Wild V Impoundment

[tshort]

Not into fresh water fishing anymore now that I live on the coast but having moved here from Western Queensland still love the chance of camping and fishing the natural systems. Just cant get excited about stocked impoundments so thought I'd find out why they are obviously so popular.
Cheers.

[BobbyJ123]

A good question, mate. There are some fishos that look down their noses at impoundment fish, but hey, what do you say when one of these latches on???
http://www.ausfish.com.au/chat/uploads/1.05_metre_barra_from_Kinchant_dam.jpg

1.05 metres, not weighed. Kinchant dam, Mackay.

[Smailesy]

nice fish bobby but im with elprez got to love the thrill of trying to get a fish in the wild instead of noing there is fish in this dam

[scott_b]

Gday
I don't think anyone would fish the wild or an impoundment if they didn't think there was any fish there.
Around here the rivers probably get stocked more than the dams. But the dams seem to hold the bigger fish.
wamjam

[phatty]

I live less than 15minutes away from awoonga..
i hardly even fish salt anymore..

impoundment

[aussiebasser]

Where do you live on the coast mate? What makes you think the fish you are catching are not stocked? Doesn't matter to me where I catch 'em, as long as I catch 'em.

[Feral]

Just cant get excited about stocked impoundments so thought I'd find out why they are obviously so popular.
Cheers.

Fish are put into impoundments to be fished.
That means if I go fishing there I am not removing breeders, putting pressure on the local systems, or doing someone downstream out of a fish. Also for a few bucks for a permit, some hard working volunteers are making sure there are more fish for me to catch next time!

Stocked fish are usually better quality fish, both for sport and eating, I spent a lot of years catching yellow belly, silver perch and catfish out of western systems, its not usually hard, just wait for the system to flow them drop a line in at the bottom of the nearest natural or man made barrier, and you get all the fish you want.

Now I can fish for Bass and Barra in impoundments, which in my opinion are much better quality fish. Despite popular opinion, it also takes skill to consistently catch fish in impoundments. There is a lot more water to look for them in!

[mylestom]

Well lots of interesting comments. But with the stocked impoundments you have a resource which can be refilled.
With the river systems eventually you will get the same as the marine parks.
The impoundments take some skill and if you think you have worked out one impoundment, well go to the next one.
There are a list of great impoundments for all species, Trout, Yellowbelly, bass, barra to name a few. It helps to take the pressure on the natural systems.
They all have their place but for a sustainable resource then the way to ease the pressure on the rivers and estuaries is to fully utilise the impoundments.
A BIG THANKS TO ALL THE GUYS INVOVLED WITH THE VARIOUS FISH STOCKING ASSOCIATIONS. :)

Trev

[tshort]

Aussiebasser I dont go freshwater fishing here and dont think they stock salt water species yet. Feral, have never gone fishing expecting to catch fish or because I knew the fish were there just a bonus if you found one or two. Didnt hear of your method out their but they fish on the outlet side of spillways here on the coast after a run as fish are washed over to the pools below. Mylstom I couldnt agree more. Poll shows that out of the 14 % who bothered voting a 12 % preferance in the favour of impoundments. thats a lot closer than I expected.

[aussiebasser]

Show me a river where two very inexperienced Barra fisho's can get a double hook-up of a 113 and 114cm Barra. #My two brothers decided that it was a once in a lifetime experience!
Stocked impoundments take pressure off the salt water species. #There are however plenty of stocked fish in our coastal rivers. #Bass in certain saltwater lakes on the Gold Coast and North Coast and Barra #in others further north.

[aussiebasser]

The vote makes it a bit difficult. Maybe a third option of "both" or "either" would make some more people vote. I know I haven't voted becasue I can't give one preference over another, and I don't have to make that choice.

[whykickacatalong]

I find this question simple to answer, give me wild every time. Saying that, I will and do fish both when I can. I cant speak for barra as i have only ever caught impoundment fish but I honestly believe than a wild river fish (Bass in my experiance) out of a good flowing system will outfight an impoundment fish.

I think though that the biggest draw card for a wild fish though is where it takes you to find them. Take the natural rivers if the NSW North Coast for example, gin clear water running over rocks and granite boulders through deep timbered valleys which often require 4wd access or for the adventurous canoe trips. Compare that with dragging the boat behind the family sedan to a dam filled with people.

Dams have there place and provide great fishing opportunities and the SIP that QLD has is a great setup, one that NSW could do with. And while I think finding fish in a dam is easier than a river I have yet to master it so it cant be that easy ;) but wild is number 1.

[mylestom]

Lived in the territory for a few years.
Yes wild fishing is fun. But the pressure on the systems nowadays is being eased somewhat by the impoundments.
The both have their pundits.
Don't think that there is any difference in pulling power of Big Barra in the sticks at Mounduran, Awoonga or Faust in comparison with areas like the Daly etc in Nt. But less sticks in the wild.

Trev

[rick_k]

saltwater barra taste good.

Big impoundment barra, based on my sole 114cm sample don't taste good.

Both fight well consistent with where they are hooked, tight creek/heavy timber, in either fresh of salt is worth more points, but that's just my view.

They are all good ;D
Rick k

[mylestom]

The bigs ones we do the catch and release.
Of the 50 we caught last trip all bar a 86cm version were catch and release. The smaller one was filletted and placed in a brine mixture with lots of ice for about hour and half.
Was ok then to use as normal.
Have eaten all types Salt, Billabong and impoundment. But some of the worst are the old billabong fish.

Trev

[bomber202]

I lovem both the two areas are different,although both are challenging been on impoundments for a week and been unable to hook a fish or even find one have done the same in the salt also had some awesome times on the salt and same in the impoundment to me its all fishin.

THE BOMBER

[tshort]

Looks like this topic is slowing but its interesting to see wild just pipping impoundment. Would be good to see inventions giving fish the capability to move freely between impoundment and natural systems for breeding, parasite cleaning etc.

[Feral]

Interesting point is that in South east QLD, it is very hard to know you have caught a "wild" fish - bass for example, as stocking associations stock some of the rivers as well as the dams, and many of the fish in the rivers have come over the wall from upstream dams, be it the big impoundments or just locals dams that have overflowed.

So on reflection, the only "gauranteed" wild fish catch would be catfish! No one will ever stock them in south east QLD! ;D