Grampians region lakes and waterways have received tens of thousands of new trout in 2017 under a state government plan to boost regional tourism and recreation.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The state government said that a new record for releases had been set that would substantially improve freshwater fishing opportunities for keen anglers and their families.
Increasing fish stocking under the ‘Target One Million’ plan aimed to grow participation in the popular pastime to one million anglers by 2020.
Nearly 140 waters throughout the state shared in the stocking milestone including:
Western Victorian water bodies to receive new trout included:
- Lake Toolondo: 16,800
- Lake Fyans: 20,000
- Lake Burrumbeet: 15,000
- Green Hill Lake: 4000
- Hepburn Lagoon: 10,000
- Lake Wendouree: 28,750
- Lake Purrumbete: 32,500
- Hopkins River: 6000
- Tullaroop Reservoir: 53,000
Victorian Agriculture Minister and Western Victoria MP Jaala Pulford said the fish release program was making a real difference for anglers.
“2017 has seen fish stocking records tumble for recreational anglers across Victoria and there remains even more to look forward to,” she said.
“From historic Lake Tooolondo in our far west, right up to our north east – we aren’t leaving any angler dry on their quest to reel in a catch.”
Most of the new fish were yearling brown trout, rainbow trout and Chinook salmon grown at the Victorian Fisheries Authority’s Snobs Creek hatchery.
The release of native fish has already begun this summer season with Australian bass, estuary perch and Murray cod, then golden perch
More than four million native fish will be stocked this summer, which when combined with 2017’s one million trout will deliver on Target One Million’s commitment to stock five million fish.
For the full list of waters stocked this year visit vfa.vic.gov.au/troutstocking2017 or check out the new stocking database for all fish releases at www.vfa.vic.gov.au/database.