Herschel Lake, Western Australia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  In Western Australia, Herschel Lake belongs to Cockburn. It sits in scrub and brush. It runs to roughly 35 hectares — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Ground here is low by Western Australia standards. North Fremantle lies 21 km from the water. Fremantle follows at 22 km, then Cottesloe at 22 km. No boundary runs near, so the local rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Herschel Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. The tide is the timetable on this water; two hours either side of the change usually fish hardest. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Reported species tell you what lives around here, nothing more. The near bank of Herschel Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 24°C, the coldest about 14°C. Cold never shuts this water down; heat is the only limit. Season rules are a separate question. Spring runs September to November and autumn March to May, and both fish well. March through May and September through November are the strong stretches. That is the shape of the year on Herschel Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. A pier or jetty stands 770 m away, which helps on a crowded bank. There is a campsite 1.3 km from the water. Picnic facilities are recorded some 1.1 km out. Public toilets are recorded roughly 710 m off. Local rules can differ across the regional boundary, so check where you stand. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. The nearest alternative is Pearse Lakes, 0.5 km out. Ask locally about Herschel Lake if anything is unclear.