The date of Dimboola’s annual fishing competition is likely to shift to the fourth weekend in November next year as organisers work to make the most of a loaded regional events calendar.

Event spokesman Stoph Pilmore said a date change would help with the spread of community events during spring while providing patrons and anglers with an opportunity to regroup.

“Making the change will just give us that little break between Dimboola Rowing Regatta, while at the same time giving anglers keen to fish in as many events as possible a bit more time to have a rest,” he said.

“We were down bit with entry numbers this year but still extremely happy with the turn-out,” he said.

“We’re still working out the details but we had somewhere between 230 and 250 anglers and raised about $4000 for Allambi aged-care facility in Dimboola.” Dimboola Fishing Classic, a catch-and-release boat and bank competition on the Wimmera River, attracted anglers from across Victoria, with Mark Spiteri from Gordon winning the event.

Mr Spiteri won the senior section with a 490-millimetre yellowbelly he caught at 8.49am.

Wayne Hartwich of Dimboola was second with a 475mm catfish caught at 10.20am and Paul McPhee, Horsham, third with a 475mm yellowbelly caught at 2.10pm.

Ballarat’s Blake Lovell won a junior section with a 463mm catfish he caught at 8.47am from Cooper Howlett, Dimboola, 455mm yellowbelly, 7.30am and Arlee Sheehusen, Stawell, 450mm yellowbelly, 10.11am.

Carp prizes were senior, Colin Gorton, Horsham 680mm; junior, Jamie Clark, Dimboola 640mm.

Mr Pilmore said fishing rewards were consistent across the weekend with anglers capturing a large number of catfish, suggesting the native species was breeding well in the waterway.

“There weren’t great bundles of fish caught but there were good catches and it was obvious the river is in good health,” he said.

“One of the disappointing aspects of the competition was the number and size of noxious carp caught.

“There were a significant amount of carp and a lot of large ones. We’re providing data about the carp to Wimmera Catchment Management Authority to help them with management.”

The Weekly Advertiser and radio stations 3WM and MIXX FM were major sponsors of the event, joining Wimmera Outdoors and Webcom Marine.

Mr Pilmore said Lake Eildon businessman Craig Parker, who had been attending the competition for several years, had also come on as a sponsor.

The entire November 27, 2019 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!

The entire November 27, 2019 edition of AgLife is available online. READ IT HERE!