Come fishing at Quarry Park
Families and children can catch a new hobby at the next school holidays with the stocking of more than 32,000 catchable size rainbow trout into almost 80 waters across Victoria.
The Quarry in Ferntree Gully is one among other stocked waters including Lilydale Lake, Emerald Lake and Pakenham Lake.
Creating new fisheries is at the heart of the Target One Million plan to boost participation, ensuring fishing opportunities in urban and regional centres are close to home and easy to visit.
The stocking bonanza has been made possible by recreational fishing licence fees, the Andrews Labor Government’s $35 million Target One Million plan to get more people fishing more often, together with the Snobs Creek fish hatchery.
Rainbow trout are a great species for inexperienced and new fishers as they’re easy to catch with a wide range of baits and lures and taste great.
Most of the stocked lakes have good access to fishing platforms, walking tracks and picnic areas – creating a safe and convenient environment for people to wet a line.
Nick Wakeling MP
Angling for a good time at U3A
One of the larger interest groups at Knox U3A is its fishing club, which has been a part of the organisation almost since inception.
Currently led by long-serving U3A member Peter Baird, the group boasts about twenty regular participants and I visited them recently at their weekly meeting. The Fishing Club is one group that does not observe the term breaks and so there is something going on all year round.
They were busily planning future events, including a charter on Port Phillip at the commencement of the Snapper season, (the tea-trees have to be in bloom, apparently. How the Snapper know that is beyond me!).
The Fishing Club recently had an excursion to Phillip Island where there are many opportunities for land-based fishing. Sadly success eluded everyone but, like serious fishermen everywhere the club believes in the mantra that as long as the company is good and the scenery enjoyable, fish are a bonus. Peter said that the club prides itself on being a very friendly and sociable group and experienced anglers are always prepared to share their knowledge and skills with newcomers.
The U3A Fishing Club is also active in supporting the practical advancement of recreational fishing and is currently taking an interest in the stocking program at Lake Purrumbete of Cheetah Trout – a hybrid breeding of Brook and Brown Trout which it is hoped will provide superb sport and a fine table-fish in due course. They also regularly attend the Talking Wild Trout seminars held throughout Victoria where the overall health of Victorian rivers and fish-stocks are discussed.
Members agree that the best fishing spot they had been to was Lake Toolongo in the Western District and they plan to get back there in the not too distant future.
To take part in their many excursions and outings you must, of course, be a member of Knox U3A. For the princely sum of $60.00 per annum (pro-rata at the moment) this pleasant and rewarding activity can become a reality for the experienced and novice angler
alike. The club is engaged in a recruiting drive at the moment and is particularly keen to encourage women to join the ranks. And don’t forget, as well as the Fishing Club, membership gives access to the 167 other activities and courses available.
For more information visit www.u3aknox.org.au or call 9752 2737 for further details.
John E Ford
Publicity, Knox U3A
