Rainbow Trout
FreshwaterIntroduced freshwater salmonid, stocked annually by DPIRD's Pemberton Freshwater Research Centre into south-west dams and rivers. Wellington Dam, Drakesbrook Weir, Waroona Dam, and the Pemberton/Donnelly streams are the productive waters. Cool-water species — fishery runs through autumn, winter and spring.
Rainbow trout are the mainstay of WA's south-west freshwater scene — not native, but stocked into the cool dams and forest streams every year out of the DPIRD trout hatchery at Pemberton. Recfishwest and DPIRD coordinate the annual release programme with industry partners, including the Alcoa-supported Troutfest at Drakesbrook Weir and stocking events at Wellington Dam, Waroona Dam, Harvey Dam and the Collie and Brunswick rivers. The Pemberton and Donnelly catchments hold the more natural stream fishery, where wild-living rainbows mix with recently stocked fish. A South-West Freshwater Angling Licence is required, and the cooler months are when the fishery genuinely fires.
Scrubworms, garden worms, PowerBait dough (in dams), mudeyes under a float, small yabbies
Small spinners (Celta, Mepps Aglia), small hardbodies (Rapala CD-3, Daiwa Double Clutch), 2–3" soft plastics on 1/16–1/8oz jigheads, dry and wet flies
Light spin gear — 4–6lb mono or 8lb braid with a 6lb fluorocarbon leader. Running sinker rig with a size 8–12 baitholder or single hook for bait. Fly anglers run 4–6 weight rods with floating lines on the streams, sinking lines in the dams.
On the dams, cast small lures along weed edges, drowned timber and inflow points, and work them with a slow steady retrieve. Trolling small hardbodies behind a kayak or electric-powered tinny is the classic Wellington approach. On the streams (Donnelly, Warren, Lefroy Brook), short-line nymphs or small dry flies work the runs and pools — fish wild but lightly. Bait fishing on the bottom near inflows produces fish for those who prefer to sit and watch a rod tip.
April through October is the productive window, with the cooler water of June–September the standout months. Stocking releases occur in the cooler season and fresh-released fish bite freely for the first few weeks. First and last light are best on the dams; overcast and drizzle outproduce bright sun.
Up to 4kg, commonly 300–600g
Apr–Oct (cooler months)
Good on the table — pink-orange flesh, mild flavour, ideal smoked, baked whole, or pan-fried. Bleed on capture and keep cool. Stocked dam fish eat well; stream-caught wild fish are often considered the better quality.
Bag limit: 2 trout (combined rainbow and brown — verify against current DPIRD rules). Minimum size: 30cm. South-West Freshwater Angling Licence required. Closed seasons may apply on certain spawning streams — confirm current dates. Always check current DPIRD rules — regulations may change.
Drakesbrook Troutfest is the family-friendly entry point — Alcoa, Recfishwest, the Shire of Waroona and DPIRD have run it annually since 2017. Wellington Dam holds the larger fish year-round; the Pemberton/Donnelly streams reward those willing to walk and fish light. Buy the licence online before heading down — there's no on-water grace period.