Imagery: Esri, Vantor, Earthstar Geographics

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Cotter River

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Reach 3

Condor Creek to Cotter Dam

Reach 3 of 4

Cotter River

6.6 km

Reach length

97%

Tree cover on banks

Species recorded

The Cotter between the Condor Creek junction and Cotter Dam, the second closed stretch of the river, where the trout water ends and fishing is prohibited at all times down to and including the Cotter Reservoir.

The trout water ends where Condor Creek comes in. From that junction down to the wall of Cotter Dam, including the reservoir, the Cotter is Prohibited Water under the territory’s rules, and fishing is not allowed at any time.

This page is here so the line is clear. Anglers working down the trout water need to know where to stop, and anyone arriving at the Cotter Reservoir needs to know the fishing is not there. The river below the dam is open water and has its own page.

Target species

Brown Trout

European Carp

Rainbow Trout

No live gauge

There’s no gauge on this water. Check recent trip reports.

Season

Regulations

Driving directions

Water and habitat

The stretch runs from the Condor Creek junction at about the seventy-fourth kilometre of the river to the Cotter Dam inflow, and the reservoir drowns the last of it. No gauge is bound to this stretch.

BANK COVER ALONG THIS REACH · SATELLITE-CLASSIFIED, 2023–25

Dense trees

Open woodland

Sparse trees

Native grass & tussock

Cultivated

Regulations

The Cotter River upstream of Cotter Dam wall to the junction of Condor Creek, including the Cotter Reservoir, is Prohibited Water under the ACT’s recreational fishing rules. Fishing is not allowed at any time. Penalties apply under the Fisheries Act 2000.

Prohibited

ACT

Fishing is banned at all times in five named ACT areas: the Cotter River above Cotter Dam wall to the Condor Creek junction (including the Cotter Reservoir); the Cotter River and catchment above Bendora Dam wall (including Bendora and Corin

ACT Government (Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate / City and Environment Directorate), citing the Fisheries Act 2000

Read the rule at source ↗

Prohibited

ACT

Fishing is not allowed at any time in the ACT's listed prohibited waters.

ACT Government (Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate / City and Environment Directorate)

Read the rule at source ↗

Permitted with conditions

ACT

Open Waters are every public water in the ACT that is not a Prohibited Water or a Trout Water.

ACT Government (Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate / City and Environment Directorate), citing the Fisheries Act 2000

Read the rule at source ↗

Permitted with conditions

ACT

ACT Trout Waters are: the Gudgenby, Naas, Paddys and Orroral Rivers and their tributaries in full; Condor Creek and its tributaries; the Cotter River between Bendora Dam and the Condor Creek junction; and the Molonglo River between the Quea

ACT Government (Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate / City and Environment Directorate), citing the Fisheries Act 2000

Read the rule at source ↗

Method restricted

ACT

The single rod used in Trout Waters may carry no more than 2 flies, or no more than 1 artificial lure.

ACT Government (Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate / City and Environment Directorate), citing the Fisheries Act 2000

Read the rule at source ↗

Permitted with conditions

ACT

In Open Waters an angler may have up to 2 rods or handlines in use at once, plus a landing net.

ACT Government (Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate / City and Environment Directorate), citing the Fisheries Act 2000

Read the rule at source ↗

+ 11 more rules apply. See the authority links.

Access and safety

The Lower Cotter Catchment Reserve surrounds the reservoir, and the parks service lists recreation sites on the river below the dam. None of them permit fishing on this stretch.