Fishing Lake Burrendong
Fishing Lake Burrendong, NSW Fishing at Lake Burrendong offers a diverse experience that has evolved significantly over the years. Thanks to extensive stocking programs, the lake is now managed as a world-class native fishery dominated by Murray Cod and Golden Perch (Yellowbelly). While you can still target Silver Perch and Eel-tailed Catfish, anglers must be aware that Redfin and European Carp are major pest species. It is highly encouraged to remove Redfin to protect native fry, and it is strictly illegal to possess live Redfin or use live Carp as bait. Additionally, the lake experiences dramatic water level fluctuations recently operating around 27% capacity which exposes the submerged timber structure fish use for ambush, but requires boaters to maintain extreme vigilance regarding newly exposed navigational hazards.
Land-based Fishing Land-based anglers have excellent opportunities around the reservoir, provided they know where to look and follow local access rules. The Dam Wall is a highly productive zone offering access to deep water (up to 57 meters) where large Murray Cod cruise. However, while you can walk or cycle across the 1.1-kilometer wall, public vehicle access is not permitted. The Old Dubbo Road Bridge is another fantastic land-based spot that taps into the tailrace environment directly below the dam, attracting fish that congregate to feed on organisms passing through the outlet regulator. For a more family-friendly shore experience, the foreshores around the holiday parks provide gently sloping access where you can cast a line for Silver Perch or set a legal yabby trap. Note that any yabby trap (including Opera House styles) must be fitted with a rigid 90mm internal diameter ring to prevent the drowning of local wildlife like platypus and turtles.
Offshore Fishing Getting offshore opens up the lake's legendary submerged river channels. The Junction, where the Macquarie and Cudgegong rivers meet, is a massive nutrient hotspot where Golden Perch school heavily during spring spawning movements. Areas like Mookerawa Waters and the Macquarie River Arm feature dense forests of drowned trees, making them perfect for "grubbing" a highly effective local tactic of using a sounder to locate fish in the timber and vertically slow-rolling soft plastics (like Berkley Gulp grubs) right in front of their faces. While there are several excellent boat ramps around the lake including a robust multi-level facility at the main Reflections Holiday Park at Mumbil it is critical to remember that there is no public boat access permitted at the Water NSW Dam Wall.
Top 10 Species
Landbased
- The Dam Wall: Fishing off the main rock wall offers land-based anglers access to deep water where large Murray Cod and Golden Perch frequently cruise the dam face. While you can freely walk or cycle across the 1.1-kilometer wall 24 hours a day, public vehicle access across the main wall is strictly prohibited.
- Old Dubbo Road Bridge: (The Tailrace) This highly productive location provides direct bank access to the Macquarie River immediately below the dam. It is an excellent spot to target native fish that congregate in the tailrace environment to aggressively feed on organisms flushed through the dam's outlet regulator.
- Reflections Lake Burrendong Foreshore: (Main Park) Situated on the western shore at Mumbil, the gently sloping banks of the main holiday park offer excellent, family-friendly access to the water. It is a fantastic location to cast out a line with worms or yabbies for Golden Perch, Silver Perch, and Catfish. It is also an ideal spot for kids to set yabby traps along the shoreline, provided the traps are legally fitted with a rigid 90mm internal diameter ring.
- Mookerawa Waters Park: Located on the Macquarie River arm, this area gives shore-based anglers access to the lake's famous timbered river sections. It is particularly popular and productive during the spring, when rising water temperatures trigger Golden Perch to school up heavily in this arm before their spawning movements.
- Cudgegong River Holiday Park: Providing access to the quieter northern Cudgegong River arm, this location allows land-based anglers to intercept fish moving through the upper reaches. Fishing from the banks here can be incredibly rewarding for both Golden Perch and Murray Cod, especially when increased river inflows trigger the resident fish into feeding and spawning behaviors.
Offshore
- The Junction: (Macquarie and Cudgegong River Arms) The area where the Macquarie and Cudgegong rivers meet within the lake acts as a massive nutrient hotspot. This confluence is incredibly productive during the spring, as Golden Perch school heavily here in preparation for their upstream spawning movements.
- Main Basin: near the Dam Wall This expansive zone offers deep-water environments that harbor some of the lake’s largest, trophy-sized Murray Cod. To effectively target these apex predators, the primary tactic is trolling large bibbed lures or heavy swimbaits directly over the drop-offs and old river channels.
- Macquarie River Arm & Mookerawa Waters: Characterised by dense forests of drowned trees, this arm provides the ultimate ambush structure for native fish. It is the perfect location for "grubbing"—a highly successful local tactic where boaters use their front sounders to spot fish holding in the timber, and vertically slow-roll soft plastics (like Berkley Gulp grubs on 1/4oz jig heads) right in their faces.
- Cudgegong River Arm & Meroo Creek: The upper reaches of the Cudgegong arm are highly productive for both Golden Perch and Murray Cod, especially when increased river inflows trigger aggressive feeding and spawning behaviors. Within this arm, Meroo Creek is a highly favoured offshore spot, frequently yielding excellent catch rates for boaters who can carefully navigate its narrower passages.
- The Submerged River Channels: Rather than a single spot, the entire network of old riverbeds winding through the reservoir acts as a primary fish highway lined with immense forests of standing timber. With the dam currently operating at around 27% capacity, much of this timber is exposed or close to the surface, creating excellent but hazardous fishing grounds. Anglers should use their marine electronics to side-scan these old river beds and standing trees to pinpoint fish holding at varying water depths.
Local Bait Tips
- Freshwater Yabbies: Replacing the often-mistaken redclaw, the freshwater yabby is the primary crustacean bait caught and used at Lake Burrendong, and they are highly recommended for targeting large native fish. You can catch them using yabby traps set along the gently sloping foreshores of the main holiday parks, or near rocky drop-offs and submerged timber. Bait your traps with meat scraps, fish heads, or pet food. Crucial Rule Any yabby trap used in NSW (including Opera House styles) must be legally fitted with a rigid 90mm internal diameter ring at the entrance funnel. This is a strict requirement to prevent the tragic drowning of local platypus, turtles, and birds.
- Freshwater Shrimp: Live shrimp are another highly effective, naturally occurring bait for Golden Perch. Source them using legal freshwater shrimp traps (maximum dimensions 0.6m x 0.5m x 0.5m) baited with bread or fish pellets. Set these traps in weeded areas, near submerged branches, or right along the shallower shorelines.
- Worms Earthworms and scrub worms: are an excellent and free option that become highly effective after heavy rain events, which naturally wash terrestrial organisms into the reservoir. Dig for worms along the lake's damp edges, or look under logs and rocks near the foreshores and river arms.
- Strict Warning: Illegal Baits When collecting bait, be aware that while Redfin and European Carp are prevalent in the lake's shallows, they are major pest species. It is strictly illegal to use live Carp as bait, and it is illegal to possess live Redfin or use them as bait in any form (whether live or dead).
Boat Ramps
- Lake Burrendong, NSW:
Bait and Tackle
- Lake Burrendong Holiday Park Kiosk: 486 Fashions Mount Road, Mumbil NSW 2820 (02) 6846 7435
- Outback Angler: 56 Macquarie Street, Dubbo NSW 2830 (02) 6881 8179
- Canobolas Caravan & Marine Centre: Orange NSW 2800 (02) 6361 3014
- Tackle World Orange: Orange NSW 2800 (02) 6361 8924
- BCF Orange: Orange NSW 2800 (02) 6362 4087
- Ampol Wellington: (After Hours) 145 Arthur St, Wellington NSW 2820 (02) 6845 1924
Basecamp & Accom
- Bridge Motel Wellington: 7-9 Lee Street, Wellington NSW 2820
- Crown Motel Wellington: 32 Lee St, Wellington NSW
- Reflections Lake Burrendong Holiday Park: 486 Fashions Mount Road, Mumbil NSW 2820 (02) 6846 7435
- Reflections Mookerawa Waters Holiday Park: Lake Burrendong, NSW
- Reflections Cudgegong River Holiday Park: Lake Burrendong, NSW
- The Stockyard Experience: 5.7km from Lake Burrendong State Park, NSW
Emergency & Safety
- Life-Threatening Emergencies: (Police, Fire, Ambulance): For immediate, life-threatening emergencies on or off the water. Dial 000
WaterNSW Hazard & Incident Reporting: To report on-water hazards (like newly exposed submerged timber) or general incidents relating to the dam. 1800 061 069
WaterNSW Algal Information Line: Lake Burrendong is susceptible to toxic blue-green algae blooms. Anglers should check the alert status (Red, Amber, or Green) before consuming fish or making contact with the water. 1800 999 457 - Emergency: Dial 000
