Basin Waters page

Fishing & Aquaculture

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

Angling Waters of the Moorabool River Basin 32

Bolwarrah Reservoir, Ballan E 2
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7.5ha. 122ML. Also known as Hunts Reservoir.

Bostock Reservoir, Ballan E3
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	Fish liberation truck at Bostock Reservoir

100ha. 7,455 ML.

A domestic water supply managed by Barwon Region Water Authority. Fishing by permit issued free of charge by the water authority. Wading, use of boats and fishing from structures not permitted. Surrounded by farmland and pine plantations. Water level fluctuates, margins are eroded with little aquatic vegetation and the water is often turbid. Carries brown trout to 1.4kg, redfin to 1.2kg and abundant tench, roach, carp, goldfish and short-finned eel. Regularly stocked by Fisheries Victoria with brown trout and rainbow trout.

Bungal Dam (see Lal Lal Reservoir) D 4

Hovell Creek, Lara H 9
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A small creek draining into Corio Bay. The upper section is in poor condition and dries out during summer. Has a small estuary in moderate condition. Contains short-finned eel, flat-headed gudgeon, mosquitofish, Australian smelt, blue-spotted goby, carp, common galaxias, spotted galaxias, redfin, tupong and small-mouthed hardyhead. Estuarine species may occur in the estuary. Fished for carp above the Princes Highway and for black bream in the estuary.

Hunts Reservoir (see Bolwarrah Reservoir) E 2

Korweinguboora Reservoir, Ballan E1
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61ha. 2,100 ML.

A domestic water storage managed by Barwon Region Water and not open to fishing.

Lal Lal Reservoir, Lal Lal D4
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355ha. 59,549ML.

A domestic water storage controlled by Barwon Region Water Authority servicing both Geelong and Ballarat. Fishing is limited to nominated local fishing clubs on two specific days. No other fishing is permitted. Contains river blackfish, tench, redfin and brown trout. Not stocked.

Little River, Little River G 6
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	Little River

Flows through grazing land and is largely inaccessible due to private land. Much of the stream is not worth fishing, but there is access at Rileys Reserve, You Yang Roads Reserve at Little River, and from the weir behind Little River downstream to Rees Park and these areas may provide some fishing. There is some riparian vegetation and the banks are stable. There is a small, self-sustaining population of brown trout averaging 140g, but reported up to 500g, short-finned eel to 400g, tench to 1.4kg and small redfin. Other fish are flat-headed gudgeon, mosquitofish, spotted galaxias, common galaxias and goldfish. Small-mouthed hardyhead and blue-spot goby and black bream have been collected from the lower estuarine section.

Moorabool Reservoir, Bolwarrah D 1
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150ha. 6,740ML. SW DPI.

A domestic storage surrounded by forest and managed by Central Highlands Region Water. Fishing requires the issue of a permit by the water authority. Contains mainly brown trout to 1.4kg, small redfin and short-finned eel. Stocked with brown trout regularly. It is a popular fly fishing water.

Moorabool River, Meredith D 7
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Mainly in Port Phillip Region. Upper reaches in South West Region, DPI.


Moorabool River

East Branch

Upstream from Bolwarrah, this is a small stream 1-3m wide with quite extensive shallow pools. Has aquatic vegetation, and some algae in pools during summer. Flows through farmland and some reaches have dense willow trees and bank degradation. Other reaches have reasonable habitat. Contains some brown trout to 400g upstream, with limited trout spawning in a few suitable areas. Below Bolwarrah, the trout are larger, up to 1.3kg, and there are also redfin to 220g, tench, short-finned eel and river blackfish.

West Branch

Upstream of Lal Lal Reservoir, it is a small stream with limited access carrying some brown trout to 350g, short-finned eel and redfin. From Lal Lal Reservoir to the junction of the East and West Branches, it flows through farmland and carries brown trout to 1kg, redfin to 350g, short-finned eel, tench and river blackfish.


	Moorabool River East

Below the Junction of the East and West Branch

The river becomes larger downstream of the junction of the two tributaries and flows in moderate/steep hilly farmland and scattered forest. At Morrisons, the river is from 9 to 15m wide, with extensive pools more than 300cm deep. Substrate is rubble and sand. This is the start of the good angling water which extends down through an extensive forested area through to Sheoaks.

Contains brown trout, redfin, short-finned eel, river blackfish, tench, southern pigmy perch, mountain galaxias and flat-headed gudgeon. There is good access at Sheoaks. Here there are extensive deep pools separated by shallow riffles with a substrate of gravel and rubble. The river is in a natural condition, with forest riparian vegetation and excellent instream habitat. Sections of the river downstream of Morrisons flow through private property. Please ask permission to enter.

Brown trout

Lower Reaches Downstream of Maude E 9

The river flows in flat farmland, and has extensive pools to 2.5m deep. Substrate is mud in the pools and gravel in the riffles. The same fish as upstream occur here as well as Australian grayling, carp and tupong. Fly-fishing, minnow lures and spinners are successful in taking brown trout. Baits such as garden worms are used for catching tench, river blackfish, redfin and short-finned eel. This river is considered to be one of the better brown trout fisheries close to Geelong.

Stony Creek Reservoirs, Steiglitz F 6
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Two reservoirs (9,500ML and 270ML) situated on Stony Creek and managed by Barwon Region Water Authority. They are not open to the public. In 2001, the Water Authority and the Rex Hunt Futurefish Foundation opened an Environmental Education Centre and stocked one of reservoirs with brown trout and rainbow trout. Enquiries about access to the centre, which caters to disadvantaged youth and school groups, should be directed to Rex Hunt Futurefish Foundation or the Barwon Region Water Authority.


	Junior anglers

Junior Angling
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Fisheries Victoria stocks larger yearling rainbow trout into small waters in or adjacent to population centres throughout Victoria that are safe and accessible for both junior and disabled anglers. Most releases are made to coincide with the 2^nd and 3^rd term school holidays when the hatchery fish have reached a catchable size and when water temperatures are best suited for trout survival. It also provides angling for juniors during the school holidays. Waters stocked in this Basin as part of this program are Caulfield Racecourse Dam, Emerald Lake, Jack Roper Reserve, Rowville Lakes, Roxburgh Park Lakes, and Whittlesea Botanical Gardens.

Department of Primary Industries, Victoria, Australia