Get ready to roll up your sleeves, Troutfest is returning this Saturday, 7 September at Drakesbrook Weir in Waroona!
As the peak fishing sector body, we are also pleased the Government took on board our recommendation to make it a freshwater fishing licence-free weekend, as well as the 13-14th of October which coincides with the Pemberton Trout Festival and National Gone Fishing Day.
Troutfest gives mums, dads and kids the unique chance to release radiant rainbow and beautiful brown trout into this picturesque South-West waterway to celebrate WA’s freshwater fishery, as well as having a crack at freshwater fishing. This weekend you won’t need an annual freshwater fishing licence to do so either!
The fishing is always better when the fish are biting in greater abundance and this is a great example of how fish stocking helps keep the fun in fishing.
Along with the community having the chance to help these trout swim off into their new home, free rod hire, fly-casting tuitions, fly-tying demonstrations and trout fishing tips are also on offer, along with food and drink stalls.
Check out what you can expect to see at Troutfest this weekend in the video below!
Recfishwest is once again partnering with the Shire of Waroona, Alcoa and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) to host the eighth annual Troutfest community fish stocking event, which has helped thousands of rainbow and brown trout dive and thrive into Drakesbrook Weir since 2017.
This event was first initiated and supported by local fishing clubs including the Australian Trout Foundation (ATF), Southern Forests Freshwater Angling Club (SFFAC) and Western Australian Trout and Freshwater Angling Association (WATFAA).
“Troutfest has become a welcome fixture on WA’s fishing calendar since its inception in 2017 and Recfishwest always looks forward to celebrating this fantastic fishery and allowing families to stock these stunning fish into their new homes,” said Recfishwest CEO Dr Andrew Rowland.
“The continuing popularity of our Troutfest events showcases how fun and popular freshwater fishing is and how WA’s freshwater stocking program underpins this highly valued fishery. We’re proud to support DPIRD’s trout stocking program through the great work and advice of our Freshwater Fishing Reference Group.”
Each year, trout are stocked at various popular freshwater fishing rivers and dams, including Drakesbrook Weir, Harvey Dam, Waroona Dam, Collie River and Brunswick River. The released trout are hatched and reared at DPIRD’s Pemberton-based trout hatchery through the trout stocking program.
Recfishwest, through its Freshwater Fisheries Reference Group, offers advice to DPIRD on where to stock each year’s cohort of hatchery-bred trout to the optimum benefit of freshwater anglers.
Recfishwest thanks DPIRD, The Shire of Waroona, Alcoa, Daiwa, Healthway, Fishability and Act, Belong, Commit for their support in making this much-loved family-friendly event a reality.
Wanting to come along to Troutfest? Make sure you’re there before 10:30am so you don’t miss out on hand-releasing the fish!
