Victorian Outdoor Recreation Minister Sonya Kilkenny announced the annual free festival will celebrate all that fishing in the Goulburn region has to offer and encouraged all fishers to get involved.
“The Goulburn Fishing Festival is a wonderful opportunity to visit regional Victoria, tour a fish hatchery and introduce the kids to fishing in a safe and supportive environment,” she said.
The festival promises to offer something for every angler, whatever their experience level.
It is part of the Victorian Government’s $96 million investment to improve fishing, boating, piers and aquaculture over the next four years.
Some 1500 giant rainbow trout have been stocked across 10 stocking sites between Eildon and Molesworth, with an extra 500 fish stocked at the Eildon Pondage.
Based at Eildon’s Lions Park, the festival features free activities for the whole family.
A fishing clinic will teach the next generation of anglers how to cast, bait up and net a fish, with free bait and tackle provided and experienced instructors on hand.
Fly casting lessons will also be on offer from the Australian Trout Foundation, giving more experienced fishers the opportunity to take their skills to the next level.
There will also be face painting, plaster art painting, market stalls, prizes and raffles — with fireworks over the pondage at 7pm.
Fisheries officers and Better Boating Victoria staff will also be on deck to answer questions from anglers.
Tours of the Victorian Fisheries Authority’s popular Snobs Creek hatchery will be on offer for the community to see first-hand how millions of trout and native fish are grown annually for the statewide stocking program.
Youngsters will also be able to help with trout releases into the Eildon Pondage on the day.
Victorian rivers and streams officially open to trout fishing on Saturday, September 2.
All lakes, including Lake Eildon and the Eildon Pondage, are open to trout fishing year-round.
For more information, visit vfa.vic.gov.au/goulburnfishfest
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