| Australian waters have no native trout. The three | | | | angler does not have to catch this bait, the art of |
| species in Australian waters are the brown, the | | | | fly tying and creating an artificial lure to resemble |
| rainbow and the brook trout. The brown was | | | | the larvae is a very skillful one. The dry fly is the |
| introduced from England, the rainbow and the | | | | easiest type to fish with but the other type is the |
| brook trout from the United States via New | | | | nymph or wet flies. |
| Zealand. | | | | The wind plays an important role in trout fishing |
| Browns are hardy cannibals and are the most | | | | and can be used to an angler's advantage. The |
| dominant species. The browns have an instinctive | | | | food of the trout is often carried to the shore |
| suspicion of lures and live longer than the rainbow | | | | opposite that of which the wind is blowing and the |
| and brook trout, which are both also cannibalistic. | | | | trout soon learn that if they assemble along that |
| The rainbow trout is the most pleasing of the | | | | shoreline their food will be 'home-delivered'. The |
| three to look at and take lures easily. They give a | | | | angler can use this knowledge and also use the |
| fighting display, leaping from the water, taking | | | | wind to cast his fly further and carry the fly well |
| mad dashes and exhaust themselves before | | | | beyond the normal casting range. |
| beaching or netting. Brook trout are also easy to | | | | In the United States certain trout streams have |
| convince to take a lure and have a poor survival | | | | regulations prohibiting the use of barbed hooks |
| rate when liberated. | | | | and also bag limits or 'catch and release' policies, |
| There is an art and a science to trout fishing. The | | | | which are all good for the longevity of the trout |
| artistic angler will pour his creativeness into the | | | | fisheries. These regulations are particularly useful in |
| design of his fly while the analytical, scientific | | | | areas where the streams have a high pH level as |
| angler will convince himself of his intimate | | | | the trout growth is high but spawning levels low. |
| knowledge of the behavior of his quarry. The | | | | Victoria and Tasmania were the first states in |
| wary and selective feeding trout however, pose | | | | Australia to legalize trout farming followed by New |
| untold challenges for the artistic and scientific | | | | South Wales in 1969. The first farm to begin |
| angler. | | | | operations in New South Wales was the Hume |
| There are seasons closed to trout fishing in | | | | Weir Trout Farm near Albury, after much |
| Australia and New Zealand, which usually cover | | | | opposition from environmentalists who feared the |
| the spawning period. The best times for trout | | | | release of disease from the close-living farm trout |
| fishing in Australia are from mid-October to | | | | to the trout in the wild. Water is pumped to the |
| mid-December and from the end of February to | | | | farm from the Hume Reservoir where its |
| the end of April, covering spring till mid autumn. | | | | constant temperature is ideal for the hatching and |
| Streams are most productive at the start of the | | | | breeding of the trout. The water is then returned |
| season. The high rate of evaporation of Australian | | | | to the Murray River where it is available |
| trout streams is lower in winter and the trout, | | | | downstream for irrigation. The main objectives of |
| which have been largely undisturbed for the | | | | the trout farm are to produce fingerlings for |
| previous 4 months are not yet wary. In the | | | | release and stocking the dams and larger rivers |
| hotter months, the stream levels drop and the | | | | and to produce larger trout for home and |
| fish become lethargic, not inclined to feed during | | | | restaurant consumption. The rainbow trout are |
| the daylight hours. The clear, clean water does | | | | the favoured species. |
| not help as the fish can observe every action of | | | | Brood fish are selected according to weight, |
| the angler and they become skeptical feeders. | | | | shape, growth rate and colour and are used for |
| During the later months of the season the | | | | egg harvesting at two years instead of three. |
| temperatures begin to fall, the autumn rains will | | | | The industry is now well established and large |
| have increased the flow of water in the streams | | | | amounts of capital have been invested in it. Both |
| and the clarity of the water is lower. Under these | | | | live and processed trout are sold in Australia and |
| conditions trout will not be so aware of the | | | | overseas and various fishing bodies purchase eggs |
| presence of predators and have an increased | | | | and young fish for release in trout water |
| weight due to spawning. | | | | throughout Australia and so prolonging the health |
| The sub aqueous insects or their larvae make up | | | | and vitality of the sport. |
| 90 per cent of the trout's diet however the | | | | |