Located
39km south west of Ravenshoe is one of Queensland's
best kept sweetwater secrets.
Koombooloomba Dam was constructed in 1961 on the Tully
River system for hydroelectric power generation. It
has a surface area of 1550 hectares, has an average
depth of 12.9 meters and holds some 200 700 mega-litres
of water when full.
Road
and conditions: Tully Falls Road. 39km from Ravenshoe
to the dam. First 10/15km is a leasurely drive through
bushland and residents, on a good bitumen road. Next
7/8 is driving through heavy dense rainforest on a windy,
wet bitumen road. Thick fog will always be encountered,
so light on low beam, NOT HIGH. Drive carefully through
here. Remaining road is dirt and only needs any more
then an inch of rain to turn the road into a hazard.
Again, fog is a problem. Fallen trees can be a problem
also, so bring a rope to tow it off the road.
Facilities: Self Composting toilets, single lane
boat ramp. Small craft can be transfered onto water
with ease. Mates and i have also built a BBQ near the
bare batch around the toilets. Great camping spot. Well
grassed and
maintained.
Boating: Single dirt ramp, but as i said, small
craft can be on water with ease. No speed limit, and
no restrictions. If ski-ing, or fishing, be carefull
around the timbered area's of Koombooloomba - these
area's are just as dangerous overhead as they are under
the boat, so dont go raging into the place.
Fish: Sooty Grunter, Barramundi, Spangled Perch,
Redclaw, Sleepy Cod, and the very few and far between
Saratoga.
Koombooloomba Dam is also home to the quite rare Lake
Eacham Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia eachamensis).
Lures/techniques:
Barra will take lures and livebaits. Sooties will also
take lures and a variety meaty baits (ox-heart). Best
to bring a wide range of lures for the Sooties, shallow
runners and spinnerbaits are tops. For the barra, id
stick to the bombers and 'the usual' (Rob Gaden's, Vipers
blah blah blah). Use your sounder for depth readings...
some of the timbered area's can trick you with depth.
Some spots in the place are mighty deep, and some are
mighty shallow.
Notes: Dam surrounded by Rainforest. Extremely
clear water, so bright lures will work a treat. Plenty
of timber at the tail end of the dam, and plenty of
rocky outbreaks towards the wall end. Water levels can
vary, of course Koomba' is for hydro purposes and the
dam must always be flowing out for the Tully River,
but levels can change quick. Biggest thing to note,
would be the road. Get reports from Rangers of locals
first, then have a go. If your towing a boat and trailer,
take care. If your towing a caravan, then best to get
it airlifted into the place. you will have a nightmare.
Theo
Davis
