| From the Department of Primary Industries
Thursday 8 May, 2008
LEARN TO FISH WITH THE FAMILY AT EILDON PONDAGE
Victorian families looking for a fun outing should make their way to the free Family Fishing
Festival at the Eildon Pondage on Saturday 17 May, Executive Director Fisheries Victoria, Dr
Peter Appleford said today.
Mr Appleford said the first Family Fishing Festival held at Eildon Pondage last year proved to
be very popular and attracted families from as far as away as Shepparton, Point Lonsdale and
Seaford.
“Ninety six per cent of families that participated in last year’s Festival in May said they
planned to return to fish at the Pondage, while 83 per cent said their fishing knowledge had
improved considerably as a result of the day,” Mr Appleford said.
The Festival will feature informative and fun activities including 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, a chef demonstrating techniques for cooking fish,
and fishing prizes and give-aways.
Registered participants will not require a fishing licence on the day.
Families are strongly encouraged to pre-register to reserve workshop places, which are limited,
by calling the DPI Customer Service Centre on 136 186.
The Eildon Pondage 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.
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 Eildon Pondage Family Fishing Festival or to learn
more about the Go Fishing in Victoria initiative visit www.dpi.vic.gov.au/gofishing.
More Family Fishing Festivals are scheduled this year at Kennington Reservoir (Bendigo) on
10 August; Lillydale Lake on 20 September and Jubilee Lake (Daylesford) on 18 October.
|
