Lake Somerset, located 25km from Esk, is a 4200ha stocked impoundment on the Stanley River, a tributary of the Brisbane River.

The dam was constructed in 1959, with Wivenhoe Dam, a larger impoundment, situated immediately below it. Two additional smaller stocked dams, Atkinson and Cressbrook, are also in this region.

Lake Somerset is one of Queensland’s most popular freshwater fishing spots and hosts a major competition each October. Although large in area, it has an average depth of just 9m. Stocked fish include bass, yellowbelly, silver perch, Mary River cod, saratoga, and snub-nosed gar, with bass and yellowbelly being the primary catches.

Other fish species include eel-tailed and fork-tailed catfish, bony bream, spangled perch, banded grunter, lungfish, tilapia, and redclaw crayfish. Lake Somerset is renowned for its large bass, which thrive on the plentiful bony bream baitfish.

Camping options include Lake Somerset Holiday Park (www.lakesomerset.com.au) and Somerset Park Council Campgrounds, contactable at (07) 5426 0108 or (07) 5424 4000. Both areas require camping permits, which can be obtained from the kiosk or ranger station near the wall lookout. Trailer boats also require a permit; for details, call (07) 5427 8100.

Facilities include a six-lane ramp at Kirkleagh, a gravel ramp for low water, and a ramp at The Spit near the dam wall. Daylight access only, except at Lake Somerset Holiday Park, where a gate pin number is needed for early access — call ahead on (07) 5497 1093.

Lake Somerset flows into Lake Wivenhoe, situated about 150km upstream from the Brisbane River mouth.

How to Fish Lake Somerset

Many anglers target the lake’s trophy-sized bass, and in peak spring, it’s common to catch multiple fish over 50cm. Spring and summer offer the best fishing, though fish can be caught year-round near structure. In winter and spring, sonar is helpful for locating fish congregations over open flats.

In autumn and winter, the Kirkleigh area often holds schools of bass. Try the flats on the north side of the campground, near the former Stanley River channel before the timber.

Occasionally, feeding bass drive bony bream to the surface, attracting birds, much like saltwater tuna fishing.

Somerset Dam has limited weedbeds; the best bass fishing is often over flats where schools of fish are located. Finding these schools doesn’t guarantee success, as bite windows can be brief.

During cold winters, fish seek warmer shallow waters. The flats above Kirkleigh, Pelican Point, and Queen Street are popular spots, with fish typically in depths of 6m to 9m.

To reach fish, anglers use half-ounce to 5/8-ounce jig heads rigged on light leaders with soft plastics, blades, or tailspinners. When fish are in shallow water, small deep-diving lures are effective for trolling.

Here is a list of recommended tackle for freshwater fishing, including within stocked dams.

Useful Links:
QLD dam water levels |
Qld stocked dam permits |
QLD fishing regulations |
Return to QLD fishing map

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