Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford today joined hundreds of anglers on the foreshore of Lake Wendouree to celebrate the Ballarat Fishing Festival.
The free festival celebrated all the wonderful trout fishing available throughout Victoria and marked the start of the 2018/19 trout fishing season in rivers.
The festival was funded by the Andrews Labor Government’s Target One Million plan, which is investing a record $46 million to get more people fishing, more often.
Lots of happy children took advantage of the opportunity to pour buckets of live trout into the lake with help from parents and expert staff from the Victorian Fisheries Authority’s Snobs Creek hatchery where the fish are grown.
The fish included 1,000 rainbow trout averaging 250 grams and 25 goliath ex-broods weighing up to 4kg each, some of which were caught on the day.
Those fish joined thousands of rainbow trout and brown trout already in Lake Wendouree, which are stocked annually as part of the VFA’s state-wide program to improve freshwater fisheries.
Other festival highlights included:
- Tours of the Ballarat Fish Acclimatisation Society’s trout hatchery, which is mainland Australia’s oldest established in 1870;
- Free fishing lessons with Fishcare volunteers who explained the basics of rigging and baiting up, casting and what to do when the kids got a nibble;
- Fly tying demonstrations from local experts, including a few that will likely be Father’s Day presents tomorrow; and
- Tasting marvellous seafood dishes prepared on the spot during several cooking demonstrations.
Quote attributable to Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford
“Father’s Day came early for lots of families today with smiling kids holding their first trout and photographs destined for the fridges of grandparents this Christmas.”
Quote attributable to Member for Wendouree Sharon Knight
“We want the next generation of anglers to discover the joys of getting outside with family and friends, connecting with nature and bringing home a feed of fresh fish for the dinner table.”
Quote attributable to Member for Buninyong Geoff Howard
“This is great family fun day out and it has something for everyone – from food lovers to keen anglers and for those casting a line for the first time, I hope you made the most of it and keep enjoying our great outdoors.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020