Salmonid Fish Releases 2001

Note Number: FN0155
Published: January 2002

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 in detail the performance of existing stocking programs, the results of stock assessment surveys, creel survey or C/ERP 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. Amendments are agreed to by DNRE Regional staff and VRFish before implementation.

Continuing dry conditions experienced in parts of the State resulted some scheduled releases being cancelled and others modified.

While part of the overall Salmonid Stocking Plan, the 'Small Waters Stocking Program' is reported separately. Dry conditions also impacted on this stocking plan. This Fisheries Note includes for the first time details of the 'Ten Waters Trout Stocking Program'. The specific waters are noted, but releases of smaller (fingerling) fish were made into some other waters, and these releases are indicated in distinct detail for each water.

Brown trout and Rainbow trout

Water Stocked	Month	Fish Size	Brown Trout	Rainbow Trout
Albert Park L., Albert Park (a)	10	10	-	*720
Aringa Res., Port Fairy	8	10	-	1 500
Banimboola L., Dartmouth	9	8-9	*2 000	*2 000
Barwon R., Ceres-Inverleigh	7	9	*3 000	-
Batyo Catyo L., Donald	U/S
Beaufort L., Beaufort	9	9		1 000
Berwick Springs Estate
L., Berwick (a)	8-10	8-10	-	2 000
Blue Rock L., Willow Grove (See also 'Part 2 - Client Group Stocking Programs')	9	5	7 000	-
Bolac L., Lake Bolac	7-8	9-10	-	7 500
Bostock Res., Ballan	8	8-10	*1 500	1 500
Bullarto Res., Bullarto	7	5	1 000	-
Bullen Merri L., Camperdown	6-9	8-10	*10 000	*15 000
Cairn Curran Res., Maldon (T)	7-8	8-9	*18 000	-
Cartcarrong L, Winslow	10	4	1 000	-
Colbrook Res., Ballan	9	8	*200	-
Colongulac L., Camperdown	U/S
Cosgrove Res., Creswick	10	8	-	750
	.	4	500	-
Dean Res., Dean	5	8	*500	-
Deep L., Derrinallum	U/S
Dock L., Horsham	U/S
Eildon Pondage, Eildon	1, 7-12	8-10+	*7 500	*2 409
	3-4	R2YO	*2 500	-
	1, 7-12	2YO	1 252	1 248
			(*1002)	(*998)
	1, 7, 10-12	3YO	300	300
			(*250)	(*250)
Elingamite L., Cobden	9-10	4-5	3 364	-
.	.	9	-	500
Fyans L., Pomonal (T)	8	8-10	*5 400	*5 400
	11	3	-	6 000
Gillear L., Allansford	8	10	-	1 000
	10	4	1 000	-
Glenmaggie L., Heyfield	10	8	*2 000	-
Goldfields Res., Maryborough	9	9	*200	-
Gong Gong Res., Ballarat	9	9	-	2 000
Greenhill L., Ararat	10	5	2 000	-
		9	-	1 000
Hamilton L., Hamilton	10	4	1 455	-
		9	-	3 000
Harcourt Res., Harcourt Nth. (T)	8	9-10	-	5 000
Hepburn Lagoon, Blampied (T)	6-9	8-9	*4 500	*4 500
	11	3	-	5 000
Hollands Cr., Tatong	8	8	*1 000	-
Hopkins R., Allansford	7	8	*2 000	-
Jil Jil L., Donald	6-9	9-10	-	600
Konongwootong Res., Coleraine	9	5	1 500	-
		9	-	1 500
Lang Lang R., Lang Lang	7	9	*3 000	-
Lauriston Res., Kyneton	9	5	7 500	-
Learmonth L., Learmonth	U/S
Lillydale L., Lilydale	10	8	-	2 000
Macalister R., Heyfield:
- above Lake Glenmaggie (b)	6-9	9	*5 000	*7 000
- below Lake Glenmaggie	10	8	*2 000	-
Malmsbury Res., Malmsbury (T)	8	8	*6 750	-
Merri R., Warrnambool:
- below Weir	6-7	8	*6 000	-
- above Weir	9	9	*1 300	-
Modewarre L., Mt. Moriac (T)	6-8	8-10	*4 500	*4 500
	11	2	-	5 000
Moorabool Res., Bolwarrah	10	4	5 000	-
Mount Beauty Pondage (d)	11	9	*500	*2 000
Mount Emu Cr.
- Below Castlecarey	6	9	*2 000	-
- Skipton	8	8	*500	-
Murdeduke L., Winchelsea (T)	9-11	8-9	-	*9 000
	11	2	-	10 000
Narracan L., Yallourn	U/S
Natimuk L., Natimuk	U/S
Newlyn Res., Newlyn (T)	7	8	*3 600	-
Nursery Res., Macedon	U/S
Purrumbete L., Camperdown (T)	7-8	8-9	*15 000	*5 000
(See also 'Part 2 - Client Group Stocking Programs')
Rocklands Res., Balmoral	10	8	-	5 800
Ryans Cr., Molyullah	8	8	*500	-
Talbot Res., Talbot (rb)	5	8	-	1 000
Teddington Res's., Stuart Mill:
Top Res. (rb)	5	8	-	1 000
Bottom Res.	5	8	*1 500	-
Tooliorook L., Lismore	10	8	-	6 000
Toolondo Res., Toolondo (T)	U/S
Upper Coliban Res., Kyneton	9	5	7 500	-
Wallace L., Edenhope	U/S
Wartook L., Halls Gap	10	4	6 000	-
		8	*2 000	-
Wendouree L., Ballarat	5-8	8-10	-	*8 000
	12	8	-	**2 500
(See also 'Part 2 - Client Group Stocking Programs')
West Barwon Dam, Forrest	5	8	-	1 000
Wombat Res., Daylesford	9-10	8-9	-	2 000
Wurdi Boluc Res., Wurdiboluc (rb)	5-7	8-10	-	4 000
Sub-Total			160 821	147 627

Chinook salmon

Water Stocked	Month	Fish Size	Chinook Salmon
Bullen Merri L., Camperdown	8	9	*1 839
Purrumbete L., Camperdown	7	9-10	*5 000
Sub Total			6 839

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 re-leases, 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.

This reporting also includes several stockings made to 'Fishing Week 2001' events and other special one-off occasions.

Water Stocked	Month	Fish Size	Brown Trout	Rainbow Trout
Alexandra L., Ararat	10	9	-	200
Anderson L., Chiltern	6-10	8-9	-	600
Arboretum L., Euroa	6-9	9	-	400
Bartlett L., Tatura	6-9	9-10	-	400
Cato L., Stawell	U/S
Caulfield Racecourse L.	6	10	-	200
Charlie's Dam, Bairnsdale	6-9	8-9	-	600
Cobden L., Cobden	U/S
Condolucci's Dam, Korumburra	U/S
Donald Caravan Park L.	U/S
Dunmunkle Cr., Rupanyup	9	9	-	200
Emerald L., Emerald	6-10	8-10	-	800
Fosters Dam, Glenrowan	U/S
Gutheridge L., Sale	10	8	-	250
Guyatt L., Sale	6-10	9	-	1 250
Hanging Rock L., Hanging Rock	6-10	8-9	-	800
Healesville Showgrounds L., Healesville	6	10	-	250
Heyfield Wetlands, Maffra	U/S
Heyfield Racecourse L., Heyfield	6-9	9	-	500
Hyland L., Churchill	6-10	8-9	-	1 500
Jack Roper Reserve L.,
Broadmeadows	6-10	8-10	-	750
Jubilee L., Daylesford	6-9	8-9	-	200
Jubilee L., Skipton	9	9	-	200
Kennington Res., Bendigo	6-9	9-10	-	600
Kerford L., Beechworth	U/S
King L., Rutherglen	U/S
Lismore Golf Club	.
Dam, Lismore	U/S
Marysville Dam, Marysville	6-9	9-10	-	400
Morwell L., Morwell	6-10	9	-	1 500
Neanger L., Eaglehawk	U/S	.
Nhill L., Nhill	10	8	-	500
Police Paddock Dam, Horsham	9	9	-	400
Rable Park L., Murtoa	9	9	-	200
Rawson Dam, Rawson	6-9	8-9	-	600
Rotary Park L., Bendigo	10	8	-	200
Rowville Lakes, Knox	6-9	9-10	-	800
(See also 'Part 2 - Client Group Stocking Programs')
Roxburgh Park Lakes	6-9	9-10	-	400
St. Georges L., Creswick	6-9	8-9	-	400
Sambell L., Beechworth	6-9	9	-	600
Seagull L., Corio	10	9	-	300
Taylors Lakes., Keilor	6-9	9-10	-	400
Tea Tree L., Mortlake	6-9	9	-	400
Tom Thumb L., Eaglehawk	6-9	9-10	-	200
Trudy's Dam, Bairnsdale	6-9	8-9	-	600
Victoria L., Ballarat	9-10	8-9	-	400
Watonga Drive Dam, Horsham	10	8	-	300
Weeroona L., Bendigo	U/S
Whittlesea Botanical
Gardens L., Whittlesea	10	8	-	400
Sub Total			-	18 300

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. Fry/fingerling trout are unmarked. 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 $2 000.

Water Stocked	Month	Fish Size	Brown Trout	Rainbow Trout
Blue Rock L., Willow Grove (See also 'Part 1.1, Fisheries Victoria Salmonid Stocking Program')	FF 3	3	-	52 000

Eildon L., Eildon	FF 11	3	-	200 000
Emu Cr., Bolinda	FA 11	n.a.	800	200
Moorabool R., West Branch	UW 5	10	500	-
Purrumbete L., Camperdown (See also 'Part 1.1, Fisheries Victoria Salmonid Stocking Program')	FF 10	3	-	100 000

Rowville L's.,
(Sutton L.), Rowville	RW 12	2YO	-	200
		3YO	-	2
(See also 'Part 1.1, Fisheries Victoria Salmonid Stocking Program')
Upper Stoney Creek Res.
No. 1, Anakie	FF 7	8-9	4 000	11 000
	FF 11	2	10 000	20 000
Wendouree L., Ballarat (See also 'Part 1.1, Fisheries Victoria Salmonid Stocking Program')	BFAS 7-9	6-7	6 000	-

Total releases - Numbers

	AS	BT	RT	CS	TOTAL
3.1 Fisheries Victoria (Parts 1.1 to 1.3 above)
Fingerling	-	44 819	26 000	-	70 819
Yearling
- clipped	-	111 950	57 529	6 839	176 318
- unclipped	-	-	80 850	-	80 850
All yearling	-	111 950	138 379	6 839	257 168
% clipped	-	100	41.6	100	68.6
Rising 2YO	-	*2 500	-	-	*2 500
2YO	-	1 252	1 248	-	2 500
		(*1 002)	(*998)		(*2 000)
3YO	-	300	300	-	600
		(*250)	(*250)		(*500)
Sub-Total	-	160 821	165 927	6 839	333 587
% clipped	-	71.9	35.4	100	54.4

3.2 Client Group Stockings (Part 2 above)
Fingerling	-	10 800	372 200	-	383 000
Yearling	-	10 500	11 000	-	21 500
2YO	-	-	200	-	200
3YO	-	-	2	-	2
Sub Total	-	21 300	383 402	-	404 702
3.3 All Fish (Parts 3.1 and 3.2 above)
All Fish	-	182 121	549 329	6 839	738 289

Total releases - Weight (kg)

	AS	BT	RT	CS	TOTAL
4.1 Fisheries Victoria (Parts 1.1 to 1.3 above)
Fingerling	-	591	40.2	-	631.2
Yearling	-	9 347	15 802	801	25 950
R2YO	-	584	-	-	584
2YO	-	732	1 038	-	1 770
3YO	-	672	548	-	1 220
.	-	11 926	17 428.2	801	30 155.2
4.2 Client Groups (Part 2 above)@
Fingerling	-	20	1 044	-	1 064
Yearling	-	627.5	1 115	-	1 742.5
2YO	-	-	80	-	80
3YO	-	-	2	-	2
.	-	647.5	2 241	-	2 888.5
4.3 All Fish (Parts 4.1 and 4.2 above)
All Fish	-	12 573.5	19669.2	801	33 043.7

Fish release sizes (FV Programs only)

Size	Fish	Fish	% of	% of	% of	% of
	Length	Weight	AS	BT	RT (Numbers of fish)	CS
	Range	Range
	(mm)	(g. per fish)
	.
Fingerling/Yearling:
1	to 25	to 0.2	-	-	-	-
2	26 - 50	0.3 - 1.5	-	-	8.5	-
3	51 - 75	1.6 - 5	-	-	7.2	-
4	76 - 100	5.1 - 12	-	10.3	-	-
5	101 - 125	12.1 - 23	-	18	-	-
6	126 - 150	24 - 40	-	-	-	-
7	151 - 175	41 - 62	-	-	-	-
8	176 - 200	63 - 91	-	53.3	23.3	-
9	201 - 225	92 - 133	-	18.4	34.8	70
10	226 - 250	134 - 188	-	-	25.6	30
10+	250+	189+	-	-	0.7	-

Average fish weights 2001 (Fisheries Victoria Programs):

Fingerlings	Brown trout:	11.8g
	Rainbow trout:	1.5g
Yearlings:	- clipped	83.5g
	Rainbow trout
	- clipped	127.3g
	- unclipped	104.9g
	- all	114.2g
	Chinook salmon
	- clipped	117.2g

R2YO	Ranged in individual fish weight between 202g and 280g; average weight was 234g.
2YO	Ranged in individual fish weight between 460g to 948g; average weight was 708g.
3YO	Ranged in individual fish weight between 1.2 kg to 3.32 kg; average weight was 2.03 kg

Transport

Man Days	198
Liberation vehicles	76 944 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. Adipose fin (AD) was the standard clip for 2001. . ** Clipped fin was left ventral (LV). The angler volunteer finclip program FINCLIP 2001 clipped more than 170 000 fish.
&	Includes any transport assistance by Fisheries Victoria with client group releases - no assistance with the releases into Blue Rock L., Emu Cr., Moorabool R., Upper Stoney Creek Res. No. 1. and Wendouree L.
@	Data incomplete - no weight available for the VFFA release of brown trout and rainbow trout into Emu Cr.
(a)	Remainder of short-term stocking into an enclosed area for a fishing event - 780 fish recovered were released into Eildon Pondage.
(b)	Rainbow trout releases include stockings Glenfalloch Homestead to Wellington River and Cheynes Bridge to Licola.
BFAS	Ballarat Fish Acclimatisation Society Inc.
BT	Brown trout.
CS	Chinook salmon
(d)	Brown trout were also tagged, pink dart tags inserted beside the dorsal fin. Anglers are requested to report captures of these fish from Mount Beauty Pondage or the Kiewa River downstream.
FA	Victorian Fly Fishers' Association Inc.
Month	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 usually shown.
FF	FutureFish Foundation.
N	Stocking cancelled at request of Melbourne Water.
N/S	Not stocked due to water conditions or some other factor.
(rb)	Rainbow trout substituted for brown trout due to a shortage at the time of the latter species.
RT	Rainbow trout.
RW	Ray White Real Estate Pty. Ltd.
R2YO	Rising two-year-old fish.
T	Ten Waters Trout Stocking Program. A five-year trial program of stocking selected waters each year with both yearling fish (fin-clipped) and fingerling fish. The management objective of the program is to evaluate the relative contributions to fish stock and angler take from the annual release of two year classes of fish. The Program: as planned is reported in Fisheries Management Report No. 65, commenced in 2000 but was not reported in that year's release summary, could not be completed in 2000 due to various problems (see Fisheries Management Report No. 66), and was not completed in 2001 due to a shortage of brown trout fingerlings (Cairn Curran Res., Malmsbury Res., Modewarre L. and Newlyn Res.).
U/S	Water conditions unsuitable for stocking.
UW	United Water Industries.
2YO	Two-year-old fish.
3YO	Three-year-old fish.

Acknowledgements

Published by Marc Ainsworth