Fishing at Lake Banimboola, Towong, Victoria

• Overview

  Lake Banimboola is one of the Towong listings for Victoria. It sits in oak and grass. Roughly 76 hectares: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The perimeter runs near 6.0 km, so plan the walk before you start. Compared with other Victoria water on our list, it sits high. Falls Creek sits 40 km from here and is the nearest stop. For a city, Canberra is 204 km off. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Lake Banimboola

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Records collected within a few miles name brown trout, Macquarie perch, perch and rainbow trout. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. On Lake Banimboola the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, February reads 20°C and July reads 6°C. No part of the year shuts this water. 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. It sets the rhythm of the year at Lake Banimboola.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. This is a reservoir by origin, with the deepest water near the dam. A picnic site 930 m off makes this workable with family in tow. There are toilets 910 m off. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Lake Dartmouth at 8.7 km is the sensible second choice. Check the position on Lake Banimboola before loading the car.