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Freshwater FishingFreshwater fishing equipment and bait at Kinchant Dam:Lures, plastics and baits are popular.Freshwater fishing facilities at Kinchant Dam:There is a park area overlooking the dam that's great for picnics with barbeque and toilet facilities. Accommodation, which includes camping sites, van sites, dorm accommodation and self-contained units is available at the dam and provided by Kinchant Waters Leisure Resort (phone 07 4954 1453). There is also a kiosk and licensed restaurant at the resort. A concrete boat ramp is provided.Most freshwater fishing in the Mackay area is done in the region's dams in the Pioneer Valley - Teemburra, Eungella, Lake Monduran and Kinchant Dams. All of these require a fishing permit. You can buy a seven-day or an annual permit which are available from the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries at www.dpi.qld.gov.au / phone 13 25 23, or if you're already in Mackay from Northside Freshwater Fishing (phone 07 4957 2272). Funds generated through these licenses are re-invested into the stocking of the dams by the Mackay Area Freshwater Fishing Stock Association. Freshwater Barramundi and Sooty Grunter are the two most sought after species in this environment. You can take one legal barra per person from a stocked impoundment during closed season (must be the minimum size of 58cm). Sleepy cod are rarer and although they aren't considered good sport they are very good eating. Other than the dams, there are a few spots on the Pioneer River near Marian where it's possible to pull in a few perch and sooty grunter. When to go freshwater fishing:Timing can be even more important than in saltwater for successful results. You'll be more likely to latch onto a sooty grunter during the colder months and barra seem to prefer the warmer months.Where to go freshwater fishing:As a rule of thumb, fish in water about 5m deep. These are often the old creek beds in the dams and are the places the fish like to feed.What bait to use while freshwater fishing:You can use a jig to catch live bait but it's illegal to use a cast net in fresh water. You should pull in a few banded grunters that are an ideal bait fish.Some people bring mullet from the saltwater with fruitful results and common garden worms are another favoured bait. Try putting live bait under a float. Freshwater fishing equipment:You don't need any special equipment. Whatever you have been using in saltwater for barra or grunter or the like will work just as effectively in the freshwater. The most popular lures are the green-coloured varieties although gold and pink are preferred by some. 75 - 100mm lures will attract a good sized barra but if you are after the monsters you can use up to 150mm lures.Techniques while freshwater fishingThe bigger fish tend to be fatter and less agile so a slow retrieve action will often be the best technique. Suspended lures work well in the more dense freshwater. If you put your lure down to a depth and allow it to rise before retrieving, it's often the point where you'll get a strike.Teemburra DamYou'll find the hottest fishing at Teemburra Dam with more fish introduced than any other Queensland dam. More fish equals more chances for you! The biggest barra caught here so far was just over 1m.The most common method of fishing here is trolling or casting lures. The one Bruce Nash has had most success with is the little pink Reidy's Taipan. When to go freshwater fishing at Teemburra Dam:Major times are around day-break and dusk and into the dark by up to two hours. Also, if it's around a full moon. Clear skies will bring best results too.But don't be put off if you can only get there during daylight - their minor times are from mid-morning to mid afternoon. While barra is the predominant species, sooty grunter are plentiful during winter. You'll also find spangled perch and, if you're lucky, sleepy cod. Where to go freshwater fishing at Teemburra Dam:Good areas to fish are around the timbered areas and where the lantana is close to the water's edge.The points where the land pushes out into the water are other good areas. Barra appear to like a depth of three to five metres. Some of the best catches have been near the boat ramp so a boat isn't essential. What bait to use while freshwater fishing at Teemburra Dam:The best bait is what available right there is - use a jig to catch banded grunter and spangled perch and fish them live for success. Use a float and rig the bait about a metre below surface. It's illegal to use a cast net in fresh water.Freshwater fishing facilities at Teemburra Dam:There are no camping facilities available but there is a picnic area beyond the boat ramp.Eungella DamSituated approximately 115km west of Mackay, Eungella Dam is a high altitude dam smaller than Teemburra but has been stocked for longer. Here you can find the best fishing for big sooty grunter (50cm plus!). Barra, sleepy cod (although rarer than the others), and red claw can also be caught here.When to go freshwater fishing at Eungella Dam:The best time is early morning or late afternoon and into the evening around the full moon.Where to go freshwater fishing at Eungella Dam:Work the timbered areas, especially in the inlets for sooty grunter and barra. If you're after sleepy cod then the old creek beds are the best to try.Freshwater fishing equipment at Eungella Dam:Light barra gear is the most appropriate for this area. Spinnerbaits work the best to attract sooty grunter although bass and small barra hard-bodied lures also work well.What bait to use while freshwater fishing at Eungella Dam:Sooty Grunters will eat almost anything so raw meat is a good all round bait. Pippis and mussels have also proved successful.Freshwater fishing facilities:There are picnic facilities, barbeques, toilets and bush camping available with cold-water showers. It can get quite windy being on top of the range so make sure you secure your tent well. There are two designated boat launch areas.Kinchant DamKinchant Dam is the smallest of the three dams but closest to Mackay City (approximately 40km west through Mirani). Being close to the city means that it's quite popular for water skiing, jet skiing and swimming. This makes it a good option for a family friendly fishing spot with activities to suit all. The fishing is very different to the other two dams as it's an open basin with very little timber. Red claw, sooty grunter, barramundi, eels and sleepy cod (although less common) can all be found in Kinchant Dam.When to go freshwater fishing at Kinchant Dam:The best time is early morning or late afternoon and into the evening around the full moon.Where to go freshwater fishing at Kinchant Dam:Try around the spillway and in the gullies if you're after sooty grunter. Near the boat ramp can also be successful for sooty grunter, eels and catfish.Lake Monduran Freshwater Fishing Lake Gregory is the closest freshwater storage lake to Bundaberg
surrounded by the Elliott State Forest - just off the Bundaberg
- Childers Road. Lake Wuruma is situated 48km north of Eidsvold or 50km south of Monto, 2.5 hours drive west of Bundaberg. Stocked fish include bass, barramundi, golden perch, silver perch and Saratoga with breeding populations of eel-tailed catfish, spangled perch and eels. Facilities include sheltered picnic tables, wood barbecues, designated camping area, toilets and boat ramps. The Freshwater Fishing and Stocking Association of Queensland Inc., more commonly known as FFSAQ, is the peak body representing fish stocking groups and freshwater fishing clubs throughout Queensland. A major component of FFSAQ's role is also to have input into habitat restoration and riverine conservation. In 1986 the Queensland Government established the Recreational Fishing Enhancement Programme under the auspices of DPI Fisheries. The programme was initially funded $1M per year for a three year period, and encompassed both freshwater and saltwater fisheries. A significant portion of the funding was allocated to stocking freshwater impoundments, and to a lesser extent rivers and creeks. Part of the structure was for DPI Fisheries, co-jointly with the then called Water Resources Commission, (now DNR-SunWater) to create community based fish stocking groups in the locality of these impoundments, and other waterways. These local groups comprised of representatives of Shire Councils , Service Clubs, fishing clubs, and community members of the area. To be part of the programme, the local stocking group had to be registered with DPI Fisheries to be eligible as a participant in the scheme. In a small number of cases, some impoundments owned and operated by Area Water Boards and Local Government instrumentalities (Councils), were also deemed to partake in the programme. Official agreements were drawn up between DPI Fisheries, the impoundment owner and the local fish stocking group. Only one fish stocking group was allotted to any one water storage. Initially, as part of the Recreational Fishing Enhancement Programme, DPI Fisheries conducted two annual Fish Stocking Workshops, one in northern Queensland and the other in southern Queensland, to which all participating stocking groups were invited to attend. The purpose of the workshops was to liaise with groups and their members over issues relating to enhancing the freshwater fishery. DPI Fisheries also used the forum to announce and promote particular projects relating to freshwater. Today however, the workshops are regionalized across the State into 6 separate forums based on geographical aspects and species stocked. These workshops are very important events as it allows politicians, government officers of DPI Fisheries, DNR etc, hatchery operators, and fish stocking members to get together, and discuss the issues that relate to the freshwater sector of which they all have some responsibility and obligation. The FFSAQ Management Committee is made up of representatives from stocking groups and fishing clubs throughout the state, who are affiliated with FFSAQ. Members are nominated by their own group, or nominated from the floor at its Annual General Meeting. FFSAQ Inc, is a legal identity, being incorporated under the Queensland Associations Incorporation Act. Primarily, FFSAQ's role is to service the stocking groups and Freshwater Fishing clubs with an objective to enhance the impoundment fishery, and to rehabilitate and maintain our wild fishery. FFSAQ is an intermediary between the community and Government, and deals in the main with issues of a state nature on behalf of stocking groups.. Stocking groups and fishing clubs address more localized issues. FFSAQ itself, does not engage in any actual fish stocking activity, this is undertaken by the regional stocking groups. It is emphasised that impoundments are "put and take" fisheries. There is some misconception amongst anglers that most of the fingerlings stocked will eventually reproduce and establish a natural and self-sustaining population. This is far from reality. In the main, most of the species stocked, will not reproduce in manmade impoundments. As such, the annual project of releasing fingerlings is one that is required year after year. It is quite a demanding and expensive exercise. FFSAQ undertakes an advisory role to stocking groups, and acts on their behalf whenever necessary. As such it compliments any action of individual stocking groups. The importance of a united and uniform approach is mandatory when dealing with government agencies regarding freshwater fishery matters. The major objective of the stocking groups is to stock fingerlings, however, FFSAQ has a judiciary role over the wider aspect of monitoring, maintaining, and enhancing both the impoundments and natural waterways. As mentioned earlier, no one else was adequately considering our natural waterways, so FFSAQ has taken on this task. It is now a considerable part of it's agenda. |
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