Freshwater fishing in WA’s South West can take you to places that are nothing short of breathtaking.
There is no better time to get out with your friends or family and enjoy fishing the beautiful streams and rivers or dams in the South West than the upcoming spring months.
Trout are stocked each year in WA to provide anglers a unique opportunity to chase this prized fish among some of nature’s finest backdrops in our southern forests. These hatchery-reared trout are grown using money from freshwater fishing licences and will be stocked over winter and spring.
Earlier in the year, Recfishwest’s Freshwater Fishing Reference Group members met to discuss freshwater fishing matters including recommending stocking numbers and locations to the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
Recfishwest is pleased to be able to share with you that this year’s freshwater fishing season will see a greater number of larger trout stocked in South West waterways than in previous years, allowing fishers greater opportunities to land one of these special fish!
This year’s stocking will include 685,000 rainbow fry, 6,500 advanced rainbow yearlings, 11,100 rainbow yearlings, 2,500 ex-broodstock rainbows, 500 ex-broodstock browns and 6,000 brown yearlings. That brings the grand total to over 700,000 trout for all of us to catch.
Check out the stocking location recommendations here!
If you would like to get your hands dirty and help us to stock some trout this year, you can come along to our annual Troutfest event at Drakesbrook Weir at 10am on Saturday, August 31. Let us know you’re coming by completing the form below.
This stocking event celebrates the traditional start of the freshwater fishing season by providing the community the opportunity to hand-release a few thousand trout into the waterway. The day will include the release of both rainbow and brown trout in sizes from fry (5cm) right up to ex-brood stock fish (>40cm).
Troutfest also gives people the chance to try their hand at freshwater angling as it coincides with the annual licence-free weekend. This is a great opportunity to give freshwater fishing a go for free whilst celebrating father’s day weekend. There will also be:
- Free rod hire and tuition;
- Free freshwater tackle and rigging information;
- Free fly casting lessons and demonstrations by the Western Australian Trout Fishing Association Australia;
- Free kids casting challenge;
- Fisheries Education freshwater fish display;
- Australian Trout Foundation promotion (find out about all the places you can go freshwater fishing!);
- Hooked Gear Clothing for sale;
- Coarse fishing demonstrations (European style of fishing);
- Lions Club Sausage sizzle;
- Coffee Van;
- Shuttle bus to and from the Waroona Recreation and Aquatic Centre (departing every 30 mins); and,
- Plenty of experts to learn from on the day.
Click here to see a map of all the activities for the day
For many this fishery is clouded in mystery, where in reality it is all about getting into the bush, having a cast and enjoying some of the best parts of WA. So why not bring the family along and be a part of something special! Let us know you can make it by registering below:
A big thank you to Alcoa for supporting Troutfest 2019.
Troutfest 2019
Sign up form for the 2019 Troutfest event at Drakesbrook Dam on the 31st of August 10am - 1:30pm.
