Fishing Lake Purrumbete
The lake is famous for holding trophy Chinook Salmon, large Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, and giant Redfin. Unlike shallow inland waters, Purrumbete remains cold and stable year-round, allowing salmonids to thrive and grow to massive sizes. Anglers must adapt to deep-water trolling and finesse sight-fishing techniques in the crystal-clear water.
Land-based anglers can target fish from the caravan park jetty, quarry rocks, and accessible weed margins around the crater rim. Suspending live mudeyes or glass shrimp under a light pencil float near the weed drop-offs is deadly for Trout and Redfin. Early morning sessions before sunlight penetrates the water column give bank fishers their best chance at a trophy fish.
Boaters and kayak fishers utilize downriggers, lead-core lines, and heavy metal jigs to reach fish holding in the deep central basin. Trolling small hardbody lures or winged spinners along the 15 to 25-meter thermocline targets fast-swimming Chinook Salmon. Scanning sonar for deep bait schools allows boaters to vertically drop soft plastics straight down to heavy Redfin patches.
Top 10 Species
Landbased
- PURRUMBETE CARAVAN PARK JETTY: The wooden jetty extends over a steep weed edge dropping into 6 meters of clear water. Suspend live mudeyes under a sensitive quill float 1.5 meters down for feeding Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout. Early morning and late evening light windows yield the most reliable bites before sun glare sets in.
- THE QUARRY ROCKS: Steep basalt rock ledges on the eastern crater wall providing direct casting into deep water. Cast small 70mm minnow lures or 3g metal spoons out past the weed line for aggressive Chinook Salmon and Redfin. Wear non-slip rubber boots and take care navigating the steep, loose basalt rock slope.
- CARAVAN PARK WEED MARGINS: Shallow ribbon weed beds flanking the boat ramp area that hold juvenile baitfish. 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.
- NORTHERN CRATER RIM BANK: Accessible grassy bank on the northern shore offering comfortable land-based fishing. 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.
- SOUTHERN WEED DROP-OFF: A steep underwater weed wall located along the southern shore accessible by wading. Cast 2-inch soft plastic grubs on 1/16oz jigheads along the outer edge of the weed wall for Redfin. Keep your retrieve slow and allow the plastic to sink naturally along the vertical weed face.
Offshore
- CENTRAL CRATER BASIN: The deep open water center of the lake reaching depths between 30 and 45 meters. Use downriggers or lead-core line to position small winged spinners or 60mm minnows in the 15 to 25-meter thermocline zone for trophy Chinook Salmon. Maintaining a precise trolling speed between 3km/h and 4km/h is critical for triggering salmon strikes.
- EASTERN CRATER DROP-OFF: A sheer underwater cliff face where the shallow weed shelf plunges from 4 meters down to 20 meters depth. Troll small shallow-diving hardbodies along the weed edge at dawn for big Brown Trout patrolling the drop-off. Keep your boat positioned just outside the weed line to avoid snagging bottom growth.
- NORTHERN WEED BEDS: Extensive submerged weed meadows sitting in 3 to 8 meters depth along the northern shore. Drift over clear weed gaps casting small soft plastics, metal blades, or live mudeyes under floats for schooling 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 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
- Caravan Park Jetty: Famous land-based platform for float-fishing live mudeyes for giant Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout.
- Central Crater Basin: Deep open water zone where downrigger trolling produces Victoria's finest Chinook Salmon.
- The Quarry Rocks: Steep basalt shoreline offering deep casting access for Chinook Salmon and Redfin.
- Eastern Weed 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 Redfin.
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 Trout.
- 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 Redfin.
- 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 caravan park foreshore.
Boat Ramps
- Lake Purrumbete Boat Ramp:
Lake Purrumbete Boat Ramp is located at the Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park, 540 Purrumbete Estate Road, Koallah near Camperdown. The facility consists of a double-lane concrete launching ramp surrounded by protective floating boarding pontoons inside a deep volcanic crater basin. It offers outstanding deep-water launching under all weather and water-level conditions with on-site trailer parking, tackle shop, public amenities, and powered camping sites.
Bait and Tackle
- RICHARDSON MARINE (THE TACKLE SHACK): 1056-1058 Raglan Parade, Warrnambool VIC 3280 | Phone: (03) 5562 6373
Basecamp & Accom
- Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park: 540 Purrumbete Estate Rd, Koallah VIC 3260 - Ph: (03) 5594 5377
- 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
Emergency & Safety
- Corangamite Shire / Local Police: 181 Manifold St, Camperdown VIC 3260 - Ph: (03) 5593 7100 / Emergency 000 - Marine Safety VIC / UHF Ch 40
