Fishing Borumba Dam
Anglers fishing Borumba Dam must hold a valid Queensland Stocked Impoundment Permit Scheme (SIPS) permit. Australian Bass, Golden Perch, and Saratoga can be targeted year-round under SIPS rules. **CRITICAL CONSERVATION NOTICE: Mary River Cod (*Maccullochella mariensis*) are a protected species; strict no-take catch-and-release rules apply to Mary River Cod across all Queensland waters!**
Land-based anglers enjoy easy access along the Borumba Dam day-use foreshore, picnic parkland, and concrete dam wall embankment. Casting 5g to 7g metal spinners, soft plastic grubs, or topwater poppers off the day-use bank at dawn produces fast action on Australian Bass and Golden Perch. Shaded clay margins near fallen timber produce heavy catches of Eel-tailed Catfish on live earthworms.
Boating fishers launching from the single-lane Borumba Dam ramp cover narrow flooded forest arms and deep open water basins. Slow-trolling deep-diving minnow lures or casting surface spinnerbaits through drowned timber pockets in Yabba Creek arm accounts for trophy Australian Bass exceeding 50cm. Electric trolling motors allow silent boat navigation through shallow lily bays.
Landbased
- THE OLD SUBMERGED BRIDGE: Historic concrete bridge structure drowned in upper Yabba Creek arm, offering world-class casting for Australian Bass and Mary River Cod. Cast 1/4oz spinnerbaits or soft vibration blades directly over the submerged bridge deck at dawn.
- BORUMBA DAY-USE FORESHORE: Paved parkland foreshore on Borumba Dam, offering comfortable land-based casting into deep water. Cast 5g silver or gold metal spinners or small soft plastic grubs into shallow weed clearings during early morning hours.
- BORUMBA DAM WALL EMBANKMENT: Elevated earthen dam wall structure offering deep-water casting into the impoundment. Cast heavy soft plastic paddletails or spinnerbaits into deep water drop-offs at dusk.
- KINGHOLE CREEK INFLOW MOUTH: Freshwater stream inlet entering upper Borumba, providing prime Australian Bass and Saratoga habitat during spring runoff. Work small floating hardbody minnows or topwater frogs through moving water pockets.
- CAMPGROUND FORESHORE BAY: Shaded clay bank area near the main launch facility, providing easy shore access for casting lures for Australian Bass and Golden Perch. Cast shallow-running minnows or surface micro-poppers along flooded grass edges at sunset.
Offshore
- THE OLD SUBMERGED BRIDGE STRUCTURE: Submerged bridge deck and timber pylons in Yabba Creek arm in 8m depth, holding trophy Australian Bass and Mary River Cod. Slow-roll 1/4oz spinnerbaits or pitch soft plastics over pylon edges.
- KINGHOLE CREEK LILY ARMS: Dense water-lily beds in upper Kinghole Creek arm in 1 to 4 metres depth. Premier topwater casting territory for trophy Saratoga and Australian Bass. Pitch surface poppers or floating frogs directly into lily clearings.
- YABBA CREEK DROWNED TIMBER: Vast flooded forest arm in Borumba Dam, holding high densities of trophy Australian Bass and Saratoga. Cast spinnerbaits or topwater stickbaits directly into timber pockets and slow-roll past drowned stumps.
- CENTRAL DEEP BASIN: Open water basin averaging 10 to 22 metres depth, ideal for trolling deep-diving minnow lures for trophy Australian Bass and Golden Perch. Slow-troll 6cm hardbody lures 25 metres behind boats at 2 knots.
- REDCLAW TIMBER COVES: Sheltered shallow coves with flooded timber roots, ideal for setting opera-house traps for Redclaw Crayfish. Bait traps with wet cat food or vegetable pellets and set along timber margins overnight.
Hot Spots
- THE OLD SUBMERGED BRIDGE: Iconic drowned structure delivering trophy Australian Bass and Mary River Cod.
- KINGHOLE CREEK LILY ARMS: Prolific shallow lily arm offering top-tier topwater Saratoga and Bass casting.
- BORUMBA DAY-USE FORESHORE: Premier paved foreshore platform delivering light-tackle Australian Bass.
- CENTRAL DEEP BASIN: Open water trolling zone producing large Australian Bass on deep-running hardbody lures.
- REDCLAW TIMBER BAYS: Sheltered coves delivering high-volume Redclaw Crayfish trapping.
Local Bait Tips
- MARY VALLEY EARTHWORMS: Dug from rich rainforest compost soil around Imbil and Kendron after rain. Threaded onto fine-wire hooks, they produce non-stop Australian Bass and Golden Perch bites around Borumba day-use rocks.
- IMBIL CRICKETS: Gathered by hand from grassy pastures along Yabba Creek on warm summer evenings. Hooked lightly through the thorax, they trigger explosive topwater Bass strikes along timber margins.
- REDCLAW PELLETS: Boiled potatoes or dog biscuits packed into mesh bags inside opera-house traps set along flooded timber roots overnight.
Boat Ramps
- Borumba Dam Boat Ramp (Imbil):
Located off Borumba Dam Road at the Borumba Dam foreshore, Imbil QLD 4570. Managed by TMR QLD and Gympie Regional Council. Features a single-lane concrete boat launch ramp equipped with a central floating finger pontoon jetty. Provides smooth launching into Borumba Dam for sportsboats, ski craft, and bass boats. Facilities include sealed car-trailer parking, public restrooms, shaded day-use picnic shelters, and campground access. Free public access; SIPS permit required.
Bait and Tackle
- DAVO'S TACKLE WORLD NOOSA: Shop 5, Cnr Mary & Thomas St, Noosaville QLD 4566 | Phone: (07) 5449 8166
Basecamp & Accom
- Borumba Deer Park & Camping: 1132 Yabba Creek Rd, Imbil QLD 4570 - Ph: (07) 5484 5196
- Imbil Country Cabins: 2 Yabba Rd, Imbil QLD 4570 - Ph: (07) 5484 5200
- Borumba Dam Campground: Borumba Dam Rd, Imbil QLD 4570 - Ph: (07) 5484 5100
Emergency & Safety
- State Emergency Service Imbil / Gympie (SES): Yabba Rd, Imbil QLD 4570 - Ph: 132 500 / Emergency 000 - UHF Ch 40 / Local SES 132 500
