IN recent years the greater Brisbane region has been getting a fair chunk of the fishing medias attention.
Not so much for the saltwater side of things that is often not very noteworthy, more the freshwater side of things, particularly the lake scene.
This has all come about largely by the fish stocking programs at many locations that were initially kicked off by Qld Fisheries and then taken over by community fish stocking groups.
Here I'll try to give a run-down on the more popular or better producing spots and what can be reasonable expected by visiting anglers and locals alike.

Lake Somerset. Kilcoy

Probably the jewel in the crown of sweetwater locations in SE Qld.
Fish commonly available: bass, yellowbelly, silver perch, Mary River cod, jew, spangled perch, snub nosed gar & tilapia (an introduced fish that must be destroyed. It is widely held to be a top table fish). Rare captures of saratoga at this stage until numbers build up. The occasional lungfish is taken as well.
These ancient fish must be released unharmed. Also growing numbers of redclaw crayfish.
The most popular targets are yellowbelly and bass.

Somerset is a deep-water fishery where the majority of popular fish (bass and yellowbelly) are found around the break lines along the submerged river bed. These areas can be extended to the adjacent flats area.

Somerset's reputation as a big fish dam was originally built upon the horse sized yellowbelly that were once common captures. The spotlight is more upon the bass these days.
Being Queenslands most popular freshwater destination, Somerset fish are used to the endless number of lures being trolled past their noses.

This does not mean that trolling deep diving lures wont catch fish, in fact it quite a consistent way to catch the average sized and occasional big fish on most days.
With the advent of semi-pro tournaments in recent times, the emerging way to getting bigger fish among spooky schools has proven to be the more subtle techniques of deep fly and soft plastic presentations.

While not normally producing the numbers that trolling can rack up, these techniques produce the bigger specimens more often.
Somerset fishes well year round.

Lake Somerset is open to all size boats and motors.

Camping is available at Kirkleagh and below the wall at Camp Somerset for nominal fees.
For the more up market, luxury lakeside accommodation is available at The Lake House on the eastern side of the lake.

A Stocked Impoundment Permit (SIP) is required to fish here and a SEQWCorp boating permit is also required for all trailerable vessels.

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Maroon Dam. Boonah

Not renown for producing big fish, what is lacking in size it more than makes up for in numbers.

Fish commonly available: bass, yellowbelly, silver perch, jew and spangled perch.
Mary River cod and eels are rare captures.
Bass are by far the most popular and prevalent target species.

Maroon is one of the more established locations around Brisbane.
Being rather small, it is well suited to those who enjoy fishing from canoe or kayaks as well as boats if any size.
Maroon is one of the few locations around Brisbane that consistently produces good surface fishing action.
Not having the massive protein source of bony bream that most other lakes/dams enjoy, the fish in Maroon have identified other food sources such as shrimps, gudgeons and insects.
Best times for hitting Maroon are the low light hours; pre-dawn and the last hour or two before dusk extending into the evening.
With healthy weedbeds and lilies around the entire lake margins, often the hardest choice of where to start fishing is simply picking somewhere out of the wind.
Casting any number of surface lures around these areas should see some action if conditions are right.
The more productive surface lures are small poppers as opposed to fizzers and paddlers.
Surface fly is also on the cards here; in fact it was Maroon where many south Qld anglers caught their first fish on fly.
As the sun gets higher, the fish get deeper.
If you keep this in mind when targeting fish here you should do well.
Small suspending lures or deep divers work well in the transition times.
Soft plastics lightly weighted and allowed to flutter down the outside of weedbeds is also a great way to get a fish.

As the sun hits it zenith, most fish are in deeper water or hiding in he shade of the odd bottlebrush tree.

Open to all boating activities.
No boating permit required.

Camping is available on the southern side of the dam at Pointro.

A Stocked Impoundment Permit (SIP) is required to fish at Maroon Dam.

Fishes best in summer months.

Wivenhoe. Esk

Queenslands original big bass winter lake.

Fish commonly available: bass, fork tailed catfish, jew, spangled perch, silver perch, yellowbelly, snub nosed gar and tilapia (introduced fish that must not be released if caught).
Occasional captures of Mary River cod, saratoga and lungfish.
Bass, tilapia and fork tailed catfish dominate catches.

As previously states, Wivenhoe (aka Big W) was the original big bass location of SE Qld.
It was also the first of the lakes found to produce better in winter than in summer.
This massive water body ironically does not allow outboard motors to be used.
Electric motors, wind and paddle power only are allowed.
This has effectively kept angler pressure to a minimum and allows the bass to form large schools with out being broken up by anglers seven days a week.

Big W is a lake of two levels.
Large weedbeds are the dominant feature of the many bays and inlets around this lake, many actively cruising fish can be found morning and afternoon in these areas.
At the opposite end of the scale, on the same day schools of fish can often be located way out in the main basins break lines, humps and hills often in upto 70 feet of water.
Summer months can see the forkies in the warmer bays slamming everything thrown at them.
This is possibly why anglers started fishing for bass in the winter months more and more.
However many locals are now learning to appreciate the forkies as a genuine sports fish.
They hit harder and pull harder then bass pound for pound and are not as common across the state with only 5 lakes having them.
The forkies also breed prolifically and therefore do not need constant re-stocking like the bass and perches etc.

Summertime is also the most popular time for chasing the redclaw crayfish here.
Any of the commonly available shrimp/crayfish traps will do.
Locals swear by their own secret baits that range from sweet potatoes to rock melon to fish flesh and cat food, just about any sort of food in fact should work.

Boating is restricted to electric motors, paddle power and sail power only.
A SEQWCorp boating permit is required for all trailerable vessels.

Camping is available at Captain Logans Camp and Lumley Hill, both on the southern side of the Lake.

A Stocked Impoundment Permit (SIP) is required to fish Lake Wivenhoe.

Continued...

Moogerah Dam. Aratula

Another dam that produces big bass, Moogerah is often a hot and cold location.
Fish commonly available: bass, yellowbelly, silver perch, and eels.
Occasional captures of Mary River cod and goldfish with recent reports of carp being found here.
Most popular fish are bass.
Any carp or goldfish captured must be destroyed and no part returned to the water.

Moogerah is another small dam that often suffers from fluctuating water levels.
Depending upon water levels and time of year the fish can be commonly found in 15 to 30 feet of water.
Some standing timber around the junction keep the skiers at bay and offer some good fish holding structure.
Fish commonly are found from 15 to 30 feet anywhere from the wall to the top, often holding in close proximity to break lines.
Trolling medium to deep diving lures is the most common fishing practice here apart from soaking a shrimp.
Jigging works well at times as does casting spinners among the many trees in the top half of the dam.

No boating restrictions apply here, which tends to attract the skiers.

Camping is available at the A G Muller caravan park.

A Stocked Impoundment Permit (SIP) is required to fish at Moogerah Dam.