Fishing & Aquaculture

A Guide to the Inland Angling Waters of Victoria
River Basins Map | Angling Waters A-Z | Mitta Mitta Basin

Angling Waters of the Mitta Mitta Basin 1 West

Banimboola Creek, Dartmouth E 8
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A small creek (2m wide) flowing through forest, but with pools averaging 90cm deep. The banks provide moderate cover for brown trout. Contains a good population of brown trout (av. 200g) but larger fish occur at times.

Brown trout

Banimboola Lake, Dartmouth E 8
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A regulating pondage immediately below Lake Dartmouth.

The pondage wall is approximately 5km downstream from the main wall of Lake Dartmouth. Contains brown trout and rainbow trout to 4kg, (av. 1 kg). Best fishing is early morning and evening. Baits under bubble floats are very successful. Stocked annually with brown trout and rainbow trout.

Bundarra River, Anglers Rest D 13
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Rises in forested mountains then flows through steep farmland, rubble and sand with some rock and boulder substrate. Mean width is 9m, with riffles 50cm deep and pools to 200cm. Riparian vegetation in the farmland is mainly blackberry. There is abundant fish cover from the undercut banks and instream rock substrate. Carries brown trout to 1.5kg (av. 350g), a few rainbow trout av. 300g and blackfish to 170g. The farmland in the lower reaches is accessible by road from Anglers Rest. Good for fly-fishing. Self-sustaining trout population, not stocked.

Image: Bundarra River in April 2004, 15 months after the 2003 bushfires.

Brown trout

Cobungra River, Anglers Rest E 14
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Flows through forested mountains, gravel bed. Access upstream is difficult, requiring a 4WD vehicle or walking from Anglers Rest. Can also be accessed through private property off the Alpine Road. Please ask permission to enter. Carries abundant brown trout to 1.2kg, some rainbow trout to 200g, and numerous blackfish to 80g. Recognised as an excellent trout water, good for fly fishing and a pleasant environment. Self-sustaining trout population, not stocked.

Dart River, Dartmouth G 8
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Flows through forested mountains, boulder and gravel bed. The lower reaches of the river were submerged by Lake Dartmouth to become the Dart Arm of the lake. Accessible by 4WD, or by boat from the lake. Average width is 10m, with pools av. 80cm deep. Undercut banks and rock substrate provide moderate fish cover. Carries abundant small brown trout (av. 100g), rainbow trout (av. 150g), small blackfish and used to carry Macquarie perch at spawning time. Self-sustaining trout population, not stocked.

Dartmouth Lake, Dartmouth F 8
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Dartmouth Lake

6,400ha. 4,000,000ML. Boat ramp, picnic facilities, caravan park at Mitta Mitta township.

A very large, deep, steep-sided water storage extending 40km from the retaining wall back to its furthest point up the Mitta Mitta River. It is the tallest earth and rockfill dam in the Southern Hemisphere (183m high).

The lake is surrounded by steep forested mountains. Main access is via Dartmouth's township to the dam wall or to Six-Mile Creek where there is a boat ramp and full picnic facilities. There are several good camping sites around the lake, most only accessible by boat (Eight Mile Creek, camping and toilets; Raymond Creek Dart Arm no facilities; and Eustace Gap, no facilities-also accessible by a track).

Brown trout

There is some 4WD access to the top of the lake but this requires local knowledge. Bank fishing is available near the boat ramp. Contains brown trout to 1.5kg, rainbow trout to 1.kg, carp, blackfish, some Macquarie perch, mosquitofish and goldfish. Departmental surveys (1998-2001) found that brown trout were the most common species caught by anglers (80%) followed by rainbow trout (19%). Most trout are caught by trolling. Only a few Macquarie perch are now being taken by anglers. During the warmer months (after late December), trout move into deeper water (4-10m). It is then necessary to get baits and lures down into the cooler, deeper water to catch trout. Popular lures are Tassie Devils and Rapalas.

Live baits such as mudeyes and worms are successful. Brown trout and rainbow trout to 1.5kg are also taken along the edges of the submerged timber in the early morning. Macquarie perch can be taken from this lake but bag and size limits apply. The numbers of Macquarie perch are now comparatively low and a special fishing trip to the lake solely for this species is probably not worthwhile.

Research:
Lake Dartmouth's wild trout fishery is still topnotch! (PDF 56kb)

Dry Forest Creek, Granya D 4
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A small creek flowing through forest and farmland, gravel bed. Carries some small brown trout to 700g at times and provides limited angling for locals. Not stocked.

Brown trout

Gibbo River, Benambra H 10
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Flows through forested mountains, gravel and sand bed. Stream width is 10m with pools av. 110cm deep and riffles to 50cm. Riparian vegetation is forest and there is moderate fish cover provided by undercut banks. Contains small brown trout to 1.5kg (av. 150g), small rainbow trout av. 150g, carp and a few blackfish av. 55g.

The lower reaches have been inundated by Lake Dartmouth and are more accessible by boat because of the steep valley in which the river flows. Self-sustaining trout population, not stocked.

Hume Lake, Tallangatta B 2
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22,600ha. 3,038,000ML. Boat ramp, caravan park, picnic facilities. No camping is allowed on public land on the foreshore.

Surrounded by cleared land and farmland. Good access to the lake with concrete boat ramps at the spillway and at Ludlows Reserve, Huon Reserve and Tallangatta on the southern shore in Victoria. Parts of the lake are in New South Wales and until all fisheries management responsibility transfers to Victoria on 1 September 2004, a NSW angling licence is required if fishing in NSW waters of Lake Hume. Waters south of the spillway are all in Victoria where a Victorian fishing licence is required.

Note that both States have similar size limits (50cm) for Murray cod with only one fish over 75cm, allowed in Victoria and only one over 100cm length allowed in NSW. Both States have a bag limit (2) and a closed season (1 September- 30 November inclusive) for Murray cod.

Both States have a 30cm minimum size limit on golden perch, the NSW daily bag limit in lakes is 5 fish and in Victorian lakes, it is 10 fish.

When all fisheries management responsibility transfers to Victoria in 1 September 2004, only Victorian fishing regulations will apply to all of Lake Hume.

Redfin

Victoria has a bag limit of 10 brown trout per day of which no more than 5 fish can be less than 30cm in length in Lake Hume. The lake is open all year to trout fishing. Note that every boat ramp on the lake has information on regulations and location of State fishing zones.

Predominant angling species are redfin to 1.6kg, brown trout to 2.5kg, carp to 5.2kg, golden perch to 4kg, an occasional Murray cod to 15kg, a very occasional silver perch, and goldfish. Best fishing period for brown trout is September to November with most trout caught by trolling. Most popular lures are Cobra style and should be trolled at a fast 'walking pace' speed. Bait fishing from the bank will result in a good catch of carp and often little else.

Golden perch are most active November to January and best catches are made trolling in shallow water up to 6m deep. Yabbies and worms are good baits and golden perch can be taken from the banks provided carp don’t get your bait first. Techniques for trolling for native fish are the same as mentioned in the section on fishing the Murray River, i.e. fish near snags or rough bottom if possible, and troll at a relatively fast speed. Early summer is the best time to try for Murray cod but very few fish appear to have been caught by anglers.

Lake Hume

Redfin move in shoals in the lake and trolling is a good way to locate a school. Anglers have had good success trolling at depths of 5-10m. Best fishing times are November through to April/May. Best fishing results come from targeting a particular species and learning the best way to catch that fish. Note that all except trout are warm-water fish species normally occurring in waters with summer water temperatures reaching 20^oC.

Releases of cold water (temperature range 7-16^oC) from the lower level of lake Dartmouth into Lake Hume significantly reduce the chance of Murray cod spawning in the lake and may also restrict growth and activity of Murray cod and golden perch. Best angling may be during periods when no water is being released into Lake Hume or possibly in the Murray Arm of the lake, which has a more natural temperature regime. Regularly stocked with Murray cod, golden perch, silver perch and brown trout.

Jim and Jack Creek, Omeo E 15
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A very small creek flowing through high plains snow grass, gravel bed. Contains some small brown trout to 300g. Not stocked.

Little Snowy Creek

Little Snowy Creek, Eskdale C 8
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A small creek (3m wide) flowing from mountainous forest, through farmland, gravel bed. Contains brown trout (av. 270g), some rainbow trout (av. 43g), a few blackfish and numerous redfin (av. 38g). Not stocked.

Livingstone Creek, Omeo F 16
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A wide (10m) shallow creek rising in forest and flowing through farmland and Omeo, gravel bed. The headwaters have some good trout water but access is difficult.

The lower reaches around Omeo have some sedimentation and further downstream the creek becomes a series of pools during summer. Contains good numbers of small brown trout to 500g with larger trout around Omeo. Not stocked because of difficult access upstream and poor habitat downstream and sufficient natural recruitment to support the recreational fishery.

Mitta Mitta River, Dartmouth C 5
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Upper Mitta Mitta River (Big River) in April 2004, 15 months after the 2003 bushfires

Rises in forested mountains on the edge of the Alpine National Park east of Falls Creek as Big River. Flows south-east, then north for 70km to Lake Dartmouth. From Lake Dartmouth, flows 20km to the town of Mitta Mitta. From here it flows north for 50km to Lake Hume.

Upstream of Lake Dartmouth G 11

Flows in forested mountains. Average river width at Glen Valley is 18m increasing to 28m upstream of the lake. Substrate is rock, boulders and rubble with a high percentage of sand. Water consists of riffles and rapids with pools 1.5 to 3m deep at various locations.

Brown trout

A Departmental survey in 1993 found small numbers of brown trout av. 400g, abundant blackfish and numerous Macquarie perch in the middle reaches of this section of the river. There is good access downstream of Glen Valley for 20km but the river then flows in a steep, forested valley with a limited number of 4WD tracks to the river. Between 1993 and 1996 52,000 trout cod fingerlings were stocked above Lake Dartmouth. Occasional trout cod have subsequently been recaptured in the lake.

Downstream of Lake Dartmouth to Mitta Mitta Township E 8

The river flows for several kilometres from Lake Dartmouth into a regulating pondage (Banimboola Lake) and then approximately 18km to Mitta Mitta township. It flows in a forested gorge, with rapids and cascades immediately below the pondage, then through farmland near the Mitta Mitta township. Channel width is 22-46m with predominantly pools 2-6m deep (riffles make up only 20% of this reach of the river).

The substrate is sand and rubble, with some patches of bedrock and gravel. In 1993 a survey by the Department found that this section contained mostly brown trout averaging from 73g to 1.2kg in different locations, with the largest fish downstream of the dam wall to the pondage. The largest number of trout was at Colemans (about 2.5km downstream of Banimboola Creek). Other species present are a few rainbow trout, a few small redfin, some carp, broad-finned galaxias and Murray spiny crayfish. This section is very accessible by car although some walking is required to reach the river in the gorge area.

Mitta Mitta Township to Lake Hume C 6

Flyfishing the Mitta Mitta

This 50km section of the Mitta Mitta River flows through mostly flat farmland with riparian willows and scattered red gums. It has a uniform width of around 35m and a substrate of rubble and sand to Tallandoon and sand and gravel downstream. Water type is mostly pools to 380cm deep. Flow is fast and care should be taken when wading. Carries predominantly brown trout to 3kg (av. 130g), occasional redfin (most common just upstream from Tallandoon), a few blackfish, very occasional rainbow trout, some carp, also Australian smelt, mountain galaxias, broad-finned galaxias, flat-headed galaxias, goldfish, southern pygmy perch and Murray spiny crayfish. An occasional golden perch enters the river from Lake Hume.

This is one of the best brown trout waters in Victoria. Biomass (weight) of trout in the lower Mitta Mitta River is 78kg/ha, compared to 16kg/ha in the King River and 50kg/ha in the Goulburn River downstream of Eildon. Numbers of brown trout are high all along the river, except in the lower reaches at Pigs Point, near Lake Hume.

The Departmental survey in 1993 found that the section of river from upstream of Scrubby Creek down to Spring Creek carried the largest number of trout. Access is excellent along the river and it is popular with fly fishermen. Departmental studies found that the principal diet of brown trout in this section of the river is mayfly nymphs Coloburiscoides sp; stonefly nymphs Dinotoperta sp and larvae of the sandfly or black fly Austrosimulium sp. In most summers, water is released from Lake Dartmouth into Lake Hume to meet irrigation demands further downstream in the Murray system.

The river then rises close to bank full with flows of 10,000 to 16,000ML/d and water temperatures fall to less than 10^oC. Water velocity is high and wading is impossible. This river used to contain self-sustaining populations of Macquarie perch, trout cod and Murray cod but these species are now absent because of the cold water released from Lake Dartmouth.

The number of redfin has declined, probably because of the changes in water management and the presence of Epizootic Haematopoietic Necrosis (EHN) virus which has been responsible for fish deaths of redfin in Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia. (Under ‘laboratory’ conditions some native fish such as Macquarie perch and silver perch and the introduced rainbow trout are also susceptible to the virus).

Brown trout

Contains a self-sustaining population of trout and is not stocked. Depressed water temperatures make this section of stream unsuitable for stocking with native fish.

Tributary Streams of the Mitta Mitta River

There are a number of small creeks flowing into the lower Mitta Mitta River (Spring, Glencoe, Scrubby, Little Snowy and Little Scrubby Creeks.). They vary in width from 2-6m, with pools averaging 60-90cm deep. Substrate is gravel or sand. They all contain brown trout and blackfish. Other species in various creeks are rainbow trout, mountain galaxias, goldfish, southern pygmy perch, mosquitofish, Australian smelt, broad-finned galaxias and Murray spiny crayfish. Average weight of trout can reach 140g with the largest brown trout in Glencoe Creek and Little Snowy Creek.

Research:
Evaluating Australia's largest natural population of Macquarie perch (PDF 64kb)

Morass Creek, Benambra G 12
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Flows through forest and farmland, gravel and clay substrate. Width is 7m with pools over 110cm deep. Riparian vegetation is mainly blackberry. Abundant instream cover for trout. Low flow during summer. Relatively inaccessible and probably only lightly fished. Contains brown trout to 1.25kg (av. 22g), good numbers of small blackfish (av. 10g), and mountain galaxias. Good fishing with scrub worms. Self-sustaining trout population, not stocked.

Omeo Lake, Benambra G 13
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Dry in most years and used as grazing land.

Sandy Creek, Tallangatta B 5
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Flows through forest and farmland, sand and gravel bed. Flow is low and water is warm during summer. May receive fish from Lake Hume. Contains some brown trout.

Sandy Creek Reservoir, Tallangatta B 6
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2 ha.

Surrounded by forest and farmland. Not considered an angling water and not stocked since 1973.

Snowy Creek

Snowy Creek, Mitta Mitta D 8
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Flows in forested mountains, rubble and gravel substrate. Channel width is 11m with pools over 120cm deep. Pools and undercut banks provide abundant cover for fish. Good access from a road along the creek. Carries abundant brown trout to 1kg (av. 108g), abundant small blackfish (av. 20g), mountain galaxias, broad-finned galaxias and Murray spiny crayfish. Self-sustaining trout population, not stocked.

Tallangatta Creek

Tallangatta Creek, Tallangatta D 5
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Flows through farmland, gravel and rock substrate. Riparian vegetation of grass and willows with some bank erosion and sedimentation in the lower reaches. Contains brown trout to 2kg (av. 125g), some rainbow trout to 275g, small redfin, blackfish, and Australian smelt. Larger trout are present in April-June when trout run-up from Lake Hume to spawn in the creek. A tributary (Bucheen Creek) also contains brown trout and blackfish.

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