Fishing – High Country
The great rivers and mountain streams of Victoria's high country offer fishing enthusiasts many opportunities to cast a line. Wangaratta is the southern gateway to this pristine trout territory and the beginning of the Great Alpine Road, a scenic touring route that follows the Ovens River for almost its entire course.
For easy access to superb fly-fishing, head to the Ovens River between Myrtleford and Harrietville. The river has a myriad of tributaries for anglers to explore, including the Buffalo River (particularly beautiful and productive above Lake Buffalo), Buckland River, German Creek, and Morse's Creek (where good-sized trout are occasionally taken at its junction with the Ovens River). Also known as the Bright Pool, this junction is a popular destination for swimmers on a hot day.
East of the Great Alpine Road is the Kiewa River, another famous catchment for fly-fishing enthusiasts that is accessible from the Kiewa Valley Highway. In the summer months, head to the productive and popular stretch of the river between Mount Beauty and Mongan's Bridge.
For anglers keen on alpine lake fishing, two of Australia's finest (and highest) trout fishing lakes are Rocky Valley Reservoir and the smaller Pretty Valley Reservoir, both near Falls Creek. These lakes produce excellent bait and lure fishing when conditions are right, which is most of the time during high summer.
The lower Mitta Mitta River is one of Victoria's premier tailrace trout fisheries and Lake Dartmouth is home to some very large fish, including brown trout and rainbow trout. In summer, the nearby Snowy Creek and Little Snowy Creek can also produce good results.
Closer to Melbourne a network of well-stocked streams and rivers, as well as the calm waters of Lake Eildon and the Eildon Pondage, provide anglers with opportunities to snare brown or rainbow trout. Enjoy the challenge of fishing various types of river - from Mountain Freestone like the Rubicon, Big and Jamieson, Howqua and the Delatite to meadow stream rivers such as the Acheron and Taggerty and a mighty tailrace river in the Goulburn.
Note: Some access restrictions remain due to the recent bushfires. Contact Parks Victoria on 13 1963 for further information.
