Penrith Lakes are a man made system of lakes located at the base of the Blue Mountains. The lakes are formed by a large quarry that provides sand and gravel for use throughout Sydney. Eventually the quarry will close and the lake system will be completed.
The lakes are filled using water from urban run off, the quarry operations and the Nepean River. The first lakes completed are the site of the Sydney International Regatta Centre and Sydney White Water Stadium. These facilities where used to stage events at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
The lakes project part in part designed to mitigate flood waters from the Nepean River; however the ability of the lakes to mitigate a medium to large flood is very limited. The lakes main use in the future will be for recreation. The main reason for the project is to secure the future of the quarry and to ensure the holes left by the quarry would not turn into stagnant wastelands. It is much cheaper for the quarry developers to turn the site into lakes than to fill the holes they have made with soil.
Penrith Lakes can be heavily choked by weed making fishing difficult. Some harvesting of the weed takes place before major rowing events and this makes fishing easier for a month or two until the weed grows back.
The size of most Bass in the lakes is well below 25cm. Carp have been caught at weights of up to 6kg.
Restrictions
Access to the lake is restricted to public visiting hours and special fishing restrictions apply. Fishing for native species is catch and release and is restricted to Tuesdays from 9am-5pm see www.regattacentre.nsw.gov.au for details. Fishing with a fishing club on club days is also permitted.
Fishermen must use barbless hooks. Carp must not be returned to the water. Boating is not permitted except with a kayak or canoe. The usual seasonal closures and bag limits apply for native fish.
Special fishing days are also held throughout the year. More information can be obtained from the Regatta Centre Website or by calling Penrith Lakes Development Corporation on (02) 4730 6790 or (02) 4729 0044. You can also contact the DPI fisheries office at North Sydney on (02) 9439 3148.
Tips
The best lures for natives are spinner baits, celters, small stump jumpers, floppy’s and surface lures such as jitter bugs. Worms and live insects fished under a float, to keep your bait out of the weed, works well for bass.
Bait fishing for carp can be a success with just about any bait but worms, cheese and corn are the popular choices at the lakes.
Fly fishing with wooley buggers and other streamer flies works well for both bass and carp.
Links
http://www.dsr.nsw.gov.au/regattacentre/events_detail.asp?Program=5521
http://www.penrithlakes.com.au/mainsite/site/html/pldc_home.htm
Other Lakes Near Penrith
Cables Wakeboard Park & Penrith Panthers Lake
The lakes managed by Penrith Panthers and Cables have been stocked with a variety of fish species over the years. Today these waters are dominated by carp. Fishing is not generally permitted in these waters, but fishing comp’s and special events see these lakes open from time to time. See the video below.
Glenmore Park Loch
This is a small man made water storage (3.2ha) designed to remove sediment from storm water washing off a large housing estate. Theoretically sediment and pollutants should settle to the bottom of the loch before the water leaves the loch and returns to the Nepean River via School House Creek.
Fishing Info
The loch was stocked with over two thousand Australian Bass fingerling’s in 2002 and also has a large population of carp.
General fishing regulations apply. This fishery is not suitable to produce table fish due to pollution and it is recommended all bass are returned to the water.
Carp should not be returned to the water if caught. They are a pest species and should be killed.
Location
The loch is located at the Mulgoa Road entry to Glenmore Park.