On the Waterfront at Boondooma Dam

THERE aren’t many places where the keen freshwater angler can camp with his boat left in the water right by his front door, but Boondooma Dam is one of them. It scores bonus points thanks to the lack of restrictions on boat motors, no dramas about making early starts, camp fires permitted, and heaps of fish to be caught. All this puts it ahead of a lot of other likely sites around southern Queensland.

GETTING THERE

Boondooma Dam is located near Proston in southern Queensland. It’s a quiet place that's well away from bright lights and noisy traffic, but it's only around three and a half hours from Brisbane.
You can get to this quiet little haven via the town of Gympie on the Bruce Highway (on to Murgon and Proston) or Kingaroy on the Bunyah Highway (on to Wondai and Proston). The speed limit on both highways is 100k.

Proston is the stepping stone to Boondooma Dam, and this country town offers a fair range of shops and other facilities. Boondooma Dam is a 15-minute drive from Proston, and the route is well signed.

Just a word on travelling via Kingaroy: don't, repeat don't miss the Peanut Van. It's easily found in town and those peanuts - of all flavours and different preparation methods - are the freshest you’ll taste anywhere. Simply out of this world!

CAMPING

Boondooma Dam, constructed in 1983, is located on the Boyne and Stuart Rivers. Each river bed forms an arm of the lake and each has its own attractions for the visiting angler.

There are two camping grounds available, but in this article I’ll concentrate on the camping facilities right on the shore. (The other camping ground is not far away and has tennis courts, picnic facilities, and power throughout. It's very clean and tidy and may well suit those folk who aren’t as keen to look outside and see the boat on the bank.)

Camping facilities along the waterfront at Boondooma are well set out. There’s no crowding at the better spots or packing in like sardines, as with some other places where room is scarce. There's a fair amount of shade available and the camping area is, for the most part, level – always a big plus. The toilets and other facilities are clean and well kept. This is a credit to the Wondai Shire Council, who had the foresight to develop this excellent camping and recreation area into a major attraction.

The kiosk and camping areas are operated by Lance and Kristy Frahm (ph. (07) 4168 9694) who are genial hosts. The kiosk is well stocked with food, tackle and bait, and there’s gas and ice as well. You can also hire boats at the kiosk, and you have the option of booking one of the beaut new self-contained cabins overlooking the lake. These good-sized cabins offer terrific views and are great value at $44 per couple per night. There is also a bunkhouse available.

FISHING

The ability to camp right on the water is the main drawcard for anglers because you can leave your boat in the water after a fishing trip. The lake edges are firm and not boggy, and the rich weedbeds abound with shrimp for bait. A couple of shrimp traps put in on dark should yield enough bait for a morning's fishing without much trouble at all.

There are a couple of ramps handy to the camping area, and both are first class and suited to any size of craft. Once your boat is in the water it's a simple matter to drive it around to the tent or 'van for final setting up for fishing, or to bring it back with the catch while the kettle is put on for a cuppa.

Fish taken are mainly bass and golden perch, and there is the odd cod taken as well. Spinnerbaits and deep-diving lures account for a lot of fish, and I suggest that anglers wanting to fly fish should work around the timbered sections of the Stuart River or target weedbeds for best results. Like predatory fish everywhere, the bass and goldens are most active at low light or on those magic dull, humid days that freshwater anglers deserve at least once per season. [See Jason Ehrlich's monthly report for the latest on the fishing in Boondooma. - Ed.]

Bait anglers using shrimp will always do best, of course, and if you’d like to tangle with the odd eel-tailed catfish as well as the bass and goldens it won't take long for one of these odd-looking (but nice-tasting) critters to pick up a shrimp allowed to sit on the bottom for a spell.

All manner of boats are allowed on the lake, and a fair few waterskiers like to get together during the warmer months to enjoy their sport as well. There is plenty of water to be enjoyed, so this is no problem.

Sailing craft are also seen out enjoying the long reaches of clear water. I've often wondered whether these folk troll a lure.

THE ATTRACTION

Cabins, camping by the water, a well-stocked kiosk, beaut surroundings all round, and heaps of fish - that's the Boondooma Dam experience. It's also a real friendly sort of place, where people smile and wave as you go past. I like it!