Fishing Lake Eildon
The dam holds massive populations of trophy Murray Cod, Golden Perch, Brown Trout, and Redfin. Unlike most Victorian river systems, Lake Eildon remains open for Murray Cod fishing year-round during the spring breeding closure to relieve angling pressure on rivers. Water levels fluctuate seasonally, so monitoring storage percentages is essential for locating flooded banks and boat launching access.
Land-based fishers can work accessible shorelines around the Eildon Pondage, main dam wall, and provincial park camping reserves. Casting scrub worms or yellow yabbies off steep rocky banks yields consistent catches of Brown Trout, Redfin, and Golden Perch. Walking the rocky edges at dusk casting large surface plugs or spinnerbaits gives bank anglers a genuine shot at a trophy Murray Cod.
Boaters and kayak fishers can navigate deep submerged river channels, flooded gum forests, and sheer rock drop-offs across the main basin. Trolling deep-diving hardbody lures along 8 to 12-meter timber lines is a proven method for pinning large Murray Cod and Golden Perch. Using high-resolution sonar to locate bait balls suspended around submerged trees allows anglers to vertically jig soft vibes or heavy plastics.
Top 10 Species
Landbased
- EILDON PONDAGE: The concrete and earthen banks of the pondage offer comfortable fishing for stocked trout. Cast powerbait or sweetcorn on light ledger setups into deep water for fat Rainbow and Brown Trout. Fishing small spinners or unweighted earthworms near the wall gates during water release events triggers fast bites.
- LAKE EILDON MAIN DAM WALL: The rocky wall offers deep land-based casting right into the main storage basin. Cast heavy 1oz spinnerbaits or large soft plastics out past the rocks and let them sink to the bottom before a slow retrieve. Night sessions during full moon phases produce quality Murray Cod feeding close to the wall boulders.
- JERUSALEM CREEK RECREATION RESERVE: A sheltered bay area featuring accessible rocky points and clay banks. Set up bank rod stands with fresh yabbies or scrub worms on running sinker rigs for Golden Perch and Redfin. High water levels allow anglers to fish directly around flooded land vegetation.
- FRASER NATIONAL PARK FORESHORE: Wide gravel and rock banks flanked by fallen timber along the water's edge. Walk the shoreline at dawn casting 100mm hardbody lures or surface crawlers parallel to the bank for Murray Cod. Late afternoon sessions produce good Redfin action for kids using small bobber floats baited with worms.
- ALLIANCE ARM ROCK LEDGES: Steep shale and clay ledges dropping into deep water near the arm entrance. Drop live freshwater shrimp or yabbies straight down off the ledge face for schooling Golden Perch. Keep your leader light and use fine wire hooks to maximize bites in clear water conditions.
Offshore
- BIG RIVER ARM TIMBER: Deep flooded river course packed with standing dead gum trees in 15 to 25 meters depth. Troll large 120mm+ deep-diving hardbody lures close to the timber trunks at 3km/h for trophy Murray Cod. Pinpoint active fish on your sounder and mark trees where cod sit on submerged fork branches.
- DELATITE ARM SHALLOW BAYS: Expansive shallow arms featuring flooded tea-tree bushes and clay points in 4 to 8 meters depth. Cast soft plastics or 5/8oz spinnerbaits into submerged bushes during early morning heat. Golden Perch move onto these shallow banks to feed on yabbies as the water warms in spring.
- GOULBURN ARM CHANNEL DROP-OFF: The submerged original river bed dropping sharply from 10 meters into 30 meters depth. Vertical jig 30g soft vibes or heavy metal blades along the steep channel ledge for schooling Redfin. Once you locate a school on sonar, drop anchor or use an electric motor anchor-lock to fish straight down.
- BONNIE DOON BRIDGE PYLONS: Concrete bridge pylons and rock abutments surrounded by deep open water. Position your boat close to the pylons and drop live yabbies or small soft vibes right against the concrete structures for Golden Perch. Trolling around the bridge gaps also yields quality trout during cooler winter months.
- JERUSALEM CREEK TIMBER LINES: Dense clusters of submerged timber lining the creek channel drop-off. Slow-roll large swimbaits or 150mm soft plastics through the middle of the tree clusters for big Murray Cod. Using heavy 50lb braided line and strong leader is necessary to pull powerful cod out of the snags.
Hot Spots
- Eildon Pondage: Controlled tailrace basin famous for producing record-sized stocked Rainbow and Brown Trout.
- Jerusalem Creek Arm: Sheltered impoundment arm offering deep timber trolling and accessible bank fishing.
- Delatite Arm: Shallow, weed-rich bay network highly regarded for spring Golden Perch and surface Murray Cod.
- Big River Arm: Deep flooded river valley featuring massive standing timber that holds metre-plus Murray Cod.
- Alliance Arm Ledges: Steep rock drop-offs providing prime vertical jigging territory for schooling Redfin.
Local Bait Tips
- FRESHWATER YABBIES: Trapped in shallow dam bays and farm dams using legal open-top hoop nets baited with fresh meat, strictly avoiding illegal opera house traps to protect platypus. Store in a cool shade box with damp newspaper or wet sea-sponge to keep them lively.
- SCRUB WORMS: Harvested by digging with a garden fork in damp riverbank clay and rich garden soil after heavy rains. Store in cool, damp shredded newspaper or peat moss in a ventilated worm container.
- FRESHWATER SHRIMP: Collected by submerged fine-mesh shrimp nets or sweeping dip nets through submerged tree roots and weed beds along the river arms. Keep alive in a bucket of aerated lake water with a portable battery bubbler.
- MUDEYES (DRAGONFLY NYMPHS): Collected by sweeping a fine mesh land net through submerged reed beds and aquatic vegetation in quiet dam bays. Keep on damp weed in a cool container and handle gently when hooking through the thorax.
Boat Ramps
- Jerusalem Creek Boat Ramp, Lake Eildon:
Jerusalem Creek Boat Ramp is located off Jerusalem Creek Road within the Jerusalem Creek Recreation Reserve on Lake Eildon. The facility features a dual-lane concrete launching ramp serviced by a small pontoon boarding jetty. It provides excellent deep-water access during low storage levels, making it one of the most reliable launch points on the lake during dry seasons. Facilities include paved car-trailer parking, public toilets, and camping areas.
Bait and Tackle
- EILDON BAIT AND TACKLE: 14 Main Street, Eildon VIC 3713 | Phone: (03) 5774 2712
- MANSFIELD FISHING & CAMPING: High St, Mansfield VIC 3722 | Phone: (03) 5775 2724
Basecamp & Accom
- Eildon Pondage Holiday Park: 10 Riverside Dr, Eildon VIC 3713 - Ph: 1800 651 691
- Jerusalem Creek Caravan Park: 520 Jerusalem Creek Rd, Eildon VIC 3713 - Ph: (03) 5774 2508
- Breeze Holiday Parks - Eildon: 2 Country Club Dr, Eildon VIC 3713 - Ph: (03) 5774 2062
Emergency & Safety
- Goulburn-Murray Water Eildon Office: 1 Eildon Rd, Eildon VIC 3713 - Ph: 1800 013 357 / Emergency 000 - Marine Safety VIC / UHF Ch 16 / 40
