Fishing Lake Eildon…..
Lake Eildon is a premiere fishing location in Victoria and for many years now has been extensively stocked with fish thanks to the Victorian Fishing Authority and your fishing licences.
Fishing Lake Eildon is considered one of the best, if not the best, location to catch yourself a Trophy Murray Cod. It is also home to Trout, Redfin and more recently Yellow Belly(Golden Perch).
Lake Eildon is a manmade lake and is released into the Goulburn River for irrigation purposes downstream. The lake can be accessed along its 500 odd kilometres of shoreline or by boat.
Explore the Jewel of Victoria: Fishing Lake Eildon
There is a diverse range of fish species inhabiting the lake including Trophy Murray Cod, Trout, Redfin and Yellow Belly(Golden Perch). There is also a large supply of Carp in the Lake and although not considered a table fish they can be fun to catch especially for the kids.
I have spent many a day trolling and bait fishing around the lake. I must say it is one of the most picturesque and relaxing waterways in Victoria. There is some breathtaking scenery and natural beauty surrounds the shoreline.
The fishing season really never ends when fishing Lake Eildon. There is no closed season like the rivers and other estuaries. You can fish all year round! I have tried bait fishing, trolling and casting around the Lake and have caught numerous Trout and Red Fin. I did kind a catch a Murray cod but it jumped my net and broke the line escaping back to the depths. My youngest daughter at the time still never lets me forget!
Whether you are fishing from the shoreline or out in a boat make sure you prepare yourself for your trip. A well planned fishing trip to Lake Eildon won’t disappoint.
The Best Fishing Spots at Lake Eildon: A Local’s Guide
Well that’s a matter of opinion ! Targeting the natural tree structures around the lake appear to provide the best chance of catching your Murray Cod and Redfin. Structures are in abundance around the lake. Use your fish finder to assist in locating the fish and then tie up to the structure and get your lines in.
Trolling for Trout can also be lucrative and I have caught the majority of my Trout around the Taylor Bay area.
Some of the hottest spots for trout are the main Lake Eildon arm, Big River and the Howqua inlet. Murray cod can be found at Big River and also around the Jerusalem Creek area.
One of the biggest Yellow bellies I have seen was caught off the banks at Fraser National Park using scrub worms.
For the best and most current advice on where to go and what tackle and bait you need head into Eildon Bait And Tackle Shop. The owner Craig will be able to provide you with everything you need to know about Fishing Lake Eildon!
Seasonal Fishing at Lake Eildon: What You Need to Know
MURRAY COD:-
Murray Cod are predators and like to ambush their prey. They are Australia’s largest freshwater fish and can grow to impressive trophy sizes. Fishing Lake Eildon defiantly provides the angler with the excitement and anticipation of catching 1 metre plus fish. Murray cod tend to like the darker environments and will hide in structured areas waiting for their prey. Sunrise and sunset seem to be the best times of the day. You can catch Murray cod all year round when Fishing Lake Eildon.
Casting into these structures with your lures and slowly work them back towards your boat is one of the preferred methods of catching these fish. Using scrub worms, yabbies, chicken nuggets and cheese can entice these predators out of the dark structures and on to your hook. Be mindful that when you are fishing around structures snagged lines are common along with stuck lures.
TROUT:-
When chasing Trout over the years of I have had the most success using an assortment of pink Tassie Devils trolled behind my pontoon. A good array of other spinners, metal spoons and minnows is handy to have in your arsenal also. If your boat tends to idle and move at a fast rate you made need to consider using a sea anchor or drift anchor to slow the boat to the right speed. A nice speed of around 4.5kph seems to work well. You can also bait fish for Trout using scrub worms but I haven’t had much success in the Lake. The Pondage offers excellent bait fishing opportunities.
YELLOW BELLY:-
Yellow Belly are also a predator fish and can be caught using soft vibe lures. Vibe lures act like injured fish and predatory fish like Yellow Belly attack. During the early mornings and late evenings Yellow Belly tend to head for shallower waters and during the hottest parts of the day are found in the deeper areas. Try varying your speed with retrievals using slight pauses and taps on your rod in an effort to excite the fish. Black lures seem to be the most reliable for this fish. When Fishing Lake Eildon late Spring, Summer and Autumn provide the best times of year to catch Yellow Belly.
RED FIN:-
Red Fin (Reddies) are often debated as being a “pest of the waterway” or an excellent eating fish. I have caught many Reddies on my trips to Lake Eildon and I can say they can be a great eating fish. They are a fun fish to catch and the kids will love it, I know mine do. We targeted this fish with scrub worms and yabbies. The smaller fish tend to avoid the yabbies (maybe because of the claws) so we often get the bigger fish on. You can also use soft plastics, vibes and minnows. Using lures is a similar technique to the Yellow Belly style of retrieval.
Make sure you keep to your catch limits and release all fish that you don’t need.
Essential Fishing Tackle for Lake Eildon
Having the right fishing gear when Fishing Lake Eildon is essential to your success. If you are targeting Trout, Yellow Belly and Reddies then you will probably want a class of rod in the 1-3 or 2-4 kilogram range. If you are targeting Murray Cod you will want a slightly heavier class around the 6-10 kg range. A 2000-3000 sized reel with some 6-10lb line will get you out of trouble but to be honest, my daughters pink K-Mart kids rod and reel has caught some pretty good fish over the years.
An array of soft lures, minnows, Tassie devils, spinners and vibes will do the trick. Get in and see Craig at Eildon Bait And Tackle to get yourself sorted with your tackle and fresh baits.
Responsible Fishing Practices at Lake Eildon
Did you know that in Victoria has a Recreational Fishing Code Of Conduct?
The Victorian Recreational Fish Peak Body has produced the following:-
- Awareness of, and compliance with fishing regulations
- Respect the rights of other anglers and users
- Protect and restore the environment and fish habitat
- Carefully return undersized, oversized, protected or unwanted catch back to the water
- Fish species and other organisms must not be relocated or transferred into other water bodies
- Always seek permission when entering private property
- Use established roads and tracks
- Attend to your fishing gear and value your catch
- Education – please pass on your knowledge
- Respect Aboriginal sites, culture and values
We are also advocates of the importance of catch and release for preserving fish populations. We can all do our bit when Fishing Lake Eildon by abiding by this code of conduct.
You can find more information and VRFish.
Do you know how to handle a fish to minimise stress and injury?
- If you can, try to release the fish by un-hooking whilst still in the water
- If you are unable to remove the hook, cut the line and leave the hook inside
- Make sure your hands are wet
- Don’t place the fish down on a hot surface
- You should only lift the fish horizontally and support the underside of the belly and head
- Gently place the fish in the water and help it swim if needed
Getting On The Water at Lake Eildon
There are several boat ramps spread out around Lake Eildon as follows;
Eildon Boat Ramp – Located at the Eildon Wall
Fraser National Park – Main Ramp
Coller Bay Boat Ramp
Bonnie Doon Boat Ramp
Jerusalem Creek
Eildon Harbour Public Ramp
Goughs Bay Boat Ramp
There are also several camping areas scattered around the lake with hard shorelines where you can also launch an retrieve your boat.
If you don’t have a boat and want to get to areas mentioned earlier in this article then check out MatesBoat™. MatesBoat™ has boat rentals available for Fishing Lake Eildon or sightseeing. Renting a boat is a magnificent way of enjoying Lake Eildon and all that it has to offer!
Family Fun and Fishing at Lake Eildon
Fishing Lake Eildon is a great way to have fun with your family and to create lasting memories and stories. If you are planning a trip to Lake Eildon and need a boat, then make sure you checkout MatesBoat™.
If you already have a boat or are going to try your luck from the shoreline then be sure to stop in at Eildon Bait And Tackle. Craig will be more than happy to talk you through your fishing adventure and make sure you come back a winner.
If you are not fishing mad, that’s okay too. You can rent a boat, cruise the Lake and have a picnic lunch whilst enjoying the sun and water.
If you are looking for accommodation in the area there are plenty of camp grounds and also houses for rent through AirBnB or similar.
Looking forward to seeing you out and about Fishing Lake Eildon!
