By Corey Everitt
Lakes across the South East have been restocked with fish, ready for school holiday fishing.
Authorities recently released 750 rainbow trout into Berwick Springs Estate’s lake, currently swimming around waiting for an appetising meal that might deceptively be the hook of a local angler.
It was part of a regular restocking of Victoria’s fresh water fishing spots to promote young fishers to get outdoors in school breaks throughout the year.
In 2022, Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) released just under 10 million fish into the state’s waters.
The VFA release rainbow trout for recreational fishing at an average size of about 20 to 25 centimetres.
Rainbow trout is an abundant freshwater fish across the state; the colder months in the middle of the year is the most ideal time to target.
They can be caught in just about any fashion, either with bait or lures, or even the more advanced fly fishing.
You can use almost any form of bait from worms to mudeye – powerbait is highly effective as stocked trout are typical familiar with it.
Berwick Springs Estate’s lake is not the only place to be restocked in the South East for the holidays, other spots include:
* Pakenham Lakeside – 750 stocked;
* Casey Fields Lake – 750 stocked;
* Emerald Lake – 500 stocked;
* Garfield Lake – 150 stocked; and
* Lilliput Lane Reserve – 100 stocked.
When fishing these holidays, it must be remembered a limit of five trout can be bagged a day under VFA’s limits, with trout more than 35 centimetres being limited to two.
