Construction
Date: 1984 River System: Cudgegong River Capacity: 368 000 Mega litres Surface Area: 1 030 hectares Maximum Depth: 55 meters Average Depth: 20 meters
Fishing
Lake Windamere has been well stocked over the years with golden
perch, Murray cod, and silver perch.
Catfish also call the dam home, but they were indigenous to the
Cudgegong River prior to the dam's construction. Rainbow and brown
trout were also liberated into Windamere in 1984, but this stocking
attempt failed due basically to the high water temperatures during
the summer months. Trout can be caught up in the Cudgegong River,
but you do need to access these areas by foot because your boat
would not get you to the areas where the trout are present. Rainbow
and brown trout can be accessed down stream of the dam, and some
exceptional fishing can be had in this area at times. However
Windamere is better known as a native species fishery, and a very
good one at that. Fortunately European carp and Redfin have not
found their way into Windamere. The occasional goldfish may be
swimming around in the dam, but do not confuse them with carp.
The goldfish basically do not do any harm, but if you do happen
to catch one dispatch it away from the water just as you would
carp or Redfin.
An
occasional Freshwater Blackfish is also caught in Windamere Dam.
Boating
Lake Windamere is open to all boating activities.
With the except for an exclusion zone around the dam wall, there
are no restrictions.
Boat ramp provided at Cudgegong Waters Park. There is a coin operated
gate to access the boat ramp.
Camping
Camping is permitted at Lake Windamere.
Hotel
/ Motel available in Mudgee & Rylstone. See Accommodation
page for details.
