Edenhope contest success

Planning is underway for next year’s Edenhope Fishing Contest after more than 500 anglers braved windy conditions to enter the event at the weekend.

Competition organisers have already pencilled in November 2 and 3 for the two-day boat and bank competition, proving to be a major opportunity for regional expatriates to rekindle their association with the west Wimmera.

This year’s senior competition winner Joel Riddle of Hamilton pocketed a $5000 first prize after landing a brown trout weighing 1.495 kilograms and measuring 46 centimetres.

He caught his winning fish from a boat to finish ahead of Trevor Futerial of Edenhope, who also fished from a boat and landed a 1.265kg and 41cm redfin. Greg Whitehead from Naracoorte was third with a 1.235kg and 47cm brown trout.

A junior competition, offering a swag and accessories valued at $1000 as first prize, went to Sienna Bull, from Edenhope, who caught a brown trout – the first fish of the day – that weighed in at 375kg and measured 50cm.

She won from Eddie Whitehead, Edenhope, with a 1.36kg and 46cm rainbow trout.

Ironically, the biggest fish of the day featured in a tiddler section with youngster Jet Finch managing to land a 1.53kg, 49cm brown trout.

Event spokeswoman Kalla Colgate said there was a general feeling that most people who took part in the second annual event at Lake Wallace went away happy with their experience.

“It was pretty windy and tough for fishing but we still had good entries and it was still very successful. Everyone had a great time again. We had really good feedback and there were many promises of people saying they were coming back next year,” she said.

Ms Colgate said money generated from the competition would go back into the event to make it ‘bigger and better’ next year.

“We’re reinvesting it all back into the event. What’s immediately obvious is the social benefit the competition has on the town and district. It is as good for community mental health as anything else,” she said.

“It brings back a lot of people to Edenhope – a lot of families who have connections to the town and to the lake.

“Some people who have grown up in the town and moved away have never experienced anything but a dry Lake Wallace.

“This gives an excuse for so many people – kids, grandkids – to come and experience what it’s like to have water in our lake.”

The Weekly Advertiser and radio stations 3WM and MIXX FM, in recognising the value of recreation water and community events, were major sponsors of the event.

The competition ran from 9am to 8pm on Saturday and from 6.30pm to noon on Sunday.

Organisers managed to complete their event despite authorities declaring the presence of blue-green algae at Lake Wallace late last week.