From the Minister Responsible for Fisheries

Tuesday 15 April, 2008

TIME TO CATCH SOME FISHING FUN AT LAKE HYLAND

Victorian families looking for a fun outing should make their way to the free Family Fishing Festival at Churchill’s Lake Hyland on Saturday (April 19), the Minister Responsible for Fisheries Joe Helper said today.

Mr Helper said the event was the first such festival at Lake Hyland this year. It is also the first in a series of events planned for Victoria’s five Premier Lakes – Lake Hyland, Eildon Pondage, Lillydale Lake, Jubilee Lake and Kennington Reservoir – across the next 12 months.

Last year, Fisheries Victoria and partner organisations hosted five Family Fishing events at three of these lakes.

“More than 500 families, including 1,000 children, participated with 96 per cent rating their experience in the fishing workshops as ‘good’ or ‘fantastic’,” Mr Helper said.

“This Saturday’s Family Fishing Festival at Lake Hyland will feature instructed fishing workshops for children (4–16 yrs), casting and knot tying clinics, the ever popular Flathead Fred shows, a range of entertainment for younger children, cooking demonstrations, fishing prizes and giveaways.”

Lake Hyland is stocked with ‘ready to catch’ rainbow trout including premier trout (> 1 kg) as part of Fisheries Victoria’s annual fish stocking program which aims to improve freshwater fishing opportunities.

Registered participants will not require a fishing licence on the day.

Mr Helper said following Saturday’s program at Lake Hyland, further family fishing days will be held at:

Eildon Pondage (Eildon) on May 17;
Kennington Reservoir (Bendigo) on August 10;
Lillydale Lake (Lilydale) on September 20;
Jubilee Lake (Daylesford) on October 18.

Families are strongly encouraged to pre-register to reserve workshop places, which are limited, by calling the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Customer Service Centre on 136 186.

Family Fishing events are a major component of the Government’s Go Fishing in Victoria initiative launched in 2006.

This $3.2 million initiative is part of the Government’s Moving Forward statement and aims to increase opportunities for recreational fishing across provincial Victoria by improving facilities and promoting fishing as a fun and healthy outdoor family activity.

To view a timetable of activities for the Lake Hyland Family Fishing Festival or to learn more about the Go Fishing in Victoria initiative visit www.dpi.vic.gov.au/gofishing