Lake MacDonald, Cooroy

[Gigantor]

Heading to Lake Mac for the first time and would appreciate advice on better locations, and lures/colours to try thanks?

I'm aware it's known for Bass and MR Cod.

Any tips/advice would be greatly appreciated thanks.

Cheers, Pete

[Pistol_P]

Mate I honestly would pack your gear and head to Borumba instead.

Lake Macdonald hasnt recovered from the big floods we had and many Bass went over the wall and many later died.
The lake is fishing very badly with some blokes I know (who the know the lake better than anyone) fishing for 5 hours without a touch.

Sorry for the bad news.

Pete

[fishytales]

Mate I honestly would pack your gear and head to Borumba instead.

Lake Macdonald hasnt recovered from the big floods we had and many Bass went over the wall and many later died.
The lake is fishing very badly with some blokes I know (who the know the lake better than anyone) fishing for 5 hours without a touch.

Sorry for the bad news.

Pete

I didn't want to hear that either. I have an invite to the Hobie Bash ( Hobie Kayakers have an annual comp up there every year and its coming up this weekend. Thanks for the heads up.
Maybe I will give it a miss and head to NPD for some land based action.

Chris

[angler1]

sure is a no go at the moment talked to a local bait fisher and he said they couldn't even raise a scale.(usually hooking up to 30-40 in a session)

angler1

[tiges]

Pete's right, it's pretty ordinary. I've been out about 5 or 6 times since the floods, and have only caught 1 yella and 1 bass. First 4 times I went out, did not get a touch, and did not see a single fish on the sounder. Have since found a few scattered shows here and there, but no real activity. But compared to pre-flood numbers, needle in a haystack stuff. Looks like it's gunna be a long recovery, more so probably yrs than mths.

[nipsta]

went to lake mac on saturday for one little bass only scattered showings on sounder but very few and far between also think water quialty looking like a cup of tea so might have something to do with it as well

[Bud-dy]

Did anyone get out to Lake MacDonald and catch anything over the weekend or in the last couple of weeks ??

[fish_on]

there is no fish go to borumba. plenty of toga up there wheezer and crew smashed over the weekend

[Gigantor]

Pistol,

Yep that was the situ alright. I was also up there for the annual Hobie Bass Bash. Only aware of about 6 to 8 fish in total being caught over the week end. Saw a few on the sounder but had nothing in the lure boxes that could interest them. Yeah the water colour was really dark.

Thanks,

Pete

[Bud-dy]

fish_on how can you say there is NO fish in the lake ??
With over 300000 being put in there in the last 9 years I'm sure that that many didn't go over the wall.
Paul

[nuggstar]

you. be saprised how many there was going over that spill way, i dont think it will ever be the same, the place have gorn from bass heaven to bass hell. go barumba dont wast ya time

[fish_on]

oh paul you miss the point mate. of course there is going to be some fish in there. ive had count less people come in saying they cant raise a dirty bass scale and borumba is on fire. dont panic mate less people fishing it the better it is for you

[angler1]

talking to one of the local blokes in the stocking group today and he tells me that they are releasing 30,000 bass fingerlings tomorrow into the dam.

[Leigh77]

talking to one of the local blokes in the stocking group today and he tells me that they are releasing 30,000 bass fingerlings tomorrow into the dam.

Its always good to here about a fingerling release...but dont get too excited about this one, it will take a few years before we see the benefits.

[Bud-dy]

No Fish_on you miss the point everytime someone says there is no fish in the dam other ausfishers read that and decide to go to Borumba or elsewhere and then when it is time to renew there SIP they don't tick Lake MacDonald which in turn means less money for the stocking group which means the stocking group won't be able to purchase any fingerlings. I have personnally seen it happen.
SO it won't be better for me or for anybody.
Personnally I take it as a challenge to go to the Lake and try to catch a bass or two and just because I don't doesn't mean there are no fish in the lake just means I have to try harder to do this. Plus being electric only and with the amount of nature around the foreshore I consider it a bonus to catch anything ( it is just a peaceful/relaxing place to be on the water )
Paul