Barramundi Fly Fishing in North Queensland: Peter Faust Dam and Hinchinbrook Channel with AFO.æ
North Queensland is a prime destination for all keen fly fishing enthusiasts, with its warm tropical waters, stunning landscapes, and of course, the barramundi. Thatäó»s what drew me to Mackay and Townsville so many years ago. Among the best spots in North Queensland to target this sought-after species are Peter Faust Dam and the spectacularly iconic Hinchinbrook Channel. So, this is why Iäó»ve based my life out of Townsville where, for the past four years, I have been running fly fishing charters with Australian Flyfishing Outfitters. I love North Queensland and Iäó»ve been fishing these waters for over 20 years now. Some of my favourite fishing is hunting for XOS barramundi in our local impoundments. We are very lucky to have a bunch of great fresh and saltwater options in this region.
Peter Faust Dam, located near Proserpine, a few hours drive south of Townsville is famous for its healthy population of big barramundi. The local Faust Dam Fish Stocking Association have done years of amazing work keeping a healthy population of sport fish in this dam. The dam offers an excellent fly fishing experience for those looking to land large fish. Anglers typically use a 10-weight fly rod and a floating or inter tip line which is perfect for casting larger flies and handling the powerful fight of barramundi. My favourite flies for Peter Faust Dam include the äóìAngry Adams", Bendback Deceivers, Hollow Fleye and surface flies like the äóìHot Rodäó as well as frog patterns. These flies mimic the boney bream and amphibians barramundi often prey upon. Hollow fleyes are ideal for creating a big profile with minimal weight, allowing for longer casts and delicate delivery while bendback deceivers are great for getting down deep and working the edges of submerged weed and structures. The surface frog patterns are especially effective in the shallow, weed-filled areas where Barramundi are known to ambush prey. Often sight cast opportunities will present while stalking around the shallow flats of Peter Faust. Fishing in the dam typically requires patience and precision, as you will need to cast large flies around drop-offs, submerged structures, and sheltered bays, where Barramundi like to hunt. Sometimes even sight casting cruising or laid up fish. Super exciting stuff.
Further north, the Hinchinbrook Channel creek systems nestled around Hinchinbrook Island, offer a completely different yet equally thrilling Barramundi fishing experience. These tidal creeks, lined with lush mangroves, are perfect for sight fishing. For this style of fishing, an 8-weight fly rod is often preferred, offering the right balance of power and finesse. In terms of flies, I always use gurglers, Bradley's Barra Bunny and toads with weed guards. These are excellent choices for fishing the shallow flats, mud drains and mangrove-lined creeks. These flies are designed to be fished in the surface layers, with gurglers creating a splashy surface disturbance and the Bradleyäó»s Barra Bunnies and toads displacing a lot of water, mimicking larger prey that barramundi hunt. The weed guards help to prevent the flies from getting tangled in the mangrove roots and submerged vegetation. The creeksäó» tidal movements mean that we must be strategic, presenting flies at the right depth and speed to entice barramundi to strike. They often donäó»t like to move far from their ambush zones. So, moving around the channel to be in the right spot at the right time is key. Our boys have got this down to a tee.
Whether youäó»re targeting trophy-sized barramundi in Peter Faust Dam with Hollow Fleyes and Bendback Deceivers or chasing aggressive fish in the shallows of Hinchinbrook Channel with gurglers and Barra Bunnies , North Queensland offers some of the best barramundi fly fishing both fresh and salt.
Written by Rodney Collings | Australian Flyfishing Outfitters
