Barramundi Fishing In Lakes Awoonga And Monduran: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction to Barramundi Fishing in Queensland’s Premier Lakes

Lakes Awoonga and Monduran are popular fishing destinations for those travelling north to target barramundi. There are some impoundment barra options closer to Brisbane, but experts consider Awoonga and Monduran to be the start of serious, consistent barra fishing. In this guide, we delve into the secrets of successfully fishing in these waters, drawing on insights from a seasoned expert, Roderick Walmsley.

Check out our guide to the top barramundi fishing destinations in Australia.

Lake Awoonga Fishing: Open Water Barramundi Haven

Lake Awoonga is a not just a scenic destination, it’s a prime location for barramundi fishing. The lake’s open waters make navigation simpler than at Monduran, but the challenge lies in locating fish in this expansive system. These days modern electronics are incredibly effective at achieving this. Like most anglers, Roderick loves live sonar and what it’s brought to barra fishing – but he notes that old fashioned sidescan technology is more important when it comes to locating fish. An important point was to use lure casting to find fish even when they don’t appear on the sounder.

Tips for fishing Lake Awoonga

1. Navigation: Lake Awoonga is a vast water body with significant areas of open water. This expanse makes it a challenge to locate fish but also offers abundant opportunities for anglers willing to explore. Barramundi are often more willing when fishing exposed, windy locations.
2. Impact of Weeds: Periodic growth of weed beds up from 20 feet deep can change Awoonga’s fishing dynamics, making it hard to access barramundi. Anglers need adapt and possibly use techniques and lures suitable for heavy weed conditions.
3. Fishing Techniques: Roderick emphasized the importance of patience and strategic casting. When the lake is “firing,” points and bays become hotspots for barramundi, especially during active months. Spot locking and consistent casting in these areas can lead to success.
4. Barramundi Behaviour: Insight into barramundi’s habits, especially their response to environmental conditions like temperature and bait availability, is crucial. Anglers should focus on areas with oxygenated water, weed beds, or structures that provide comfort and feeding opportunities for barramundi.
5. Seeking Local Knowledge: Roderick suggests that engaging with local guides or experienced anglers can provide invaluable insights into the lake’s current conditions and barramundi habits, increasing the chances of a successful fishing trip.

Fishing Lake Monduran: The Underappreciated Gem

As a fishing destination, Lake Monduran is characterised by it’s smaller basin than Awoonga, and greater expanses of sunken and standing timber. Roderick noted that even small rises in water level greatly expand the area of shoreline and timber habitat at the top end of the lake. Monduran also contains substantial weedbeds that again hold good numbers of fish. At the time of this interview Roderick noted that Monduran was fishing better of the two and that the fish were hitting and fighting exceptionally hard.

Tips for fishing Lake Monduran

1. Navigate Timber and Structure: Utilize electronics to find fish among Monduran’s dense timber and structure. It is important to take great care in unfamiliar parts of the lake, lifting the motor and cruising slowly to avoid prop damage.
2. Concentrated Fish in a Smaller Basin: At times when the fish are pelagic, the lake’s smaller main basin helps concentrate barramundi, making them easier to locate than in larger water bodies.
3. Use of Electronics: Side imaging and detailed mapping are essential to uncover submerged structures and barramundi locations, especially in timbered areas.
4. Local Knowledge: Hiring local guides can significantly enhance success rates by providing current insights on fish movements and effective fishing strategies.
5. Focus on Barramundi Behavior: Key to success is understanding barramundi’s environmental responses, particularly around weed beds, timber, and varying depths, which dictate their feeding and movement patterns.

Tackling Techniques and Lure Selection

Check out our barra lure selection guide.

Roderick finds that surface luring techniques that are effective in more northern dams, play a lesser role in Awoonga and Monduran. Instead, the focus shifts to sub-surface and deeper water tactics. Key lures include paddle-tail soft plastics, jerk baits, and occasionally, lipless crankbaits. The presence of garfish in these southern lakes influences barramundi feeding habits, necessitating a strategic lure presentation to mimic these native baitfish.

Understanding the Environment

Fishing success in Lakes Awoonga and Monduran is closely tied to environmental factors. Seasonal changes, water temperatures, and bait availability significantly impact barramundi behavior. In these lakes, barramundi tend to feed aggressively during transitional periods, moving towards the shallows or deeper areas depending on the water’s temperature. Anglers must adapt their strategies accordingly, focusing on areas with oxygenated water, near weed beds, or structure that offers barramundi comfort and feeding opportunities.