Lake Nagambie

Lake Nagambie Fishing

Lake Nagambie is a shallow, 170-hectare manmade lake connected with the Goulburn River system, about 90 minutes from Melbourne and around 40 minutes from Shepparton. It suits boat, kayak and land-based fishing, with productive water close to town as well as ramps and access points around the lake. Boat launching options include McNamara’s Point at the Nagambie Lakes Regatta Centre, Lodgings Lane, Buckley Park, Majors Creek and Turners Island Lane.

The lake is strongly shaped by depth changes, current, weed beds and timber. Murray cod and golden perch are the key native targets, and both use structure heavily, so submerged logs, standing trees, deeper channels, rock edges and bank-side cover deserve attention before open water. Early in the season, warmer shallow water around 1 to 2 metres can be worth checking, while warmer months can spread fish more evenly between shallow and deeper areas. Low light around sunrise and sundown is useful for cod. European carp must not be returned to the water, and anglers should carry a Victorian fishing licence.

Practical fishing here is often about moving between structure rather than sitting in featureless water. Trolling hard-bodied lures through deeper channels is one option, while casting spinnerbaits, lipless crankbaits, hard-bodied lures, soft plastics or surface lures along banks, shallows and timber can suit the lake’s ambush-style fishing. Scrub worms, yabbies, mudeye, minnows, maggots, cheese cubes and Powerbait are also supported bait options, with running sinker, paternoster, dropper or float presentations chosen to match wind, depth and snag risk.

Gear can vary because the lake holds both lighter targets and large cod. A 2-5 kg spin rod with a 2500-size reel is a practical light option, while serious cod fishing around timber and larger lures calls for a heavier baitcast outfit around 6'6", 8-15 kg, with stronger line to handle structure.

# Lake Nagambie Boat Ramp

There are a couple of boat ramps, both public and private, allowing access to the Lake Nagambie. The best ramp is the public ramp just before the Nagambie Lakes Holiday Park. It has public trailer parking and is a well-built, modern ramp with a short jetty for launching. The ramp allows you to launch into the Goulburn River. The lake is to the right, proceeding downriver. You can head upriver by heading to the left. The river is navigable, though larger boats would struggle in the shallow waters. Regular tinnies under 4.5 metres should have no trouble.