Perfect weather, a picturesque Wimmera River and plenty of fish greeted a record number of anglers in the annual Jeparit Fishing Competition on Easter Saturday.
Camping along much of the competition zone proved popular once again with many families from both the local district and further afield taking advantage of the pleasant conditions and plenty of space.
A total of 460 eager anglers entered the competition, with Junior entries similar to last year at 126 and 334 in the Senior category which was twenty more than 2017.
The five senior, ten junior and four Carp prizes were shared between a mix of Wimmera locals and visitors from further afield, and a mix of species feature in the winners list including Yellowbelly, Silver Perch and Catfish.
The heaviest fish for the day was caught by George Alcock from Horsham with a 3.581 kilogram Yellow Belly that he landed downstream of the old railway bridge using yabbies as a bait.
The largest eligible fish caught by a Junior was a 2.191 kilogram Yellow Belly caught by Nellie Nossack of Nhill.
With European Carp not eligible for the main prizes, a separate award of $200 was on offer for the largest of this species caught by a senior angler and this went to Jett Stotten of Horsham with a 2.389 kilogram fish.
Broadie Brook took home the $150 for the heaviest carp caught by a junior with second heaviest fish registered for the day with a 3.119 kilogram carp.
Results
Senior Division
Heaviest Fish
| 1 | George Alcock (Horsham) | Yellow Belly | 3.581kg
| | 2 | Dallas Oakleigh (Dartmour) | Yellow Belly | 2.892kg
| | 3 | Bluey McIntyre (Horsham) | Yellow Belly | 2.843kg
| | 4 | Dale Stephan (Nhill) | Yellow Belly | 2.698kg
| | 5 | Mathew Walker (Horsham) | Yellow Belly | 2.494kg
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2018 Heaviest Fish Winner - George Alcock - Horsham
Heaviest Carp
| | 1 | Jett Stotten (Horsham) | 2.389kg
| | 2 | Clint Brauman (Horsham) | 2.161kg
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Kevin Humphery Memorial - Mystery Weight
| | Colin Alexander (Horsham) | Yellow Belly | 1.054kg
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Junior Division
Heaviest Fish
| | 1 | Nellie Nossack (Nhill) | Yellow Belly | 2.191kg
| | 2 | Bayden Brook (Bacchus Marsh) | Silver Perch | 1.631kg
| | 3 | Tess Robinson (Jeparit) | Yellow Belly | 1.597kg
| | 4 | Shanae Bastin (Rainbow) | Yellow Belly | 1.384kg
| | 5 | Eli Jaensch (Warracknabeal) | Yellow Belly | 1.109kg
| | 6 | Bryce Day (Jeparit) | Yellow Belly | 1.073kg
| | 7 | Jordan Nitschke (Horsham) | Catfish | 0.973kg
| | 8 | Kane Bastin (Rainbow) | Yellow Belly | 0.938kg
| | 9 | Blake Taylor (Gordon) | Yellow Belly | 0.903kg
| | 10 | Lilly Walker (Horsham) | Yellow Belly | 0.902kg
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2018 Junior Heaviest Fish Winner - Nellie Nossack - Nhill
Heaviest Carp
| | 1 | Broadie Brook | 3.119kg
| | 2 | Mason Colgate | 1.297kg
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