Fishers and families are being asked to roll up their sleeves and help release thousands of rainbow and brown trout into Waroona's Drakesbrook Weir again this year.
Recfishwest, the state's peak recreational fishing body, is partnering with the Shire of Waroona to host the fifth annual Troutfest community fish stocking event on Saturday, October 2.
Showcasing the Peel region's trout and freshwater fishery, the event will give the community the chance to help release thousands of rainbow and brown trout of various sizes.
Troutfest celebrates the freshwater fishery in the state's south, with about 8,000 freshwater licence holders fishing the South West and the Peel region's freshwater waterways.
As well as giving the community a chance to hand release trout, Troutfest will also feature free fly-casting tuition, fly-tying demonstrations and the opportunity to catch a trout.
Troutfest is supported by Alcoa, Bunbury Anaconda, WA Trout and Freshwater Angling Association (WATFAA) and the WA branch of the Australian Trout Foundation (ATF).
More than 300 people joined last year's Troutfest.
"Troutfest has become a much-loved part of WA's fishing calendar since its inception in 2017, with many families and fishers keen to help release trout," Recfishwest chief executive Dr Andrew Rowland said.
"It is part of a well-managed stocking program, using hatchery-reared trout grown from freshwater fishing licence revenue from the Recreational Fishing Initiatives Fund (RFIF). Freshwater fishing is a popular pastime and there are many spots between Waroona to Pemberton where anglers have the chance to enjoy the great outdoors and catch a great fish in serene settings."
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 bred at Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development's (DPIRD) 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 stock of bred trout in the South West.
To sign up for the upcoming Troutfest event at Drakesbrook Weir on October 2 from 10am to 1pm, visit the Shire of Waroona website or contact the shire on 9733 7800.
Fast facts
- Brown trout and rainbow trout have been stocked in South West freshwaters for fishing since the late 1890s forming the backbone of WA's South West freshwater fishery.
- Thousands of brown and rainbow trout will be released at Drakesbrook Weir as part of Shire of Waroona's Troutfest community fish stocking event this year on 2 October from 10am.
- WA recfishers spend $2.4 billion on fishing each year of which $1.8 billion is spent on fishing trips with freshwater fishing participation providing a boost to South West regional towns.