Fishing Lake Bullen Merri
The lake is famous across Australia for holding trophy Australian Bass, Chinook Salmon, Brown Trout, and Rainbow Trout. Due to its unique brackish volcanic chemistry and extreme depth reaching 60 meters, Bullen Merri stays cool year-round, allowing Australian Bass and salmonids to feed aggressively and reach massive weights. Anglers must adapt to deep-water trolling, downrigging, and finesse float-fishing techniques in clear water.
Land-based fishers can work accessible shorelines around South Beach, North Beach, and the steep clover-leaf volcanic ledges. Suspending live mudeyes or glass shrimp under a sensitive quill float near outer weed drop-offs is deadly for Trout and Australian Bass. Early morning sessions before wind chop disturbs the crater basin offer bank fishers their best chance at a trophy fish.
Boaters and kayak fishers utilize downriggers, lead-core lines, and heavy metal jigs to target fish holding in the deep central clover-leaf basins. Trolling small hardbody lures or winged spinners along 10 to 20-meter thermocline lines produces fast action on Chinook Salmon and Rainbow Trout. Scanning deep underwater rock ledges with sonar allows anglers to vertically drop soft plastics straight down to heavy Australian Bass and Redfin patches.
Top 10 Species
Landbased
- SOUTH BEACH FORESHORE: Accessible sandy reserve featuring a steep weed drop-off plunging into deep water. Suspend live mudeyes under a sensitive quill float 2 meters down for feeding Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout. Early morning light windows yield the most reliable bites before sun glare sets in.
- NORTH BEACH CRATER LEDGES: Steep basalt rock ledges on the northern crater wall providing direct casting into deep water. Cast small 70mm minnow lures or 3g metal spoons far out past the weed line for aggressive Australian Bass and Redfin. Wear non-slip rubber boots and take care navigating the steep basalt rock slope.
- CLOVER LEAF POINT BANKS: Prominent land points separating the crater arms that drop sharply into deep water. Wader fishers cast light running sinker rigs baited with fresh earthworms or glass shrimp into clear sand gaps in the weed. High water clarity requires fine 4lb fluorocarbon leaders to avoid spooking cautious fish.
- CARAVAN PARK WEED MARGINS: Shallow ribbon weed beds near the access road holding abundant juvenile baitfish. Set up rod stands and fish ledger rigs loaded with powerbait or sweetcorn for stocked trout. Fishing during overcast days with light onshore wind pushes bait and feeding fish closer to the bank.
- WESTERN VOLCANIC WALL: A steep underwater rock face located along the western crater shore accessible by wading. Cast 2-inch soft plastic grubs on 1/16oz jigheads along the outer edge of the weed wall for Australian Bass and Redfin. Keep your retrieve slow and allow the plastic to sink naturally along the vertical face.
Offshore
- SOUTH BASIN DEEP CRATER: The deep open water basin reaching depths between 30 and 60 meters. Use downriggers or lead-core line to position small winged spinners or 60mm minnows in the 12 to 22-meter thermocline zone for trophy Chinook Salmon. Maintaining a precise trolling speed between 3km/h and 4km/h is critical for triggering salmon strikes.
- CLOVER LEAF WEED DROP-OFF: A sheer underwater cliff face where shallow weed shelves plunge from 4 meters down into deep water. Troll small shallow-diving hardbodies along the weed edge at dawn for big Brown Trout and Australian Bass. Keep your boat positioned just outside the weed line to avoid snagging bottom growth.
- NORTH ARM WEED BEDS: Extensive submerged weed meadows sitting in 4 to 10 meters depth along the northern bay. Drift over clear weed gaps casting small soft plastics, metal blades, or live mudeyes under floats for schooling Australian Bass and Redfin. Once you locate fish on sonar, drop anchor and fish vertically to stay on the school.
- WESTERN BASALT REEF MARGINS: Submerged basalt rock piles sitting in 12 to 18 meters depth off the western shore. Drop 20g soft vibes or heavy micro-jigs straight down onto the rock structure for large Australian Bass and Redfin. Using high-definition fishfinders helps pinpoint tight schools holding right against the bottom rocks.
- THERMOCLINE FEEDING MARGINS: The mid-water layer where cold bottom water meets warmer surface water during summer months. Scan your sonar display to identify the distinct thermocline line usually visible between 12 and 18 meters depth. Trolling live mudeyes or small minnow lures through this exact depth band delivers consistent salmonid catches.
Hot Spots
- South Beach Reserve: Famous land-based platform for float-fishing live mudeyes for giant Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout.
- South Basin Deep Crater: Deep open water zone where downrigger trolling produces trophy Chinook Salmon.
- North Beach Ledges: Steep basalt shoreline offering deep casting access for Australian Bass and Redfin.
- Clover Leaf Drop-off: A dramatic underwater ledge where shallow weed plunges into deep water, holding big Brown Trout.
- Western Basalt Reefs: Submerged rock structure providing premier vertical jigging grounds for schooling Australian Bass.
Local Bait Tips
- MUDEYES (DRAGONFLY NYMPHS): Collected by sweeping a fine-mesh land net through submerged aquatic weed beds around the lake margins. Keep moist on damp lake weed in a cool box. Hook gently through the top of the thorax as the ultimate float bait for Trout and Salmon.
- FRESHWATER GLASS SHRIMP: Harvested using a small dip net swept along submerged tree roots, pylon bases, and thick weed beds. Store in a bucket with a small aerated battery bubbler. Thread two live shrimp onto fine wire hooks for Redfin and Australian Bass.
- FRESHWATER YABBIES: Trapped in shallow weed pockets using legal open-top hoop nets baited with meat. Keep on damp sea-sponge or wet newspaper in a cool container. Small yabbies make fantastic bait for big Brown Trout and Australian Bass.
- EARTHWORMS / SCRUB WORMS: Dug from damp soil and compost beds in local gardens or river banks after rain. Thread onto size 8 long-shank hooks for ledger fishing off the South Beach foreshore.
Boat Ramps
- Lake Bullen Merri South Beach Boat Ramp:
Lake Bullen Merri South Beach Boat Ramp is located off South Beach Road on the southern shore of Lake Bullen Merri near Camperdown, managed by Corangamite Shire Council. The upgraded $2.5 million facility features grooved concrete panel launching lanes equipped with a central floating boarding pontoon inside the deep volcanic crater. Amenities include paved trailer parking, public restrooms, fish cleaning table, and picnic shelters.
Bait and Tackle
- RICHARDSON MARINE (THE TACKLE SHACK): 1056-1058 Raglan Parade, Warrnambool VIC 3280 | Phone: (03) 5562 6373
Basecamp & Accom
- Camperdown Lakes & Craters Holiday Park: 220 Errey St, Camperdown VIC 3260 - Ph: (03) 5593 1280
- Commercial Hotel Camperdown: 115 Manifold St, Camperdown VIC 3260 - Ph: (03) 5593 1007
- Cascade Motel Camperdown: 28 Princes Hwy, Camperdown VIC 3260 - Ph: (03) 5593 1144
Emergency & Safety
- Inland Waterway (No MSAR Unit) - Search & Rescue: Corangamite Shire / Local Police Camperdown: 181 Manifold St, Camperdown VIC 3260 - Ph: (03) 5593 7100 / Emergency 000 - Marine Safety VIC / UHF Ch 40
