including
Hepburn Lagoon, Newlyn Reservoir, Cosgrove Reservoir & Dean Reservoir
(Article and Photo courtesy of Wayne Tempest's Freelance Fishing)

Please Note: Due to the current drought some reservoirs and lagoons in the district are unavailable for fishing.
Please check with local authorities first before fishing in the region.

These four popular reservoirs lay in the old goldfields region of Victoria close to Creswick and other small towns depending on location. Their proximity to Ballarat and day tripping distance from Melbourne, Maryborough and Ararat leads to a variety of anglers enjoying a trip in the district.

REGULATIONS

All Victorian and visiting interstate anglers over the age of eighteen have to hold a current Victorian Fishing license before wetting a line at any freshwater destination across this garden state. At the Central Highlands Water Storage’s you will also require a water board permit as well, which was free at the time of publication.

Enquiries into obtaining one should be directed to Central Highlands Water, 7 Learmonth Road, Wendouree or by phoning (03) 53203100.

As many of these reservoirs are used for domestic water supplies there are some very strict rules associated with being able to visit or fish at them. There is no boating, swimming, or wadding allowed at the water. Also around the edges no digging, fires, camping or littering will be tolerated. Some reasonable rules (apart from the no wadding) that must be respected if these storage’s are to stay open to the public. In the past places like White Swan Reservoir have been closed then fenced off to keep people out, simply because a few idiots couldn’t grasp the fact of having to take their rubbish home with them.

LOCATIONS

Hepburn Lagoon

Hepburn Lagoon is centrally located between the tourist retreats of Daylesford and Hepburn that have a variety of attractions and accommodation on offer for extended visits. The area is famous for its natural spring water, treed gullies and a peaceful setting great for relaxation and good health.

This water often referred to as Anderson’s Lagoon suffers from wild windy conditions at times due to its elevation and lack of substantial trees bank side blocking or cutting down its strength. Although wind can hamper the angling this water regularly produces some true trophy sized trout both browns and rainbows. Fish between a kilo and a whopping 5 kilo’s are still encountered but this venue could reap big benefits from an increased number of fry added at each stocking. Darkly coloured redfin are also present in varying numbers for those warmer days.

A fantastic fly fishing water with weedy banks around its margins, high banks in places and lack of trees making casting reasonably uncomplicated. The reservoir doesn’t really have major points and bays and favours the efforts of actively fishing and moving using fly or light lure casting techniques. Limited success does come very early morning or late afternoon fishing unweighted worms or spider mudeyes under floats.

All in all it is a good water for skilled anglers that supports big trout with a potential if stocked and managed correctly being one of the best.

Newlyn Reservoir

Newlyn Reservoir is less than half an hours drive from Ballarat near the small country town of Newlyn is a popular angling and picnicking destination. Its location makes it ideal for day or half day trips from a number of Victorian towns and nearby tourist bases.

Over the expanse of this 74 ha reservoir there is some excellent deep water, shallows, sparse aquatic weed and a number of bays and points. It is quite a picturesque place with a well kept lawned area near the tower the most assessable spot for bank fishing. Water fluctuations can be adverse to angling with rising being good but falling water levels usual corresponding with more challenging for an angler.

This water is a proven brown trout water and recent liberations of rainbow trout since 1996 might see it becoming a good mixed destination. Redfin are also present in good numbers but no over populated, falling to baits and spinners during the warmer moths from November to April.

Trout at Newlyn Reservoir do often take baits like couta mudeyes or black crickets fished on float rigs early in the morning or late afternoon. But being restricted to the bank access only, fly and lure fishing is a way of covering several likely spots, especially with light winds blowing it can works best. It is more of a hunting approach and the only way to search out all those nooks and hide outs instead of waiting in anticipation or leaving due to the wind blowing the wrong way for a float set up.

There are good hatches of March browns for trout to rise to in spring and autumn and smelting fish aren’t uncommon.

Cosgrove Reservoir

Cosgrove Reservoir’s proximity to the small town of Creswick is an advantage as it is a quiet and friendly town with shops, hotels and plenty of history. Just out off town and 16 km from Ballarat is Calembeen Caravan Park that has a sheltered barbecue, and kids playground apart from the accommodation. Pets are allowed on leashes.

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Although it is a beautiful little 20 ha water set in spectacular bush land; it has proven a very challenging fishery for most people. It’s annual stocking was slashed in half for a few years seeing a major decline in the brown trout angling and a huge increase in the numbers of annoying miniature stunted redfin. Hopefully the reintroduction of a 1000 brown trout each year will continue to improve the angling and if increased the fishing could easily improve greatly. Generating more tourism and dollars to this region of Victoria.

Cosgrove Reservoir is uniquely shaped with heavy timber hampering fly casting places but taking tracks from the parking reserve at the dam wall will lead to many open areas in-between and on the southern bank.

Small lures work well, like No 2 Celta’s, Rapala CD3, painted Wobblers and Mepps spinners. Baits like mudeye’s and worms are usual hammered by small redfin but the odd one will last long enough to be taken by a bigger specimen or brown trout, if your lucky.

Dean Reservoir

Dean Reservoir near the town of Dean is not much larger then your average farm dam measuring around 1.3 ha when full. Although it only receives a handful of brown trout each year (200 fry) it does on occasion produce fish in excess of 2.7 kilo in excellent condition. It isn’t a water I would recommend spending a full day fishing solidly maybe just a few hours early in the morning or towards evening for a crack at a big one. As this is a tiny water there is no one hot spot, just slowly keep moving around till some activity is sighted or a fish is landed. There can be some reasonable fly-fishing at it and is the preferred method at this water storage.