Fishing Pirillie Lake in Bourke, New South Wales

• Overview

  The Bourke end of New South Wales holds Pirillie Lake. It lies 152 metres above sea level. Roughly 1.33 sq km of surface: treat each bay as a water in its own right. The perimeter runs near 6.9 km, so plan the walk before you start. Some 87 km away sits Bourke, the nearest settlement. The big place round here is Toowoomba, 685 km distant. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Pirillie Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Take Pirillie Lake a stretch at a time. Approach from downwind so your line does not land ahead of you.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 29°C at the top of summer and 12°C at the bottom of winter. Warmth runs the whole year, so timing is about the hour, not the month. Winter here is cool and quiet, and often the most comfortable time out. The wet months move levels about, which shifts the fishing with them. At Pirillie Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Public mapping marks it as seasonal water rather than permanent. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Failing this one, try Lake Denman, 18 km away. Check the position on Pirillie Lake before loading the car.