80,000 fingerlings make dam home

Jenna Cairney | Warwick Daily News | 5th February 2011

THEY might not be ready to take the bait quite yet but the 80,000 golden perch fingerlings released into Leslie Dam this week will make a great addition to the fine fishing already on offer.

This takes the grand total of yellow belly added to the dam this year to 195,000.

As the dam is currently at 100 per cent, record numbers of fish have been ordered.

The Warwick District Recreational Fish Stocking Association said it ordered 310,000 for the stocking season, which ends on March 31.

The precious cargo was brought from Redgate Fish Farm in Murgon to Leslie Dam.

Roger Martin said with the hot weather the fish weren't biting as well this week in the dam but river fishing was going well.

He said he was confident though they would be biting again soon.

The association issued a reminder that anglers must have a permit to fish in stocked impoundments like Connolly and Leslie dams and they should also be aware of bag limits.

Anglers are allowed two Murray cod, 60cm is the legal size; 10 golden perch per angler, 30cm is the legal size; five silver perch, 30 cm is the legal size; and five jewfish, 35 cm is the legal size.

Leslie Dam overflowing

Courtesy Warwick Daily News 2011

AFTER a fairly wet weekend, more showers and thunderstorms are on the cards again for the Southern Downs and Granite Belt regions today.

The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast mostly fine conditions in the west with only early isolated showers and possible thunderstorms, clearing during the morning.

The Daily News received a call yesterday afternoon from a resident saying Leslie Dam was overflowing once more after 72.4mm of rain was recorded in Warwick since Friday.

Chances of another flood looks slim, however, with Weatherzone's seven-day forecast predicting "mostly sunny conditions" from tomorrow until at least Sunday.

Temperatures are also expected to be cooler, with a minimum of 13 degrees on Friday and 12 on Saturday.

Image Taken by Jim on the 8/1/2011

Drop a line at Leslie

Kerri Burns-Taylor | Warwick Daily News | 26th January 2011

WHEN the Warwick and District Recreational Fish Stocking Association placed an order for 150,000 fingerlings last year, Leslie Dam was at 9 per cent and the members were taking a big gamble on water rising.

And now, with the dam at capacity, their risky purchase has paid off.

Association member Eddie Kemp said the association hoped last year would see the end of the drought. "We thought this would be the year the drought would end but we never though we would get so much water," he said.

A group of members spent Monday morning filling buckets and trekking around the dam to distribute 30,000 fish, which were delivered by Andre Shaw and David Rose of Redgate Fish Farm at Murgon.

Association member Eddie Kemp said the dam was now offering "ideal fishing conditions" and is encouraging locals to take a trip out, throw in a line and enjoy the beauty of the area.

"There is plenty of water and you can bring out a picnic lunch, throw in a line and watch the sun go down," he said.

And for those skilful enough to land fish, Mr Kemp says don't be afraid to take fish home.

He said the dam had a "put, grow, take" system where the association "puts the fish in, grows them to size and then takes them out" and was urging people who caught fish to take them home or give them to somebody else.

"Fish don't breed in dams so if anybody catches a big cod, the Fish Stocking Association doesn't mind if people take it home as they will often eat the smaller fish," Mr Kemp said

The new additions to the dam should be ready for catching in about 18months to two years and Mr Kemp said he expected another load of fingerlings shortly.

"Leslie Dam grows yellow belly faster than any other dam in Australia," Mr Kemp said.

This year is the 23rd year the association has stocked the dam and during that time they have added almost three million fish to the area.

Image: Fish Stocking Association member Eddie Kemp (left) fills his bucket with some of the new fingerlings.

Leslie Dam teeming with fish

Eloise Handley | Warwick Daily News | 22nd October 2010

WITH Leslie Dam tipped to hit 60 per cent of capacity and a record number of golden perch "on the bite with gusto", it's looking like a top weekend to whip out the bait and tackle.

Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation stocked impoundment co-ordinator Jenny Keys said there was no better time to buy a stocked impoundment permit and hit Leslie Dam after the long spell of rain.

"Golden perch, known to many of us as yellow belly, are currently easy to catch as they are hanging around the edge of the dam to feed." Ms Keys said.

"It's not just golden perch loving the wet weather; other species such as Murray Cod are also in abundance."

Wetting a line at Leslie Dam yesterday was Bevin Wesener from Wandoan who hadn't been on a holiday for 15 years.

"We're here to watch the campdrafting next week and to fish," Mr Wesener said.

While the cocky hadn't had any luck yesterday, he assured us it was "early days".

"We're using a lure at the moment because we drove down with worms but they all died," he laughed.

"The water came up about a foot last night so there's some water coming in; the new water means good fishing."

Warwick and District Recreational Fish Stocking Association treasurer Ed Kemp said a further 250,000 golden perch fingerlings were on order for the dam, a record purchase for the group which it hoped would be released by the end of the year.

"That's worth $60,000, we haven't spent that much in more than 10 years," Mr Kemp said.

"Previously dam levels have been too low but we thought, "this is it, this year will be the big one".

"We made the order in July, it was a risk but I think it will pay off with the dam at 56 per cent yesterday and tipped to hit 60 per cent by the weekend."

Leslie Dam was built in two stages with recent rain topping up levels one metre above stage one, the same level reached during the 1976 floods.

"With all the rain predicted, stage two could fill," Mr Kemp said.

"The countryside is saturated, the water isn't seeping in and that means the dam fills a lot quicker. Hopefully there'll be enough rain this year to fill but not flood."

To fish at Leslie Dam you need to buy a stocked impoundment permit online or visit one of the many agents around the state who sell the permits.

A full list of agents is available online, click on 'Fisheries'.

Image: :Fishy facts: Leslie Dam permit: $7/week or $35/year. Legal fish lengths: Golden and silver perch 30cm or longer, Murray cod 60cm, catfish 35cm