The scenic drive to this stocked impoundment takes you through the Pioneer Valley and up the Eungella Range before the winding roads turns to gravel for about the last 25 kilometres.
Camping is permitted along the foreshore of the dam and basic amenities such as cold showers and drop toilets are maintained by way of an honesty system. Camping is reasonably informal although during peak holiday periods you can expect the entire area to be covered by eager campers, fisher folk, jet boaters and water skiers.
Trolling will turn some trophy fish like this solid sooty grunter.
If you’re dropping a line in the area then it’s one of two sought after species that would be on your agenda. The mighty sooty grunter grows to oversize proportions for its species within the confines of the dam. There is abundant food and habitat from which they do very well. They are quite easy to catch on either bait or lures although the latter does offer much greater excitement and allows the angler to cover more ground in an attempt to find the fish. It also keeps the tackle shops in business in case you loose a few.
Sooty’s will fall for predominantly the same luring techniques as the other sought after target in the dam, the barramundi. Try and cover both bases which gives a greater opportunity to secure either of these fantastic fighters.
Lures that are around 75mm – 100mm and dive between two and 6 metres is an ideal place to start. These are a good starting point for trolling. For casting there are a few dominant brands on the market that continue to produce fish after fish.
Lures with a finish that flash and glint in the sun are ideal for casting into heavily structured timber areas as they can entice the fish up from deeper water. Soft plastics are also deadly as they have the ability to penetrate the water column and reach stubborn fish that don’t want to rise to surface.
The greatest tactic you can apply on the dam is to fish during low light levels such as very early morning and into the early evening. Even fishing under a full moon on a clear night can be worthwhile. The fish are less wary than during the day and are often located in the upper level of water.
TIP > Lure retrievers make perfect sense in heavily timbered waters. Lead weighted designs with hanging chains cost about the same as a decent Aussie made barra lure. Telescopic models cost around the same as several lures but are very effective in water up to five metres. You only need to save a few lures to pay for your retriever.
Get There > Head to Eungella and travel about another 35km past the township.
Allow 2 hours from Mackay
The Gear
Best Approach > Boat but bank fishing is worthwhile around the edges of the camp area.
Type of Fishing > Lure Casting and Trolling – work lures as slow as possible.
Bait Types > Worms, peeled prawn to catch sooty grunter – more fun on lures.
Peak Periods > Little to no wind. Morning, late afternoon to early evening.
Tackle > Baitcasters or threadlines with 10kilo line a minimum. Spare lures.
Use at least 40lb trace - Remember Stocked Impoundment Permit.
