Lake Craven Fishing near Apollo Bay, Victoria

• Overview

  In Victoria, Lake Craven belongs to Colac Otway. The coast is 2.2 km away. Roughly 31 hectares: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Bank access stretches around 3.0 km in total. The nearest town is Apollo Bay, 17 km away. Elliminyt is 47 km away, with Colac at 51 km. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Lake Craven

  Depth figures are not published for this one. This is tidal water: the state of the tide decides where fish sit, so plan the session around it. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Records collected within a few miles name shortfin eel, brown trout and black bream. Records show what people reported, so treat the list as a guide to what lives in the area. At Lake Craven the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 10°C in July up to 18°C in February. Fish stay active all year, but they move with the heat. Spring runs September to November and autumn March to May, and both fish well. June through August is cool but far from dead. It holds true on Lake Craven more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Should this one be busy, Lake Hordern is 1.6 km off. Where Lake Craven is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.