Fishing Lake Mulwala
General fishing in Lake Mulwala is highly active from early summer through to late winter, with anglers flocking to target trophy native predators. The lake remains relatively shallow and flat, meaning wind direction and barometric pressure play a major role in fish activity. Peak feeding windows often align with the transition of dawn and dusk when fish move out of deep snags to hunt.
Land-based anglers can find fantastic fishing along the accessible grassy reserves and clay points that line the lake's edge. Casting large surface paddlers, spinnerbaits, or chatterbaits into the shallow timber at first and last light is highly successful. Soaking live yabbies or cheese baits from the bank is also a highly popular and productive method.
Offshore and boat fishing dominates Lake Mulwala, as navigating the immense forest of submerged timber requires a maneuverable vessel. Boaters can use the Mulwala Boat Ramp or Yarrawonga Yacht Club Ramp to launch and access the prime timber stands. Drifting quietly with an electric motor while casting swimbaits or trolling large hardbodies along the deep old river channels yields exceptional results.
Top 10 Species
Landbased
- Kyffins Reserve Foreshore: This extensive public reserve features a long, grassy shoreline with easily accessible banks and scattered timber. Shore-bound anglers can cast large spinnerbaits or surface paddlers into the shallow margins during summer evenings. Soaking live yabbies or large scrub worms close to the clay drop-offs produces consistent golden perch.
- Yarrawonga Weir Wall banks: The fast-flowing tailwaters below the weir wall offer a highly productive river-style land-based fishery. Casting large hardbodies, swimbaits, or heavy spinnerbaits into the boiling currents is exceptionally effective for active Murray cod. Anglers should utilize heavy spinning gear and strong leader material to handle the powerful currents and big fish.
- Mulwala Ski Club foreshore: Located close to the main resort area, these sandy banks are highly popular for family-friendly bait fishing. Soaking yabbies, scrub worms, or cheese baits along the shallow drop-offs yields steady golden perch and cod. The best times to fish this bank are during early mornings before boat and ski traffic increases.
- Bathumi shoreline: This scenic stretch of shoreline features sandy points and extensive weed margins that hold active native species. Casting chatterbaits or slow-rolling soft plastics along the weed pockets is highly effective during spring. Anglers should walk the banks quietly as the fish in these shallow margins can be easily spooked.
- The Woods foreshore: This southern foreshore area features a mixture of grassy banks and dense stands of timber stumps. Flicking spinnerbaits or casting surface lures into the timbered pockets at first light produces exciting topwater strikes. This spot provides excellent protection from strong winds, making it a reliable and comfortable shore-based option.
Offshore
- Bundalong timber: This vast timbered area at the eastern end of the lake is a premier destination for casting lures. Drifting quietly with an electric motor while casting topwater paddlers or heavy spinnerbaits into the red gum stumps is highly effective. Boaters must navigate with extreme caution as there are thousands of submerged stumps just below the surface.
- The Everglades: This expansive, shallow weed flat features scattered standing timber and rich aquatic vegetation that hold active native fish. Boaters should slow-roll swimbaits or cast buzzbaits over the top of the weed beds during summer mornings. This area offers spectacular sight-fishing opportunities when water clarity is high.
- Majors Arm: This deep old river channel is lined with massive logs and deep holes that hold trophy Murray cod. Trolling large, wide-profile hardbodies that run at four to six meters is the most reliable way to target active fish. Boaters should keep their lures close to the structure and be prepared for violent, sudden strikes.
- Willows deep channel: This deep channel section is a hotspot for boaters seeking to cover water by casting or trolling. Vertically jigging soft vibes or casting heavy spinnerbaits around the bases of the standing trees yields great results. Monitoring the fish finder for bait schools suspended along the channel edges is key to success.
- Naughtons Bend: This sharp bend in the drowned river bed features deep holes and a clay wall structure that attracts native predators. Casting swimbaits or jigging metal blades along the deep clay drop-offs is highly successful in spring. Boaters should focus their efforts on the shaded structures during the heat of the day.
Hot Spots
- Kyffins Point: This shallow clay point pushes into a deep channel, offering a classic ambush zone for casting surface lures at first light.
- Ovens River Junction: This rich, flowing river junction pool is a spectacular micro-spot where native fish congregate before moving into the standing forest.
- Hogans Road Reserve margins: This quiet backwater bay features dense weed pockets where kayakers can successfully cast weedless soft plastics for golden perch.
- Boomanoomana Reef: A submerged timber reef situated in the upper reaches that acts as a major shelter point for breeding trout cod.
- Yarrawonga Channel Bend: A deep outer turn of the old river bed that holds resident giant Murray cod year-round.
Local Bait Tips
- Freshwater Shrimp: Freshwater shrimp can be collected by placing a legal NSW shrimp trap baited with oily fish or cat food along submerged weeds and logs. Trap dimensions must strictly comply with NSW DPI rules and be clearly marked with owner details.
- Mudeyes: Mudeyes are collected by gently sweeping a fine-mesh hand net through shallow, submerged aquatic weed beds or by hand-turning submerged rocks along lake edges. Collectors must carry a valid New South Wales recreational fishing fee receipt and keep their catch for personal use.
- Earthworms: Earthworms are harvested by digging with a hand spade in damp, rich soil beneath rotting logs in moist riparian zones. Hand gathering is fully legal across the state, but collection is strictly prohibited within national park boundaries without explicit authorization.
Boat Ramps
- Mulwala Boat Ramp:
Mulwala Boat Ramp: Positioned within the **Owen Bridges Reserve along Corowa Road** in Mulwala, NSW 2647, this ramp provides direct access to the expansive waters of **Lake Mulwala**. The facility features a **wide, three-lane concrete configuration** designed for efficient, high-volume vessel launching, but lacks any staging pontoons, floating walkways, or boarding jetties. Operating on a non-tidal freshwater reservoir, the launching zone can become **extremely shallow at times**, introducing severe low-water shoaling hazards, silting, and dense weed growth that can ground deep-draft vessels. Ample parking is available for cars and trailers, though it fills up quickly on busy days. Convenient on-site amenities include a **toilet block, rubbish bins, picnic benches, tables, a BBQ station, and an RV dump station**, with an Excellent rating from BoatReveals.
Bait and Tackle
- Intents Fishing, Outdoors & 4x4: Unit 8/97-103 Melbourne St, Mulwala NSW 2647 | Phone: (03) 5743 1800
- Ampol Mulwala: 78 McCarthy St, Mulwala NSW 2647 | Phone: No Phone
Basecamp & Accom
- Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort: Golf Club Road, Mulwala NSW 2647 | Phone: (03) 5744 1911
- Lake Mulwala Hotel Motel: 107 Melbourne Street, Mulwala NSW 2647 | Phone: (03) 5744 2499
- Kyffins Reserve Camping Ground: Kyffins Road, Mulwala NSW 2647 | Phone: (03) 5744 1515
Emergency & Safety
- Emergency: 000 | Mulwala Police Station: 81 Melbourne Street, Mulwala NSW 2647 | Phone: (03) 5743 8099
