Welcome to the Lilydale Lake Fishing Guide. Lilydale lake is a man-made wetland in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne. Opened in July 1990 it was originally purpose built to prevent flooding but has become a very popular destination welcoming a million people annually. It’s roughly 1 hour drive from the CBD located in the township of Lilydale within the Yarra Valley. Open all year round this 28 hectare lake with dam wall stretches a total 440 meters and is great for targeting carp, trout and redfin.
There are several fishing jetties scattered around the parklands. We have seen some big carp and some big rainbow trout landed from here in recent years. On its day the fishing can be plentiful with many anglers catching fish, and in recent years has become popular with Kayak anglers who can venture out towards the islands in the middle of the lake. The lake is stocked regularly with trout fingerlings by Vic fisheries during most school holidays. Its a great fishing location for kids and beginners.
Things to do at Lilydale Lake
Lilydale lake has 10 kilometres of walking and cycling tracks which makes it a great place to bring the family. With scenic views and active birdlife such as rainbow lorikeets. There are good onsite facilities such as BBQ’s, picnic tables, open grounds, adequate parking and toilets. The kids will love Lilydale lake with playgrounds that include a flying fox, water spraying splash pads, swings, carousel, sailing and unique climbing sculptures. Dogs are welcome at the park with multiple designated areas for the off lead running around.
Fishing at Lilydale Lake
At Lilydale lake, there are several jetties where you can target fish species including trout, redfin, carp, tench and eel. This lake is regularly stocked with rainbow trout just prior to school holidays. In 2019 it will receive 2,000 rainbow trout yearlings. Use this link to follow Victorian trout stocking programs. The lake welcomes non powered vessels such as sailing boats, canoes and kayaks.
If you plan on fishing with bait from the banks then worms, powerbait, maggots and corn are great options. We have seen plenty of trout caught with these baits. If you plan on targeting carp from the banks so corn, scrub worms and bread will work very well. Lilydale Lake is a great location for lures and soft plastics. There are lots of stocked trout and small redfin so small minnow imitation soft plastics and spinners should be one of your first choices. Why not check out our guide on the Best lures for catching Redfin
You can also try your luck with long casting metal lures which are a great option for land-based anglers. These are great for bigger fish and allow you to cast long distances. Top options include the nories wasaby and pontoon 21 paco spoon which are great for targeting both trout and redfin. Shallow diving hard body lures such as bullet lures, Daiwa double clutch, Rapala Countdown series and Savage gear minnows are also excellent choices.
When targeting freshwater species such as trout and redfin we recommend fishing with a spinning light rod. This will make the experience more enjoyable whilst improving your catch rates. We suggest a 1-3 or 2-4 kilo capacity fishing rod. Coupled with a 2000, 2500 or 3000 size reel. Spooled with a decent quality braid between 4-8 pound finished with a rod length of a quality fluorocarbon leader. If your actively targeting carp then might be wise to upgrade the rod to a 3-5 kilo. Coupled with a 4000 size reel spooled with 12 pound line.
Kayak fishing at Lilydale lake
Non-powered boats are welcome on the lake. However, they must have a max length 4.5m with a keel depth of up to 1m. For more information on sailing restrictions please contact Melbourne Water on 131 722. Kayak fishing is a great way to find where the redfin and trout are residing and allow you to cover a great distance. This also allows you to fish significantly lighter not needing the casting distance from land. Lightly weighted soft plastics, spinners and shallow diving hard body lures are excellent choices when fishing here by kayak. Most freshwater species have a tendency to feed more aggressively at Dawn and Dusk. My personal favourite is fishing the sundown particularity in the warmer months.
Helpful fishing video for Lilydale Lake
Why not have a look at this video which highlights how to target stocked rainbow trout. Lilydale Lake park is stocked heavily with rainbow trout every year during most school holidays so this video should provide you with some helpful tips.
Parking and facilities at Lilydale Lake
Open all year with free entry the lake offers adequate parking of John and Hardy street in front of the park entrance. There is Lilydale lake community room which is perfect to host meetings or events. Again this is a great location to bring the family with playgrounds for the kids, open grounds, designated dog off lead areas, BBQ facilities, sculptures, and water activities. There are scattered fishing jetties which makes it a great spot to bring the kids for a fish.
Known Hazards at Lilydale Lake
Lilydale lake was once very prone to flooding. All country areas are inhabited by wildlife such as Snakes and Lizards, so be wary of venomous snakes such as Brown, Tiger and Red-bellied Black.
Rules and regulations at this lake
No powered boats allowed on the water. Camping and open fires are prohibited. Always carry your Victorian fishing license, FishingMad encourages ‘catch & release’ of all native species to help maintain the water quality within the lake however European Carp must not be returned.
Additions and corrections of this location
Thanks for reading our Lilydale Lake Fishing Guide. If you feel this location guide is missing key information or needs any corrections made, then please let us know by emailing our team at enquiries@fishingmad.com.au with specific details in the email. Please also feel free to share any fishing pictures you have from this location with us. Thank you