Reeling in young anglers

MORE students in Victorian primary schools will have the opportunity to drop a line with the second round of free Little Angler Kits rolling out.

More than 82,000 kits across almost 1,900 schools will be given to grade 5 students next year in time for the September school holidays.

An initiative of the Victorian government, the kits come complete with everything first-time fishing enthusiasts need including a fishing rod, reel, line and tackle box with tackle.

A Kid’s Guide to Fishing is also in the kit, providing young anglers with information on fishing safety, knots, rigs, best baits to use, peak fishing seasons and hotspots around Victoria.

“We know parents are always looking for free activities and these Little Angler Kits are a great opportunity to get kids off screen and into nature,” Minister for Outdoor Recreation Steve Dimopoulous said.

“Fishing keeps Victorians healthy, builds friendships and strengthens local communities.”

The 2026 rollout coincides with the thousands of rainbow trout that are stocked in lakes across the state, with the state’s fish stocking program leading the nation.

Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) will lead the rollout of the kits and have also created a series of informative tutorial videos.

Presented by VFA ambassador Lee Rayner and Michelle Brittain from the Women in Recreational Fishing and Boating Network, the videos provide step-by-step instructions on how to get started with the kits.

The kits are funded by recreational fishing licence fees, complementing the government’s $96 million Go Fishing and Boating Plan.

For more information, head to vfa.vic.gov.au/littleanglerkit