Fishing in Turon National Park

Turon National Park sits in the ranges west of the Blue Mountains, about 45km from Lithgow, protecting a rugged section of the Turon River valley in central New South Wales.

The park's water is predominantly clear, cold stream country — the kind of terrain that has drawn trout anglers for generations. The Turon River is the main event.

Running through the valley with the clarity that comes from sandstone country, it has a long history as a trout fishery. Reports of big trout below Hill End along the Bridle Track give some sense of what the river can hold.

That said, carp have moved into the system and are now well established, which means trout can take more work to find than they once did. The fishing is still there, but it rewards patience and local knowledge over blind optimism.

The park's smaller tributaries — Coolamigal Creek, Turon Creek, Fiddlers Creek, Lochaber Creek, Pipers Creek, and Stockyard Gully — thread through the surrounding bush.

In country like this, smaller creeks often hold fish that see less pressure, but access and conditions vary.

Camping at spots like The Diggings and Woolshed Flat puts you on the water without a long daily drive, which matters when you want to fish early and late.

The park is accessible enough for a weekend trip from Sydney, remote enough that you won't be sharing runs with a crowd. Standard NSW fishing regulations apply.

Check with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service before you go — rules in protected areas can differ from general state regulations, and it's worth confirming what applies on the water you plan to fish.

The Turon isn't the easy trout stream it may once have been, but that's part of fishing it honestly now.