Boondooma Fish Stocking Association’s Terry Allwood congratulates Lincoln Neal from Tara, who won this year’s Heaviest Bass with a 1.75kg specimen; compere Matthew Mott said Lincoln’s haul had also won him a nameplate on the Wondai Accounting and Tax Services perpetual trophy

February 17, 2016

This year’s Boondooma Dam Yellowbelly Fishing Competition broke a 28-year record.

The popular amateur fishing competition, which was held at Lake Boondooma last weekend, drew 832 competitors (630 adults and 202 juniors), smashing the previous record of 721 set several years ago.

Boondooma Dam Fish Stocking Association spokesman Terry Allwood said the lake fished extremely well for this year’s event.

“The water level was 62 per cent and over 200 fish went through the catch and release section, and another 316 in the gilled and gutted section,” Terry said.

“The biggest Yellowbelly of the event was weighed in at 2.25kg.”

To handle the record numbers turning up at the competition’s three weigh-ins, the Association trialled a new processing method that shaved almost one-third off normal weigh-in times.

Fish Stocking Association President Glenn Munro said he wanted to pass on the group’s thanks to participants for their “patient and supportive” attitude.

Glenn said next year the group will see if it can streamline the process even more.

Lake Boondooma Tourist Park operator Corey Goldie said he was delighted with the turnout.

“The camping grounds were packed all weekend, and the atmosphere was great,” he said.

Cash and other prizes were presented at the end of each of the competition’s three sessions, and the overall winners picked up the major prizes at the conclusion of the event.

The Fish Stocking Association uses profits from the event to supplement fishing permit funds it receives from the Queensland Government to restock Boondooma Dam.

“We made more than a $20,000 profit from the weekend, so the future for Lake Boondooma fishery is looking very healthy,” Terry Allwood said.

To date, the group has released approximately 4.5 million fingerlings into Lake Boondooma.

The Association congratulated all the winners and everyone else who attended and help make this year’s Yellowbelly such a success.

It also wanted to thank the many generous sponsors who continue to support the Yellowbelly.

During the weekend more than 250 prizes, with a total value of more than $25,000, were given away.

* * *

2016 Yellowbelly Winners

  • The Catch and Release category of longest Native, targeting Australian Bass and Yellowbelly, was won by Mark Bleys, of Proston, with a Bass measuring 515mm. Mark took home a $300 cash prize and a trophy.
  • Dylan Brandley, of Kingaroy, put in a solid effort to walk away with the most fish (Bass and Yellowbelly) caught and released throughout the competition with a total tally of 17.
  • The Heaviest Yellowbelly title (sponsored by Corey and Nikki Goldie from the Lake Boondooma kiosk) was claimed by Bart Fraser, of Bli Bli, with a Yellowbelly of 2.175kg. Bart took home a $360 cash prizes plus prizes and a trophy.
  • The winner of the heaviest Bass section (sponsored by Wondai Accounting and Tax Services) was Lincoln Neal, of Tara, with a Bass of 1.75kg. Lincoln fished the lower end of the lake using bait to secure a pay cheque of $320 plus prizes and a trophy.
  • Hanwood Fish Hatchery champion junior anglers for Yellowbelly were Alex Lindsay, of Dalby, with a Yellowbelly of 2.25kg. The Bass was claimed by Brady Cullinan, of Toowoomba, with a bass weighing 1.46kg.
  • The major draw prize of a 3.4m Bluefin boat was won by Nicole Kussrow. The prize was sponsored by Lake Boondooma kiosk and Bluefin Boats.

Next year’s Yellowbelly will be held on February 11-12. Entry costs for the event will remain at $20 for adults and $5 for juniors aged 16 years and under.

[Photos by southburnett.com.au and Boondooma Fish Stocking Association]

Related articles:

South Burnett Deputy Mayor Cr Keith Campbell and Lake Boondooma Tourist Park operator Corey Goldie said they were astonished at this year’s attendance numbers
Alex Lindsay, from Dalby, won the junior angling section with a 2.25kg Yellowbelly …
… and Toowoomba’s Brady Cullinan took the other major junior prize for a 1.46kg Bass
Dylan Brandley, from Kingaroy, won this year’s Catch and Release with a thumping haul of 17 fish in a single session; he was congratulated by Terry Allwood and Matthew Mott
Bart Fraser, from Bli Bli, took this year’s Heaviest Yellowbelly with a 2.175kg catch …
… and there were plenty of other great prizes for participants too, such as this kayak
Lucky Draw prize winners gave this year’s Yellowbelly a big thumbs-up when it wound up at noon on Sunday; the biggest prize of all – a brand new 3.4m Bluefin boat – was won by Nicole Kussrow
Some of the crowd that ringed the outside of the Fish Stock Association’s headquarters on Sunday to witness the major prize awards

 

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