The South West Anglers Association, after many years of conducting successful closed competitions for club members, have now decided to attempt a public fishing competition.

With little happening on the mighty Murray River at Albury/Wodonga, the river from Lake Hume, downstream to the junction of the Murray R and the Wodonga Creek will host the South West Anglers Albury/Wodonga River Classic on Saturday 7 March 2015.

The focus of the competition will be very much on the family involvement and the kids will be well looked after. The cost of entry is very affordable and the family concession will mean the family group can participate without the usual high entry fees that many competitions require. The competition is both boat and bank-based.

A wide range of prizes will be on offer and sponsors have been generous in their support. Financial support from Carlton Mid, Garmin sounders made available by TBS Marine and the major lucky entrant will win an indoor wood heater valued at $1,000 from Wise Living Products.

All juniors will receive a show bag packed with a range of goodies. A large range of other prizes will include life jacket packages, cameras, iceboxes, worm farms and also a family holiday package.

All fish awards will be by secret length as well as a huge number of lucky draws, raffles and spot prizes at the presentation on the Saturday evening. Any fish can win a prize and any entrant is in with an excellent chance of going home with some goodies.

A registration point will be set up for the early birds on the Friday afternoon and will again be manned from 5am on the Saturday. All of that will be at St Ives on the Causeway and evening meals will available at St Ives at an affordable cost.

In conjunction with the competition there will be a raffle of 2 nights’ accommodation and a seat on a 2-day Barramundi Safari sponsored by Darwin’s Barra Base valued at $1,665. This raffle is limited to 100 tickets only and at only $25.00 per ticket provides great odds. (Tickets are limited, phone 0427 123 078) – Terry Maloney