The Border Marine Centre Dartmouth Women’s Fishing Classic is this year running its ten-year anniversary. The competition is being run on 4-5 November, and we are expecting another great year for competitor numbers.

The competition is one of the leading national events for women around Australia, catering for all fishing techniques. Competitors can enter the Catch and Release section or a Weigh-in section and also fish as an individual, a pair, a team of three or a club of four to six people. Male skippers are able to assist the competitors by launching and retrieving the boat, and giving advice on fishing methods.

Once again, the major prize will be a boat package, sponsored by the Border Marine Centre. This year’s prize pool is predicted to be around $30,000. We promote our competition on Facebook, so watch for updates. The Weigh-in and Catch and Release sections add a huge variety of prizes to be won.

Last year, local ladies of the The Holy Mackerels took the boat home, which was fantastic to see. They are generally the river rulers. The charity Auction last year saw over $3000 raised to help the Riding for the Disabled group in Albury and Wodonga.

There is always lots of entertainment over the weekend, with a Friday night charity auction, theme dress-up, presentations and a live band on Saturday. The Dartmouth Pub has lots of great food available for lunch and dinner and the Motor Inn can offer a range of accommodation in motel rooms, apartments and lodges. Dartmouth Alpine Caravan Park has cabins and powered sites.

This year’s competition raffle includes a car fridge, tupperware gift pack, and a pink swag sponsored by Opposite Lock Wodonga. Other than individual awards, there are pair, team of three and club of 4-6 sections in both Weigh-in and Catch and Release. This year’s proceeds from the Friday night charity auction will be donated to the Dartmouth Mobile Phone Tower Funding, which the town is in desperate need for.

With Lake Dartmouth water levels rising rapidly, we’re expecting some great fishing. The competition is pre-entry only and signing up early can win you a great prize. For entry details, go to our website and read the guidelines and rules. Register online at www.dartmouth.net.au, or phone Lorrae on 02 6072 4263 for inquiries, or Ebony on 02 6072 4213. For accommodation, call the Dartmouth Motor inn on 02 6072 4233. We hope to see you there.

Major sponsors are BMC, Stacer, Yamaha, Dartmouth Pub, Dartmouth Motor Inn, Elks Hunting and Fishing, Masons Compleat Angler and Edge FM. – FMG

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Amy OKeefe from Trout Trackers.

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Janelle Beach from Trout Trackers.

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Leah Hodgkin casting and Kelly Mitchell on the stump, from Holy Mackerels.

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Val White, Leah Hodgkin, Skipper Les White, Jan Mitchell and Kelly Mitchell from Holy Mackerels, winners of the 2015 Competition Boat.