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’.