Flows through flat farmland with riparian vegetation of grass and scattered red gums. A narrow (2-5m) creek at Tungamah with mostly shallow riffles just over 50cm deep. Dense aquatic vegetation with excellent habitat for small-sized native fish. Not worth fishing at this site. Becomes a wider (10-12m) channel at Katamatite with low banks (2.5m). Has a soft mud substrate, turbid water and some light debris along the edges. Mostly shallow runs 60-80cm deep and pools to 150cm at normal flow levels. There are some deep pools and a wider section of river downstream of Katamatite, where locals catch a few golden perch at times.

Good access along the river at this site. Irrigation water is released downstream during summer (November to April) and fishing is best at this time. Contains golden perch to 2kg, carp, redfin, possibly Murray cod, also goldfish, mosquitofish, western carp gudgeon, Australian smelt and southern pygmy perch. Previously stocked with golden perch and Murray cod and no further stocking will take place until previous stocking success is assessed.

A channel-like river with low banks, flowing through flat farmland. Riparian vegetation of grass, rushes and mature red gums. In its upper reaches around Devenish, it is 7m wide, with shallow runs less than 60cm deep. Sluggish flow, mud substrate and turbid water. Good debris at some locations. At Tungamah, width increases to 12-20m with mostly runs and pools to 100cm deep. At Numurkah, it is 8-10m wide with mostly shallow water less than 100cm deep, mud and sand substrate.

Contains mainly redfin to 1.3kg (av. 700g), carp, goldfish, tench, golden perch, freshwater catfish and Murray cod, with best fishing water downstream of Nathalia. Also contains mosquitofish, Murray rainbowfish, western carp gudgeon, Australian smelt, flat-headed gudgeon, and possibly very occasional bony bream.

Stocked annually with Murray cod and golden perch.

Seven vertical slot fishways have been constructed on various weirs since 1997 which will improve fish passage to and from the Murray River.

Lake Nillahcootie to Benalla J 14

The river flows in a wide, flat valley, some distance from the road. Riparian vegetation is mostly mature eucalypts and some willows, which have grown into the channel.

The river at Swanpool is deeply (8m) entrenched and up to 10m in width. At low flows it is predominantly shallow runs less than 50cm deep with some good pools to 200cm. Substrate is small patches of gravel in the riffles but mostly sand. There are exposed sand banks during low flows. The water is turbid with a sluggish flow and some sedimentation occurs downstream of Swanpool.

Contains mostly brown trout to 800g (av. 220g), abundant small redfin to 450g, carp, possibly some golden perch, Macquarie perch and Murray spiny crayfish. Also blackfish below Lake Nillahcootie dam wall, southern pygmy perch, Murray rainbowfish, mosquitofish, Australian smelt, unidentified gudgeon and possibly tench (stocked 1914).

Access is difficult because of private property and the distance of the river from the Midland Highway. Please ask permission to cross farmland. Best public access is at the Swanpool and Samaria Road bridges. Stocked with Macquarie perch and with trout cod in the mid 1990's (both species protected and must be released if caught).

Flows close to the Midland Highway through lightly wooded farmland, in a deeply entrenched channel downstream of Goomalibee. Channel width varies from 15m at Casey's Weir to 30m at Nalinga. There is good riparian vegetation of mature red gums, wattles and areas of canegrass. It is a wide, shallow river at low flows, with predominantly shallow runs 60-100cm deep, upstream of Nalinga. Substrate is mud with exposed sand banks during low flow periods. Water is often turbid. Access is restricted at Goomalibee Road because of extensive fencing along the riverbank.

Good access at Nalinga, Casey's Weir and Gowangardie Weir. Contains redfin, golden perch, Murray cod, goldfish, carp, occasional blackfish, flat-headed galaxias, Murray rainbowfish, mosquitofish, Australian smelt, western carp gudgeon, and flat-headed gudgeon. The best fishing area is upstream of Casey's Weir.

The weir has good bank fishing, with still-water, dead timber and debris. There is a small picnic area but no facilities. Golden perch to 2.5kg can be taken on shrimp and worms and some good Murray cod (8-20kg) as well as numerous small cod are present upstream and in the weir. Reports are that the fish are in good condition. Has been regularly stocked with golden perch.

Holland Creek, Benalla K 14
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Rises in forested hills and flows through farmland. Rock substrate in the headwaters with mud and sand downstream. It has mostly runs and deep pools but becomes a series of pools in a dry year. Some sedimentation downstream of Tatong. Supports a small brown trout fishery between Fords Bridge and Tatong which is assisted by annual stocking of fin-clipped brown trout.

Contains brown trout to 750g, some rainbow trout av. 220g, abundant small blackfish and some carp downstream. An occasional Macquarie perch from a remnant population may still be present (protected and must be released if caught). Also contains Australian smelt, flat-headed galaxias, redfin, mosquitofish, goldfish, Murray rainbowfish, western carp gudgeon, southern pygmy perch and the occasional golden perch.

Contains brown trout and goldfish.

Contains brown trout.

A large shallow storage surrounded by farmland and scattered forest. It was created by the enlargement of Winton Swamp in 1971 and receives water from the Broken River, which is released when needed to satisfy downstream irrigation and domestic needs.

When the level is low and conditions are hot, the lake is prone to blooms of toxic blue-green algae, which not only cause fish deaths, but can also affect stock and people who drink or come into contact with the water. Under these circumstances, the lake is closed to the public.

When it is full and water quality is good, it is a very popular and productive fishery. It contains abundant golden perch, some Murray cod, redfin, carp, goldfish, Australian smelt, western carp gudgeon, and mosquitofish. Provides some excellent fishing at times with good catches of golden perch to 1.4kg and increasing numbers of Murray cod to 7kg.

Small Murray cod are common so please observe the 50cm size limit. Please cut the line near the hook and release the fish. Successful baits for golden perch are worms, shrimps and small yabbies.

The lake was surveyed by the Department in 1999, 2000 & 2001 On each occasion, mostly golden perch to 1.4kg have been caught, also some Murray cod to 7kg, carp and occasional goldfish. In 1999 a Departmental survey of anglers found most were using bait and targeting golden perch.

However many redfin are quite small. January and February are good months in which to catch redfin. There are angler reports of reasonable numbers of Murray cod 3-10kg being caught by trolling. The lake was stocked with trout 1978-81 but this produced negligible returns. Murray cod were stocked in most years from 1988-96 although none were subsequently captured in a Departmental survey. More recent stockings of golden perch are yielding fish up to 1kg.

Between Loombah Weir and McCall Say Weir

Closed to all fishing and you must not take fish or be in possession of fishing equipment around Loombah Weir and McCall Say Weir or in the river between the two weirs.

Flows through cleared farmland, mud and sand bed and slow runs and pools. Little riparian vegetation and bank erosion has resulted in sedimentation and loss of deep water. Contains mostly brown trout to 1.2kg (av. 500g) blackfish to 120g, carp, redfin to 500g and goldfish. Also flat-headed galaxias, mountain galaxias, Australian smelt, southern pygmy perch, possibly tench (stocked in 1941) and trout cod that have escaped from Loombah Weir. Stocked annually with fin-clipped brown trout between Loombah Weir and Molyullah.