by Corey Gallagher •
Winter can be a tricky time of year to catch a fish here in Victoria. Cold water temperatures can see fish almost completely shut down in the estuaries. Combined with freezing conditions on the water, finding the motivation to drag yourself out of bed can be difficult. For those in the know, the spoils are there for the taking.
Inland freshwater lakes come into their own at this time of year, particularly those stocked with brown and rainbow trout. Trout love the cool water and will become more active and move up into the shallows when the water is at its coolest.
Lake Wendouree has long been a favourite freshwater destination of mine. Growing up in the city of Ballarat I was always aware of the lake’s potential to produce trophy-size browns and rainbows. It wasn’t until I moved away from Ballarat in my adult years that I began to regularly fish there as a winter option.
Access
Lake Wendouree is located in the centre of Ballarat in central Victoria. Potentially kayak anglers can launch almost anywhere around the lake’s 6km of shoreline, but I prefer to make use of one of boat ramps scattered around the lake. This is a more suitable option for those with larger kayaks like the Hobie Mirage Pro Angler. The main ramps are located at Durham Point, the Ballarat Yacht Club and St Patricks Point.
Target Species
Trout – both rainbow and brown – are without a doubt the main drawcard enticing anglers to Lake Wendouree. The lake has been heavily stocked since it recovered from several years of severe drought, which left Wendouree bone-dry for several years. Each year it receives around 6000 trout from the local hatchery plus Fisheries Victoria contributions. Redfin have also flourished in Wendouree and solid fish in the high 40s are regularly landed.
Methods AND Techniques
Lake Wendouree is shallow and full of weed, to the point where weed cutters are constantly required to keep it at bay. Thick weed certainly creates its challenges for anglers, particularly those wanting to cast and retrieve lures. If tackled with appropriate techniques, the rewards are there for the taking. When considering techniques to effectively target Lake Wendouree trout and redfin the angler must consider the weed first and foremost.
A major feature of Lake Wendouree is the 2000m Olympic rowing course that dissects the centre of the lake. Several years ago the rowing course was dredged creating the deepest water in Wendouree and although still relatively shallow at 2m it is here that anglers can freely cast and retrieve lures without snagging up on the thick weed.
The rowing course is also lined by extensive reed edges that create lots of small nooks and crannies, offering even more bait and fish holding structure. Finding areas of the lake relatively free of weed is not just limited to the rowing course.
Areas recently cleared by the weed cutter are excellent for two reasons; first, the weed is cut allowing for lures to be worked over the top and secondly the bait will be stirred up by the cutting process, drawing in the larger predatory trout and redfin.
Lure selection is critical at Wendouree. Shallow diving minnows such as Nories Laydown Minnows and Daiwa Presso Minnows are a standout at the lake. They can be worked over the top of weed beds avoiding the hook-clogging weed. Colours, as always, are another important consideration when choosing a lure. Golds in a variety of shades have always been a winner at Wendouree, as well as natural baitfish, perch and trout patterns.
Trolling shallow diving hardbodied lures along the rowing course, focusing on the reed edges and weedy sections is a great way to locate the fish. Once located, I’ll switch to casting lures. This allows me to really work an area making sure I give myself every chance to hook and fish in the area.
When casting I like to use a slow roll retrieve mixed up with a few twitches here and there. Trout rarely hit a stationary lure, so keep it moving. Often the trout will follow your lure all the way back to the kayak before smashing the lure at your feet amd making for some very exciting fishing.
Bent Minnows are another very productive way to fish Lake Wendouree, particularly during periods of low light such as dawn or dusk. Bent Minnows are a surface and sub-surface lure that can be worked erratically with a low rod tip which will allow the lure to dive down 10-15cm below the surface. Pausing the lure will then see it slowly rise back to the surface.
Bents can also be worked more subtly with a high rod tip, which will keep the lure on the surface. Both methods are an excellent way to stay clear of the weed and open up large areas of the lake that are unfishable with any other method.
Areas of the lake recently cleared of weed are also well worth a look. Look for areas where the weed cutter is working. As it moves through the lake it stirs up the baitfish and insect larvae that the trout and redfin love to feed on. Predatory fish will move into these areas in search of an easy feed. Casting both shallow divers and surface lures in these areas can be very productive.
Safety
Lake Wendouree is a popular and well-used waterway with both fishers and recreational users such as rowers. It is well advised to wear highly visible clothing, particularly during times of low light, to ensure you can easily be seen by water traffic. If you’re fishing in the rowing lanes, keep an eye out for rowers and lane marker cables to avoid a collision or damaging to your propulsion drive unit.
Ballarat can get very cold during the winter months; sub-zero temperatures during early morning are not uncommon. Wearing good quality dry pants and a waterproof jacket can go a long way to keeping you warm. Thermals are also recommended on those chilly Ballarat mornings.
Conclusion
Variety is the spice of life and if, like me, you spend most of your time in the saltwater estuaries chasing bream, perch and mulloway, winter is the perfect time of year to turn your attention to the fresh. Lake Wendouree is a perfect candidate for kayak anglers looking to chase trout and redfin.
Its relatively small size means the entire lake can be accessed from the one launch site and your kayak’s ability to enter shallow water makes it the perfect craft to navigate Wendouree’s extensive weed beds. Ballarat’s central location and close proximity to Melbourne and Geelong also make it an easy short day trip for most. If you’re looking for a few trout to throw in this smoker look no further than Lake Wendouree, a great little lake with plenty to offer.
