You’ve all possibly heard the news by now that they’re going up on July 1, which is this Friday.

From here on in, a three-year Victorian licence will cost you $95 instead of $66, one-year is $35 instead of $24.50, one-month is $20 instead of $14 and three days will cost you $10 instead of the old $2.

With that in mind it might be worth picking up a three-year licence in the next week if you’re a keen fisho and your licence isn’t – at $66 you’ll be virtually getting one year for free.

We’ve had a few complaints about the rise but I don’t personally mind because of the fact that the licence money raised goes straight back into fishing these days.

It’s not like the old days where it all went to consolidated revenue and your fishing licence money went to building a barbecue on top of Mt Buffalo or something.

Licence money goes back into fishing and locally, we’ve done pretty good, Lake Hume’s copped heaps of yellas over many years.

The big trout we’ve been catching in Hume over the past couple of years are a direct result of stockings and I’m sure the numbers of trout in the Mitta have also been a by-product of that as well.

Stockings of trout in all the small lakes in heaps of local towns have also come from licence fees so, even though nobody likes to pay too much, at least we’re seeing something for our money.

It’s great to see a few boats back out on Lake Hume again. It’s amazing how quickly a few good fish being caught can liven up activity.

There haven’t been crazy numbers reported but there’s certainly enough to make it worth the effort.

There’s been some quality trout among them too with the best I’ve heard so far being a 62cm brown picked up by Dani Sanderson. This was Dani’s first trout from trolling and at 62cm it’s not a bad start.

I dare say there would have been a couple of high fives going on.

A couple of quick stats from the Dart Cup two weeks ago. Lucky winner of the Stacer boat and Yamaha motor and accessories was John Geppert.

The Commercial Club won the team’s prize with its 10 best fish going to 8.430kg.

Best of the 46 live weight trout weighed was a 1.225 brown caught by Colin Tissear and best juniors were –Champion angler – Natasha Spalding; best live trout – Maddison Churchill; with brother Nathan coming in a close second and best carp going to – Harrison Holmes with a fish of 3.3 kg (I bet that pulled a bit Harrison!)

As mentioned last week there were 958 trout caught in total. Hopefully we see some good weather this weekend so you can get out and have a crack!

Russ’s Rippa – Shimano Cauis Baitcast Reel is normally $139, now just $89, saving $50.