Ganguddy (also known as Dunn’s Swamp) is a small water storage on the upper Cudgegong River built to supply water for Kandos Cement Works. The land around the waterway is managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service as it is part of Wollemi National Park. It’s stunningly beautiful!

There is a camping ground with pit toilets. Contact the NPWS for more info or to book (email: mudgee@environment.nsw.gov.au or phone: 02 6372 7199).

Dunn’s Swamp is regularly stocked with native fish including Murray Cod, Golden Perch and Silver Perch and there are also a small number of Rainbow Trout. The swamp was formed when Kandos Wier was built accross the lower section of a small canyon. As a result the swamp is not very wide and the water gets deep very quickly. However the swamp snake through the canyon for more than 5 kilometres offering plent of water for the fish.
You can take a tiny with you, a canoe or fish from the rocky edges. If you choose to fish from the bank there is no need to get your feet wet, as it is a comfortable casting to the middle of the impoundment in most places.

In peak season you can hire kayaks from Southern Cross Kayaking who are often setup at the boat ramp with various types of kayaks to hire. They’ll give you a safety and paddling briefing before you head off, so for people who don’t often paddle it’s a good place to start.

Be careful if fishing from the cliffs edges as the drop to the water (or rocks) below  is 15 metres in places and the rocks can be mossy and slippery. There are also plenty of snakes to contend with over summer, but they’ll leave you alone if you leave them alone.

When using the camping area watch out for hungry possums and goannas. They will steal food off your plate if you put it down for a few seconds. The possums are particularly cunning and may steal food from your hand if you are not careful. Please do not feed these or any other animals as this encourages them to pester other campers for food.

If you are chasing native fish such as Murray Cod try to get your lure down to 15 or more feet as they tend to hold close to the bottom and long the deep rocky drop off’s. If you see fish feeding on the surface try throwing a Jitter Bug or Surface Popper in the area of the rises. These surface lures can look like a cicada or other critter splashing about on the surface and often attract a big fish to the bite.

If casting lures try to cast against the rocky edge or weed beds where shade and cover is available. Native fish hold in shadows of weeds and under overhangs in the rock where they can not be seen. You need to get you lure right up against the edges and let it sink a little before you start retreving. As a rule of thumb the cooler the weather the deeper you need to get your lure.

The best lures are spinnerbaits, lipless cankbaits and stump jumpers in smaller sizes. Yabbies, shrimp, worms and wood grubs are the best baits, though we do not recommend bait fishing at Dunns Swamp as you are more likely to catch a turtle than a fish.

The bigger fish are down deep most of the time, however the best fishing is over summer when the native fish are more active and will feed closer to the surface.

Access
To get to the dam follow the signs from Rylstone Hospital or Main Street Kandos (20 mins drive). Land based access is available on foot to all parts of the dam, but large rocks and thick bush make walking difficult in places. Boating is the best way to see and fish the dam. Canoes are best. There is a 4 knot speed limit for power boats.

Fish Stocked
Golden Perch, Murray Cod, Silver Perch and Rainbow Trout (not in recent times).

Fish Present
Golden Perch, Murray Cod, Silver Perch, Rainbow Trout, Catfish, Trout Cod, River Blackfish & possibly a small number of Brown Trout

Land Manager
National Parks and Wildlife Service

History: Built in 1930 to supply water for the Kandos Cement Works. It is now part of the Wollemi National Park and is predominantly used for recreation.

Volume: 2,000Ml

Water Depth: 14m max

Want More Info
Contact NPWS Mudgee
Phone: 02 6372 7199

Video by Russ Reynolds

Links to other info on Dunns Swamp

http://southerncrosskayaking.com.au/

http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/camping-and-accommodation/campgrounds/dunns-swamp-ganguddy-campground/local-alerts

http://www.fishingmonthly.com.au/Articles/Display/4878-Nice-place-shame-about-the-name

http://rylstonekandos.com/natural-beauty/dunns-swamp/