Lake Mulwala / Yarrawonga Weir. Yarrawonga. NSW / Vic Border
LAKE
Mulwala was created by the building of the Yarrawonga
Weir across the Murray River in 1939.
It was built primarily for for irrigation on NSW &
Victoria sides of the border.
Lake Mulwala has a holding capacity of 117 500 mega-litres
and covers some 4400 hectares when full.
The embankment is 271 meters long, seven (7) meters
highand eight (8) meters wide at its base.
Lake
Mulwala is probably Australia's most productive Murray
Cod fishery.
Structure in the form of standing and fallen timber
offers a multitude of ambush locations and breeding
sites, enough so that the Murray Cod population here
is self sustaining, a rarity for Murray Cod to do
in any dam / lake situation.
Neil
Slater's Slant on Mulwala
Lake
Mulwala is one of the best places on the Murray River to
catch a Murray cod. The cod population is fantastic, but
a lot more sub 60cm fish are taken than those over that
length. Cod exceeding 1 meter are taken each year, but catch
and release is encouraged - especially for larger fish.
Golden perch also inhabit the lake, but anglers captures
are often dominated by cod. GP's can exceed 4kg, but average
closer to 1.5kg and respond to all methods of fishing.
Here's
the few possies I've fished a lot:
The
'yellow trail' is a smaller tributary of the Murray that
heads almost directly to Kyffins reserve boat ramp from
'the horseshoe'. It is 'reasonably' clearly marked with
yellow paint and a few buoys at the horseshoe and red and
green paint on the trunks of the dead trees as you get deeper
into it. The yellow trail is about 3 - 5m deep.
Kyffins
Reserve has very good lure casting with plenty of submerged
timber.
The
horseshoe, which is a very popular trolling possie, and
other sections of the lake that are the old Murray river
bed are often lined with the largest dead river red gums
while the smaller tributaries have smaller trees (not always
- just a guide).
The
old river bed can exceed 10 meters and, generally, amongst
the stumps (which can provide good lure casting drifting
amongst them) is from 2.5 to 4 meters, but real shear pin
territory with tree trunks from 200mm to close to a meter
in diameter only a few centimetres under the water.
The
cleared section closer to the wall (marked on the southern
angler map) actually has an absolute NEST of logs lining
the lake bed and still offers good trolling/lure casting
for medium cod to 65cm when the skiers aren't there. The
old river bed snakes through here, but it is very hard to
follow as there are no trees lining its banks to guide you.
Most
of the largest cod (15kg plus) are taken in the deeper sections
by trolling lures or bait fishing and the more shallow areas
can have greater populations of cod from 200mm to 65cm.
The use of surface lures and flies for cod is very popular
when the weather is warmest (Feb.). Just pick an area where
the water is relatively shallow (3 - 4m max) and/or has
good cover nearby cover such as willow trees or heavy sub
surface timber.
The lake has a good population of golden perch that will
take the largest size lures intended for cod on occasions.
Best sinking flies are those with a strong mono weed guard
to fend off the logs. Dahlberg Divers can be dynamite when
the cod are on the surface lures just on dusk or dawn.
There
are many lures that take cod and goldens in lake Mulwala
and to try and mention them all would take forever. Most
good cod lures dive deep, are relatively large (8-150cm))
and have a wide slow action. Spinnerbaits have enjoyed good
success for lure casters as have smaller, wide bodied deep
diving lures often used for golden perch.
The
lake has a big population of carp, but numbers have dropped
over the last 10 or so years. Most accessible banks on the
lake are very good for land based bait fishing with many
of them giving access to the old Murray river bed and 10
meters of water eg: Hogan's Lane boat ramp.
Shrimp can easily be trapped in the shallows with a collapsible
bait trap baited with either chop fat, bacon fat, gum leaves
or bread if you have none of the above.
Bardi grubs are best for cod and tinned corn kernels will
see you entertained with carp.
Small yabbies, worms or shrimp will take all fish in the
lake.
A
NSW Recreational Fishing Licence is required to fish at
Lake Mulwala. You can purchase them online HERE.
