RECREATIONAL anglers are benefitting from a NSW DPI Fisheries initiative with broodstock trout from the Dutton Hatchery being released into several Central West impoundments, giving anglers an opportunity to tangle with some trophy sized rainbow trout.
Friday’s release of 160 three-to-four-year-old rainbow trout weighing up to four kilograms into Ben Chifley Dam at Bathurst, along with the 300 Dutton rainbows released into the dam in recent weeks, has already seen anglers enjoying the experience of catching a trophy trout. The ranger at Ben Chifley dam, Andrew Stansell, informed Dutton Hatchery manager, Peter Selby, that a “young bloke” was visibly shaking last week after landing a 4 kilogram rainbow from the earlier release.
NSW Minister and local Bathurst MP, the Hon. Paul Toole, braved the rain and donned the waders to help the Dutton team release the superb quality rainbows into the dam.
Other central west impoundments, Carcoar Dam, Lake Oberon and Wyangla have or will also receive similar numbers of Dutton broodstock allowing anglers plenty of opportunities to fish for trout during the spawning season closures in the streams.
The team at the NSW DPI Dutton Fish Hatchery produce in excess of two million trout per year which are transported around the state to streams and impoundments to improve recreational fishing in NSW. Now that streams are flowing after the drought, anglers are reaping the benefits of the hard work and long periods on the road transporting and delivering fish that the Dutton Hatchery supply.
