CAMPING AT WIVENHOE DAM
WAYNE KAMPE. HOLIDAY DESTINATIONS IN THE SUN

ANGLERS in south east Queensland are somewhat spoiled so far as quality freshwater fishing goes. The local impoundments are well stocked with native fish and foremost among these fisheries is the mighty Wivenhoe Dam.

This is about 50 kilometres west of Brisbane and is accessed from Brisbane Valley Highway, the major road leading to centres such as Kingaroy and points north.

The dam wall is just a few kilometres north of the small town of Fernvale where (as a bonus) one of the best hot-bread shops around the place can be found along with a pub, general store and other retail outlets. Tackle is also available and worms can be purchased for bait.

A half hour’s drive further north will see the town of Esk in view as one descends a sloping bend with a big rocky hill to the side. This town has a hospital, garage, several hotels and motels, numerous shops, and a caravan park and golf course.

Wivenhoe Dam was completed in 1985. It’s a damned big pond holding some two and a half times more water than Sydney Harbour, and is blessed with a huge population of indigenous fish (gar, lungfish, two species of catfish) as well as introduced bass, golden perch, silver perch, cod and some saratoga. More on this later.

This dam has been established as a primary water supply for Brisbane so boating is restricted to non-motorised watercraft other than those powered by electric motors. Sailing is popular, too, as is canoeing.

The camping facilities at the two established areas, Captain Logan Inlet (unpowered) and Lumley Hill (powered) are spot on. Nestled right in against the foreshores of the dam and in quite sheltered positions the well run and impeccably clean facilities are a credit to the South East Queensland Water Board.

Captain Logan Camp grounds provide a peaceful and attractive camp setting just next to the well signposted Captain Logan Inlet kiosk and boat hire facility. The access sign is a few kilometres north of the dam wall, on the right as one travels towards the town of Esk.

The well laid out Captain Logan camping area boasts about 50 non- powered camp sites and each site has a designated car parking area. Certain sites are suitable for campervans or single-axle caravans, too. A communal shelter shed and very well set up amenities block is provided for the use of campers and also offered is a liberal supply of firewood for use on the barbecues.

Just to the east of Captain Logan Camp and on the adjacent point is Lumley Hill camping area which has a number of powered sites. Likewise, good clean amenities and facilities for smaller caravans are provided as is parking in conjunction with each site.

Pets and generators are banned at both facilities, as is the playing of loud music after 10pm. The theme is peace and tranquillity. An on-site manager is just part and parcel of the service.

Generally, all of the camping areas are level, grassed to a degree, and not far from the central amenities. Bitumen roads connect all sites with the access road system. From either camp ground the views across the adjacent bays and lake proper are just outstanding. There would hardly be a better place to enjoy the first cup of coffee of the day than right there.

One of the interesting things about this lake is that the kids can paddle about in the shallows and not come out covered in mud. Wivenhoe is a very user-friendly lake indeed and I watched in wonder as kids used shirts to drag the lake’s shallow weed beds to scoop up numerous shrimps and crays for the evening’s fishing. The kids stepped out, laughing, as clean as they went in. Great stuff!

Camping occupancy fees for both camping areas are $15 per night for four persons plus $3 per night for each extra person with a maximum of 10 people at one site. These are off-peak rates. Peak times are defined as the major long weekends each year (New Year, Easter, May Day, etc.) while school holidays are not specifically designated as peak times at all. There is just a little more, too. Powered sites at Lumley Hill cost $3 extra per site per night.

A phone call to the water board on (07) 5426 4729 will secure a site. Ring in advance as this is a popular camping destination. Information and bookings can also be made with the on-site caretaker at Captain Logan Camp, care of Box 44 Fernvale Queensland 4306.

Enough of the camping, now what about the fishing? Shallow margins make launching a cinch. A boating permit, obtainable from Wivenhoe Information and Tourism Centre near the dam wall or the kiosk at Logan Inlet, is required for all trailered or registered vessels. Fees are, $60 (annual), $20 (one month), $10 (weekly) or $5 (daily). Naturally, car toppers, canoes, scanoes and folding boats are much in use as they are neither trailered or registered. And free.

Fishing in this dam is seldom unproductive, so long as one is not choosy as to the species hooked. The warmer months see the shallow bays fairly crawling with gar and spangled perch which are great fun for float liners or novice fly anglers wanting to take a fish (just any fish, please!) on fly. Bread berley whips them into a feeding frenzy.

In summer there are prodigious numbers of fork tailed catfish about and these croaking battlers are the boaties’ curse, taking both lures trolled for bass as well as any form of bait. True, bass and to a degree silver perch or golden perch are the more sought after species but best fishing for these blokes is definitely during winter when the catties take a hike. Cod and the much harder to come by saratoga are also possible summer starters if one can get an offering past the fork tailed croakers.

Typically, fishing from the shores of Wivenhoe’s camp grounds will see the bait angler land some of the sweet-tasting gar or spangled perch during the brighter hours.

Eel tailed catties (tandanus) prevail on dark (great eating) and there is always a chance of a bass or silver or golden at any time the sun is well down. Those natural baits of shrimp or cray are hard to beat but worms will also score fish from the shore.

Put simply, a shore-based bait angler won’t have to wait long for a bite at Wivenhoe (which makes it terrific for novices) but boaties fishing during winter with fine braid line and deep diving lures undoubtedly score the mega bass we see adorning magazine covers of the national magazines these days. Does this make it any less enjoyable to camp there and just set a while? I think not.