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Denis menaces field at Forster
  |  First Published: August 2013



Forster produced quality fish and a nail-biting finish for the eleventh stop of the 2013 Daiwa-Hobie Kayak BREAM Series, with Queensland kayaker Denis Metzdorf turning a 100g deficit into a 390g lead at the Forster Super Series, May 4-5.

In claiming his maiden kayak win Metzdorf relegated 2012 BREAM Angler of the Year Russell Babekuhl to 2nd place, and two-time kayak Grand Final winner Daniel Brown to 3rd, to book himself a seat in this year’s Marlo Kayak Grand Final.

Victory for Metzdorf was largely a surface fishing affair with the Forster victor fishing broken racks and shallow flats near Goodman Island to catch his fish.

“My go-to lure was a lightly colour Bassday Sugar Pen, which I fished with a walk-the-dog retrieve. I also on occasion threw a Damiki Crank that I fished with a slow roll retrieve,” said Metzdorf.

The approach saw Metzdorf with a full limit by 12pm on day one, day two however proved tougher as he explains.

“It was real hard, I only three fish in the well until I had once last stop at the bridge on the way back in,” said Metzdorf.

It was on his last cast that he caught his fourth and final fish. Falling to a Berkley Gulp Shrimp it was the fish that ultimately delivered him victory.

Fishing his first event for the series at Forster Metzdorf has now booked himself a spot in November’s Grand Final, an event that he’s eagerly looking forward to.

“I fished the Bemm River Grand Final last year and that was awesome. Marlo is supposed to be even better, so I can’t wait to get there,” said Metzdorf.

Babekuhl Bags Out for Second

For event runner-up Russell Babekuhl it was another podium finish with the multiple event bream winner stepping into a Hobie kayak for the first time and as his result showed he took to it with ease.

“It took a bit to get use to in terms of controlling the kayak, especially in amongst the racks,” said Babekuhl.

Any initial teething problems were short lived with Babekukl soon finding his grove and catching fish. Fishing a combination of surface lures and 3” Berkley Camo Grubs Russ spent the first day fishing the racks at Breckenridge while day two his fished the mouth of Wallamba River.

“It wasn’t red-hot Forster this weekend, but if you fished hard and fished the areas that traditionally hold fish they’d come,” said Babekuhl.

Weighing in 1.88kg on day one and 2.45kg on day two Babekuhl occupied the hot seat onstage until Metzdorf, the last angler to weigh-in, hit the stage to ultimately claim the event win.

“Things may have been different if a 34cm [bream] I had in my well hadn’t died. Unfortunately that’s how tournament fishing goes sometimes,” said an accepting Babekuhl.

With a $975 payday and a spot in the Grand Final locked in Babekuhl is keen to take his change in fishing fortune at Forster and turning it into a positive second half of the year.

“The first few months this year haven’t been great for me tournament wise, hopefully this is a sign of better things to come,” said Babekuhl.

The Daiwa-Hobie Kayak BREAM Series now heads west with Western Australia’s Blackwood River the venue for round 12 of the series. For more information visit www.bream.com.au or www.hobiefishing.com.au. – ABT

Hogs Breath Boss Hog

Craig Coughlan claimed the Hogs Breath Boss Hog at Forster, picking up the $100 prize with his 1.04kg fish caught on day one on a Lucky Craft NW Pencil.

Winning Ways

Metzdorf fished a variety of lures to stay on the fish including a Bassday Sugar Pen, and Damiki Crank.

Winning Tackle

Outfit 1:

Samurai Reaction 201, Daiwa Steez 2004, 4lb Berkley Fireline, 6lb FC Rock

Outfit 2:

1-5kg Duffrod Custom, Daiwa Exist 1003, 2lb Berkley Fireline, 4lb FC Rock

Captions

1

Denis Metzdorf secured his maiden Kayak BREAM win with victory in the Forster Super Series.

2

Russell Babekuhl made the transition from a boat to a kayak at Forster, and did so in fitting style finishing second.

3

Craig Coughlan secured the Hogs Breath Boss Prize at Forster with his 1.04kg kicker fish from day one.

4

They turned up in their masses at Forster with 64 kayakers hitting the water each day of competition.

Results

PlaceAnglerFishWeightPayout
1Denis METZDORF8/84.72$1,575Hobie Prize Pack (rrp $300)
2Russell BABEKUHL8/84.33$975Hobie Prize Pack (rrp $250)
3Daniel BROWN8/84.29$700Hobie Prize Pack (rrp $225)
4Stewart DUNN8/83.63$550Hobie Prize Pack (rrp $200)
5Andrew DEATH8/83.60$500Hobie Prize Pack (rrp $175)
6Craig COUGHLAN6/83.47$450 + $100 Hogs Breath Boss Hog
7Bryce BEECHEY8/83.36$375
8Grant MANUSU7/83.33$300
9Carl DUBOIS8/83.22$250
10Glenn ALLEN7/83.14$200
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