Craigbourne Dam, Tasmania - A popular trout fishing venue

by Carl Hyland on 10 Oct 2011 The 24 m high concrete Craigbourne Dam was constructed across the Coal River in 1986 to provide irrigation water for the rural districts of Campania and Richmond. While it cannot compare to the highland lakes, it is located less than 1 hour from Hobart and has become a very popular trout fishing venue. The area around Craigbourne is grassy undulating farmland is used extensively for grazing and crop as well as stone fruit production.

The verges of Craigbourne are flat in most places with grassy banks creeping right to water’s edge but in other spots, shaly ironstone and muddy clay banks feature. These are often undercut by extreme winter wave action. At the northern end of the lake (Brandy Bottom) siltation occurs but the area is relatively sheltered from exposed weather and is a great safe haven when Northerly storms are about. Occasionally, Craigbourne Dam suffers from spells of blue /green algae and this phenomenon first occurred in 1997 where warnings were issued by health authorities, banning the taking of fish and the drinking/exposure to this water. Now and then, we still see toxic algae blooms but this problem seems to have settled.

In past summers such has the drawdown been on this Lake for irrigation , it has near been emptied and this necessitated the removal of fish to other waterways. Luckily, seasonal rains have filled this water to the point of spillover, so all looks good for the coming seasons.

Craigbourne is stocked with all species of fish and you will note from the stocking sheet, that large fish are regularly placed into this water. The nearby city of Haobart and its anglers put tremendous pressure on this water, so the I.F.S have increased their stocking regime to ensure there are fish for all.

I have found the Brandy Bottom end of Craigbourne to be most productive, especially during early spring, where big rainbows and brown trout congregate at the mouth of the Coal River chasing minute redfin perch and other fish.

A wet fly in a red/black matuka pattern will often fool these fish or perhaps a spoon or trolled minnow will also do the job.

On the numerous times I have visted Craigbourne, I have found that the most productive method for taking fish, is fishing with artificial lures from shore. Sure a boat will get you on the water, but speaking frankly, I really do find shore based angling to be the best method and this can be backed up with my catch rates, plus the catch rates of others.