{"id":56688,"date":"2014-02-10T23:08:30","date_gmt":"2014-02-10T13:08:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=56688"},"modified":"2020-12-07T11:21:35","modified_gmt":"2020-12-07T01:21:35","slug":"big-crowd-makes-splash-at-dam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2014\/02\/10\/big-crowd-makes-splash-at-dam\/","title":{"rendered":"Big Crowd Makes Splash At Dam"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Pat<\/a>
It was this big … Cr Kathy Duff, centre, tells Pat and Alan Eagleson from Mon-Dee Coffee 2 Go about the fish she caught in the competition<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

February 10, 2014<\/strong><\/p>\n

The second-largest crowd on record packed out Boondooma Dam at the weekend for the 26th annual Yellowbelly Fishing Competition.<\/p>\n

The competition returned to its traditional February timeslot after being postponed to May last year because of the Australia Day floods.<\/p>\n

A total of 659 nominations – including 140 juniors – were received for the two-day event, just 44 below the competition’s all-time record of 703.<\/p>\n

Organisers said the fishing was “brilliant” and anglers weighed in some very high quality fish.<\/p>\n

The biggest Yellowbelly caught this year was a 3.095kg monster snagged by Dudley Schif.<\/p>\n

The biggest Australian Bass was Steven Brooker’s 1.36kg specimen; and the biggest Silver Perch was Damien Sander’s 0.875kg catch.<\/p>\n

Dan Bauer took the gong for the biggest Jew with his 1.455kg haul, while Bradley Cecil took Spangled Perch line honours with his handy 0.2kg tiddler.<\/p>\n

More than 1200 people packed into the Lake Boondooma camping area over the weekend to take part in the event, either as participants or spectators.<\/p>\n

As was the case last year, most weigh-ins occurred on Saturday. <\/strong><\/p>\n

But there was still a healthy queue lining up at Sunday morning’s final weigh-ins, which were followed by the announcement of winners and prize-giving.<\/p>\n

Russell Hackett from Inala in Brisbane was the winner of the major lucky draw prize, a Freak Double Agent Kayak donated by Freak Sports Australia.<\/p>\n

But many other lucky draw prizes were given out over the course of the weekend, too.<\/p>\n

The competition is the Boondooma Dam Fish Stocking and Management Association’s major annual fund-raiser and attracted strong support from sponsors.<\/p>\n

The group uses the proceeds of the event to restock the dam with fingerlings to ensure good fishing all year round.<\/p>\n

The association expressed their thanks to all the club\u2019s sponsors, as well as the committed anglers who continue to make the event an outstanding success.<\/p>\n

This year’s sponsors included the South Burnett Regional Council, Freaksports Australia Kayaks, Yesberg\u2019s Earthmoving and Civil Construction, Barry Pidgeon and Son Tipper Hire, Lake Boondooma Kiosk, CWB Plumbing, Ergon Energy, Australian Lure and Tackle Co. (Austackle), Kingaroy Plumbing Works, Eva Kool Ice Boxes, Allround Angler – Caboolture, Wondai Accounting and Tax Services, Wondai Hardware and Trade Centre, Bill Hull Car Centre, Ransen Timber Company, Bass to Barra Outdoors, Smak Lures, Greg Mitchell Plumbing, Stihl Shop Kingaroy, Kingaroy Camping, Crumpton and Sons – Peanut Processors, Huston Motors Kingaroy & Murgon, Wondai IGA Supermarket, Goodyear Tyre Service – Kingaroy, The Tacklebox – Murgon, Guse Transport Service, Wondai Electrical Services, Thorp\u2019s Showcase Jewellers, John Provan Building Pty Ltd, Astill\u2019s Electrical Services, Proston Country Bus Service, Don Errington Homes, DataWave IT – Wondai, Mark Smith\u2019s Menswear, Golden Spurs Hotel, Carrollee Hotel, Bob Jane T-Marts – Kingaroy, Hivesville Hotel, Hanwood Fish Farm Pty Ltd, Wondai Diggers Memorial and Citizens Club Inc, Cobra Lures, Ecogear, Diztek Custom Lures, Ace Spinnerbaits, Wondai Post Office, Cr Kathy Duff, Hobbs and Associates Pty Ltd, Murgon Fruit Mart, Barney\u2019s Marine – Pialba, Hams Crane Hire, Grand Hotel Wooroolin, Jeff Seeney MP, Steinhardt Plumbing – Wondai, Ryan’s Butchery – Wondai, Smithfield Feedlot, Glenn Munro Plumbing – Wondai, Queensland Fishing Monthly, Bush’n Beach Fishing, Elders Insurance, Clifton Motors, Blue Ribbon Group – Wondai (formerly HSR Seeds), Country Design and Print – Nanango<\/p>\n