Lake Denman Fishing in Bourke, New South Wales

• Overview

  The Bourke end of New South Wales holds Lake Denman. It sits at 107 metres above sea level. At 2.37 sq km this is proper open water rather than a pond. The margin runs to about 12 km in total. Size puts it in the front rank of our Bourke list. The nearest place of any size is Bourke, 93 km away. The big place round here is Toowoomba, 702 km distant. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Lake Denman

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. On Lake Denman that means starting tight and working out. Depth change is worth more than distance from the bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  January is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 29°C, while July sits near 12°C. The season is continuous, with heat as the only real check. Summer, December to February, brings heat, so fish the early and late hours. October and November fish well as the water warms. Anyone fishing Lake Denman regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. It is recorded as intermittent, which means the basin empties in dry spells. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Youngerina Lake sits 3.2 km off and takes the overflow. Check the position on Lake Denman before loading the car.