Gallery | There’s a new school in the lake

By Alice O'Brien and Rechelle Zammit

Jun 27, 2024

**What a catch for year 6 student Stephanie Duca** Photo by Rechelle Zammit

Primary school children are catching a new hobby these school holidays thanks to a program encouraging children to go fishing.

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The Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) and Year 6 students from Guthrie Street Primary School released 750 catchable-size rainbow trout into Victoria Park Lake on Wednesday July, 26.

Students from the school received a fishing kit from the government’s Little Angler Kit program.

The program has delivered 95,000 kits to every Year 5 student in Victorian schools.

The kits include a fishing rod, a reel with line, a tackle box with some hooks, lead sinkers, swivels and a lure, and a kids' guide to fishing.

**Year 6 students Sam Caltabino and Stephanie Duca get their hands dirty releasing rainbow trout into the Victoria Park lake** Photo by Rechelle Zammit

VFA director of recreational fishing, Brian Mottram, said it gives more kids a chance to try their hand at fishing.

“These kids received fishing rods last year and this is the other connection … they’re actually seeing the fish go into the water,” Mr Mottram said.

Mr Mottram also attended the releasing of the trout on Wednesday and said it is a great way for the kids from Guthrie Street Primary School to get outside these holidays.

**Year 6 student Sam Caltabino is ready to let go of his rainbow trout** Photo by Rechelle Zammit

“The school holidays are coming up … they can grab a fishing rod and come down here to Victoria Park Lake and come fishing for a couple of hours with their mates,” he said.

The fishes that were released are part of the VFA’s annual school holiday trout stocking program, with more than 35,000 rainbow trout stocked into 80 family-friendly lakes across the state, such as our own Victoria Park Lake, each June and September holidays.

“Rainbow trout are a fantastic species for beginners,” Mr Mottram said.

**Year 6 student Mason Dignall’s rainbow trout receives a smooch** Photo by Rechelle Zammit

“These fish are at a size where people can catch them straight away, and you can use power bait or worms on a hook.

“Also, they could take a couple of them home for a feed if they wanted to,” he said.

People are encouraged to come down to Victoria Park Lake to try some fishing, and the recreational fishing guidelines can be found on VFA’s website: Recreational Fishing Guide - VFA.

“There’s bag and size limits for all our lakes and family fishing lakes, so people can take home a couple to eat and once they catch a bag, they need to let them all go,” Mr Mottram said.

So, what are you waiting for? Come to the lake and have a fish.

The News chatted with some of the students about what they enjoyed about fishing and spending the day releasing the fish.

Watch below.