Perfect conditions and active fish greeted 87anglers for the first Victorian round of the 2006 Ford Courier BREAM Series, the Mercury Glenelg River BREAM Challenge.

The winner was Stuart McKinnon, a 38-year-old outboard mechanic from Warrnambool, who compiled a 10/10, 6.23kg two-day limit which saw him finish the weekend $2500 richer and on his way to the 2006 Ford Courier BREAM Grand Final in October.

Hot on McKinnon’s heels was Wayne Friebe of Mornington, who compiled a 10/10, 5.72kg limit to secure the $1000 runner-up boater prize.

McKinnon targeted edge-dwelling fish between the Taylors Strait and SA border stretch of the river.

“You could actually see the fish rolling and feeding along the rocky edge and drop-offs,” he explained. “I caught them along the sheer face of the edge and ledges, and in the timber scattered along the shoreline.”

McKinnon cast 6” Berkley Gulp Sandworms (colour – camo) tight to the edges before working them down the face of the ledges and to the waiting fish.

“The fish would take the plastic anywhere, between where the lure first touched down on the edge, out to about 3ft from the bank,” McKinnon explained. “Once the lure was past this mark I cranked it back in and made another cast.”

This edge bite and shallow presentation saw McKinnon opt for a lightly weighted offering, choosing a TT HWS (size 1/0) jighead.

“The TT HWS allowed me to present the lure subtly and thoroughly through the strike zone,” he said, “tempting fish that may have been more intimidated by a faster sinking plastic.”

McKinnon targeted the larger fish by focusing on the bigger snags that he came across.

“Bigger fish take up residence in the best locations,” he said.

McKinnon’s tackle included a 2.1m, 2-4kg, Mick Rantall custom rod, Penn Applause reel, 6lb Berkley Fireline and 6lb Famil leader. And because he won the event using TT jigheads, he secured a $500 TT Lures Sponsors Bonus.

The Mercury Sponsor Bonus went to 2nd placed boater Wayne Friebe, who picked up the $200 bonus as the highest placed Mercury user.

For more info on upcoming qualifying rounds in the 2006 BREAM Series visit www.bream.com.au or phone ABT on (07) 3268 3992 or 0427 326 464 during business hours. - ABT

[CAPTIONS]

1.

The biggest turn out for a Victorian ABT event yet – 87 competitors in 44 boats.

2.

Stephen Bacon’s 1.45kg bream was the biggest bream of the competition. It took a rainbow coloured 3” Gulp Minnow rigged on a 1/32oz Pigs Jigs jighead.

3.

Stuart McKinnon won the event and $2,500 by compiling a 10/10, 6.23kg two-day limit. He targeted bream that he could see rolling and feeding along the rocky edge and drop-offs.

4.

16-year-old Jordan Trusty from St Kilda won the non-boater section with a 9/10, 4.57kg bag of Glenelg bream.

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