Fishing & Aquaculture

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

Angling Waters of the Avoca River Basin 8

Avoca River, Charlton E 9
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	Avoca River

The Avoca River rises in the Central Highlands near Ampitheatre and flows north for 270km into Lake Bael Bael. It flows within a confined valley to Charlton then enters a broad alluvial plain. It has an extremely variable flow ranging from long periods of low flow (less than 50ML/d) to floods. In dry years, flow stops for many months.

The river is less than 2m deep along its entire length except for a 27km section between Logan and Coonooer where there are pools 2-5m deep. The river is very saline with de-oxygenated water in the bottom of deeper pools during low flow periods. The river has native riparian vegetation along its entire length and reasonably stable banks. In addition to the fish species listed below it was reported in 1976 to carry silver perch and freshwater catfish. Other species recorded in the river (location uncertain) were Murray rainbowfish (1989), non-specked hardyhead, mosquitofish and western carp gudgeon.

There have been no recent surveys of fish populations by the Department. It is stocked regularly with golden perch and Murray cod.

Upstream from Bealiba E 15

The river is 6-10m wide with gravel and clay substrate. It has shallow riffles, 20-30cm deep with instream reeds and cumbungi. Banks are low with riparian vegetation of canegrass, cumbungi and red gums. At Avoca township there are some good pools to 150cm deep.

Access is good at Avoca and along the Bealiba Road where there is an open area next to the river (no facilities) with some good pools for fishing. Carp is the predominant fish caught around Avoca but the river also contains redfin, av. 250g, max. 500g; some brown trout to 700g, goldfish, Australian smelt, occasional golden perch, flat-headed gudgeon, mountain galaxias, flat-headed galaxias and abundant small blackfish.

Bealiba to Yawong E 12

The river at Logan now flows in a wide, open channel but has narrow (6-7m) extensive riffles and shallow runs (20-100cm deep) separating the pools. Further downstream it is entrenched in a deep gully. Here it has narrow runs and pools 6m wide with water depths over 100cm. This section of the river is accessible from the Coonooer-Gowar-Logan Road and has some good habitat with some debris, clear water and small pools. There is also access and some good habitat at Coonooer Bridge. Here the river is up to 10m wide with a series of small pools 100-200cm deep, separated by shallow riffles choked with canegrass. Substrate is clay.

The banks are low with riparian vegetation of red gums and canegrass. Fish species taken in surveys are redfin to 700g, a few brown trout, flat-headed gudgeon, carp, goldfish, golden perch, tench and a few blackfish upstream. A few Murray cod have been caught, possibly from a release in 1972.

Yawong to Charlton E 10

The river flows for 25km through flat farmland and has a continuous riparian vegetation of mature red gums. Access is not good along this section with only a few cross roads. At Seven Mile Road the river is 10m wide and has 6m high banks. There are extensive runs and pools of turbid water 100-200cm deep. Flow is very sluggish in summer; substrate is sand. Riparian vegetation is canegrass at the waters edge and red gums.

There is walking access along the river and good habitat with instream debris, bank vegetation and deep water. Contains the same species as in the previous section with the predominant angling species being redfin and carp with possibly some golden perch at times.

Charlton to Lake Bael Bael G 6

The river is deeply entrenched (6-7m) in flat farmland but has irregular flow and dries to a series of small stagnant pools (100cm deep) separated by dry or damp substrate and sand banks. The river downstream from Charlton, is 4m wide, with grass and small red gums growing in the channel. Carries mostly redfin, carp and goldfish. Also possibly a few golden perch when the river is flowing.

Avoca Shire Dam, Avoca F 17
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This is the Avoca town water supply and fishing is not permitted.

Bael Bael Lake, Kerang H 5
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435ha. 8,300ML

• Ramsar

This is the terminal lake of the Avoca River and is situated northwest of Kerang. It is surrounded by agricultural land and has a mud bottom. The water level fluctuates and it dries out in some years (dry in 2000). Summer water depths are less than 2m but can increase to 3m during winter flows. It is part of the water distribution system supplying water to orchards, vineyards and pasture between Kerang and Swan Hill. It contains redfin, carp and possibly bony bream. A boat is required for fishing but this is not a popular fishing water. It usually has a salinity of around 2,000EC, however increased flow in the Avoca River can move higher salinity and de-oxygenated water into the lake.

A fish death of bony bream in 1989 is thought to have been caused by a combination of low water temperature (10-11^oC) and low dissolved oxygen levels from a recent flood of water from the Avoca River into the lake. It was stocked unsuccessfully with Murray cod in the 1970’s.

Bealiba Reservoir, Bealiba G 14
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1ha.

A small domestic storage surrounded by scrub and grazing land, gravel and clay bottom. Contains redfin, mostly very small but occasionally to 900g, goldfish and tench. Becomes very shallow and sometimes dries out in summer.

Gilmours Lake, Kerang G 6
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43ha. 1,625ML.

A small, deep, weedy-lake filled from the Avoca River. It is surrounded by private property making access difficult. Contains some redfin to 1.4kg and tench but is not recommended for angling. Dry in 2002.

Green Lake, Sealake B 4
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28ha. 5,200ML. Picnic area open to boating.

A very shallow lake with sandy beaches. Subject to high summer water temperatures. It is fed by a channel from the Wimmera-Mallee Stock and Domestic Supply System, and being at the far end of the system, the supply is often low and is not guaranteed. Water level fluctuates greatly. Contains redfin to 1.4kg and tench to 2kg. It has been stocked with golden perch in recent times, however, it dried out in 2002. Further stocking of golden perch will be considered when favourable conditions return.

Lalbert Lake, Quambatook E 5
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750ha. 9,250ML.

A swampy lake surrounded by cereal crops. Only receives water when the Avoca River has high flows. Sometimes dries out. Abundant submerged timber. Contains carp and redfin. Dry in 2002.

Lead Dam, Avoca F 16
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3ha. 114ML.

A town supply dam located 4km east of Avoca and south of the Maryborough Road. Closed to all fishing. (Access used to be available to members of the Avoca Angling Club on a few specified days). Contains redfin to 1.9kg and tench to 700g. The Department last stocked this water in 1973.

Lookout Lake, Kerang G 5
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65ha. 1,600Ml. No boat ramp but boats can be used.

A deep lake near Kerang surrounded by cereal crops. Restricted access because of private property. Fills from the Avoca River and seldom dries out. Carries carp, a few redfin and tench but not recommended for angling.

Middle Creek, Avoca G 5
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Reported to contain blackfish and mountain galaxias but current status is unknown.

Old Town Lake, Wedderburn G 11
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1.5ha.

A small lake close to the caravan park. Contains some redfin. It was stocked with trout in the 1970’s but this was discontinued because of a very poor return to anglers.

Railway Reservoir, Korong Vale G 10
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1ha.

A small water containing only redfin. Stocked with trout in the mid 1970’s but produced very few fish.

Redbank Reservoir, Redbank F 15
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6ha.

Town water supply storage, managed by Central Highlands Region Water Authority, located 2km south of Redbank. Surrounded by forest. Boating is not permitted. Carries some redfin. Was stocked unsuccessfully with trout by the Department in the 1970’s. Stocked with golden perch when the water level is satisfactory.

Sandhill Lake, Swan Hill G 5
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90ha. 2,700ML.

A shallow lake surrounded by cereal crops. Dries out occasionally. Although there are some good redfin and carp at times, it is seldom angled.

Skinners Flat Reservoir, Wedderburn F 10
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1ha.

Not on the map but located approximately 5km from Wedderburn and just north of the Charlton Road. This is a shallow storage with little marginal vegetation. Boating is permitted but it is fished mainly by locals. Contains small redfin. Trout stocking in the 1970’s was unsuccessful.

Sugarloaf Reservoir, Avoca E 16
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9ha.

A domestic water storage closed to angling.

Golden perch

Tchum Lake, Birchip C 7
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50ha. 500ML.

There are two lakes, the northern lake being shallow, and a good bird watching area where no boating is permitted. The southern lake has camping and picnic areas and a boat ramp at the northern end of the lake. When full, it is up to 6m deep and has extensive weed beds. It is fed by a channel and the water level depends on the Committee of Management purchasing water from Goulburn-Murray Rural Water Authority. It is currently dry and is likely to remain so for the next few years. It used to contain redfin and carp, and was stocked with golden perch in the late 1990’s. When last surveyed in 2000, it carried golden perch from 2-8kg and tench to 1.5kg. When water levels recover, it will be considered for stocking with golden perch.

Teddington Reservoirs, Stuart Mill D 11
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Domestic water supplies and power boats and swimming are prohibited.

Consists of two storages approximately 400m apart both of which are regularly stocked with brown trout by the Department.

Top Lake

12ha. Camping, picnic and barbecue facilities.

Surrounded by forest and located within the Kara Kara State Park. It contains redfin av. 650g, max. 1.5kg, and brown trout to 1.1kg. This is a small but popular angling water.

Bottom Lake

12ha.

Surrounded by cleared land and has little aquatic vegetation. A popular fishing water for both trout and redfin and usually provides better fishing than the top storage. Contains brown trout av. 800g, max. 1.9kg and redfin av. 400g, max. 2kg. Best redfin fishing is in the deep water at the wall.

The Marsh, Kerang H 5
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Listed under Ramsar as First Marsh.

Fills only in wet years. May then contain carp. Usually dry.

Timboran Lake, Sea Lake C 2
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2,060ha. 10,200ML.

Salt lake, no fish.

Tyrell Lake, Sea Lake B 2
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17,240ha.

Salt lake, no fish.

Wahpool Lake, Sea Lake C 1
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2,020ha.

Salt lake, no fish.

Woorinen Lakes, Swan Hill F 1
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A large, slightly saline drainage swamp which sometimes has redfin. Very lightly fished.

Saline Pools in Rivers
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Saline pools in rivers are accumulations of saline ground water in the bottom of the deeper sections of rivers. Some of the worst examples occur in the Wimmera River, where, during summer, pools that look magnificent and have superb fish cover and riparian vegetation, are devoid of aquatic life.

The bottom metre or so of water can be saltier than seawater and reek of sulphur dioxide from decaying organic matter. Saline pools occur in areas where rising water tables are causing salinity problems and the first places to be affected are obviously the lowest points in the catchment i.e. the rivers and drainage lines.

The process of saline ground water intruding into the river is opposed by two factors. One is that the hydrostatic pressure of the water in the river tends to counteract the upward pressure of the ground water, and reduces, or prevents intrusion of saline water into the river. The other is that when flows are high, any saline water that intrudes is quickly moved downstream and diluted by the significantly greater volume of the fresh water. When flow decreases, both these factors are also reduced and eventually, the flow may be insufficient to move the heavier saline water out of the bottom of the deeper pools. Water in the bottom of the pool then becomes isolated from the surface water and very quickly becomes anaerobic.

The saline water prevents the bottom of the pool being used by fish or any other biota that need oxygen This condition persists until flows increase in the winter, and dilutes the saline water, or moves it downstream.

Saline pools occur naturally in some rivers. In others they are caused, or exacerbated, by unnaturally low summer flows due to water extraction, or to water tables rising due to land clearing and inappropriate land management. Programs to prevent land degradation are the first step in addressing this problem.

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