ATF Murray River Brochure 2020_digital layout.indd 2 2 layout.indd layout.indd 2020_digital 2020_digital Brochure Brochure River River Murray Murray ATF ATF 25/10/2020 9:32:06 AM AM 9:32:06 9:32:06 25/10/2020 25/10/2020
Angling Regulations (Fisheries) The Murray River
The regulations listed here relate specifically to the Murray River The Murray River is the fourth largest river in the South West and it’s tributaries. A valid Freshwater Angling Licence (avail- with an average annual flow of 245 gigalitres. From headwaters able online from Fisheries) is required to fish for freshwater fish. in the wheatbelt the river flows west, crossing the Darling Range The licence fee covers a 12-month period from the date of issue. and Swan Coastal Plain to discharge into the Peel Estuary near Anglers under the age of 16 do not require a licence. There is no Mandurah. The two main upper tributaries are the Hotham and closed season on the Murray River. Williams Rivers which are too saline to be used for drinking Anglers may only use a single fishing rod and line or a single water. The other two main tributaries are the North and South hand-held line. The use of both lures and bait is permitted. Dandalup Rivers which combine before meeting the main river Landing net restrictions apply. Anglers may possess only a downstream of Pinjarra. These Dandalup rivers are both fresh short-handled (maximum 500mm) net within 50 m of the wa- and both have been dammed to supply drinking water. There terline of most dams and rivers all year round. The landing net are no dams on the main channel of the Murray River and from regulations are designed to protect the marron fishery for which the middle reaches down to the estuary the river flows all year. you need a separate licence and there is a restricted open season. While salinity is high in the upper catchment (where land has Trout Fishing on the More information is available on the Fisheries website. been cleared for agriculture) the river has lower salinity down- Bag and size limits stream of the confluence of the Hotham and Williams Rivers because the river flows mostly through state production forest Daily mixed species bag limit, per angler and the heavily forested Lane Poole Reserve. Trout can be found Murray River You may take four fish (combined) of the following species: from Pinjarra to the confluence of the Hotham and Williams • rainbow trout; Rivers but the best trout waters lie between the western edge of • brown trout; and the scarp through Lane Poole Reserve and upstream to where • freshwater cobbler. the river runs alongside the Harvey /Quindanning Rd. There is ‘Daily’ means from midnight to midnight. more than 70 kilometres of fishable water. Minimum size: The Murray was first stocked with trout in the 1890s when • Trout, rainbow and brown: 300 mm brown trout fry were variously sourced from the Preston hatch- • Other species (redfin perch): no size limit ery, Whitby Falls hatchery and the Canning hatchery. Fish smaller than the minimum size must be gently returned to In the 1930s brown and rainbow trout from the hatchery at the water immediately.There are no bag or size limits for other Pemberton were released into the river. Stocking was not a regu- freshwater fish.To help keep WA waters pest free, please thor- lar annual event for several decades but after 1968 rainbow trout oughly clean and dry all fishing and wading gear before fishing have been stocked in most years. There was a halt to stocking be- in another waterway. Pest species such as carp, goldfish, tilapia tween 2003-9 but since then both rainbow fry and yearlings have and other cichlids and redfin perch destroy habitat and prey on been stocked each year. Typically yearling fish are released into juvenile marron and native freshwater fish. It is recommend- the main river while fry are stocked into a number of small trib- ed that they are NOT returned to the water and are humanely utaries, although in recent years fry stocking has been confined euthanised, with dead fish NOT left on the shore. For more to Nanga and Cypress Brooks which still flow all year round. information visit the Fisheries website at: www.fish.wa.gov.au or download the recreational fishing guide at: www.fish.wa.gov.au/guide Please note that this is only a guide - Angling regulations change from time to time. It is important to check the Fisheries website to ensure you are familiar with the current regulations. The production of this brochure has been supported by community grant funding from Recfishwest Rainbow Trout
When to Fish Fishing Tips and Techniques Baits (e.g. PowerBait) are a good option for people who don’t want to handle live baits. There are two peak periods for fishing on the Murray River. The Stream and river fishing for trout is probably one of the most ex- Lures in the size range of 2 to 5cm are best, the easiest lures are first is in late autumn/early winter when the water tempera- citing forms of trout fishing. As your experience grows you will small floating or slowly sinking hard bodies. When casting these tures drop and the first rains flush down the main river and the begin to learn how to ’read the water’ and understand where fish lures it is recommended to vary the retrieve often; fast, slow, brooks. At this time fish that have been sheltering in shady deep- will prefer to sit in the river’s flow. In flowing water trout tend twitchy, steady and so on. Best approach is to keep moving along er holes of the river over summer become more active and will to face upstream into the current and often have a ‘preferred lie’ the bank and other structures casting and retrieving. Bladed move to rapids and riffles looking for food. Fish that are ready where they can sit out of the direct force of a strong current. This spinners and spoons can also be used to allow for longer casts. to spawn will move to the mouths of brooks and then move can be behind an obstruction like a rock, or log. Here a fish does Use lures that are natural colours (ie. green, brown, olive and upstream once there is a strong flow in the brook. They will con- not have to work so hard to maintain it’s position in the current black). gregate below obstacles such as rock bars and water falls. Later and can shoot out from their lie to grab passing food then return Trout also respond well to jigging soft plastics fished on weight- when the river floods with winter rains the Murray can rise by a to the same spot to wait for more food. Sometimes fish will also ed jig heads fished under logs and in fast flowing water. Also jig much as 4 metres and fishing is often difficult in the deep water sit in front of an obstruction where the water hitting the ob- deep holes, steep banks and rocky drop-offs and remember to and strong currents. Typically the river is turbid during floods struction forms a pillow of water that is not moving so strongly. vary your retrieve according to depth. and carries a lot of sediment. Fish move back to the main river Other favoured lies are under tree roots, undercut banks and the Fly fishing requires fly rods, lines, casting methods, and ‘flies’. at this time but can be difficult to find although they will push deep shade under overhanging trees. Your observation skills are Most fly fishers use a medium action 2.1- 2.4 m (7-8ft.) carbon up into backwaters and flooded shallows after dark. the key to success. Take the time to observe your surrounding fibre 4 – 6 weight fly rod with a weight-forward floating or Water levels can still be quite high in late winter /early spring, environment such as the insects in the streamside vegetation intermediate fly line The flies are hooks tied with artificial and but the fishing improves. The best time is spring to early sum- and the various creatures living on the river or stream bed. Trout natural fibres made to look like the wild food trout prey on. mer when there is still plenty of water flowing, the temperature will often lie in deeper water just downstream from a riffle or Upstream fly fishing using nymphs (weighted or unweighted) or of the water is still cold and the water is clear. When the height rapid where the strong currents dislodge small animals from the wet flies can be very effective casting upstream, using good line of the river is less than 11metres at Baden Powell the river is bottom and they then drift down to the waiting trout. The drift control to watch the end of the fly line, or an indicator anywhere perfect for wading and crossing the river at rapids is relatively below riffles and rapids typically forms what is known as a ‘bub- along the leader (could also help to govern the depth of the fly easy. The height at Baden Powell is measured by a telemetered ble or foam line’ and fish often lie directly in these seams. through its drift). Another popular option is to fish a streamer logger and is available online at: https://kumina.water.wa.gov.au/ Look for signs such as fish rising to take food on or near the sur- fly across and down. It is important to keep good contact with waterinformation/telem/stage.cfm face. Polarised sunglasses are very helpful for spotting fish lying your flies at all times and to work a consistent line length, cover- As water levels continue to drop in summer fish become much below the surface (amber is the best colour). ing all the likely positions in a stream where a fish may be lying. harder to find but some will congregate at the mouths of brooks Trout are opportunistic and eat a range of insects, crustaceans, Popular flies include streamers such as Woolly Bugger, Mrs where colder freshwater is still flowing into the river. small fish, worms and amphibians. The fish will be where the Simpson, Craigs Night-time, Fuzzy Wuzzy, Matuka, dry flies food is. The four main areas to concentrate on are: such as ant, caddis and hopper patterns and small bead head • the headwater and channels of fast flowing rapids; nymphs in olive or black colours. • river bends, behind rocky outcrops and timbered structures; Fishing from a kayak or canoe can work well on the river using • grassy flooded river banks; and all of the techniques above, but be aware that the Murray River • in summer where the cold water from streams join the river. can be dangerous when in flood during the winter months, par- Try and fish on overcast days to avoid casting a shadow on the ticulary through the gorges in Lane Poole Reserve. water, and wear clothing that blends with the environment. In winter when the river flows strongly adult fish will look to For bait and lure fishing all you need is a good quality 1.8 – move upstream into the brooks looking for spawning sites. As 2.1m, 2 - 4-kg spinning rod matched with a 1000 or 2500 sized water levels drop in spring most trout return to the river from reel. Use 2.7 – 3.6 kg braid line with a similar weight fluorocar- the steams and will be hungry. September through November bon leader. are the peak months for fishing on the river when levels make For bait fishing, attach a light weight sinker (or split-shot) with access easy and flow and water temperatures are optimal. In a 40 - 50 cm leader coming off a small swivel and a size 6 or 8 summer fish can be hard to find as they retreat to deeper water. hook drifted down with the current works well. For lure fishing, a similar outfit can be used – just tie your lure straight to your This is the second in a series of brochures the ATF is developing leader or attach a small snap swivel between.Live baits such as on where to fish for trout in the SW. If you would like to see earth worms, mud eyes and grasshoppers are ideal bait when more of these brochures then consider joining the ATF: fished on a pattern and size of hook that suits the bait. Dough printed in October 2020 https://atfonline.com.au/home/page/membership
Scarp Pool Scarp
flows through steep sided hills and there are many rapids. Fish Fish rapids. many are there and hills sided steep through flows
of small trout. trout. small of
access to the river at many places along this track. The river river The track. this along places many at river the to access
support a permanent population population permanent a support
enthusiasts. enthusiasts.
The track is very popular with 4WD 4WD with popular very is track The There is good good is There
year round and these brooks brooks these and round year
come very boggy. It is sometimes closed over the winter months. months. winter the over closed sometimes is It boggy. very come
each year because they flow all all flow they because year each
- be can track the months winter the during and rutted deeply is
are currently stocked with fry fry with stocked currently are
4WD with low range as there are many sections where the track track the where sections many are there as range low with 4WD
Nanga Brook and Cypress Brook Brook Cypress and Brook Nanga
Quindanning Rd. The road is only suitable for high clearance clearance high for suitable only is road The Rd. Quindanning
most no longer receive fish because they dry over summer. summer. over dry they because fish receive longer no most
for about 35km before joining the Harvey Harvey the joining before 35km about for
In the past quite a few of the brooks were stocked with fry but but fry with stocked were brooks the of few a quite past the In
Rd. It crosses Big Brook and then continues alongside the river river the alongside continues then and Brook Big crosses It Rd.
are attracted to the colder water. water. colder the to attracted are
The northern end of the Fawcett Track can be accessed off Nanga Nanga off accessed be can Track Fawcett the of end northern The
be found at the mouths of any brooks that are still flowing as fish fish as flowing still are that brooks any of mouths the at found be
Fawcett Track Fawcett
main river and the water temperature start to rise, fish can often often can fish rise, to start temperature water the and river main
Lane Poole Reserve, from Big Brook to end of of end to Brook Big from Reserve, Poole Lane
looking for suitable spawning sites. When water levels fall in the the in fall levels water When sites. spawning suitable for looking
pools and is not likely to hold many fish. many hold to likely not is and pools freshwater down the brooks draws fish up out of the main river river main the of out up fish draws brooks the down freshwater
from the mouth of Big Brook This section is mostly long shallow shallow long mostly is section This Brook Big of mouth the from are worth fishing at the onset of winter when the flush of cold cold of flush the when winter of onset the at fishing worth are
the landholders. the
are low starting at Yarragil and walking upstream, or downstream downstream or upstream, walking and Yarragil at starting low are There are many tributary brooks that are worth exploring. Brooks Brooks exploring. worth are that brooks tributary many are There
property on the northern bank but permission is required from from required is permission but bank northern the on property
the river for several kilometres particularly when the river levels levels river the when particularly kilometres several for river the
entrance to the Reserve the river is accessible through private private through accessible is river the Reserve the to entrance
Tributary Brooks Tributary
fire line road but it is closed to vehicles. You can walk alongside alongside walk can You vehicles. to closed is it but road line fire
river is low. Anglers need to be fit and experienced. Near the the Near experienced. and fit be to need Anglers low. is river
Upstream of Yarragil there is limited access to the river.There is a a is river.There the to access limited is there Yarragil of Upstream
only be reached by walking upstream from Scarp Pool when the the when Pool Scarp from upstream walking by reached be only
Lane Poole Reserve, from Yarragil to Big Brook Big to Yarragil from Reserve, Poole Lane many rapids and deep shady pools hold very good fish but can can but fish good very hold pools shady deep and rapids many
sided gorge. There is a track but it is closed to vehicles. Here the the Here vehicles. to closed is it but track a is There gorge. sided
access is limited. The river flows through a heavily forested steep steep forested heavily a through flows river The limited. is access
Bob’s Crossing Bob’s
T his section flows mostly through the Lane Poole Reserve but but Reserve Poole Lane the through mostly flows section his
Scarp Pool to the entrance to Lane Poole Reserve Poole Lane to entrance the to Pool Scarp
there are many fallen trees and logs blocking the river. the blocking logs and trees fallen many are there
Kayaking upstream of Pinjarra is not recommended because because recommended not is Pinjarra of upstream Kayaking
the river. the
always ask permission before crossing private property to reach reach to property private crossing before permission ask always
banks makes fishing from the banks difficult. Remember to Remember difficult. banks the from fishing makes banks
is limited to several bridges and the thick vegetation along the the along vegetation thick the and bridges several to limited is
There is a public right of way along most of the river but access access but river the of most along way of right public a is There
farmland all the way to Pinjarra (25km). (25km). Pinjarra to way the all farmland
fenced private land on both sides of the river. river. the of sides both on land private fenced
pool
On the Swan coastal plain the thick forest gives way to private private to way gives forest thick the plain coastal Swan the On
is limited unless river levels are low. Further upstream there is is there upstream Further low. are levels river unless limited is
fish. Target spots where water flows over a rapid and into a deeper deeper a into and rapid a over flows water where spots Target fish.
glers. The pools below the many rapids can hold very good fish. fish. good very hold can rapids many the below pools The glers.
the river at Long Gully Rd but that no longer exists so access access so exists longer no that but Rd Gully Long at river the
and Nanga Brook but any stretch of the river here can produce produce can here river the of stretch any but Brook Nanga and
- an experienced and fit to suited only is and forested heavily and
reserve, but the banks have thick bush. There was a bridge over over bridge a was There bush. thick have banks the but reserve,
clude Tom’s Crossing, Bob’s Crossing, Baden Powell, Island Pool Pool Island Powell, Baden Crossing, Bob’s Crossing, Tom’s clude
into the gorges from Scarp Pool but the country is steep, rugged rugged steep, is country the but Pool Scarp from gorges the into
swamps. Access is possible where the river passes through the the through passes river the where possible is Access swamps.
- in fishing for Hotspots suitable. are levels water when kayakers
when water levels fall, it is possible to walk some distance down down distance some walk to possible is it fall, levels water when
with multiple channels flowing through paperbark and tea tree tree tea and paperbark through flowing channels multiple with
popular with school groups and there are often large groups of of groups large often are there and groups school with popular
this section of the river can be very dangerous. In late spring spring late In dangerous. very be can river the of section this
the river changes character, becoming shallower and broader broader and shallower becoming character, changes river the
benches, barbecues, and walk trails. The campgrounds are very very are campgrounds The trails. walk and barbecues, benches,
and access is very difficult. In winter when river flows are high high are flows river when winter In difficult. very is access and
The Harvey Quindanning Rd follows the river upstream and here here and upstream river the follows Rd Quindanning Harvey The
are also many facilities including campgrounds, toilets, picnic picnic toilets, campgrounds, including facilities many also are
and emerges onto the Swan coastal plain. The gorges are rugged rugged are gorges The plain. coastal Swan the onto emerges and
and Williams Rivers Williams and
both sides of the river which are suitable for 2WD vehicles. There There vehicles. 2WD for suitable are which river the of sides both
through a series of rocky gorges as it falls down from the scarp scarp the from down falls it as gorges rocky of series a through
End of Fawcett Track to confluence of the Hotham Hotham the of confluence to Track Fawcett of End
ends and holidays when it can be very busy. There are roads on on roads are There busy. very be can it when holidays and ends
Downstream of Scarp Pool the Murray River runs some 10 km km 10 some runs River Murray the Pool Scarp of Downstream
months when fish need refuges from the heat. the from refuges need fish when months - week on especially visitors, with popular most the is and river
plenty of good habitat including deep shady pools in the summer summer the in pools shady deep including habitat good of plenty T his section of the Reserve has many easy access points to the the to points access easy many has Reserve the of section his Pinjarra to Scarp Pool Scarp to Pinjarra
stocks in this section of the river are not well known but there is is there but known well not are river the of section this in stocks
Where to Fish to Where
Lane Poole Reserve, from entrance to Yarragil to entrance from Reserve, Poole Lane
HARVEY QUINNDANNING RD QUINNDANNING HARVEY
5
10 KM 10
HARVEY QUINNDANNING RD QUINNDANNING HARVEY
Murray River Murray
Hotham River Hotham
Murray River Murray
Long gully brook gully Long
LOWER HOTHAM RD HOTHAM LOWER
SOUTH WESTERN HWY WESTERN SOUTH
Snake Creek Snake
Big brook Big
Long gully brook gully Long
Murray River Murray
4
Hotham River Hotham
NANGA RD NANGA
NANGA BROOK RD BROOK NANGA
MCDOWELL ST MCDOWELL
Waroona
PINJARRA WILLIAMS RD WILLIAMS PINJARRA
NANGA BROOK RD BROOK NANGA
Yarragil brook Yarragil
3 brook Nanga
Cypress Brook Cypress
Swamp Oak brook Oak Swamp Murray River Murray
1
2
SOUTH WESTERN HWY WESTERN SOUTH
NANGA RD NANGA
5
SCARP RD SCARP Fawcett Track junction Track Fawcett
Reserve
PINJARRA WILLIAMS RD WILLIAMS PINJARRA
Lane Poole Poole Lane Dwellingup 4
Big Brook Big Marrinup Brook Marrinup
4WD Track 4WD
3
Yarragil Fawcett Murray River Murray
2
Entrance to Lane Poole Reserve Poole Lane to Entrance Gravel Road Gravel
PINJARRA WILLIAMS RD WILLIAMS PINJARRA
1
Sealed Road Sealed Scarp Pool Scarp
Legend DEL PARK RD PARK DEL Pinjarra
ATF Murray River Brochure 2020_digital layout.indd 1 25/10/2020 9:32:04 AM