Central South Island Fish and Game officer Graeme Hughes
releases trout into ponds at the Ladybird Hill Vineyard and
Restaurant, Omarama, on Tuesday, watched by pupils from
Omarama School.
About 80 rainbow trout have a haven in two ponds on an
Omarama vineyard, safe from anglers and free to grow to a big
size.
The trout, weighing about 1kg, were supplied by the Central
South Island Fish and Game Council to the Ladybird Hill
Vineyard and Restaurant to restock ponds which had been
cleaned and landscaped as part of redevelopment of the
complex.
They are expected to grow to between 6kg and 7kg within the
next two years and are for display purposes only.
People can see and feed them - but there is strictly "no
fishing", restaurant and vineyard co-owner Rodger Smaill
said.
The area is renowned for its fishing, particularly in Lake
Benmore and the Ahuriri and Tekapo Rivers.
A permit was needed from the fish and game council to hold
the sports fish and was the first one granted in the Central
South Island region.
david.bruce@odt.co.nz
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