Australia’s richest freshwater fishing tournament and the most eagerly anticipated fishing social event of the year, the 2010 Yamaha Cod Classic and Wilson Slick Back Lure’s Junior Cod Classic was held from December 4-5 at Lake Mulwala.

Entering its 11th year, the 2010 Cod Classic offered an amazing prize pool totalling in excess of $125,000 including 7 boating packages. Incredibly, 55 boating packages have now been given away through the Cod Classic.

The Cod Classic is a total catch and release event for all native species. Designed to cater for all levels of fishing skill using either bait or lures, everybody has the same chance of winning one of the many great prizes on offer. The majority of prizes are randomly drawn with you not having to catch a fish to be a winner. Those who are lucky enough to register a legal size Murray cod or golden perch go into additional draws to win extra great prizes.

This year’s Yamaha Cod Classic started off with a rumble of thunder on Friday night. This was followed by about 2” of rain in 30 minutes and plenty of scrambling for the 2469 adult and 392 junior entrants and those stall holders with less than cyclone proof displays.

Thankfully, the weather for the two days turned out OK and the 2,861 competitors swarmed over Lake Mulwala and the Murray River like ants over an icy pole stick.

Boat ramps were very full early and there was a good 30 minute wait to retrieve your boat if you fished until the competition cut-off times.

The river below the weir was in flood and much of the public access tracks had been closed because of this. The lake and the Murray upstream did have a fair bit of colour about them, but there was still enough visibility to catch a few fish on lures.

On Friday night, competitors gathered around to listen to Dave Hodge and Rod Mackenzie give their tips on cod fishing and catch and release over a roast beef roll while Saturday night’s entertainment included the Mulwala Water Ski Club Pro Casting Championships. This casting competition is considered to be the event of the year for casters and was won by young Tom Hetherington who travelled all the way from Mackay in Queensland to beat local favourite and tournament organiser Tony Bennett with a fantastic casting exhibition..

265 legal length cod, 217 legal length golden perch and 378 carp were measured in and the natives were released back into the water to provide future entertainment for other anglers. This tournament is totally dedicated to the preservation of native fish stocks in the heavily fished Lake Mulwala and surrounds so future anglers can have their opportunity to catch an iconic native fish species.

Andrew Stevens took out the longest cod with a ripper stretching the tape to 108.5cm which he caught down in the Murray River.

Seven boat motor and trailer packages plus many other prizes were given away totalling $125,000. This is a very impressive prize pool and it was estimated that almost 2000 of the 2800-odd competitors walked away with something extra in their tackle box.

An awesome weekend was had by all and plans are already being made by anglers to return next year. Log onto the Cod Classic’s website at www.codclassic.com.au for a full list of results along with details of upcoming events on Lake Mulwala.

Fact Box

Winners Senior

SectionAnglerLength (cm)

Winners Junior

SectionAnglerLength (cm)

Open

SectionAnglerLength (cm)

Open Longest European CarpPaul Mikus85

Other Competitions

Mulwala Water Ski Club Pro Casting Championships

PlaceCasterTown

Boat Winners