Bush 'n Beach Fishing Magazine Location reports & tips for fishing, boating, camping, kayaking, 4WDing in Queensland and Northern NSW
THIS month has been a bit quiet for me on the fishing front, however I did manage to sneak up and manage some Lake Monduran fishing for a few days.
It is such a beautiful place to fish and being only four hours’ drive north of Brisbane allows me to get there between work. After the large rain event in January, the water level in the lake rose and saw the dam spilling water yet again, which is not ideal for fishing there. Considering the barra already lost in the last flood, we feared the worst, but the water level receded quickly and the barra loss was minimal.
This was evident only days after the rain as keen anglers were still hooking barra throughout the dam. The best places to look after such a weather event are bays and points close to the dam wall with the wind pushing into them, as well as the original riverbed. The water will naturally flow down this riverbed and if you can find a point where the depth rises quickly, you are in with a better chance.
Make sure that when the water is flowing over any dam wall you stay well clear and check relevant websites to ensure the dam is open for recreation because they can be closed if deemed not safe. Now it has had time to settle, the Lake Monduran fishing is fairly reliable. If you are able to get to the dam during a few days of consistent wind, you should be able to find fish.
Getting them to bite is a whole different ball game. It is important that you learn the dam and how the fish behave in the vast array of weather patterns Mother Nature throws at us. In order to learn these things, I strongly recommend you follow the Lake Monduran Sponsor a Barra Facebook page. This page is constantly updated with Monduran fishing reports and photos.
It is also raising money in an effort to have an electric barrier installed so the fish are deterred from swimming over the spillway in a flood. However, the best way to learn the dam is by booking a charter with Rob from Guidelines Fishing Charters. Rob owns the caravan park and has been fishing the dam for most of his life. He lives on its shores and there is no better way to understand the dam than by spending time on it.
It is vital that when planning a Lake Monduran fishing trip you are correctly prepared in terms of fishing gear. I like to have a combination of low-profile baitcasters and spin outfits in my arsenal. I use the baitcasting outfits when I am searching for fish in weed or timber. Certain winds will shut the barramundi down and therefore rather than moving around looking for food, they are sitting in cover waiting for a feeding opportunity.
The baitcasting setup allows pinpoint accuracy into the likely spots where the barramundi will be waiting. I like to use spinning gear when I am fishing points where I have sounded barramundi. The spinning gear allows me to cast further, which is key when the fish aren’t as keen to bite. I like to run 50lb braid with a 1.2m-long 80lb leader. This sounds very heavy but the amount of structure in this dam means you need strong gear so that if you do hook the fish of a lifetime, you are able to stop it in time.
The lures I like to use are Jackall Squirrel 79s, Jackall Smash Minnows, Lucky Craft Pointer 100DDs and an array of soft plastics. What you use will depend on conditions and the spot you are fishing. If you are after extra advice on lures and soft plastics, you can find me at Tackle World Lawnton. I am more than happy to give you advice and show you exactly what lures and techniques I use at the lake.
Hopefully this month allows me to spend a bit more time on the water in search of great memories and stories to tell.
Don’t forget to like Pine Boys on Facebook so you can keep up with my adventures, and feel free to message the page if you have any questions.
