Trout opening festival expands to include Ballarat

by Nick Foster on 12 Aug 2016 To welcome the opening of the 2016 trout fishing season in rivers the popular Goulburn Fishing Festival will be joined by a similar family-friendly event at Ballarat this year on Saturday 3 September.

Fisheries Victoria Executive Director, Travis Dowling, said the State Government’s Target One Million plan for recreational fishing had committed to expanding the Goulburn Fishing Festival and Ballarat was the perfect location for a second event to celebrate all things trout fishing.

“The Goulburn Fishing Festival promotes the diverse range of freshwater fishing opportunities in the region including Lake Eildon, the Eildon Pondage, the Goulburn River and all of its tributaries,” Mr Dowling said.

“The festival features fun and free activities for the whole family from 10am until 4pm, with fireworks over the Pondage at 7pm.

“Activities will include fishing clinics from experts focusing on freshwater species such as trout, redfin and native fish, flyfishing lessons and the opportunity to help release live trout.

“There will also be displays showcasing fishing tackle and local produce, cooking demonstrations, free children’s entertainment including face painting, a jumping castle and colouring, and afternoon entertainment at the Golden Trout Hotel.

“A highlight will be guided tours of the department’s hatchery at Snobs Creek where fish, such as trout and Murray cod, are grown for the statewide stocking program, which is funded largely by fishing licence fees.

“At Ballarat, the festival will be based on the shores of Lake Wendouree opposite Loreto College from 9am until 3pm, with free tours of the Ballarat Fish Acclimatisation Society’s trout hatchery nearby every half hour from 9.30am.

“Similar things are planned at Ballarat including free activities for children, fish stocking into the lake that people can get involved in, cooking demonstrations and samples, prizes and raffles, and fishing tuition from local experts.

For more information, including event schedules, visit website.

Victorian rivers and streams officially open to trout fishing at midnight on Friday 2 September. All lakes, including Wendouree, are open year-round.