LAKE
Toolondo is located in the Wimmera in between Hamilton
and Horsham about 4 hours drive from Melbourne via the
Hamilton highway.
The southern end of the lake has a caravan park with onsite
vans and camping areas.
This
lake is capable of yielding some true monster trout and
redfin. Trout have been recorded in excess of 8kg, averaging
1kg and redfin in excess of 4kg averaging 900g.
Steve White with a Toolondo trophy brown
nudging 4kg.
(Click on image for larger version)
There is a boat ramp at both the north and southern ends
of the lake. The northern ramp is concrete and the southern
ramp is located in the caravan park and is a dirt ramp.
Both ramps are almost unusable during periods of low water.
The lake is heavily treed in all but a few locations and
teeming with weed and aquatic life such as bug (or spider)
mudeye, minnow, gudgeon, yabbies some couta mudeye and
mayfly nymphs.
During periods of low water, the lake can experience severe
algal blooms that can shut down the fishing.
Fly-fishing can be spectacular with large fish slamming
minnow in the shallows at certain times of the year.
The local trout respond well to mudeye or bait fish suspended
under a bubble float just above the weed beds. The redfin
are suckers for a live gudgeon or minnow fished deep on
the drift in some of the many cleared areas or fished
static amongst the timber.
Daz Millar holds two fine examples of Toolondo
redfin exceeding 1.5kg
(Click on image for larger version)
Minnow and yabbies can be trapped in the shallows amongst
the weed in the lake and bug mudeye can be caught around
the timber, but it is often best to bring your own bait.
Both species respond well to most popular lures with the
Jensen insect revolving blade spinner and the smaller
mud bugs a favourite amongst the locals.
The last few years the lake has suffered due to low water
levels and has not been stocked.
