Benalla’s recreational fishermen and women should have a little more luck in the coming months thanks to local waterways being stocked before the school holidays.
There are several waterways stocked, with the nearest to the Rose city being Glenrowan recreational Reserve.
The stocking program saw 8000 catchable-sized rainbow trout released into 14 lakes across the region.
The stockings, from Marysville to Wodonga, are part of almost 35,000 fish going into more than 70 lakes across the state, just in time for the end of term.
State Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes said the statewide fish-stocking blitz was funded by recreational fishing licence fees and the Victorian Government’s $35 million Go Fishing Victoria plan to get more people fishing, more often.
“By stocking waterways across the region, we are giving locals and visitors the best opportunity to catch a fish over the school holidays,” Ms Symes said.
“What better way to spend the school holidays than with family and friends by the water — and we are giving everyone a better chance at getting the catch of the day.”
The family-friendly waterways provide the perfect opportunity for those new to fishing to give it a go as most feature fishing platforms, bank-side tracks and picnic areas, which create safe and convenient access for families.
Rainbow trout are perfect for kids and newcomers to the pastime because they are easy to catch and take a range of bait, such as worms and Powerbait, and lures, too.
The trout were grown by the Victorian Fisheries Authority at its Snobs Creek hatchery, which played a huge part in stocking a record-breaking 10 million fish last season including nearly two million trout and salmon.
Stocked waters in the north-east for the September school holidays include:
- Allans Flat Dredge Hole;
- Anderson Lake;
- Arboretum Dam;
- Eildon Pondage Weir;
- Felltimber Creek Wetlands;
- Glenrowan Rec Reserve;
- Longwood Golf Course Dam;
- Marysville Lake;
- Merriwa Park;
- Sambell Lake;
- Stanley Ditch Dam;
- Sumsion Gardens Lake;
- Harrietville Dredge Hole;
- Upper Sandy Creek Dam.
A daily bag limit of five trout applies to family fishing lakes, of which only two trout can exceed 35cm.
For the statewide list of stocked waters these holidays, visit www.vfa.vic.gov.au/holidaytrout