Liawenee Trout Weekend a success

The popularity of the Inland Fisheries Trout Weekend was proven beyond a doubt this year. An estimated 4000 people came to the Liawenee field base over the two-day event and gave some very positive feedback about the event to the Service through a survey questionnaire.

Definitely the main drawcard of the Weekend is the icon of our inland fishery – the wild Tasmanian brown trout – and the sheer number of these big fish spawning in the Liawenee Canal. Visitors and locals marvelled at the close up view. The Service demonstrated the fish trapping and stripping procedure, and the collecting of eggs for on-growing at the hatchery in New Norfolk and the Salmon Ponds.

This business of the Service – the harvesting of wild trout, the growing and re-release into the State’s inland waters – has been going on for the past 140 plus years, ever since the first brown trout were hatched at the Ponds in 1864. The angling community has always had a close involvement with the fishery management and been a keen supporter of the work of the Service.

In fact, it was the interest of local anglers that began the original ‘Open Day’, which has now become the Trout Weekend. About 30 years ago, a bunch of anglers asked to come and watch the Fisheries harvesting the eggs. The number of onlookers grew as word spread around the highlands, and the Longford Angling Club organised a barbecue to feed the hoards. The Club has continued with its grill and food stall for the past 25 years, and other clubs have come on board along the way.

Now days the event is bigger and better organised, with wide spread support across the angling and highland communities, as well as the fishing and boating industry. It provides the Service with an opportunity to showcase other aspects of the fishery management and time to talk one on one with anglers.

Highlights this year were the bus tour, run by the Service, of the Liawenee Canal to the bottom fish trap near the entrance to Great Lake, and for the kids – it was the fishout pond – where children were able to experience the joys of catching a trout first hand. Fishcare Volunteers assisted each child to learn the skills of casting, hooking and landing a fish, then measured, weighed and dressed the catch for take-home.

Other popular attractions were the helicopter rides on Sunday, fly-casting tuition and fly tying demonstrations. The weather was reasonably kind compared with some years, although flurries of snow on Sunday and a cutting wind, meant that people spent more time chatting around the wood fires and gas heaters under shelter.

Along with the crowd, the media followed suit and there was good coverage of the event on TV, radio and in the press. ABC Radio broadcast their Sunday morning show live on site from the display shed and interviewed quite a cross section of organisers, exhibitors and anglers.

The Service would like to thank all the sponsors and supporters of the event, and all the families and anglers who visited over the weekend. Feedback shows that most people attending came to see the trout, perhaps to catch one, to see the displays, get fishing information, and to have a different day out with family and friends. Most said that what they loved most was the whole experience, the atmosphere, friendly like-minded people, and the opportunity to indulge and share their passion for fishing and trout and Tasmania.