Blue Rock Dam is a large storage east of Melbourne, beside Willow Grove. FlyLife’s writers describe the fishing as spread along the shorelines, which is the water to work first.

FlyLife’s writers say Blue Rock holds wild brown and rainbow trout, and is also stocked with both. It also holds bass.

Midge-feeding trout in calm conditions are a listed highlight, and occasional summer falls of terrestrial beetles and ants are reported. A small dark beetle pattern is a sensible thing to carry in summer.

Trout fishing is consistent from autumn through spring. Settle the rules first: take any season or closure from the current Victorian Fisheries Authority guide, then plan around what it allows.

Summer belongs to the bass, fished in the morning and evening on the surface. On a calm day, look for midge-feeders rising in the still water.

For trout, a streamer is a good place to start: FlyLife lists an Orange Beaded Black Streamer in sizes 8 to 12 for brown and rainbow trout here, and a Woolly Bugger is a general alternative. When fish are rising to midge in calm conditions, a small dry or wet fly is a good bet.

For bass, a Bass Popper or a Bass Vampire in sizes 1 to 2/0 is listed. Fish them on the surface in the morning and evening, and look along rocky shorelines, weed beds and timber. Through the middle of the day the bass drop deeper, and a streamer is the better tactic.

Many shorelines can be reached by road. Treat any access you find as a location, not a statement of permission, and respect any fence or sign you meet on the ground.

As on any large lake, tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back, and carry water. Weather on open water can change quickly, so keep an eye on the sky.

Before you fish, read the current Victorian Fisheries Authority recreational fishing guide, check its closed-waters information for Blue Rock, and take any season, bag and size limits and licence requirements from it.