As the 150th anniversary of trout introduction to Western Australia quietly passed last year, Dr Glen Power has ensured the remarkable story of WA\u2019s freshwater fishing legacy won\u2019t be forgotten.<\/p>\n
Dr Power is a former fish biologist \u2014 now head of a hospital and medical research institute in WA \u2014 a lifelong angler, honorary life member of the Western Australian Trout and Freshwater Angling Association, and author of Trout in Western Australia, a book that traces the origins, evolution, and endurance of the species across WA.<\/p>\n
The enormous 480-page book was a labour of love many years in the making. Blending science, history and culture, it traces the early efforts of settlers and naturalists who worked tirelessly to establish a freshwater fishery in a land known for its warm, saline rivers.<\/p>\n
The book begins in Albany in 1874, where then-Governor Frederick Weld oversaw WA\u2019s first trout acclimatisation attempt. That effort failed to take hold, yet it sparked a wave of enthusiasm.<\/p>\n
Within decades, hatcheries were built at Picton, Pemberton and across the Perth Hills, supported by a long line of state leaders, naturalists, and passionate anglers.<\/p>\n
From the early-mid 1900s, trout became a defining feature of the south-west\u2019s waterways. Rivers like the Canning, Blackwood and Serpentine, and lakes across the coastal plain, teemed with these popular freshwater species that provided sport, tourism and sustenance. By the 1930s and 40s, towns such as Pemberton and Dwellingup had become regional hubs for trout angling, supported by local acclimatisation societies, hatcheries, and the growing popularity of weekend rail tours into the forest.<\/p>\n
Trout in Western Australia also revisits forgotten fisheries in the Avon and Wheatbelt regions. Long before salinity transformed these waterways, the Avon River was home to Murray cod weighing up to 13 kilograms, along with brown and rainbow trout stocked in its tributaries. Historical records tell of thriving local fishing clubs and tournaments, with pools like Beverley, Cold Harbour and Nargie once known for their catches. Dr Power\u2019s deep archival research restores these lost chapters, piecing together stories from newspapers, private collections and the memories of landowners.<\/p>\n
The book explores the science of why trout survived and, in some rivers, thrived, despite WA\u2019s tough environmental conditions. With higher water temperatures, shorter river systems and limited natural reproduction, WA\u2019s trout fishery has always required careful management. Today, much of that stewardship rests with the government-run Pemberton Trout Hatchery, home to the uniquely resilient \u2018Westralian strain\u2019 of rainbow trout, selectively bred for local conditions.<\/p>\n
The book also highlights the future of freshwater fishing in WA. Many dozens of farm dams across the south-west now provide year-round angling opportunities, with some producing trout exceeding three kilograms. These privately owned waters, alongside public irrigation dams and rivers regularly stocked by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, represent a thriving new chapter in WA\u2019s inland fishing story.<\/p>\n
Richly illustrated and deeply researched, Trout in Western Australia is a historical record and a celebration of trout angling. It captures the persistence of those who made trout angling possible and the passion of those who continue to cast a line in the State\u2019s rivers, streams and lakes.<\/p>\n
For seasoned fly-fishers and those new to the sport, the book offers an incredible journey through 150 years of adventure, science and community.<\/p>\n