VICTORIA has delivered another successful Talk Wild Trout Conference, celebrating, learning and sharing wild trout fishing with recreational fishers in Victoria’s high country in Mansfield on Saturday 21st September 2024.
The major rec fishing stakeholder engagement event held this year in partnership between the Australian Trout Foundation and the Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA), attracted more than 130 avid, influential and representative trout fishers from across Victoria, NSW and Tasmania.
With an amazing line up of speakers, you can see why the feedback on the event from the attendees has been exceptional. Key presentations included:
- Philip Weigall (FlyStream), and James Norney (Mountain Fly) on their expert tips on trout fishing and how fishers can maximise their chances in a dynamic environment.
- John Billing (Mending Casts) and Matt Tripet (The Fly Program) on insights into the incredible mental health and wellbeing benefits of trout fishing.
- Shea Bloom (Women in Recreational Fishing and Boating Network) and Karen Brooks (Australian champion tournament fly fisher) on how more and more women are getting into trout fishing and fly fishing.
- Terry George (Australian Trout Foundation) and Andrew Briggs (Victorian Fisheries Authority) on how trout fishers and Catchment Management Authorities are contributing habitat restoration, which benefits not only trout, but the whole ecosystem.
- Jarod Lyon (DEECA) on how trout fishers can support the recovery of threatened species which has big benefits to social licence of trout fishing
- Taylor Hunt (Victorian Fisheries Authority) on the partnership approach recreational fishers and Government are taking to manage trout fishing into the future, embracing social licence and the broader benefits of recreational fishing to the community and the environment.
The Conference also provided an opportunity to acknowledge and recognise major contributors to recreational fishing and river health.
A VFA individual award was presented to Terry George, president of the Australian Trout Foundation for his exceptional contribution to recreational fishing and river health over the past decade.
A VFA project award was also presented to the MayFly Rise Project Partners for their collaborative efforts to install log jams and boulders to create fish habitat, and the revegetation of banks for enhanced river shading and insect activity on the Ovens River in North East Victoria.
Congratulations to Terry George, Australian Trout Foundation. Alpine Fly Fishers, Wangaratta Fly Fishers, and the North East Catchment Management Authority!
With the seventh Talk Wild Trout Conference completed, recreational fishers now turn their attention to the equally anticipated Murray Codference, to be held this Spring in Shepparton.
