Recfishwest was proud to join the day’s celebrations alongside the Shire of Waroona, DPIRD, freshwater fishing groups and community organisations to mark the milestone.
We are also grateful for the support of our community fish stocking partners, Daiwa.
Recfishwest Operations Lead Matt Gillett said seeing a record crowd turn out for the 10th anniversary showed just how much the event – and freshwater fishing – meant to the community.
“Seeing so many families getting hands-on and helping release these trout is what Troutfest is all about – connecting people with the fishery and creating fishing experiences that can be enjoyed for years to come,” Matt said.
“To see the event grow over the past decade and have so many people come together for its 10th anniversary is a fantastic reflection of the passion people have for freshwater fishing in the Peel region and a testimony to the hard work of the Shire of Waroona and the many people who make Troutfest happen every year.”
A decade on, Troutfest has become a much-loved South-West tradition, bringing the community together and giving people the unique experience of releasing radiant rainbows and beautiful brown trout into their new home.
Shire of Waroona President Mike Walmsley said the record turn-out was a fitting way to mark the event’s 10-year milestone.
“Families, fishing enthusiasts and visitors really embraced the day, and it was wonderful to see so many people enjoying the weir and taking part in the community trout release,” he said. “It was an outstanding result for Waroona.”
Waroona Troutfest forms part of DPIRD’s broader annual trout stocking program, which this year will see 77,100 rainbow trout and 500 brown trout stocked across rivers, streams and dams throughout the South-West.
The program is informed by Recfishwest’s Freshwater Fishing Reference Group which provides advice to DPIRD on where and how many trout should be stocked in a range of South-West waterways.
A freshwater fishing licence-free period is also running through to the end of the Southern Forests Trout Festival on Sunday, October 11, giving people the chance to wet a line without needing a freshwater angling licence and experience the South-West’s freshwater fishery for themselves.
A big thank you to DPIRD for its ongoing work supporting WA’s freshwater fishery and creating quality fishing opportunities across the South-West and to the Shire of Waroona for once again organising such a fantastic event.
Check out the highlights from this years event in the video below!
