Yeh mate I feel for ya these can be bloody hard dams to fish, but that whats keeps me coming back. Starting to have more and more success. The big difference I have found nowadays is to ask questions (great story in the Nov/Dec Freshwater Fishing Mag... It's me!), most fisho's are pretty good folk and will give you good advice. I like to find out what lure type and colour has been successful and depth/location etc.
Im not much of a bait fisherman, but I have seen guys pull in freshwater eels outta Burrinjuck over 6ft. I generally only fish the main basin and Yass arm.