The Best Fishing Spots in Australian Capital Territory
Fishing in the Australian Capital Territory is focused on freshwater spots like Lake Burley Griffin, the Murrumbidgee River, the Cotter River and nearby reservoirs, where anglers target species such as rainbow trout and brown trout in cooler waters, alongside native Murray cod and golden perch and introduced species like redfin perch and common carp. Popular methods include fly fishing, spinning with small lures and soft plastics, or simple bait fishing from shore, boat or rocky banks, with seasonal trout action in cooler months and warm‑water species more active in summer.
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Top Freshwater Fishing Spots
Sullivans Creek
Running through the ANU and into Lake Burley Griffin, Sullivans Creek holds urban carp and redfin with occasional lake-run natives; fish culverts, bends, and confluences near Acton with bread or corn for carp, and micro soft plastics or spinners for redfin during low, clear conditions.
Queanbeyan River
Close to Canberra’s southeast, the Queanbeyan River offers trout in cooler months upstream and golden perch, redfin, and carp around town; target pools, bridge pylons, and rocky runs with small hardbodies and soft plastics, and drift baits through deeper bends near Queanbeyan for mixed species.
Paddys River
A scenic tributary in Canberra’s southwest, Paddys River features riffles and pools that hold trout in cooler seasons and redfin/golden perch nearer the Murrumbidgee; fish small hardbodies and inline spinners in the runs, and probe deeper holes with soft plastics or baits near Tidbinbilla access points.
Naas River
Flowing through the southern ACT, the Naas offers a bush setting with trout in higher, cooler water and native species lower down; work shaded runs and undercut banks with small minnows or nymphs, and explore confluences near Gudgenby for fish moving between systems.
Molonglo River
Flowing into Lake Burley Griffin, the Molonglo provides mixed fishing for redfin, carp, golden perch, and occasional trout; work the lower reaches around Molonglo Reach with small plastics and blades, and prospect deeper holes and timber with spinnerbaits or hardbodies as water warms.
Jerrabomberra Creek
Meandering into the lower Molonglo and Lake Burley Griffin, Jerrabomberra Creek can produce redfin, carp, and occasional golden perch; fish bends, bridges, and reed lines near Jerrabomberra with small blades and soft plastics, or simple bread and corn for carp when water is warm and calm.
Gudgenby River
A clear alpine-influenced stream in Namadgi country, the Gudgenby rewards stealthy anglers with rainbow and brown trout; target pocket water and tailouts with light spinners, dry-dropper rigs, or small hardbodies, and cover water methodically near Glendale Crossing and upstream reaches.
Gibraltar Creek
Tumbling through granite country to the Murrumbidgee, Gibraltar Creek offers intimate water for trout and small natives; fish pools and cascades near Gibraltar Falls with tiny spinners, nymphs, or micro-plastics, focusing on deeper pockets during bright days and riffle edges in low light.
Cotter River
A clear upland stream popular with light-tackle anglers, the Cotter holds rainbow and brown trout in cooler reaches and Murray cod/golden perch lower down; fish runs and pocket water near Cotter Campground and Cotter Avenue with small spinners, nymphs, or shallow minnows, and switch to cod gear in deeper pools closer to the Murrumbidgee confluence.
Lake Burley Griffin
Canberra’s centerpiece lake offers accessible fishing for redfin perch, Murray cod, golden perch, carp, and occasional trout, with productive banks around Black Mountain Peninsula , Yarralumla Bay , and Molonglo Reach ; try evening surface lures for cod in summer and soft plastics or vibes for redfin around structure, while kayaks and tinnies work the points and weed edges when the wind pushes bait in.
Scrivener Dam
Below and around Scrivener Dam—impounding Lake Burley Griffin—anglers encounter Murray cod, golden perch, redfin, and carp; focus on current seams, rock walls, and eddies with spinnerbaits, lipless cranks, or live baits, and time dusk sessions when predators patrol the spillway margins toward Yarralumla .
Lake Ginninderra
A suburban lake with easy access, Lake Ginninderra turns on redfin schools, urban carp sport, and the chance of golden perch or Murray cod; probe bridges, pontoons, and weed lines with small plastics, blades, or corn for carp, and troll shallow cranks from a kayak around John Knight Memorial Park edges on warm afternoons.
Isabella Pond
A convenient suburban pond in Tuggeranong, Isabella Pond is a reliable spot for redfin and carp with the odd golden perch; cast small soft plastics, blades, or simple float rigs along paths and bridges near Isabella Plains , with afternoon sea-breezes often sparking edge bites.
Lake Tuggeranong
Well-known for accessible banks and varied structure, Lake Tuggeranong offers redfin, carp, and occasional golden perch and Murray cod; fish the inflows and bridges near Town Park with tiny soft plastics and vibes for redfin, or slow-roll spinnerbaits and swimbaits along drop-offs in the evenings.
Yerrabi Pond
A family-friendly Gungahlin water, Yerrabi Pond produces consistent redfin and carp with chances at golden perch; fish jetties and weed edges around Yerrabi Pond District Park with tiny soft plastics, bladed jigs, or bread/corn baits, and work twilight periods when redfin push bait to the banks.
Murrumbidgee River
Flowing through the ACT, the Murrumbidgee holds hard-fighting Murray cod and golden perch plus carp, with popular stretches near Uriarra Crossing , Pine Island , Point Hut Crossing , and Tharwa ; work spinnerbaits and swimbaits along snags and rock bars in warm months, or drift worms and yabbies through deeper pools from the bank or a kayak.
Googong Reservoir
A major Canberra water supply and renowned fishery just southeast of the city, Googong produces quality Murray cod, golden perch, and redfin; target rocky points and timbered bays with deep-diving hardbodies or soft vibes, and work sunrise/sunset edges from kayaks or shorelines near Foreshores access areas when baitfish are active.