Salmonid Fish Releases 2017

Victorian Fish Stocking Program

The Victorian Fisheries Authority's native and salmonid (trout and salmon) fish stocking program is designed to enhance recreational fishing opportunities for anglers. Annual stocking plans are developed using information provided at five regional consultation meetings (known as Vic Fish Stock) with anglers. The VFA recognises the importance of stakeholder participation in this process. These meetings recognises the inputs from fishing representatives, resource managers such as the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Catchment Management Authorities, Water Authorities and VFA staff to develop and refine the current year's stocking plan.

The development of the annual stocking program takes into account the performance of various fisheries, the existing stocking program, results of stock assessment(s), angler and creel surveys, prevailing environmental conditions, impacts of land and water management regimes and other issues that may impact the fishery. Requests by stakeholders to vary current stocking programs are also considered. The 2017 salmonid stocking component of the program released 1,203,019 salmonids into Victorian waters including 543,169 rainbow trout, 626,865 brown trout, 29,715 Chinook salmon and 3,270 brook trout into Lake Purrumbete.

Most of these fish were produced at the Snobs Creek facility and reflect improvements made with funding from recreational fishing licence fees and the State Government's Target One Million plan that have upgraded facilities and improved fish health management protocols. The hard work and expertise of staff is vital to reliable fish production and healthy fish releases.

Stocking plans may be subject to 'last minute' variation due to natural factors i.e. flood, fire, low water level or quality, algal blooms or man-made impacts such as major works on water storages.

2017 Salmonid Stockings 

By numbers

  Brown Trout Rainbow Trout Chinook Salmon Brook trout Total
Fry up to 20gm 231,962 119,100 10,000   361,062
Yearlings - 20g to 150g 391,029 333,447 19,715 3,100 747,291
Advanced Yearling 150gm+ 2,094 90,044  170 92,308
Ex Brood Stock 1kg+ 1,780 578   2,358
Total 626,865 543,169 29,715 3,270 1,203,019

Total weight stocked (kg)

  Brown Trout (kg) Rainbow Trout (kg) Chinook salmon (kg) Brook trout (kg) Total kg
Fry up to 20gs 279.6 604 50   933.6
Yearlings 20gs to 150 15,406 13,439 900 305 30,050
Advanced Yearlings 150gs+ 1,001 19,044.3  122 20,167.3
Ex Brood Stock 1Kg+ 4,210 926   5136
Total 20,896.6 34,013.3 950 427 52,286.9
Water StockedMonthAverage Weight (g)Brown TroutRainbow TroutBrook TroutChinook Salmon
Albert Park Lake (Albert Park)Mar220.6 680  
 Jun230 1,00  
 Sep188 1,000  
 Oct300 1,000  
Alexandra Lake (Ararat)Jul230 300  
 Sep188 300  
Allans Flat Dredge Hole (Allans Flat)Mar210 350  
 Jun200 350  
 Sep180 50  
 Sep188 300  
 Oct285 500  
Anderson Lake (Chiltern)Jun230 300  
 Sep188 300  
Arboretum Dam (Euroa)Jun200 400  
 Sep188 400  
Aringa Reservoir (Port Fairy)Jun25500   
 Jun40 1,000  
Bannockburn Lagoon (Bannockburn)Jun266.7 300  
 Sep188 300  
Barkers Creek Reservoir (Harcourt)Aug44.78,053   
 Nov2,500250   
Bartlett Lake (Tatura)Jun200 100  
 Sep188 100  
Beaufort Lake (Beaufort)Jan30 1,000  
 Jan27.51,000   
 Mar214.3 210  
Bellfield Reservoir (Halls Gap)May40 4,125  
 Jul38.5 10,129  
 Jul40.9 5,875  
Berwick Springs Estate Lake (Berwick)Mar220 500  
 Jun266 500  
 Sep188 500  
Blue Rock Lake (Willow Grove)May40 3,750  
 May257,500   
 Aug30 12,000  
 Aug44.42,500   
 Oct381,575   
Bolac Lake (Lake Bolac)Aug32.5 8,000  
Bostock Reservoir (Ballan)Jun28 5,000  
 Jun255,000   
Boyds Waters (Geelong)Oct185 500  
Buckland River (Wandiligong)Nov0.830,000   
Buffalo Lake (Dandongadale)Jul457,000   
 Sep642,000   
Bullarto Reservoir (Bullarto)May25500   
 May40 500  
Bullen Merri Lake (Camperdown)May44.4   5,068
 May46.2   4,867
 Aug455,000   
 Nov5   10,000
 Dec55 3,000  
 Dec55 3,000  
 Dec45 3,000  
Burrumbeet Lake (Burrumbeet)May255,000   
 Jun32 10,000  
Cairn Curran Reservoir (Maldon)May36.410,000   
 Aug44.68,071   
 Oct359,000   
Calembeen Front Lake (Creswick)Jun200 200  
 Sep188 200  
Cartcarrong Lake (Warrnambool)May40 2,000  
 May252,000   
Casey Fields Lake (Cranbourne)Mar220 500  
 Jun266 500  
 Sep188 500  
 Oct185 750  
Cato Lake (Stawell)Jul230 300  
 Sep188 300  
Caulfield Racecourse Lake (Caulfield)Jun230 300  
 Sep165 300  
Cobden Lake (Cobden)Mar220 200  
 Jun230 200  
 Sep165 200  
 Oct285 225  
Colac Lake (Colac)Aug30 5,000  
Coleraine Lagoon (Coleraine)Jun230 250  
 Sep192 250  
Cosgrove Reservoir (Creswick)May251,000   
 May40 1,000  
Crusoe Reservoir (Bendigo)Jun200 250  
 Sep180 250  
Darlingsford Lake (Melton)Jun266 500  
 Aug188 400  
Dean Reservoir (Dean)May40 500  
 May25500   
Deep Lake (Derrinallum)Jul38.5 1,000  
 Jul451,000   
Devilbend Reservoir (Moorooduc)May40 5,000  
 May255,000   
 Aug50 3,000  
 Aug43.62,000   
 Nov2,500250   
Don Lake (Healesville)Jun230 400  
 Sep188 400  
Dunkeld Arboretum (Dunkeld)Jun230 200  
 Sep192 200  
Eildon Lake (Eildon)Mar5 51,000  
 Oct536,800   
 Oct533,965   
 Oct355,315   
 Oct388,000   
 Oct388,000   
 Nov30 4,000  
 Nov40 7,500  
 Nov42 5,715  
 Dec2,000145   
Eildon Pondage (Eildon)Jan233.1 1,287  
 Jan2,500100   
 Jan2,000195   
 Feb1,333.30 150  
 Mar220 950  
 Mar1,000 70  
 Apr193.1 1,554  
 May184 500  
 May2,00050   
 Jun230 1,200  
 Aug2,00060   
 Aug200 1,000  
 Aug2,000 40  
 Aug200 300  
 Aug2,000 8  
 Aug200 300  
 Aug2,000 30  
 Aug200 1,000  
 Aug2,00030   
 Aug2,000 60  
 Sep200 1,000  
 Sep180 2,000  
 Oct2,050 140  
 Oct300 500  
 Nov1,750700   
 Dec200 1,000  
 Dec2,000 150  
 Dec170 5,000  
Elingamite Lake (Cobden)Oct382,000   
 Oct44 1,000  
Emerald Lake (Emerald)Jun230 500  
 Sep165 500  
Eppalock Lake (Knowsley)Jul3910,000   
 Oct0.2150,000   
 Oct386,000   
Esmond Lake (Ballarat)Jun268 250  
 Sep1,888 250  
Ess Lagoon (Casterton)Jun230 500  
 Sep192 500  
Felltimber Creek Wetlands (Wodonga)Jun230 400  
 Sep188 400  
Foletti Caravan Park Lake (Donald)Jul230 350  
 Sep180 350  
Forest Lake (Kangaroo Flat)Jun200 200  
 Sep180 200  
Fosters Dam (Glenrowan)Jun230 200  
 Sep188 200  
Fyans Lake (Halls Gap)Jan27.510,000   
 May40 8,250  
 Jul41.1 1,750  
 Oct505,000   
Garfield Lake (Garfield)Jun230 250  
 Sep188 250  
Gillear Lake (Alansford)May40 1,000  
 May251,000   
Glenlyon Dam (Glenlyon)Jun200 200  
 Sep188 200  
Glenmaggie Lake (Glenmaggie)May40 6,875  
 Nov426,000   
Goldfields Reservoir (Maryborough)Jan27.51,000   
 Jun250 200  
Goulburn River Eildon to Molesworth (Thornton)Jan100 3,600  
 Jan1003,000   
 Jan1001,600   
 Feb5 50,000  
 Mar14 3,000  
 Oct531,250   
 Oct531,250   
 Oct531,250   
 Oct531,250   
 Oct531,250   
 Oct531,250   
 Oct531,250   
 Oct531,250   
Great Western Recreation Reserve Lake (Great Western)Jul230 200  
 Sep188 200  
Green Hill Lake (Ararat)May40 2,000  
 May402,000   
Guthridge Lake (Sale)Jun230 250  
 Sep188 250  
Haddon Reservoir (Haddon)Jun265 200  
 Sep188 200  
Hamilton Lake (Hamilton)May30 3,000  
 May27.52,000   
Hanging Rock Lake (Woodend)Jun200 300  
 Sep188 310  
Hazelwood Pondage (Hazelwood)Sep40 5,000  
 Nov55 3,000  
Hepburn Lagoon (Newlyn)May36.45,000   
 May22.5 5,000  
Heyfield Racecourse Lake (Heyfield)Jun230 200  
 Sep188 200  
Holland Creek (Tatong)Jul401,000   
Hopkins River (Mortlake)Jan255,000   
 Oct381,000   
Hume Lake (Tallangatta)May40 2,750  
 May40 7,500  
 May258,000   
 Jul452,888   
 Jul41 9,512  
 Jul455,777   
 Aug50 8,000  
 Aug50 5,000  
 Aug502,000   
 Oct389,350   
 Oct44 8,500  
Hyland Lake (Churchill)Mar208 750  
 Jun230 750  
 Sep165 750  
 Oct300 500  
Jack Emmett Lagoon (Rupanyup)Sep192 300  
Jubilee Lake Daylesford (Daylesford)Jun200 200  
 Sep188 200  
Jubilee Lake Skipton (Skipton)Jul230 200  
 Sep188 200  
Karkarook Lake (Moorabbin)Mar226.8 1,323  
 Mar220 700  
 Jun230.1 1,695  
 Sep188 2,010  
 Oct250 1,000  
Kennington Reservoir (Strathdale)Jun200 500  
 Sep180 500  
Konong Wootong Reservoir (Coleraine)May27.52,000   
 May30 2,000  
Lauriston Reservoir (Lauriston)Jun2510,000   
 Aug43.6500   
 Oct353,000   
Les Stone Park Lake (Wodonga)Jun230 200  
 Sep188 200  
Lethbridge Lake (Lethbridge)Jun266.7 300  
 Sep188 300  
Lillydale Lake (Lilydale)Mar220 800  
 Jun230.4 447  
 Jul230 350  
 Aug43.31,500   
 Sep165 500  
 Sep285 500  
Longwood Rec Reserve (Longwood)Jun200 200  
 Sep188 200  
Macalister River Upstream of Glenmaggie Lake to Licola (Glenmaggie)May252,000   
 Aug50 7,500  
Malmsbury Reservoir (Malmsbury)Jul39.47,000   
 Oct352,000   
Marma Lake (Murtoa)Jun250 450  
 Sep192 450  
Marysville Lake (Marysville)Mar220 450  
 Jun230 450  
 Sep188 225  
 Sep188 225  
Merri River Below Weir to Dennington (Warrnambool)Jun255,000   
 Oct383,000   
Merriwa Park Lake (Wangaratta)Jun230 200  
 Jul241.5 207  
 Sep180 200  
Minyip Wetlands (Minyip)Sep192 200  
Moorabool Reservoir (Bolwarrah)Aug44.78,724   
 Oct352,100   
Mooroopna Recreation Reserve Lake (Mooroopna)Jun200 100  
 Sep188 100  
Morwell Lake (Morwell)Jun230 750  
 Sep165 750  
 Oct300 500  
Mount Beauty Pondage (Mount Beauty)Aug50 1,500  
 Aug501,000   
 Oct285 500  
 Oct45 1,000  
 Oct5001,180   
Mount Emu Creek Below Castle Carey Bridge to Panmure (Skipton)Jul454,000   
Moyne River (Killarney)Jun252,000   
Narracan Lake (Moe)Jun255,000   
 Jun28 5,000  
Navan Park Lake (Melton)Mar232.4 327  
 Jun265 400  
Navan Park Lake (Melton)Aug188 500  
 Oct185 300  
Neanger Lake (Eaglehawk)Jun200 250  
 Sep180 250  
Newlyn Reservoir (Newlyn)Jul455,000   
 Oct351,000   
Nhill Lake (Nhill)Sep192 200  
Numurkah Lake (Numurkah)Jun200 200  
 Sep188 200  
Old Hamilton Reservoir (Hamilton)Jun230 200  
 Sep192 200  
Pakenham Lake (Pakenham)Mar208 500  
 Jun266 500  
 Sep188 500  
Pertobe Lake (Warrnambool)Jun230 450  
 Sep165 450  
Police Paddock Dams (Horsham)Jun250 300  
 Sep192 300  
Purrumbete Lake (Camperdown)May47.3   4,756
 May44.8   5,024
 Jul50.97,662   
 Jul50.97,662   
 Jul504,125   
 Jul714.7  170 
 Aug98  3,100 
 Dec55 3,000  
 Dec55 3,000  
 Dec45 3,000  
Pykes Creek Reservoir (Ballan)Jul35.8 5,451  
 Jul395,000   
 Aug502,000   
 Aug50 2,500  
Quarry Street Reserve Lake (Trentham)Jun200 200  
Rocklands Reservoir (Balmoral)May25.22,500   
 May40 2,500  
Rowville Lakes (Rowville)Mar220 500  
 Apr230.8 260  
 Jun230 400  
 Sep165 400  
 Oct250 200  
Roxburgh Park Lakes (Roxburgh Park)Jun230 250  
 Sep188 250  
Ryans Creek (Swanpool)Jul40500   
Sambell Lake (Beechworth)Jun200 300  
 Sep188 300  
Simpson Recreation Reserve Lake No. 1 (Simpson)Mar220 200  
 Sep165 200  
Spavin Lake (Sunbury)Mar219.8 364  
 Jun265 400  
 Aug188 400  
St Augustines Water Hole (Geelong)Jun266.7 750  
 Sep188 750  
St Georges Lake (Creswick)May40 1,000  
 May251,000   
Stanley Ditch Dam (Stanley)Jun200 400  
 Sep188 400  
Sumsion Gardens Lake (Wodonga)Jun230 250  
 Sep188 250  
Talbot Reservoir (Evansford)Jan27.51,000   
 Jan30 500  
Tchum Lake (Birchip)Jul230 1,000  
 Sep180 1,000  
Tea Tree Lake (Mortlake)Mar220 300  
 Jun230 300  
 Sep165 300  
Teddington Bottom Reservoir (Stuart Mill)Oct50 2,000  
The Gong (Buninyong)Jun265 200  
 Sep188 200  
Tom Thumb Lake (Eaglehawk)Jun200 200  
Tooliorook Lake (Lismore)May255,000   
 May40 5,000  
Toolondo Reservoir (Toolondo)Jul407,000   
 Jul45 1,778  
 Aug72 5,000  
 Sep1202,138   
 Sep450168   
 Sep450746   
Tronah Dredge Hole (Harrietville)Mar210 300  
 Jun200 300  
 Sep180 300  
Tullaroop Reservoir (Carisbrook)May1510,000   
 May40 7,500  
 May40 3,750  
 Aug33 11,818  
 Aug426,190   
 Aug33 3,939  
 Aug50 5,000  
 Aug502,000   
 Oct352,850   
Upper Coliban Reservoir (Kyneton)May255,000   
 May40 5,000  
 Jul455,000   
 Jul39 5,000  
 Aug50 3,880  
 Aug43.62,000   
 Oct352,000   
Upper Sandy Creek Dam (Sandy Creek)Mar210 500  
 May251,000   
 Jun200 500  
 Sep188 500  
Upper Stony Creek Reservoir (Durdidwarrah)May40 3,000  
 Aug95684   
Victoria Lake Shepparton (Shepparton)Jun200 500  
 Sep188 500  
Victoria Lakes Ballarat (Ballarat)Jun265 400  
 Sep188 400  
Wallace Lake (Edenhope)Jun40 4,000  
 Jun251,000   
 Oct422,000   
Walter J Smith Reserve Lake (Riddells Creek)Oct65 225  
Wartook Lake (Halls Gap)May255,000   
 May40 5,000  
 Jun32 10,000  
 Oct352,000   
Wendouree Lake (Ballarat)Jul602,000   
 Jul702,000   
 Jul502,000   
 Aug30 6,000  
 Aug3010,000   
 Aug30 6,000  
 Sep200 750  
West Barwon Dam (Forrest)Jun35 5,000  
 Jun255,000   
William Hovell Lake (Cheshunt South)Mar3.8 15,100  
 Mar5.19,700   
 Nov371,000   
 Nov42 4,000  
 Nov0.832,262   
Wombat Reservoir (Daylesford)May251,000   
 May40 1,000  
Wurdiboluc Reservoir (Winchelsea)May255,000   
 May40 5,000  
Yarralumla Drive Lake (Wodonga)Jun230 100  
 Sep188 100  
Yarrambat Lake (Yarrambat)Mar265 600  
 Jun216.7 300  
 Jun216.7 300  
 Aug200 200  
 Sep188 600  
 Oct250 500  

Family Fishing Lakes

The Victorian Fisheries Authority stocks ready to catch yearling rainbow trout into small waters (normally less than 5 hectares surface area) in or adjacent to population centres. The waters are accessible to juniors and anglers with limited mobility.

The majority of these stockings coincide with the second and third term school holidays when water temperatures are cooler and better suited to trout. Rainbow trout are stocked as they are normally bigger than the available brown trout at that time of year. Rainbow trout are also reputedly easier to catch by inexperienced anglers.

Some Family Fishing Lakes are stocked outside of the school holiday period for special events.

2017 Family Fishing Lakes Stocked

Water StockedMonthStocked Average size
Albert Park Lake Mar 680 221
  Jun 1000 230
  Sep 1000 189
  Oct 1000 300
Alexandra Lake Jul 300 230
  Sep 300 188
Allans Flat Dredge Hole Mar 350 210
  Jun 350 200
  Sep 300 188
  Sep 50 180
  Oct 500 285
Anderson Lake Jun 300 230
  Sep 300 188
Arboretum Dam Jun 400 200
  Sep 400 188
Bannockburn Lagoon Jun 300 267
  Sep 300 188
Bartlett Lake Jun 100 200
  Sep 100 190
Beaufort Lake Mar 210 214
Berwick Springs Estate Lake  Mar 500 220
  Jun 500 266
  Sep 500 188
Calembeen Lake Jun 200 200
  Sep 200 188
Casey Fields Lake  Jun 500 266
  Mar 500 220
  Sep 500 188
  Oct 750 187
Cato Lake  Jul 300 230
  Sep 300 188
Caulfield Racecourse Lake  Jun 300 230
  Sep 300 165
Cobden Lake Oct 225 288
  Mar 200 220
  Jun 200 230
  Sep 200 165
Coleraine Lagoon Jun 250 230
  Sep 250 192
Crusoe Reservoir Jun 250 200
  Sep 250 180
Darlingsford Lake Jun 500 266
  Sep 400 187.5
Don Lake Jun 400 230
  Sep 400 187.5
Dunkeld Arboretum Jun 200 230
  Sep 200 192.5
Eildon Pondage Weir Jan 1287 233
  Jun 1200 230
  Mar 950 220
  Apr 1554 193
  May 500 184
  Aug 1000 200
  Aug 1000 200
  Aug 60 2000
  Aug 40 2000
  Aug 30 2000
  Aug 8 2000
  Aug 300 200
  Aug 300 200
  Sep 2000 180
  Sep 1000 200
  Oct 500 300
Emerald Lake Jun 500 230
  Sep 500 165
Esmond Lake Jun 250 268
  Sep 250 188
Ess Lagoon Jun 500 230
  Sep 500 192
Felltimber Creek Wetlands Jun 400 230
  Sep 400 189
Foletti Caravan Park Lake Jul 350 230
  Sep 350 180
Forest Lake Jun 200 200
  Sep 200 180
Fosters Dam Jun 200 230
  Sep 200 188
Garfield Lake Jun 250 230
  Sep 250 188
Glenlyon Dam Jun 200 200
  Sep 200 188
Goldfields Reservoir  Jun 200 250
Golf Course Dam  Jun 200 200
  Sep 200 188
Great Western Racing Recreation Reserve Lake Jul 200 230
  Sep 200 188
Guthridge Lake Jun 250 230
  Sep 250 188
Haddon Reservoir Jun 200 265
  Sep 200 188
Hanging Rock Lake Jun 300 200
  Sep 310 187
Heyfield Racecourse Lake Jun 200 230
  Sep 200 188
Hyland Lake  Mar 750 208
  Jun 750 230
  Sep 750 165
  Oct 500 300
Jack Emmett Lagoon Sep 300 192
Jubilee Lake (Skipton) Jul 200 230
  Sep  200 188
Jubilee Lake (Daylesford) Sep 200 188
  Jun 200 200
Karkarook Lake Mar 1323 227
  Mar 700 220
  Jun 1695 230
  Oct 1000 250
  Sep 2010 188
Kennington Reservoir Jun 500 200
  Sep 500 180
Les Stone Park Lake Jun 200 230
  Sep 200 188
Lethbridge Lake Jun 300 267
  Sep 300 188
Lilydale Lake Mar 800 220
  Jun 447 230
  Jul 350 230
  Sep 500 285
  Sep 500 165
Marma Lake Jun 450 250
  Sep 450 193
Marysville Lake  Mar 450 220
  Jun 450 230
  Sep 225 188
  Sep 225 188
Merriwa Park Lake Jun 200 230
  Jul 207 241
  Sep 200 180
Minyip Wetlands Sep 200 192.5
Mooroopna Recreation Reserve Lake  Jun 100 200
  Sep 100 190
Morwell Lake Jun 750 230
  Sep 750 165
  Oct 500 300
Mount Beauty Pondage Nov 500 285
Navan Park Lake  Mar 327 232
  Jun 400 265
  Sep 500 188
  Oct 300 186
Neanger Jun 250 200
  Sep 250 180
Nhill Lake Sep 200 192
Numurkah Lake Jun 200 200
  Sep 200 187
Old Hamilton Reservoir Jun 200 230
  Sep 200 192
Pakenham Lake Mar 500 208
  Jun 500 266
  Sep 500 188
Pertobe Lake Jun 450 230
  Sep 450 165
Police Paddock Dams Jun 300 250
  Sep 300 191
Quarry Street Reserve Lake  Jun 200 200
Rowville Lakes  Hutton and Hill lakes  Mar 500 220
  Apr 260 230
  Jun 400 230
  Sep 400 165
  Oct 200 250
Roxburgh Park Lakes  Jun 250 230
  Sep 250 188
Saint Augustines Water Hole Jun 750 266
  Sep 750 188
Sambell Lake Jun 300 200
  Sep 300 188
Simpson Recreation Reserve Lakes Mar 200 220
  Sep 200 165
Spavan Lake  Mar 364 219
  Jun 400 265
  Sep 400 187.5
Stanley Ditch Dam Jun 400 200
  Sept 400 180
Sumsion Gardens Lake Jun 250 230
  Sept 250 188
Tchum Lake  Jul 1000 230
  Sep 1000 180
Tea Tree Lake  Mar 300 220
  Jun 300 230
  Sep 300 165
The Gong Jun 200 265
  Sept 200 187
Tom Thumb Lake Jun 200 200
Tronoh Harrietville Dredge Hole Mar 300 210
  Jun 300 200
  Sept 300 180
Upper Sandy Creek Dam Mar 500 210
  Jun 500 200
  Sept 500 180
Victoria Lake (Shepparton) Jun 500 200
  Sept 500 188
Victoria Lakes Jun 400 265
  Sept 400 187
Yarralumla Drive Lake Jun 100 230
  Sept 100 190
Yarrambat Lake Mar 600 265
  Jun 300 216
  Jun 300 216
  Aug 200 200
  Sep 600 188
  Oct 500 250

Acknowledgements

This summary was developed by Huiking Ho, Victorian Fisheries Authority, November 2017.

Contact Information

For information about VFA Phone: 136 186

Deaf, or hearing or speech impaired? National Relay Service: 133 677 or www.relayservice.gov.au

VicEmergency Hotline: 1800 226 226

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  • Page last updated: 12 Oct 2022