The Dawson River in central Queensland is a saratoga river. FlyLife’s writers count saratoga among the country’s premier sight-casting fly targets, and the Dawson is a river they name for them.

The river carries about six weirs, and the same writers say the fly fishing on them, especially for saratoga, can be fantastic.

Even quite turbid water can fish well for saratoga, because the fish patrol higher in the water and watch the surface for prey.

Golden perch, silver perch, barramundi and sooty grunter are also recorded in the river.

Check the current Queensland fishing rules published by the Queensland Department of Primary Industries (Fisheries Queensland) before you fish.