Holiday trout treats for young anglers

by Alan Everett on 21 Sep 2011

DPI Fisheries Officers release rainbow trout SW

Thousands of ready-to-catch trout are being released into urban lakes across Melbourne and larger rural centres for the September school holidays.

Executive Director of Fisheries Victoria, Anthony Hurst, said 60 small lakes would be stocked with rainbow trout.

'With the approaching warmer weather, what better time to be outdoors,' Mr Hurst said.

'Fishing is a great way to enjoy the environment and get the kids out of the house.

'These lakes provide an ideal opportunity for kids to experience the sport of fishing.

'Rainbow trout take a variety of baits and lures and provide a range of angling experiences.

'The waters have been selected because they are close to urban centres or regional towns and provide a great opportunity for children to learn about fishing.

'Most also provide easy access with a variety of fishing platforms and bank-side tracks.

'Rainbow trout are relatively easy to catch and the fish being released are advanced yearlings, suitable for immediate capture.

'The number of fish we release varies depending upon the size of the water body and the ease of access.'

Mr Hurst said the stocking program will overlap the school holidays and some waters would not get their quota until early in the first week (see table below).

Anglers are reminded that a daily bag limit of five trout applies, of which only two can exceed 35cm.

To find the closest family fishing lake to you, consult the chart below.

Families who can’t make one of the fishing spots this year can catch up on all the latest fisheries news at the DPI display at this year’s Royal Melbourne Show.

Family Fishing Lakes:
Water	Location:	Species	Number Stocked
GIPPSLAND

Heyfield Racecourse Dam	Heyfield	RT	200
Hyland Lake	Churchill	RT	1,000
Morwell Lake	Morwell	RT	750

NORTH-EAST

Allans Flat Dredge Hole	Allans Flat	RT	350
Arboretum Dam	Euroa	RT	200
Cummins Reserve Lake	Yea	RT	200
Eildon Pondage Weir	Eildon	RT	2,000
Felltimber Creek Wetlands	Wodonga	RT	250
Golf Course Dam	Longwood	RT	200
Les Stone Park Lake	Wodonga	RT	100
Marysville Lake	Marysville	RT	450
Mooroopna Rec. Res. Lake	Mooroopna	RT	100
Sambell Lake	Beechworth	RT	750
Stanley Ditch Dam	Stanley	RT	500
Victoria Lake	Shepparton	RT	300
Wodonga Racecourse Lake	Wodonga	RT	1,000
Yalumba Drive Lake	Wodonga	RT	100

NORTH WEST
Foletti Caravan Park Lake	Donald	RT	300
Forest Lake	Kangaroo Flat	RT	200
Kennington Reservoir	Strathdale	RT	500
St.Arnaud Old Swimming Pool	St. Arnaud	RT	200
Tchum Lake	Birchip	RT	1,000
Tom Thumb Lake	Eaglehawk	RT	200

PORT PHILLIP
Bannockburn Lagoon	Bannockburn	RT	250
Casey Fields Lake *	Cranbourne	RT	500
Caulfield Racecourse **	Caulfield	RT	300
Darlingford Lake	Melton	RT	300
Don Lake	Healesville	RT	250
Emerald Lake *	Emerald	RT	500
Hanging Rock Lake	Woodend	RT	300
Jack Roper Reserve *	Campbellfiled	RT	300
Karkarook Lake	Moorabbin	RT	1,000
Lethbridge Lake	Lethbridge	RT	250
Lilydale Lake	Lilydale	RT	800
Navan Park Lake **	Melton	RT	300
Rowville Lakes Sutton L.**	Rowville	RT	400
Rowville Lakes Hill L. **	Rowville	RT	150
Roxburgh Park Lakes *	Roxburgh Park	RT	250
Seagull Lake	Geelong	RT	800
St. Augustines Water Hole	Geelong	RT	400
Yarrambat Lake *	Yarrambat	RT	600

SOUTH WEST
Alexandra Lake	Ararat	RT	200
Calembeen Lake	Creswick	RT	200
Cato Lake	Stawell	RT	300
Cobden Lake	Cobden	RT	100
Coleraine Lagoon	Coleraine	RT	250
Old Dunkeld Arboretum	Dunkeld	RT	200
Esmond Lake	Ballarat	RT	200
Ess Lagoon	Casterton	RT	500
Glenlyon Dam	Glenlyon	RT	200
Great Western Racing Rec Reserve Lake	Great Western	RT	200
Haddon Reservoir	Haddon	RT	200
Jack Emmett Lagoon	Rupanyup	RT	300
Jubilee Lake	Daylesford	RT	200
Minyip Wetlands	Minyip	RT	200
Jubilee Lake	Skipton	RT	250
Nhill Lake	Nhill	RT	200
Old Hamilton Reservoir	Hamilton	RT	200
Police Paddock Dam	Horsham	RT	300
Rabl Park Lake	Murtoa	RT	300
Tea Tree Lake	Mortlake	RT	200
Victoria Lakes	Ballarat	RT	400