OVENS RIVER CHALLENGE
Sat 28th & Sun 29th March 2026

The Australian Trout Foundation and Native Fish Australia have again partnered to conduct the Ovens River Challenge. This is intended as a family-friendly, catch and release event in the Ovens River Catchment, where all ages can participate and have some fishing fun.

Entry is free and all ages are welcome, with substantial prizes on offer for all catch categories.
You do not need to be a member of the ATF or NFA to ener this event, but we do recommend that you give some consideration to  joining one (or both) of these organisations.

The event is also a Citizen Science Research Project for the Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA), Australian Trout Foundation (ATF), Native Fish Australia (NFA) and the Victorian Recreational Fishing Peak Body (VRFish).

Recreational Anglers will record catch details for all fish caught and released in the Ovens River Catchment during the Ovens River Challenge between 28th & 29th March 2026.

The VFA, ATF, NFA & VRF will analyses and utilize this research during 2026 when planning for future fishery enhancements.

There will be approx. 15 attractive prizes for various catches, and there will be a free draw for $1,000.00 worth of Gift Cards in which all participants who register will qualify.

Pre-registration is easy with these options:

1. 1. By clicking here: REGISTER
   2. By using the QR CODE below:
   3. By email to:
      terrygeorge43@yahoo.com.au
      or
      timbo42b@yahoo.com.au

Ovens River Challenge QR code

LOOMBAH WEIR
2nd May to 28th June 2026

Australian Trout Foundation leads the way for Trout and Macquarie perch!

With three years of funding provided via the Recreational Fishing Licence Trust, the Australian Trout Foundation (ATF) will be working closely with the VFA and the Arthur Rylah Institute on an exciting and innovative new project at the Loombah Weir: establishing a refuge population of the endangered Macquarie perch, whilst simultaneously creating access to a new supply of brown trout!

The Loombah Weir (and the Ryans Creek catchment that feeds it) is a “Closed Catchment”, where access for fishing is not permitted due to it being protected for Benalla’s town water supply.  Recent survey has shown that the lake supports a very healthy population of Brown Trout, that are behind a locked gate!

With access granted by the waterway manager (North East Water), the ATF has seized on an opportunity to capture as many trout as possible and translocate them to publicly accessible waterways such as Lake William Hovell, to enhance fishing opportunities.  The Loombah will then be stocked annually by the VFA with Macquarie perch fingerlings, to establish a new population of Maccas!  This project draws on the proven successes of a similar project managed by NSW Fisheries in the Winburndale Dam near Bathurst (NSW Fisheries: Bring Back the Mack!).

The ATF will use a combination of rod and line fishing, electro fishing and the deployment of a “trout trap”, to intercept fish on their annual spawning run from the lake into the creek above it.  The objective of the project isn’t to eradicate trout, just to reduce their numbers sufficiently to give the Macca’s their best chance to grow rapidly and get established.  The Closed Catchment status won’t change so over time this new, protected, Macca refuge will be available for housing fish rescued from natural disasters (such as bushfire), or for translocating to “top-up” existing wild populations.

If you would like to be part of this project as a volunteer you must be a member of the ATF.
To join the ATF, click here or use the QR code below.

If you are already an ATF member and wish to register your expression of interest, click here or use the QR code below.

ATF Membership QR code

Loombah Weir QR code