Trout stocking delivers better fishing

[Member]

Trout stocking delivers better fishing Victoria Fisheries

The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) stocked almost 700,000 trout and salmon into 135 waters last year to improve fishing opportunities for freshwater fishers. 2011 was a big year for trout production at the DPI’s Snobs Creek fish hatchery, as many lakes had filled following drought-breaking rains and were in terrific condition to be stocked.

Several newly filled lakes produced outstanding fishing last year so it made sense to stock them again with help from revenue obtained through the sale of recreational fishing licences.

The stand-out performer in 2011 was Lake Bolac, which produced large numbers of rainbow trout between 2kg and 3kg. Other standout performers last year were Lake Tooliorook, Hepburn Lagoon and Lake Elingamite which provided exceptional trout fishing for fly, bait and lure anglers.

Further afield, several waters received trout for the first time in years including Lake Toolondo in the Wimmera, which was once one of Victoria’s most productive and popular trout fisheries. It was stocked with 40,000 brown trout and 5,000 rainbow trout. Before the drought, Lake Toolondo was known to produce brown trout up to 4kg so there are many people hoping our stocking pays dividends in years to come.

Lake Marma, near Murtoa, and Pykes Creek Reservoir, near Ballan, were also additions to the stocking list in 2011, receiving 1,000 and 5,000 trout respectively.

All trout stocked this year were produced at the Snobs Creek hatchery which has greatly benefited from recent upgrades.