Over the school holidays, think about taking the kids fishing!
Thousands of rainbow trout have been stocked in more than 80 lakes across Victoria thanks to the state government’s Family Fishing Lakes program. Glenlyon Dam and Jubilee Lake are two local waterways included. Other nearby lakes include Nursery Reservoir in Macedon, Quarry Street Reserve Lake in Trentham, Hanging Rock Lake in Woodend and Walter J Smith Reserve in Riddells Creek. Most Family Fishing Lakes feature pontoons or jetties, good access paths and parking for fishers of all abilities as well as other nearby facilities like barbecues and toilets.
For the full list of waterways stocked for these school holidays, visit www.vfa.vic.gov.au/holidaytrout.
The state-wide stocking program released almost 10 million fish in 2022, with the majority produced at Snobs Creek and the VFA’s native hatchery at Arcadia, near Shepparton. Rainbow trout are the ideal catch for budding fishers as they take a variety of widely available baits like worms or PowerBait.
The program is supported by the reinvestment of recreational fishing licence fees and the state government’s $96 million investment to improve fishing, boating, piers and aquaculture.
Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas said fish stocked into local lakes would encourage families to make lasting memories in the great outdoors and get kids interested in a new hobby. “There are family fishing lakes throughout our region featuring easy access, regular stockings of catchable-size fish and many are in or not far from town, so the kids can jump on their bikes to try their luck,” said Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas.
In Family Fishing Lakes, a daily bag limit of five trout applies, of which only two trout can exceed 35 centimetres. More information about bag and size limits, permitted equipment and licensing can be found in the Victorian Recreational Fishing Guide, available free from most bait and tackle shops, online at vfa.vic.gov.au/fishingguide or via the free ‘Vic Fishing’ app on your smartphone.
