Fishing Lake Patterson in Central Darling, New South Wales

• Overview

  Look for Lake Patterson in the Central Darling part of New South Wales. The country here is sage and rock. It measures some 1.27 sq km, and wind has room to build across it. The town to know is Broken Hill, 214 km out. Adelaide sits 625 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The regional boundary is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lake Patterson

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Anyone new to Lake Patterson should walk it once before setting up. Watch the surface for movement before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give January about 29°C and July about 12°C. Heat, not cold, decides when to be on the water. Spring, September into November, and autumn, March into May, are the strong stretches. March through May and September through November are the strong stretches. Lake Patterson fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. It is recorded as intermittent, which means the basin empties in dry spells. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Local rules can differ across the regional boundary, so check where you stand. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Green Lake sits 2.5 km off and takes the overflow. Check the position on Lake Patterson before loading the car.