Roughly 35,000 rainbow trout are being released across lakes in Victoria, as families are given a fun and relaxing school holiday activity this coming mid-term break.
In the City of Casey, both the Berwick Springs Estate Lake and the Casey Fields Lake are planned to receive upwards of 750 trout each in the coming holidays.
While the lake in Berwick will be receiving a one-time distribution, its southern partner will see bigger growth in the coming months, with an additional 750 planned for September and another 750 planned for October.
The Victorian minister for outdoor recreation, Steve Dimopoulos, said that “we know parents are always fishing for fun, healthy and free activities for the school holidays”.
“Our nation-leading fish stocking program will ensure Victoria’s recreational waterways are brimming with plenty of fish, which also reels in additional business for local shops and communities,” he said.
Dimopoulos, on Saturday, 28 June, took part in releasing 2000 rainbow trout into Karkarook Lake in Heatherton, which, alongside those named for Casey, are among 70 lakes across the state that will be replenished by this coming weekend.
The endeavour is backed by the $96 million Go Fishing and Boating plan and recreational licence fees, which see Victoria stock more fish than all other states and territories combined.
Neighbouring Cardinia Shire will also be receiving the rainbow trout boon, with Lilliput Lane Reserve and Pakenham Lake receiving 100 and 750 fish respectively, delivered twice in July and in September.
Victorian Fisheries Authority ceo, Travis Dowling, said that “there’s no better way to spend time with the kids or grandkids these holidays than rugging up, rigging up a couple of rods and heading down to a local lake to reel in one of these rainbow trout”.
“It’s great fun, keeps kids off screens and gets them into the great outdoors,” he said.
Rainbow trout prove to be an ideal catch for beginners since they take a variety of widely available, low-cost baits and can also be caught with lures cast and retrieved from the shore.
Much like in Casey, the 70 lakes where the fish are released are close to residential areas or activity centres, with many of the family-friendly locations featuring fishing platforms, walking tracks and nearby playgrounds and barbecue facilities.
To view the full list of Family Fishing Lakes and to see what is being stocked at your local fishing spot, go to vfa.vic.gov.au/recreational-fishing/fish-stocking/school-holiday-trout-stocking#utm_source=vfa-vic-gov-au&utm_medium=vanity-url-301ssredirect&utm_content=holidaytrout&utm_campaign=recreational-fishing
For more information on bag and size limits, permitted equipment and licensing, it can be found in the Victorian Recreational Fishing Guide, online at vfa.vic.gov.au/about/news/vfa.vic.gov.au/fishingguide
