All thanks to a small group of volunteers, the Grabine Freshwater Fishing Tournament will hold its 16th Annual Grabine Classic on the 26, 27 and 28 August at Wyangala Dam.

Since its debut in 2000, the tournament has become one of the longest running of its kind in the Central West with a prize pool well in excess of $20,000.

In 2014 the committee made the change to a 100% catch and release tournament (excluding carp). This move to a modern and more responsible competition format lessens the impact on decreased fish numbers in the dam over the weekend of the competition. The introduction of a photographic entry format has given anglers more serious fishing time, while allowing less stress on the fish as they are spending less time out of the water. These positive changes have promoted sustainable fishing for future generations and have the tournament’s future looking bright!

Over the last 16 years the tournament has relied on the generous support of many local businesses, as well as a few larger sponsors. Every year we are blown away by the growing prize pool we are able to offer to our entrants. This year we are very pleased to welcome BCF Goulburn as a major sponsor with them donating all the prizes for both senior and junior largest cod. BCF Goulburn opened its doors mid last year just in time to donate a fishing kayak as a prize in our 2015 comp, having them come on board this year is fantastic and shows goodwill behind companies willing to help out community events.

Tickets for our trailer raffle are available all weekend along with our new custom tournament fishing shirts for 2016. Prize categories will comprise of first and second place in both Senior and Junior divisions. Categories are: Murray cod, golden perch, silver perch, catfish, carp and biggest bag of carp (open division).

Every year on the final day of competition, one lucky entrant is drawn from our entries for our major prize this year we have a Blacks Series Alpha Camper Trailer with a Brooker 340V car topper boat mounted on top. The camper is a lucky door prize drawn from all entries at the end of the presentation on Sunday, you don’t need to enter a fish to be eligible to win the camper trailer and boat combo but you do have to be at Sunday’s presentation to claim any prizes.

This year the committee has decided to give funding to the farming communities in the district by donating $5 per entry to the Crookwell Community Trust. The Crookwell Community Trust provides aid to people of the Upper Lachlan Shire who have experienced extreme difficulties due to personal trauma or natural disaster. The Trust are creating a pool of money whereby funds can instantly be made available to persons in distress without the need to always raise money after an emergency had arisen or without the need to await the receipt of government assistance. Delays are normal in raising funds after an emergency or in awaiting government assistance and this buffer will assist anyone in need.

Entry for the tournament is only $25 per person at the Camp Kitchen Grabine, from 8am Friday 26 August. For more information look up our website at grabinefishing.com.au, email us at --e-mail address hidden-- ring Grabine Lakeside State Park on (02) 4835 2345 and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook. So grab your camera, bring the family or grab a mate and head to Grabine for a great weekend of fishing and maybe even take home a new camper trailer. See you there. – Chris Wray, Committee Lackey.