With recreational freshwater fishing worth $300 million to the economy, a local author has launched a complete fishing guide to the Murrumbidgee for anglers.
Martin Asmus, NSW Department of primary Industries, and Dr Jamin Forbes have published the Fishing Atlas for Murrumbidgee river- Gundagai to Balranald.
The full colour guide details the recreational opportunities along the length of the river and lists every public access point, the river conditions, fishing potential, boat launching facilities, campsite quality and the availability of items such as toilets, barbeques, tables and seats. GPS coordinates are supplied for the approach to every entrance to the reserves, parks and other river access points. There are also plenty of fishing hints and fish identification and capture information to help make the stay in the area an enjoyable one.
The 15 detailed maps cover Gundagai, Wantabadgery, Oura, Wagga Wagga, Currawarna, Galore,Narrandera, Yanco, Darlington Point,Yarrada Benerembah, Carathool, Uardry, Hay,Maude and Balranald. Mr Asmus said the first edition was published in 2006 and detailed Gundagai to Narrandera, with the second edition covering Narrandera to Balranald. “They were both revised and were one of the publisher’s biggest sellers,” he said. “There have been changes in the Crown Lands along the river so it was a good opportunity to revise both books and combine them. The first book took us months while the second one took us a week of solid visiting each spot. This revision took us three trips visiting each of the 130 sites.” Martin and Jamin have been friends for 25 years and have fished the entire length of the Murrumbidgee with the Hay weir pool their favourite spot. “It has good Murray cod fishing and is a really cool spot-around Gundagai is another lovely spot,” Martin said.
“Narrandera rates very good for fishing with mainly Murray cod and Golden Perch – people come here from interstate to fish for Murray Cod. “There are boat ramps at Brewery Flat, Rocky Water Holes and Buckingbong. In terms of boating facilities and navigable water, Euroley has a boat ramp and Piper’s reserve is planned for a boat ramp. The stocking programs enormously contributed to both Murray Cod, trout cod and Golden Perch.”
Mr Asmus said the stretch of the Murrumbidgee at Narrandera was healthy and contained platypus. “We are not affected by blue green algal blooms like other areas and have lots of habitat structure,” he said.” The idea of listing the camping sites wasn’t to take away from local caravan parks but give people another option.”
Copies of the Fishing Atlas for the Murrumbidgee are available at the John Lake Centre, Narrandera, online at the Australian Fishing Network and from all good tackle shops including BCF, Complete Angler and Tackle World.
This article appeared in the Narrandera Argus, 27 May 2021.
