Bass Impoundment Fishing
South-east Queensland's impoundments, including Lake Somerset, Wivenhoe and Borumba, hold trophy Australian bass and golden perch that provide exciting lure fishing throughout the cooler months. Working surface lures and vibes around submerged timber and rocky points at dawn and dusk produces explosive strikes from quality fish.
Target Species
Fishing Locations
- • Cowan Creek
- • Big River Arm
- • Delatite Arm
- • Lake Hume Upper Arms
- • Mulwala Submerged Timber
- • Lake Cullulleraine
Fishing Tips
- 1
During the warmer months (spring–autumn), Australian bass and golden perch school at mid-water depth beneath surface-visible bait — find them with your sounder and drop a blade vibe to the depth of the school.
- 2
Dawn topwater fishing on impoundments in summer is highly effective — bass push to the shallow timber edges at first light and smash surface lures before retreating to deeper water as the sun rises.
- 3
Cold fronts push bass into deeper water and make them unresponsive to fast presentations; slow down and fish blade vibes or weighted grubs right on the bottom near submerged timber.
- 4
Target the backs of creek arms in the impoundment after rain — fresh water inflow concentrates baitfish and bass congregate at the inflow zones to intercept flushed prey.
- 5
Golden perch prefer slightly deeper water than bass and respond particularly well to blade vibes and small bibless lures fished at mid-depth over submerged structure.
Gear Setup
Australian Bass
- Rod
- PE1–1.5, 7ft light-medium spinning; or #5–7 fly rod 9ft medium-fast
- Reel
- 2500 light spinning (Shimano Stradic) or Orvis Clearwater / Sage Spectrum fly reel
- Main Line
- PE1–1.5 (8–15lb braid) or WF5–7F fly line
- Leader
- 10–15lb fluorocarbon; or 2x–4x fluorocarbon tippet for fly
- Lures / Terminal
- Topwater lures (Heddon Torpedo, Jackall Chopo, Megabass Dog-X), vibes 9–18g, small blades, Clouser Minnows and Poppers (fly)
- Drag Setting
- 1.5–3kg (spin); reel drag (fly)
Winter spawn run into estuaries; spring-autumn surface action in rivers
Golden Perch
- Rod
- PE1–2, 6.5–7.5ft medium spinning or baitcaster
- Reel
- 2500–4000 light-medium spinning (Shimano Stradic) or small baitcaster (Calcutta 200)
- Main Line
- PE1–2 (10–20lb braid)
- Leader
- 10–20lb fluorocarbon
- Lures / Terminal
- Bibbed minnows 70–100mm, paddle tails 3–5 inch, vibes 12–25g
- Drag Setting
- 2–4kg