Reel fun awaits as holiday trout hit lakes

18 September 2026

Victorian families have even more reasons to get outdoors these spring school holidays, with nearly 40,000 rainbow trout being stocked in lakes across the state.

Seventy-five lakes are being stocked ahead of the school holidays, including popular fishing spots Karkarook Lake in Heatherton, Allans Flat Dredge Hole in Yackandandah, Hyland Lake in Churchill, Tchum Lake in Birchip, Cato Lake in Stawell and Pertobe Lake in Warrnambool.

Backed by the Victorian Government’s $96 million Go Fishing and Boating plan and fishing licence fees, Victoria stocks more fish than all other states and territories combined.

The rainbow trout are just some of the 30 million fish the Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) has released into the state’s waters over the past three years, as part of its record-breaking stocking program.

VFA CEO Travis Dowling said our Family Fishing Lakes program provides a fun, free and all-ages activity for youngsters looking for outdoor adventures these holidays.

“Fishing is a great way for parents to spend quality time with the kids and keep them off screens and grounded in nature,” Mr Dowling said.

The rainbow trout being released are grown at the iconic Snobs Creek hatchery and weigh approximately 180 grams each, making them a great size for newcomers to fishing.

Rainbow trout are an ideal species for beginners because they take a variety of widely available, low-cost baits and can also be caught with lures cast from the shore. Anglers are reminded that a daily bag limit of 5 trout applies, of which only 2 can exceed 35 centimetres.

Many family fishing lakes feature fishing platforms, walking tracks and playground and barbecue facilities ensuring families and fishing enthusiasts can make a day of it together.

To view the full list of Family Fishing Lakes visit vfa.vic.gov.au/holidaytrout.

For more tips and tricks on catching fish during the school holidays, check out our instructional videos and vfa.vic.gov.au/littleanglerkits

More information about permitted equipment and licensing can also be found in the Victorian Recreational Fishing Guide, available free from most bait and tackle shops, online at vfa.vic.gov.au/fishingguide or via the free ‘Vic Fishing’ app on your smartphone.