River Trout season closes but lake fishing is on fire

Brown Trout with a Hueys Sunset Lure © Carl Hyland

Trout fishing is booming in Victoria but now is the time to give our rivers a break to let the wild fish spawn.

This time of year, our lakes and impoundments are firing, with recent reports that brown trout and rainbows have turned on in most of our lakes.

"Some of the most productive trout-fishing lakes recently have been Lake Purrumbete and Lake Eildon where anglers have been landing stocked brown trout between 1 and 6kg using a variety of methods.

Don't forget some of the waterways closer to Melbourne such as Lauriston Reservoir and Hepburn Lagoon offer great fishing too".

Recreational anglers are being reminded that the trout fishing season in Victorian rivers officially closes at midnight 11 June this year.

Victorian Fisheries Authority CEO, Travis Dowling, said the closure remains in place until 31 August.

"The Queen's Birthday long weekend provides freshwater anglers with their last chance to catch trout in most of our rivers before the season finishes up," Mr Dowling said.

"Although most streams and rivers close during winter, anglers can still fish for trout and salmon in Victorian lakes and reservoirs, which remain open year-round.

We'd like to remind anglers that minimum legal sizes now exist for trout in Lake Toolondo (45 cm for brown trout and 30cm for rainbow trout) and Hepburn Lagoon (45 cm for brown and rainbow trout) to help produce more trophy sized fish."

Mr Dowling said the three-month trout and salmon closed season applies only to rivers and streams. However, new regulations introduced last year mean the Hopkins River and the Merri River remain open to trout fishing year-round, and sections of sea-run rivers, such as the Aire, Gellibrand, Hopkins, Merri and Moyne, remain open too.

"Victorian Fisheries Authority stocks more than 130 lakes annually with trout and salmon so there are still plenty of inland fishing opportunities available to keep anglers happy during winter."

Mr Dowling said the state-wide fish stocking program helped maintain productive trout fisheries and was funded by recreational fishing licence fees and the State Government's record $46m investment in the 'Target One Million' plan, which aims to get one million Victorians fishing by 2020 and boost fish stocking.

"Over the last year we've stocked more than 6 million fish, which more than delivers on the Target One Million commitment to stock 5 million. This is great news for fishers and their families who want to wet a line and spend time together in great outdoors.

Other stocked lakes worth a visit during winter include:

To search trout stocking records for your favourite water visit: vfa.vic.gov.au/db

Mr Dowling said trout fishing in rivers would re-open at midnight on Friday 31 August 2018. For detailed information about the trout and salmon closed season, visit: www.vfa.vic.gov.au/troutclosedseason