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Free Fishing Festival Returns To Goulburn River

17 August 2022

A free fishing festival that celebrates the opening of trout season and gives fishers the chance to catch a stonker rainbow trout up to five kilograms – will return to the Goulburn River next month.

Minister for Fishing and Boating Sonya Kilkenny said the Goulburn Fishing Festival will be held on Saturday 3 September from 9am to 3pm at the Eildon Community Centre.

The festival comes as part of the Andrews Labor Government’s $35 million Go Fishing Victoria plan to get more people fishing, more often.

Activities at the festival will include children’s fishing clinics with experts, fly-fishing lessons, prizes and raffles, and tours of the Victorian Fisheries Authority’s Snobs Creek hatchery nearby – which grows trout and native fish for the statewide stocking program.

There will also be trout stockings into the Eildon Pondage on the day for people to try their luck casting a line.

A total of 10 stocking sites along the Goulburn River, between Eildon and Molesworth, will share in 1500 trout, with Eildon Pondage set to receive 500.

Stonker trout formed part of the record-breaking stocking effort of 10 million fish released right across Victoria over the past year – a national record.

For more information, including a map of the 10 stocking sites, visit www.vfa.vic.gov.au/goulburnfishfestExternal Link

Victorian rivers and streams officially open to trout fishing on Saturday 3 September 2022. All lakes, including Lake Eildon and the Eildon Pondage, are open to trout fishing year-round.

Quote attributable to Minister for Fishing and Boating Sonya Kilkenny

“The Goulburn Fishing Festival provides a great opportunity for keen anglers to try their luck catching their first ever fish with experts on hand – and it’s great to see it returning to the area next month.”

Quote attributable to Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes

“This festival will encourage more people to the Goulburn River and makes for a great day out – giving families and kids the chance to try fishing – perhaps for the first time – with the support from experts.”

Reviewed 17 August 2022

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