Lake Colac will be getting it's first major fish stocking in almost 70 years on Wednesday, when 2,000 rainbow trout are released into the waterway.

The stocking is the first major one for the waterway since 1954 and comes in time for the Easter long weekend.

Overall 10,000 rainbow trout will be released in the coming months, the remaining 8,000 fish will be stocked by June.

The fish are being stocked at the perfect size meaning they are immediately catchable for local anglers.

The Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) has worked closely with the local recreational fishing community over the past 10 years to better understand Lake Colac through temperature and water level monitoring, with a view to stock the lake.

A further stocking of 5,000 golden perch fingerlings has been proposed for Lake Colac next summer, pending water level monitoring.

“This is a wonderful outcome for the Colac community, stocking these catchable trout will add a whole new recreational dimension to Lake Colac,” Minister for Fishing and Boating Melissa Horne said.

“The first stocking is just in time for the Easter long weekend with more trout on the way before winter,” she said