Its been a while since my last post but here we go...
Please note that all measurements are fork length and time is in NSW, because the dam is in NSW and Im from NSW and thats how we roll.
Launching at the stroke of 5:30am I headed off to an area I had prefished the week before, so heading up there I worked a walk-the-dog lure around the lillies and after a few swirls I hooked and landed my first fish and first walk-the-dog fish. Further along another fish on the Jaz Zapper, so they DO work!
:snic: By the way I think these lures have a better action than the 3x more expensive Sammy's.
Changing to a shallow diving Atomic Hardz Crank I hooked and landed my biggest fish of 37cm, after that a miriad of fish came aboard the yak with 12 from my areas.
After the sun had well and truly risen above the sky (about 11am) I headed downstream past the launching areas catching up with a few guys who were still out. Deciding to explore the Eastern side of the Dam I peddaled down the tiny inlets and bays but now luck catching any fish.
After encircling Snake Island I found a tiny inlet that was just big enough for my yak to sneak into (after running into about 4 submerged standing trees) and the same lure found its way into two small bass about 20-22cm on two casts.
About this time it was 1pm NSW so I decided to head back for a rest at the campsite but had it on the way under the shade of an over hanging eucalypt. I landed at the boat ramp and shared advice and reports with the other guys who were there.
Had a bit of lunch and headed out to stuff on the bank around opposite the boat ramp, no fish for the arvo session and packed up at 6pm NSW and pulled the yak up in time for some cow on a burger.
At the end of day 1 I had landed 14 fish (12 on the card because 2 flipped out as I was measuring them.
Day 2>>
Again launched at 5:30am and headed to the same area as I did the day before, but this time hung around in the lillies for longer. I used every type of surface lure I had; Jitterbugs, bloopers, walkers and finally I put the Jaz Zapper on again and first cast, BAM! hooked up to a feisty fish of 34.5cm came aboard.
After this one fish, no strikes, swirls or any fish.
I turned around and headed back to the big inlet near the launch area with the pine trees and jigged some lures like MF40/50's, chatterbaits, lipless crankbaits, plastics over a large tree which had a few large fish schooled around it, but I couldnt tempt them so at 10:30am I called it a day.
With the presentation precedings over, most people headed off to their respective locations of residence, me on the other hand went for a looksy at some of the creeks I drove over on the way there and had a fish too but didnt get anything except a list for more lures after I dropped my favourite one in 2foot long grass.
Thanks to Leigh for organising such a great event, the sponsors for providing prizes, etc. and the ABA for their great cooking skills and being there to help Leigh organise and run the event so smoothly.
The results (NAME/SCORE):
Mark Fraser 1803
Pete Bostock 1790 (Biggest Bass Winner = 41cm FL, and only 13mm behind Mark)
James Melville 1710
Josh Carter 1684
Graeme Bowes 1670
Trent Hassall 1620
Tristan Mace 1615
Mathew Kirkpatrick 1598
Brad Lambert 1520
Adrian Ryan 1520
Graeme Whitehouse 1520
Andrew Bullen 1345
Mel Parker 1300
Paul De Odorico 1255
Roberta Pearce 1245
Geoff Gudgeon 1215
Geoff Fullarton 1140
Alex Bennett 1020
Ray Sweeney 1010
John Carroll 980
Daniel Darcy 971
Sel McLennan 970
Ken Ferguson 890
Barry Trapp 830 (Winner of the Viking Tempo Fisherman Kayak)
Nick Contojohn 760
David Doherty 760
Dawn Semple 540
Cameron Alexander 530
Andrew Kennedy 380
Glen Kennedy 350
Josh Culnane 342
Stephen Cousins 310
Bill Mitchell 280
Rod Vardy 275
Alan Britcliffe 0
Ray Kennedy 0
