Freshwater FIshing with Kim Bain BassBass && PerchPerch FromFrom BoondoomBoondoomaa Part 6 in our series on freshwater impoundments & rivers, written and photographed by Kim (and Steve) Bain

hen driving north-west into My first experiences with this WQueensland’s rural outback, impoundment were in early 2000 when you will find a beautiful body of the Humminbird Pro-Bass circuit first water called Dam. visited the dam. Boondooma is an ideal destination During the event sixty-eight anglers for anglers, boaters or holiday flocked to the impoundment and makers who are looking for a landed 263 tournament scoring bass getaway of a few days duration, or over one and a half day’s of angling. even a week to escape the hustle and That figure made it the most bustle of the city. productive dam ever to stage an event. I’d rate Boondooma as the best bass You’ll be pleased to note that the and golden perch fishery in 2000/2001 Pro-Bass circuit event , and a dam that should go revisited Boondooma during the 21/22 onto your ‘must fish’ list. October weekend and an even better result was posted. Not just with bass, Background Boondooma Dam is but also golden perch (which are great situated 20 km north-west of in fun but do not score points for the south- east Queensland, ,and is open to tournaments). This time, 83 anglers all forms of boating. With a capacity of caught 314 scoring bass for a new all 212,000 ml, it is one of the larger dams time record. that we have covered in this Over the day and a half event, well Queensland impoundment series. It has over 400 bass and at least 700 a surface area of 1,920 hectares Above: The author with a 42cm Yellowbelly were caught by cast and (making it approximately half the size Boondooma bass taken during a retrieve anglers and they were all of ), and was built in Pro-Bass Circuit event early in returned alive. I personally landed at 1983 for irrigation purposes and the 2000. least a dozen good sized yellowbelly local power station. Left Top: The boat ramp at the and about an equal number of bass It is an attractive dam that divides DNR camping grounds. If you over the weekend and I know from into two arms, which are created by the camp and launch here you can campsite chatter that many of my Boyne, and Stuart River systems that leave your boat on the foreshore friends caught the same numbers of merge into the impoundment. Both in front of your tent. goldens, if not more. rivers and the dam’s various little Left Centre: A very happy Boondooma Dam has been stocked creeks are heavily timbered and offer Australian Bass tournament with Australian bass, barramundi, great fishing. In contrast the main body competitor with this Boondooma golden perch, Murray cod, saratoga consists of mainly open water with a thumper. and silver perch. In the past twelve few rocky islands that also hold good years, over 200,000 bass fingerlings concentrations of fish. Your quest for islands, shorelines, rocky points, have been stocked into the dam by the fishing action should include targeting timber and even schooled fish in deep Boondooma Dam Fish Stocking and fish around weedbeds, steep banks, water. Management Association. Golden

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