- Popular South West dams will feature in a 'festival of trout' to run from 4-12 October
- Fishers and families can take advantage of a licence-free period to enjoy freshwater fishing
- Winter rains have created good water levels for South West trout fishing
The Cook Government is waiving licences for freshwater fishing from 4-12 October to encourage fishers and families to try their hand at trout fishing in a 'festival of trout'.
The festival kicks off with Troutfest at Drakesbrook Weir in Waroona on Saturday, 4 October and rounds out with the Southern Forests Trout Festival at Big Brook Dam in Pemberton on 12 October, both falling within the spring school holidays this year.
A freshwater angling licence is not required during this period to fish in South West freshwater dams and rivers - the first time these fees have been waived for the week between the popular trout festivals.
Fishing rules still apply, and trout must be 300 millimetres or larger to keep the catch, with a combined daily bag limit of four trout per fisher.
Hatchery-reared trout from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development's (DPIRD) Pemberton Freshwater Research Centre will be released before and during both events.
The community is invited to help release hundreds of brown and rainbow trout yearlings and broodstock into Drakesbrook Weir and Big Brook dams as part of the events.
DPIRD's Community Education team will be at Troutfest providing freshwater fishing tips, a handy guide and information on this year's trout stocking in Western Australian rivers and dams.
Troutfest has been running since 2017, presented by the Shire of Waroona, Recfishwest, and DPIRD with support from Alcoa, Fishability and Schlam Engineering. Southern Forests Trout Festival is in its fourth year and is supported by the Southern Forests Freshwater Angling Club, the Shire of Manjimup, Recfishwest and DPIRD.
For more information on the free fishing events, visit www.waroona.wa.gov.au/events/troutfest/471 for Troutfest and www.southernforestsandvalleys.com/activity/southern-forests-trout-festival for Southern Forests Trout Festival.
As stated by Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis:
"I encourage anyone holidaying in the South West to have a go at freshwater fishing between 4-12 October and take the opportunity to try this fantastic outdoor activity while freshwater fishing licences are waived.
"The annual stocking of rainbow and brown trout reared at our Pemberton Freshwater Research Centre should provide some great fishing fun in our freshwater dams and rivers.
"It's also a great opportunity for families to help release some of our hatchery-reared trout into Drakesbrook Weir and Big Brook Dam during this 'festival of trout'."
