THE Gaden Trout Hatchery will showcase its new facility with an extravaganza Open Day and Gone Fishing Day event in October.

The Hatchery has undergone an extensive $8.6 million renovation including state-of-the-art upgrades to trout breeding facilities plus will open a renovated tourist centre where visitors can learn about trout breeding and fish conservation across the region.

Minister for Agriculture and Minister for Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty said the multi-million-dollar upgrades to production capabilities and tourist facilities were completed in late-March this year.

“The upgrades include a new hatchery featuring hi-tech recirculating aquaculture systems that control water temperatures to allow faster and more efficient fingerling production and management of broodstock,” said Minister Moriarty.

“We can also better protect fisheries after enhancing the capacity to rapidly rebuild any fisheries impacted by severe weather or drought.”

Up to three million rainbow, brown and brook trout plus Atlantic salmon and tiger trout are stocked across NSW each year. Gaden being one of the main producers, breed over one million at their facility per annum.

Fish bred at Gaden are distributed as far as Bathurst and Goulburn into the central region, plus extensively across the Snowy Mountains region.

The new aquaculture production facility at the Hatchery features temperature-controlled tanks, which will boost the production capacity.

“In the new shed I’ve got four new systems that are temperature controlled. When the weather is snowing and the rivers running at two degrees, and eggs are very slow to develop, I can set the temperature to 10 degrees or warmer temperature, get eggs hatching out quickly and start the process of breeding and then releasing fish a lot earlier with the new systems,” said Mitch Elkins, Gaden Trout Hatchery manager.

The tourist facility will have displays on trout fishing including numerous historic displays. Prior to summer aquariums will be installed showing the trout species bred at the hatchery.

Guests can also watch a short ten-minute film in the theatre room where they are informed of the background of the Hatchery. From the centre’s newly expanded viewing balcony guests can choose to feed the large ex brood stock trout which reside in the pond below all year.

The Open Day on Sunday October 13 is set to be a huge event, with a host of displays and activities planned for the day.

The new Gaden Trout Hatchery visitor centre and the adjacent picnic area alongside the Thredbo River will be thriving. Visitors and residents will be entertained for the day plus kids can enrol in the Gone Fishing Day event and catch trout.

Gone Fishing Day

This popular day teaches and encourages fishing novices of all ages to learn about safe and responsible fishing, plus they can catch trout in the Gaden ponds. It does not matter if you have no experience, kids will enjoy learning about casting, using a fishing rod and more importantly, the chance to catch fish. There will be prizes on the day.

Must register prior as positions will fill quickly.

Activities on Gone Fishing Day in NSW are proudly supported by the Government using funds from the Recreational Fishing Trusts.

Open Day Guided Tours

Starting with a short ten-minute film, visitors will then be guided through the Hatchery grounds to view the growing ponds and feed the fish. The interactive one hour tour explains the trout journey from egg to the stream and finishes on the Thredbo River above the Hatchery, with guests returning along the river and picnic area back to the tourist centre.

Free guided tours on the October 13 Open Day will run every hour. Visitors are urged to register for tours in advance via the QR code on the advert or using this link https://bit.ly/GadenOpenDay

Open Day Activities - Displays

There are a host of events during the day including fly fishing demonstrations, food and beverage venues and displays.

Fly fishing experts Murray Ogilvie from High Country Outfitters, Matt Tripet from The Fly Program and Wayne Dixon will host and demonstrate fly fishing techniques.

Brian Burns from Lakeside Lure and Tackle in Jindabyne will show guests how to smoke trout and will have his trout pate for sale.

Birchwood Jindabyne will have their coffee van, the CWA will cater the BBQ in the picnic area and there will be face painting, slushy’s and fairy floss for the kids.

Snowy Hydro will have displays, the Cooma Car Club will have up to 30 cars on site for viewing plus the Rural Fire Service and Monaro Acclimatisation Society will have displays.

Fisheries Officers will have a stand and display for information on fishing in the Snowy Mountains region.

Tickets are Free for the October 13 Open Day, but you must register here.