Cairn Curran Reservoir Fishing

Cairn Curran Reservoir Fishing

Fishing Areas and Conditions

• Cairn Curran has deep water, submerged trees and other structure. Fish both open water and close to the timber, including by placing lures or baits against it.
• Shallow water can be fished with shallow-diving lures. Carp also frequent the shallows, where they can be sight-cast to.
• Spring and summer favour golden perch and Murray cod; the last two hours of daylight can be productive. In summer, both may move into deeper, cooler water.
• Redfin are more active in warmer months and trout in colder months.

Rigs, Bait and Lures

• Scrub worms, yabbies and crickets are bait options for several species. For trout, suspend mudeyes, live minnows or dough bait beneath a float; scrub worms and yabbies can be fished on a running sinker rig with a small hook and pea-sized sinker.
• Cast spinners, soft plastics, metal spoons, shallow-diving hardbody lures, blades or vibes. Diving lures and minnow imitations can also be trolled at different depths.
• For redfin, cast curl-tail, minnow or paddle-tail plastics on 1/8–1/20 oz jig heads toward visible structure. Retrieve slowly with lifts and pauses.
• For golden perch, slowly retrieve or jig dark curl-tail or paddle-tail plastics on 1/8 or 1/4 oz jig heads along timber. Soft vibes, blades, lipless crankbaits and spinnerbaits are other options.
• For Murray cod, work large surface lures slowly along structure, or cast or troll hardbody lures, spinnerbaits, swimbaits, shads and larger soft plastics.
• For carp from the bank, fish corn, worms or bread on a running sinker rig or beneath a float. A 3–5 kg rod, 3000 reel and 8 lb line provide one starting setup.

Access and Hazards

• The sealed, single-lane ramp at Picnic Point is steep. Kayaks can be prepared in its car park and wheeled down beside the ramp.
• Toilets, picnic tables and free electric barbecues are available near the reservoir.