Two hundred and fifty rainbow trout have been released into Orange’s Spring Creek Dam as part of a NSW Government initiative to enhance recreational fishing opportunities and improve fishing access at popular locations across the state.
The ex-broodstock rainbow trout – each weighing more than two kilos each – were stocked into the dam, which for the first time will soon have a section of its foreshore opened for lure and fly only fishing in the coming months.
The new fishing spot will complement other popular local fisheries such as Gosling Creek and Lake Canobolas.
“By stocking these large trout today, we’re ensuring that this exciting new fishing spot at Spring Creek Dam will be rod-and-reel-ready when it opens in a few months,” said Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty.
“These stockings ensure fishing for trout and other popular sportfish continues to deliver socio-economic benefits to regional communities like Orange and the central west now and in the future.”
The NSW Government says it will work with Orange City Council to stock popular native sportfish species including Murray Cod and Golden Perch into the local waterways, including Spring Creek Dam.
The ex-broodstock trout released into the dam were used to breed millions of fingerlings at the NSW Government’s Dutton Trout Hatchery, located at Ebor.
“Orange has lots of attractions for food and wine, and fishing is a growing reason for visitors to come to town. By releasing these wonderful large rainbow trout people have another strong incentive for visiting Orange when the trout season opens in October,” said Orange MP, Phil Donato.
“For locals this is a good excuse to visit the Spring Creek dam when the council soon opens it to the public.
“I want to thank the Government for their stocking of trout across the central west, because fly fishing is an important part of spring and summer for many people.”
The Spring Creek Dam release is one of several stockings that have taken place across the Central West over the past month including:
- 5,000 advanced size Rainbow Trout stocked at Lake Wallace at Wallerawang;
- 5,000 advanced size Rainbow Trout stocked at Oberon Dam;
- 260 large ex-broodstock at Carcoar Dam, near Blayney;
- 2000 advanced size Rainbows Trout at Wyangla Dam, near Cowra;
- 4,000 advanced size Rainbow Trout at Lake Lyell, near Lithgow; and
- 1,500 advanced size Rainbow Trout 26 released into Ben Chifley Dam, near Bathurst.
In total around 2.5 million rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout, Atlantic salmon and tiger trout will be stocked across NSW this year with funding support from the Recreational Fishing Trust.
For information on the Government’s fish stocking program visit the website – NSW Fish Stocking.
