FISHING AT LAKE BORUMBA
Fancy dropping in a line at Lake Borumba and try your luck to catch a great fish? While it is not really an angler’s best kept secret the dam is very well stocked and is a popular spot for freshwater fishing with the locals.
Lake Borumba is a dam built from Yabba Creek in 1971. It is situated between Brisbane and Gympie and inland from Noosa Heads.
Approximate travel distance and times are:
- From Brisbane, 180km, 2hrs 53mins
- Noosa Heads, 79.3km, 1hr 57mins
- Gympie, 58.6km, 1hr 37mins
Lake Borumba is managed by Seqwaters and to be able to fish there you will need a fishing permit from the Queensland Government, Department of Fisheries, Agriculture and Forestry. The prices for a permit are:
- $7.70 per week
- $38.60 per year
- $33.55 per year if you are entitled to the discount.
Discount entitlements are for holders of the:
- Queensland Government Seniors Card
- Pensioner Concession Card
- Health Care Card
- Repatriation Health Care Card (Gold Card)
Click here to buy your permit online.
Sometimes Seqwaters will close the dam due to blue green algae blooms so always check on their website to make sure it’s open to the public. Click here to get the latest updates on the dam’s condition.
WHAT FISH CAN I CATCH?
Lake Borumba is the perfect place for fly fishing and sub-surface fishing in spots along the edges of the dam and in particular under low hanging branches and on the edges of weed beds. Here you will catch a Golden Perch (Yellow Belly), an Australian Bass or even a Saratoga.
If you prefer to try your luck with game fishing, Lake Borumba is very well stocked with Saratoga which is possibly the most popular type of fishing on the lake.
Below is a brief description on the types of fish and some angling tips.
GOLDEN PERCH
Very common inland fishing and arguably one of the best table fish, the Golden Perch can grow to a size of well over 10kg and average size is around the 5kg. The colour range is from a bronze-olive to golden yellow and through to white.
Golden Perch will readily take to earthworms and local shrimp. Use a fishing line of 4-5kg strength and a simple rig of a ball sinker, swivel and trace of approximately 30cm attached to a no. 2 to no. 2/0 hook.
The best times for fishing Golden Perch is during their natural spawning cycle in September/October and December/January.
The best spots to catch a Golden Perch is around a rocky shoreline with a water depth of 3-5 metres or around the edges of weed beds where there is a steep drop off.
AUSTRALIAN BASS
Australian Bass need brackish water for spawning and as such freshwater lakes and dams need to be constantly re-stocked. The females tend to stay in freshwater environments where the males will stay in brackish environments. During the spawning season from May to August the females will attempt to swim down into the brackish water in search of a mate.
They can grow to 60cm and a weight of 4kg however they are most often caught at 40cm.
Australian Bass will readily take to lures as well as bait. Their favoured bait is fresh local shrimp .
SARATOGA
The Saratoga is an ancient fish and Australia’s only true freshwater fish. All other freshwater fish originally evolved from marine species. They are surface feeders and the top half of their body is flat an upturned head and mouth with barbells underneath.
In their natural habitat this carnivorous fish feeds on insects, forage fish, shrimp and frogs. They take readily to many different types of lures, flies and bait and once hooked they put up a spectacular fight and repeatedly leaping clear of the water which is why they are Australia’s most popular freshwater sporting fish. Use shallow diving lures, surface poppers and surface flies to get them to strike. They have primitive hard bony mouths which can make it difficult for a hook to stick, so make sure your hooks are very sharp.
The best times for fishing Saratoga is when they are actively feeding during the summer months in either the early morning or late afternoon. The best spots for catching Saratoga is around the edges of weed beds.
So, are you ready to give Lake Borumba a go for great freshwater fishing? Just remember to get yourself a Queensland fishing permit and check to see whether the dam is open to the public. Other than that, you’re good to go.
Image courtesy of SEQ Water