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Lake Canobolas
Overview
Lake Canobolas is a moderate
size water storage located about 10km outside Orange. It is a General
Trout Dam which also holds Murray Cod, Silver Perch, Golden Perch and
large numbers of introduced Redfin Perch. Vehicle access is available
between 730am and sunset (check signs for details) although you can
walk to the dam 24 hours a day.
Most fishermen target Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout and Redfin Perch.
Capacity: 700Ml
Surface Area: 10ha
Max Depth: 7m
Year Constructed: 1917
The lake was formed by daming Medow Creek.
Boating
Boating is restricted to
unpowered boats. Facilities for launching canoes are provided.
Disabled Access
This is one of very few inland
lakes with facilities designed to give disabled people fishing access.
With the support of Orange City Council and the DPI Freshwater Fishing
Trust, locals designed and installed a fishing platform that is
suitable for wheel chairs. This a good place to fish and to meet
other people.
Regulations
General Trout Dam. Two attended rods per person. Two hooks
per rod (with up to 3 hooks per artificial fly or lure) or 3 (where
those hooks are artificial flies or lures).
Trout size limit 25cm. Trout
bag limit 5 fish.
Redfin perch should not be returned to the water as they are a pest
species. No power boats permitted.
Check the DPI
website for other regulations.
Fishing Methods
This is very much a mixed
method fishery. You can use just about any fresh water fishing
technique and catch a fish.
Bait Fishing
Fishing with baits such as worms, grubs, shrimp and small yabbies works
well for most species. Try rigging these baits with a light leader (3 -
4 foot long) and a running sinker. Powerbait also works well with this
rig when targeting trout.
In summer live grass hoppers are a good bait to fish on the surface.
Use a bubble float half full of water with a 5 foot leader. Lightly
greased the leader so it floats. If you can collect lots of grass
hoppers you can throw some on the water to attract the fish and get
them feeding. Try to keep your float close to the grass hoppers you
throw onto the water.
Spinning
Redfin Perch and Natives prefer lipless crank baits and spinner baits.
The speed of your retrieve should be slow in winter and can be more
vigorous in summer when the fish are more active. Redfin will take
jigs. It is best to fish these from a boat bumping the jig off bottom
as you drift in a light wind.
A good all round lure is a small dark colour soft plastic that has a touch of silver,
gold, red, pink or orange along the sides. Fish shapes work best,
particularly those with a tail that moves vigorously. Attached to a
small or medium jig head these lures are very adaptable, as they can be
used to spin or jig. Perch and trout will take soft plastics. Trout
also like tassie devils and minnow style lures fished with a slow
retireve.
Fly Fishing
In summer grass hoppers, pumpkin beetles, flying ants, dragonflies,
cadis flies and mayflies are often found in large numbers near Lake
Canobolas during the day. As night falls christmas beetles, black
beetles, crickets and white and grey moths with appear. In summer try
dry flies that match these insects.
The cooler months are better for wet fly fishing. Most people use
streamers, with the wooly bugger being the most popular option. Try
sinking line to get your fly down deep.
Links
http://www.orange-nsw.com/MountCanobolas.html
http://www.watermarks.com.au/pages/playing_pleasure/fishing.cfm
http://us.sydney.com/town/Orange/Lake_Canobolas_Reserve/info.aspx
http://www.orange.nsw.gov.au/files/survey/PP36%20Lake%20Canobolas.pdf
http://www.orange.nsw.gov.au/download.cfm?DownloadFile=EDB146E2-E7F2-2F96
-36128BAF82744763
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