General News
9 July, 2025
Cast a line these school holidays
COBDEN and Simpson lakes have been restocked with rainbow trout as part of a State Government program designed to encourage youngsters to cast a line over the school holidays.
Around 35,000 rainbow trout have been released across Victorian lakes, giving families a fun, affordable school holiday activity – and a boost for local communities.
Simpson Recreation Reserve Lake had 300 released while 200 were released at Jubilee Lake in Skipton and 200 were released in Cobden Lake.
Mortlake’s Tea Tree Lake was also among the south west lakes to be restocked, with 300 rainbow trout released.
Minister for Outdoor Recreation Steve Dimopoulos recently made the announcement as 70 lakes across the state were replenished with a fresh stock last week, ahead of school holidays.
“We know parents are always fishing for fun, healthy and free activities for the school holidays,” he said.
“Our nation-leading fish stocking program will ensure Victoria’s recreational waterways are brimming with plenty of fish, which will also reel in additional business for local shops and communities.”
Backed by the $96 million Go Fishing and Boating plan and recreational fishing licence fees, Victoria stocks more fish than all other states and territories combined.
The rainbow trout are just some of the 10 million fish the Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) has stocked into the state’s waters across 2024/25, the third time in four years at least 10 million fish have been released as part of the Victorian Government’s nation-leading fish stocking program.
“There’s no better way to spend time with the kids or grandkids these holidays than rugging up, rigging up a couple of rods and heading down to a local lake to reel in one of these rainbow trout,” Victorian Fisheries Authority chief executive officer Travis Dowling said.
“It’s great fun, keeps kids off screens and gets them into the great outdoors.”
The rainbow trout were grown at the iconic Snobs Creek hatchery and weigh approximately 200 grams each, making them a great size for newcomers to fishing.
Rainbow trout are an ideal catch for beginners because they take a variety of widely available, low-cost baits and can also be caught with lures cast and retrieved from the shore.
Each of the lakes where the fish were released are close to residential areas or activity centres.
Many of the family-friendly locations feature fishing platforms, walking tracks and nearby playground and barbecue facilities ensuring families and fishing enthusiasts can make a day of it.
To view the full list of Family Fishing Lakes and see what’s been stocked at your local fishing spot, head to vfa.vic.gov.au/holidaytrout.
More information about bag and size limits, permitted equipment and licensing can 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.