Tasmanian anglers are being promised a bumper trout season, with thousands of fish now swimming around lakes in the Central Highlands.
The Inland Fisheries Service (IFS) has confirmed that thanks to recent rainfall, most planned adult brown trout stockings have been completed.
“With crucial help from Hydro Tasmania the gates at Lake Augusta were opened and the water held in storage flowed downstream into Liawenee Canal, with wild brown trout wasting no time swimming straight into our fish trapping area,” a spokesperson said.
“Holding water and releasing later in the spawning run allowed us to salvage part of our fish collection efforts from yingina / Great Lake this year.”
The IFS has also been stocking Four Springs Lake, Penstock Lagoon, Curries River Reservoir, South Riana Dam and Nineteen Lagoons.
In total, over 7,500 wild adult brown trout have been stocked into assisted fisheries in time for the season opening on August 3.
The IFS has also stocked 14,500 triploid rainbow trout averaging 500 grams into lakes across the state, 365 brook trout into Lake Plimsol and 100 brook trout into Clarence Lagoon.
“To complement our adult fish stockings, we currently have 100,000 brown trout and 30,000 rainbow trout eggs being incubated at our New Norfolk hatchery and the Salmon Ponds,” the spokesperson said.
“Once ready, these fry will be used to stock a small number of fisheries within the state.”
Those fishing inland waters from Saturday must have a current angling licence, follow daily bag limits and use the correct gear.
