Freshwater fishers expecting huge season

South West freshwater fishing enthusiasts can now return to the waterways with the beginning of the freshwater fishing season this month.

Recfishwest chief executive Dr Andrew Rowland said late winter rains would provide local rivers and dams with the ideal habitat for trout.

Dr Rowland added trout stocks, which are bred at the Pemberton Trout Hatchery and stocked at key locations each year, would exceed 500,000 throughout dozens of South West waterways this year.

Key locations throughout the Vasse region this year include the Warren River, Collie Gorge, Donnelly River, Blackwood River, Lefroy Brook and the Murray River, with big ex-broodstock fish found at Harvey, Big Brook and Drakesbrook Dams.

The freshwater season runs from September 1 until June 30.

For more information on 2015 stocking locations visit www.recfishwest.org.au