Joan de Bondt, The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper
Over the weekend, anglers descended upon Barham to participate in the annual fishing competition, which has been running for 13 years.
Photo supplied.
The number of entries is capped at 300 for adults, and there is no limit on the number of children. Participants are drawn from Melbourne, Ballarat, Mildura and Gippsland, with a local contingent of 20. Entries open on the Sunday of the competition for the following year, and if all tickets are not sold by November 30, the remaining tickets become available to the public.
Adults pay an entry fee of $130, and children under 16 pay $65. This includes dinner on Friday night, three meals on Saturday, and breakfast and lunch on Sunday.
A committee from the Koondrook Barham Fishing Competition organises the event, and volunteers are drawn from the Koondrook Barham Football Netball Club to help with the catering. Committee representative, Julie Sleep, said that it had once again been a busy and successful competition, with many competitors bringing their families. There is camping available on the football ground, and other entrants book into accommodation venues or stay with friends. The financial and tourist benefit to the town is considerable.
Competition results are as follows:
Adult competition
Largest Carp winner – 61.5cm Kylie Burgess
Largest Yellow Belly 48.5cm – Cameron Oats
Largest Cod 78.5cm – Andrew Sobey
Junior competition
Largest Cod 58cm – Finley Purus
PRIZES
Adult Draw
1st prize boat – Matt Crisp
2nd prize Waeco Fridge – Chris Vagg
3rd prize $300 cash – Joel Gardener
Junior Draw
1st prize kayak – Sienna Sobey
2nd prize $200 – Alec McGowan
3rd prize $100 – Dan Lake
This article appeared in The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper, 3 March 2022.
