On this occasion the keen fishos were gathered for just the opposite reason, as it was time for the first release of fingerlings in the 2009 stocking program for the club.

With 3000 Murray Cod fingerlings received in excellent condition from our friends at Uarah Fisheries and boats at the ready, members of the Fishing Club proceeded to distribute the fingerlings at Burrendong in spots where lots of cover will give the young fish a greater chance of survival.

With a bit of luck a fair percentage will survive and grow to provide some great fishing at Burrendong in the future.

These cod are just the beginning of the restocking program carried out by the Federal Hotel Fishing Club, with a large shipment of Golden Perch fingerlings expected in February or March.

With the amount of fishing pressure being put on Burrendong at the moment, only a small minority of people coming from across the west to enjoy fishing at the dam are practicing catch and release.

I only hope that the efforts of the fishing club and fisheries department will be able to maintain stocks at the dam, to keep it’s reputation up as one of the best fisheries in the west.

The Federal Hotel Fishing Club raises its funds for this program through raffles and a joker draw held at the Federal Hotel every Thursday night.

So all those who love fishing come along and help support the club in their efforts to maintain fish stocks in the local area, as it is a very big job and we need all the community support we can get.

If our children and grandchildren are to enjoy fishing in the Wellington district as we have, then this restocking program is our best chance.

So with this program and perhaps a little education , I think the future of recreational fishing in the Wellington district is looking bright.

I know that the members of the club will keep up the hard work to carry out the program and hopefully we will enjoy many more years of great fishing at Burrendong and in the Macquarie.