Merri River (Dennington)

Below the Bromfield Street weir the Merri winds past Dennington on the outskirts of Warrnambool, and its estuary reaches up to about the Princes Highway bridge, so the launching area just upstream sits where trout water meets the salt. It produces some of the best quality large brown trout in south-west Victoria — fish to 4 kg, averaging 1.3 kg. Estuary perch, black bream, mullet and salmon move through at times as well, which makes it an odd and rather wonderful mix of trout stream and estuary. The river reaches the sea through the Merri Marine Sanctuary several kilometres downstream, which is a no-take zone — fish the tidal reaches well upstream of it.

It is excellent fly water and suits every method. Fly anglers and lure casters work the edges and deeper bends for trout and perch; bait anglers fish a light running rig with worms or minnow along the margins. Small boats and kayaks launched above the highway bridge open up the deeper reaches where the banks are private. The trout here have seen a lot of Warrnambool flies and are not easily impressed.

Brown trout are the headline fish, with redfin to 2 kg as a by-catch. Estuary perch, black bream, yellow-eye and sea mullet and salmon arrive in good numbers at times. Victorian limits for the estuary species: estuary perch 27 cm with a combined bag of 5 (no more than 2 Australian bass), bream 28 cm and 10, salmon 21 cm and 20 combined with Australian herring. Trout have their own size and bag rules. The Merri is one of the rivers that stays open to trout fishing through the winter closed season, but check the VFA trout and salmon regulations before you keep one.

Do not follow the river down to the mouth: the Merri Marine Sanctuary from Thunder Point to Breakwater Rock is no-take, and the river mouth sits inside it. Surveys have found low dissolved oxygen in the bottom 2 m of the salt wedge near the Princes Highway bridge at times, so in warm still weather the fish may sit higher in the water. Small streamers and minnow lures swung across the bends at first light are the classic way to meet a big trout here.

Boats and kayaks can be launched upstream of the Princes Highway bridge at Dennington. Along most of the tidal stretch the banks are cleared grazing land and access is generally restricted by private property, so stick to public land or ask permission. Facilities are minimal — this is a river bank, not a foreshore.

Sheltered from swell but exposed to wind across open farmland. Clear water after a settled spell suits flies and lures; a fresh after rain colours it up and suits bait. Early morning and evening are the trout windows. The cattle along the bank take no interest in your casting, which is more than can be said for the trout.

Mud banks are soft and steep, and the river runs up to 5 m deep. Low-oxygen bottom water is a fish-health risk, not a human one, but it means a dead fish on the bank is not a good sign. Respect private property and livestock gates.

Yes. The lower river below the Bromfield Street weir carries abundant brown trout to 4 kg, averaging 1.3 kg, and produces some of the best large brown trout in south-west Victoria.

No. The mouth is inside the Merri Marine Sanctuary, which runs from Thunder Point to Breakwater Rock and is no-take. Fish the tidal reaches upstream at Dennington instead.

Boats can be launched upstream of the Princes Highway bridge at Dennington.