The Campbells River is a general trout stream that holds some very large brown and rainbow trout. The river is fed by a number of smaller creeks that flow through local forests and farm land. The river fills Ben Chifley Dam and below the dam it flows into the Fish River at which point the two rivers form the Macquarie River.

The best public access is available at Swallows Nest Road (Mt David Rd) on the southern edge of Dog Rock State Forest. This stretch of river holds some very large brown trout.

Fly fishing in the warmer months with brown beetles, hoppers, royal wulf’s, red tags and ant patterns works well. Nymphs work well in the early and late season particularly after a little rain.

Using live grass hoppers as bait is an option when they are in large numbers along the river and fishing with lures also gets fish. Try small tassies, celters and rapala minnow imitations.

The river is often effected by drought, at times it only takes two months without good rain for the pools to become isolated from each. At times there are large dry stretches between stagnant pools.

Visit our maps page to find other access locations for streams that flow into the Campbells River.