Salmonid Fish Releases 1999

Note Number: FN0151
Published: March 2000

Fisheries Victoria Salmonid Stocking Plan

Stocking Plans are developed annually as part of the management consultation process between Fisheries Victoria and DNRE Regional staff. The meetings consider the performance of existing stocking programs, the results of stock assessment surveys, creel or C/ERP survey data, and anything else that has or might impact on the ongoing fishery e.g. environmental conditions, water levels.

Requests by client groups for changes to current stocking programs and the implementation of new stocking pro-grams are considered. VRFish, the Victorian Recreational Fishing Peak Body, represents recreational anglers at these meetings.

Stocking Plans are subject to 'last minute' variation due to natural factors e.g. flood, drought, or man-made impacts such as excessive algal blooms, major works on storages, etc. Explanatory notes are provided where a planned release has been amended. DNRE Regional staff and VRFish agree to amendments before implementation.

While part of the overall Salmonid Stocking Plan, the 'Small Waters Stocking Program' is reported separately.

Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout

Water Stocked	Date	Fish Size	Brown Trout	Rainbow Trout
Aringa Res., Port Fairy	5	8-9	500	1 000
Barwon R., Ceres	7	8	*3 000	-
Batyo Catyo L., Donald	8	9	-	2 000
Beaufort L., Beaufort	8	8	500	-
Berwick Springs Estate	-	-	-	-
L., Berwick	7-10	9-10	-	2 000
Blue Rock L., Willow Grove	12	9-10	7 170	-
Bostock Res., Ballan	U/S	-	-	-
Bullarto Res., Bullarto	8	8	1 000	-
Bullen Merri L., Camperdown	9-11	9-10+	*10 000	*15 000
(See also 'Part 2 - Authorized Client Group Stocking')
Cairn Curran Res., Maldon	6-10	8-9	*20 000	-
Cartcarrong L, Winslow	9	8	1 000	-
Colbrook Res., Ballan	8	8	200	-
Colongulac L., Camperdown	11-12	10	*8 830	-
Cosgrove Res., Creswick	4	8	1 000	-
Dean Res., Dean	7	8	200	-
Deep L., Derrinallum	10	9-10+	500	500
Dock L., Horsham	U/S	-	-	-
Eildon Pondage, Eildon	1, 9-12	9-10+	*7 500	*3 000
-	3-8	R2YO	4 500	-
-	-	-	(*3 500)	-
-	11-12	2YO	*875	*875
-	1-12	3YO	*250	*250
Elingamite L., Cobden	8-9	8-9	2 000	2 000
Fyans L., Pomonal	5-8	8-9	6 000	6 000
Gillear L., Allansford	5	8-9	1 000	1 000
Glenmaggie L., Heyfield	5	7	*2 000	-
Goldfields Res., Maryborough	8	8	200	-
Gong Gong Res., Ballarat	5	8-9	2 500	4 000
Greenhill L., Ararat	10	9	2 000	-
Hamilton L., Hamilton	7	9	3 000	-
Hanging Rock L., Hanging Rock	(U/S)	-	-	-
Harcourt Res., Harcourt Nth.	7-9	9	*5 000	-
Hepburn Lagoon, Blampied	7-10	8-10	5 000	7 000
Hollands Cr., Tatong	9	9	*1 000	-
Hopkins R., Allansford	7	8	*2 000	-
Hume Res., Wodonga	11-12	9-10	14 000	-
Jil Jil L., Donald	6	9	-	1 000
Konongwootong Res., Coleraine	7	8-10	1 500	1 500
Lang Lang R., Lang Lang	7	8	*3 000	-
Lauriston Res., Kyneton	5-8	8	7 500	-
Learmonth L., Learmonth	U/S	-	-	-
Lillydale L., Lilydale	11	10+	-	*500
Macalister R., Heyfield:	-	-	-	-
- above Lake Glenmaggie	5-8	8-10	-	*7 000
- below Lake Glenmaggie	7-9	8-9	*7 000	-
Malmsbury Res., Malmsbury	5-6	8	7 500	-
Merri R., Warrnambool:	-	-	-	-
- below Weir	7-9	8-9	*6 000	-
- above Weir	9	9	*1 300	-
Modewarre L., Mt. Moriac	7-10	8-10+	5 000	5 000
-	-	-	-	(*2 500)
Moorabool Res., Bolwarrah	U/S	-	-	-
Mount Emu Cr.	-	-	-	-
- Below Castlecarey	9	9	*2 000	-
- Skipton	9	9	*200	-
Murdeduke L., Winchelsea	7-9	9-10	-	*10 000
Natimuk L., Natimuk	U/S	-	-	-
Newlyn Res., Newlyn	8	8	4 000	-
Nursery Res., Macedon	9-10	8-9	1 000	-
Purrumbete L., Camperdown	5-10	8-9	*15 000	*5 000
(See also 'Part 2 - Authorized Client Group Stocking')
Rocklands Res., Balmoral	9-10	9	*10 000	-
Ryans Cr., Molyullah	9	9	*500	-
Sugarloaf Res., Christmas Hills	N	-	-	-
Talbot Res., Talbot	U/S	-	-	-
Teddington Res's., Stuart Mill:	-	-	-	-
- Top	8	8	1 000	-
- Bottom	8	8	1 500	-
Tooliorook L., Lismore	8	8-9	5 000	1 000
Toolondo Res., Toolondo	5-10	7-9	*25 000	-
Upper Coliban Res., Kyneton	U/S	-	-	-
Wallace L., Edenhope	6-7	7-9	1 000	4 000
Wartook L., Halls Gap	10	8	10 000	-
Wendouree L., Ballarat	4-6	8-10+	-	*8 000
(See also 'Part 2 - Authorized Client Group Stocking')
West Barwon Dam, Forrest	7	9	-	1 000
Wombat Res., Daylesford	5	8-9	1 000	1 000
Wurdi Boluc Res., Wurdiboluc	7-9	8-9	2 000	2 000
Sub-Total	-	-	230 925	91 625

Chinook Salmon

Water Stocked	Date	Fish Size	Chinook Salmon
Murdeduke L., Winchelsea	7	9	*2 000
Purrumbete L., Camperdown	5-8	8-10	*9 200
Sub Total			*11 200

Small Waters Stocking Program

Fisheries Victoria undertakes an annual program of stocking ongrown or advanced yearling trout in small waters (normally less than 5 hectares surface area) in, or adjacent to, population centres, the waters being accessible and safe for both junior and disabled anglers.

School holiday periods are usually targeted for these releases, with the majority of the releases being made to coincide with the second and third semester holidays when water temperatures are best suited to trout. In most instances rainbow trout are stocked as they are normally bigger than the available brown trout at that time of year and are reputedly easier to catch by inexperienced anglers.

Water Stocked	Date	Fish Size	Brown Trout	Rainbow Trout
Anderson Lake, Chiltern	6-9	9-10	-	#450
Arboretum Lake, Euroa	6-9	9-10	-	400
Cato Lake, Stawell	9	10	-	300
Caulfield Racecourse Lake	9	10	-	200
Cobden Lake, Cobden	6-9	9-10	-	400
Condolucci's Dam, Korumburra	7	8	200	-
Donald Caravan Park Lake	6-9	9-10	-	400
Emerald Lake, Emerald	6	9	-	300
Fosters Dam, Glenrowan	6-9	9-10	-	400
Gutheridge Lake, Sale	6-9	9-10	-	#1,100
Hyland Lake, Churchill	6-9	9-10	-	1,000
Jack Roper Reserve Lake,
Broadmeadows	6-9	9-10	-	500
Jubilee Lake, Daylesford	6-9	9-10	-	200
Kennington Reservoir, Bendigo	6-9	9-10	-	400
Kerford Lake, Beechworth	6-9	9-10	-	400
King Lake, Rutherglen	6-9	9-10	-	400
Lismore Golf Club Dam, Lismore	6	10	-	100
Marysville Dam, Marysville	6-9	9-10	-	400
Morwell Lake, Morwell	6-9	10	-	#1,100
Mt. Beauty Pondage, Mt. Beauty	6-9	9-10	-	400
Neanger Lake, Eaglehawk	6-9	9-10	-	400
Police Paddock Dam, Horsham	9-10	9-10+	-	600
Rawson Dam, Rawson	6-9	10	-	600
Rowville Lakes, Knox	6-9	9-10	-	400
Roxburgh Park Lakes	6-9	9-10	-	400
St. Georges Lake, Creswick	6-9	10	-	400
Seagull Lake, Corio	9	10	-	300
Tea Tree Lake, Mortlake	6-9	10	-	400
Victoria Lake, Ballarat	6-9	10	-	##200
Weeroona Lake, Bendigo	6-9	9-10	-	400
Whittlesea Botanical Gardens
Lake, Whittlesea	10	10+	-	200
			200	13 150

Authorised Client Group Stocking Programs

The department has entered into a joint program with Trout Services Victoria and the FutureFish Foundation of salmonid fry/fingerling releases in selected waters. The aim is to determine the return to anglers from small fish stocked in large numbers compared with returns to anglers from stocking yearling fish, the department's normal practice. The releases, at the ratio of 10:1 finger-ling/yearling may be in waters not currently stocked by FV (e.g. Tullaroop Reservoir), or part of a joint stocking program e.g. Lake Purrumbete.

Fry/fingerling trout released may be chemically-imprinted prior to release to enable stock assessment programs con-ducted by MaFRI to identify the source of the fish taken in surveys. Finclipping is not an option because of the size of fish and the trauma of clipping during the warmer months of the year.

Other client group releases authorised by the department for which fish release details have been confirmed are also listed. Authorised stockings for which no stocking report has been received will be listed at some future date when the required information is available.

NOTE: Under Section 530 of the Fisheries Regulations 1998, it is an offence to stock fish into any Victorian water, both public and private, without the written per-mission of the Director, Fisheries Victoria. Penalty: up to $2000.

Water Stocked	Date	Fish Size	Brown Trout	Rainbow Trout
Bullen Merri L., Camperdown	FF 12	3	-	20 000
Eildon L., Eildon	EI/FF 12	3	-	200 000
Purrumbete L., Camperdown	TSV 10	2	-	63 672
-	FF 12	3	-	20 000
Tullaroop Res., Maryborough	TSV 10	n.a.	50 000	25 000
Wendouree L., Ballarat (a)	BFAS 6-9.	7-8.	6 000
Sub Total			56 000	328 672

Total releases - Numbers

	Brown Trout	Rainbow Trout	Chin. Salmon	TOTAL
3.1 Fisheries Victoria (Parts 1.1 to 1.3 above)
Yearling
- clipped	*129 330	*50 500	*11 200	*191530
- unclipped	95 970	52 650	-	148 620
	225 300	103 150	11 200	340 150
% clipped	57.4	48.9	100.0	56.3
Rising 2YO	4 500	-	-	4 500
	(*3 500)
2YO	*875	*875	-	*1 750
3YO	*250	*250	-	*500
Sub-Total	230 925	104 275	11 200	346 900
Clipped	133 955	51 625	11 200	197 280
% clipped	58.0	-49.5	-100.0	56.9
3.2 Client Group Stockings (Part 2 above)
Fingerling	50 000	328 672	-	378 672
Yearling	6 000			6 000
Sub Total	56 000	329 172	-	384 672
All Releases	286 925	433 447	11 200	731 572

Total releases - Weight (kg)

	Brown Trout	Rainbow Trout	Chin. Salmon	TOTAL
4.1 Fisheries Victoria (Parts 1.1 to 1.3 above)
Yearling	21 961.5	14 904	1 302	38 167.5
Rising 2YO	1 510	-	-	1 510
2YO	987	1 121	-	2 108
3YO	705	734	-	1 439
-	25 163.5	16 652	1 302	43 224.5
4.2 Client Groups (Part 2 above)@
	-	1 142.5		1 142.5

Fish releases sizes

(Fisheries Victoria Programs only)

Size	Fish Length Range(mm)	Fish Weight Range(g. per fish)	% of BT (Numbers of fish)	% of RT (Numbers of fish)	% of CS (Numbers of fish)
1	to 25	to 0.2	-	-	-
2	26 - 50	0.3 - 1.5	CG	CG	-
3	51 - 75	1.6 - 5	CG	CG	-
4	76- 100	5.1 - 12	-	-	-
5	101 - 125	12.1 - 23	-	-	-
6	126 - 150	24 - 40	-	-	-
7	151 - 175	41 - 62	3.1	-	-
8	176 - 200	63 - 91	50.5	8.2	26.8
9	201 - 225	92 - 133	34.4	46.4	62.5
10	226 - 250	134 - 188	12.0	28.1	10.7
10+	250 +	189 +	-	17.3	-

Average fish weights 1999 (Fisheries Victoria Programs)

Yearlings:	Brown trout	97.5g	-
-	Rainbow trout	143.5g	-
-	Chinook salmon	116.3g	-

R2YO	Ranged in individual fish weight between 308g and 386g; average weight was 336g.
2YO	Ranged in individual fish weight between 1 032g to 1 504g; average weight was 1 205g.
3YO	Ranged in individual fish weight between 1 960g to 3 680g; average weight was 2 878g.

Transport

Man Days	243
Liberation vehicles	89 000 km

Notes

*	Indicates fin-clipped fish were released. Where fin-clipped fish were only part of the stocking, the number of marked fish is shown in brackets. Adi-pose fin (AD) was the standard clip for 1999. The angler volunteer finclip program (FINCLIP '99 clipped nearly 190,000 fish.
&	Includes assistance with client group releases, with the exceptions of Tullaroop Res. and Wendouree L.
@	Data incomplete - no weight available for Tullaroop Res., or Wendouree L.
#	Included a third release for "Fishing Week 1999".
##	Second release for "Fishing Week 1999".
(a)	Released by Ballarat Fish Acclimatisation Society BFAS in a joint yearling fish stocking program.
CG	size/weight range of fish releases by FutureFish Foundation and Trout Services Victoria.
Date	is the date of release in months (i.e. 4 = April, 10 = October). Where the total allocation was re-leased over several months, the first and last months of releases are shown.
EI	Eildon Action
FF	FutureFish Foundation.
N	Stocking cancelled at request of Melbourne Water.
N.A.	Data is not available.
U/S	Water conditions unsuitable for stocking.
R	Reduced stocking rate due to water conditions.
R2YO	Rising two-year-old fish
TSV	Trout Services Victoria
2YO	Two-year-old fish.
3YO	Three-year-old fish.

Acknowledgements

Published by Marc Ainsworth