Lake Tom, South Australia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Lake Tom lies in Flinders Ranges, South Australia. It lies 18 metres above sea level. The water covers some 51 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Most waters listed here for Flinders Ranges are larger. The town to know is Broken Hill, 161 km out. Quorn is 226 km and Peterborough 227 km. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Lake Tom

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Fish Lake Tom where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep. Keep back from the edge where the water runs clear.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 11°C to 28°C. The calendar barely matters here; the time of day does. Levels swing with the wet season, which moves the fishing about. Winter is cool and quiet, and often the most comfortable time to be out. Plan around that when you fish Lake Tom. Fish feed harder before a change in weather than after it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. It is recorded as intermittent, which means the basin empties in dry spells. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Should this one be busy, Collins Lagoon is 9.7 km off. What applies at Lake Tom may have changed since it was mapped.