Inland Fisheries Officers conducted patrols across the state to coincide with the opening of the 2014/15 angling season on Saturday 2 August.

With many rivers impacted by flood and snow down to 300 metres, challenging conditions confronted anglers and officers alike. With hardy resolve both groups rose to the challenge with over 380 anglers checked at 28 waters as far afield as Lake Kara in the north west to Tooms Lake in the east, Penstock Lagoon in the central highlands and Lake Pawleena in the south.

Anglers were rewarded with 126 rainbow trout, 130 browns and two Atlantic salmon. A number of offences were detected including failure to wear PFD’s in boats under 6 metres and some anglers being caught out by the new bag and size limits introduced for the 2014/15 season.

Most pleasing was the number of families, juniors and increasingly, female anglers, getting in on the early action, being part of the 150 years of trout celebrations and going into the draw for the Ford Ranger.