The area around Lake Burragorang is closed to the public to protect Sydney’s Water Supply. Public access and fishing are not permitted. There is a 3km exclusion zone around the entire lake. The viewing area at Warragamba Dam recently reopened. It offers great views of the dam wall and lake.

The Dam is known to hold eels, carp, trout, macquarie perch, catfish, goldfish and possibly redfin.

Spawning trout run into the lower Cox’s and Kowmung Rivers in most years if there are good inflows. These trout tend to spawn between May until October depending on the rainfall and temperatures. However only experienced walkers (or those travelling with a professional bushwalking guide or trip leader) should attempt to access these fishing spots.

It is at least a full days walk into these rivers (over night camping is essential) and winter temperatures can reach minus 10 degrees Celsius. A sat phone or EPIRB is essential equipment, along with quality warm clothing, a lightweight fuel stove, snow rated sleeping bag and appropriate first aid supplies.

Please contact a professional fishing and bushwalking guide for advice before embarking on such a trip. A guide can give you advice on what equipment you will need and give you details of where, when and how to fish.

When the dam spills fish often head over with the water. Very large trout are often caught as far downstream as Richmond following a spill.

Warragamba Dam Facts From Sydney Catchment Authority

•Height: 142 metres
•Length: 351 metres
•Thickness at base: 104 metres
•Width of central spillway: 94.5 metres
•Volume of concrete: 3 million tonnes
•Width of auxiliary spillway (at mouth): 190 metres
•Length of auxiliary spillway: 700 metres

Lake Burragorang
•Capacity: 2,031,000 megalitres
•Area: 75 square kilometres
•Length of lake: 52 kilometres
•Length of foreshores: 354 kilometres
•Maximum depth: 105 metres

Catchment
•Area: 9,051 square kilometres
•Average annual rainfall: 840 millimetres

Pipelines
•Diameter: 2,100/3,000mmm
•Length: 27 km each
•Capacity: 2,600 megalitres per day

Other info
http://www.sca.nsw.gov.au/water/visit/warragamba-dam
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warragamba_Dam