FISHING ENTHUSIASTS AT GEMLIFE WOODEND ARE WAITING PATIENTLY TO THROW IN A LINE AND CATCH A FISH FROM THE LAKE THAT SURROUNDS THE RESORT’S STUNNING COUNTRY CLUB.
Resort Manager Anthony Liversidge said that despite the eagerness of resident anglers to give their local fishing spot a go, they will have to wait until the pontoon and decking area around the Country Club is built and fish stocks replenished and matured.
He said the lake was originally stocked with 50 brown trout and 30 tiger trout plus some Australian bass, but numbers had dwindled.
“A one-in-100-year flood event last year resulted in us losing quite a few fish that were washed away, so in August we restocked with fifty rainbow trout and fifty brown trout. We have to add more fish annually because they are not able to breed in the lake.”
In the meantime, the lake and its inhabitants attract ongoing interest from homeowners and their families who can often be seen feeding the fish.
“It has become a daily pastime for many residents and their grandchildren to feed the fish. They have great fun, are able to see all the different coloured varieties especially the rainbow trout with their beautiful red stripes and can watch them grow as the months roll on.”
The lake itself varies in depth from one metre around the perimeter to 5.5 metres in the middle with fish such as the Australian Bass preferring to swim along the bottom.
While the fish draw interest from all ages every day, Anthony said that stocking the lake with different species also provides many benefits for the area.
“Having fish in the lake helps to preserve the water quality and keep it clean, so it is great for the environment as well as providing an activity for residents to enjoy,” he said.
“There is a ‘catch, kiss and release’ policy for fishing in the lake, which has been created through natural rainfall. We want to establish a good, healthy stock of fish that residents and visitors can enjoy interacting with for many years to come. There is already talk of forming a resident fishing club,” said Anthony.