecki Highway.

A small tributary of the Morwell River, gravel bottom. Contains brown trout average 140g, eels, some river blackfish and small spiny crayfish. 
 
KERNOT HALL -  Morwell (Lake Kernot)
On old highway between Midvalley and McDonalds.

Regularly stocked with rainbow trout, (school holiday period). Also contains carp and eels.

LITTLE MORWELL RIVER -  Boolarra

To Darlimurla- Darlimurla Road north of Mirboo North or northern fringe of Boolarra township.
 A small stream with gravel bottom containing brown trout, river blackfish, and small spiny freshwater crayfish. Not often fished.

O’GRADY’S CREEK -  Boolarra
Take Limonite Road, south of Boolarra
A small stream containing trout, blackfish, eels and spiny freshwater crayfish.

BILLY CREEK -  Near Churchill
Take the Junction Road, just after Churchill heading to Yinnar and Boolara 
 A small tributary of the Morwell River. Gravel bottom. Contains brown trout, eels and spiny freshwater crayfish. Not heavily fished.
 

HAZELWOOD PONDAGE – via Churchill
This is a warm water pondage. The water circulates through the nearby Hazelwood Power Station.  This makes water activities possible 365 days of the year. The pondage contains eels and abundant carp
 

HYLAND LAKE - Churchill
2 km north of town off Tramway Road
 A small 2ha lake surrounded by farmland, contains eels. Has been stocked with trout.
 

MIDDLE CREEK - Yinnar to Tarra Bulga Park
From Churchill along Boolarra Road, turn left into Speargrass Road, south of Yinnar township.
 
A small stream with a gravel bottom, joining the Morwell River below Boolarra. Contains brown trout, eels and small spiny freshwater crayfish. Not often fished. Has been stocked with trout.
 

TRARALGON CREEK   -  Strzelecki to Latrobe River

Runs beside Traralgon Balook Road to Traralgon South, then follows Koornalla Road to Le Roy and beyond.
 Small creek, flowing through mostly cleared land with rock and mud bottom. Catchment modified for agriculture and stream is sometimes turgid from erosion. Contains mainly brown trout, also eels, tupong, blackfish and freshwater crayfish. Popular for bait fishermen. 
 
FLYNNS CREEK -  Flynn
On the highway towards Rosedale, you take the Flynns Creek Road to the right, just after the 175km sign, or go to Callignee North, via Callignee South Road

 A small creek with a deep pool in its middle and upper reaches flowing through open farmland; mud and gravel bottom. Contains some brown trout, eels, spiny freshwater crayfish, carp, goldfish and tupong.

MACALISTER RIVER Above Lake Glenmaggie accessible from Licola Road

Headquarters in the Alpine National Park north of Licola, the Macalister begins as a steep clear fast flowing mountain river with a stony bottom. Downstream from Licola, the gradient decreases and the river becomes wider and slower with large wide pools.. Near Mt Useful Creek (15-20km upstream of Lake Glenmaggie) the river flows through farmland.

Contains brown trout, redfin , river blackfish , spiny crayfish, carp and possibly some eels. Best fishing is in spring and autumn. Stocked regularly with brown trout and rainbow trout.

LAKE GLENMAGGIE
Accessible from both East and West sides via Heyfield-Licola Road and Heyfield-Coongulla Road
Caravan, camping and boat launching facilities.

A large irrigation dam on the Macalister River surrounded by cleared and forested land. Level fluctuates widely and the lake is drawn down to very low levels during hot summer and dry early autumn months.

Mainly muddy bottom, carries carp, redfin, some brown trout, rainbow trout, short-finned eels and goldfish.
Bank fishing is successful when levels are adequate. Fishing for redfin is best in the spring and early summer.

MACALISTER RIVER - Below Lake Glenmaggie

Access from points where river is close to or crossed by road.

This section of the Macalister River winding through farmland, with vegetation varying from some forested sections with wattles and eucalypts and other grassy sections with willows. The bottom is rocky in parts and sand/gravel in other parts with slow flowing pools. Carries brown trout av. 300g, (max. 1.6kg), also redfin av. 100g, (max. 700g). Short-finned eel and carp to 2.7kg are common in the lower reaches.

The river immediately below the Lake Glenmaggie wall produces very good brown trout in spring and autumn. Stocked regularly by the Department with fin-clipped brown trout.

AVON RIVER - Stratford

A broad mid to fast flowing river running from a forested mountainous area in the upper reaches, through flat open farmland. There are both large pools and sandy shallow beach areas.

Access to and along the river is good.

Above Stratford, the Avon contains some brown trout, Australian grayling, short-finned eel, long-finned eel, carp, some redfin and a good population of Australian bass. Other fish are common galaxias, dwarf galaxias, flat-headed gudgeon, and southern pygmy perch.

Around the estuary (between Airly, Clydebank and Perry Bridge) contains some black bream, estuary perch, luderick, sea mullet, yellow-eye mullet, Australian smelt, flat-headed gudgeon and southern pygmy perch.

LAKE GUTHRIDGE- Sale

A small lake situated within the town at the southern end of the main business district.

Shallow with a mud bottom. Contains carp, short-finned eel and goldfish. Stocked from time to time with Rainbow Trout.

HOLLANDS LANDING- McLennan Strait

Connecting channel between Lake Wellington and Lake Victoria in the Gippsland Lakes. Contains black bream, yellow-eye mullet, tailor, estuary perch, Australian bass, both species of eel, carp, tupong, abundant Australian smelt and flat-headed gudgeon.

PERRY RIVER- Perry Bridge

Flows through flat farmland. The freshwater section dries up in some years but there is always some fishing near the mouth for fish such as estuary perch, black bream, mullet and luderick. Contains carp, eel, common galaxias, dwarf galaxias, broad-finned galaxias, goldfish, southern pygmy perch and flat-headed gudgeon.