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Serne Cracks Monduran Drought
  |  First Published: August 2008



Optimistic anglers travelled to the Unitika Lake Monduran BASS Pro event, in the hope of catching the elusive bass and take out a Grand Final qualification.

It was a close race for the title, with only seven fish caught in the first session, eight in the second and 11 in the final session. Taking the lead going into day two was River City Marine’s Peter Leggett with a fish each session for a total of 2.09kg. However, Christian Serne, a 34-year-old builder from the Gold Coast, past leggett on the leader board by catching two fish for an event total of 3.21kg in the last session.

Serne worked the same Bird Bay area as Leggett and used a Strudwick hardbait rod matched to an Abu Garcia Revo Premier reel spooled with 10lb Toughline and 10lb Berkley Vanish leader. Fishing in 10-13ft of water, he chose to throw a Jackall TN60 in Ghost Wagasaki with a slow to medium retrieve pattern.

“This is my first bass win and I came here wanting to qualify for the BASS Pro Grand Final,” he said.

Moving into second place was ABT stalwart Mike Connolly who scored two fish for 2.74kg. Connolly worked the opposite bank to Leggett after a pre-fish plan was established between the pair. He chose to use a G.Loomis Mag Bass 844 rod, Daiwa Steez baitcaster reel spooled with 25lb Jigger 8 PE and 14lb Siglon leader.

“I fished a 300m section of bank for the entire weekend,” Connolly explained.

“I fished the drop-off of the old river bed with a silent Jackall in brown dog colour, changing the retrieve speed from very slow to burning,” he continued.

Champion non boater was Peter May, catching two fish for 3kg in the second session with Mike Connolly as his boater. May used a Millerod Spiral Wrap with a Shimano Chronarch Mag 50 spooled with 8lb Fireline and 14lb Waterking fluorocarbon. When asked what lure did he catch his fish on, May replied

“Jackall brown dog, what else is there!”

May worked the weed edge parallel to the bank with a slow retrieve and also claimed the event’s Daiwa Big Bass of 1.85kg. Not quite enough to take away the money from Alan McNamara who also scored a 1.85kg fish.

McNamara, the Borumba Big Bass winner, caught his fish on a mat black TN60 Jackall, adding to his ABT Big Barra titles.

Thanks to the event sponsor Unitika, there were plenty of giveaways with anglers scoring prizes for the Biggest Bass for each session as well as random drawn T-shirts, hats and line.

Simon Barkhuisen, wearing his orange Daiwa hat, claimed the $200 Daiwa giveaway in the first session and finished in 11th place with his 790g bass.

Going into the record books as one of the tougher bass competitions, the $500 stocking donation given to MASA will be put to good use, to populate the Lake’s fish population.

The final BASS Pro qualifier is to be held in August at Lake Glenbawn. And is the final chance to claim valuable AOY points, so the BASS Pro major event is sure to be popular.

Playing host to the Humminbird Megabucks later in the year followed by the Grand Final at St Clair, the season is quickly coming to the business end of the season. For further information contact ABT on 07 3268 7958 or visit www.australianbass.com.au– ABT

Unitika Monduran BASS PRO Boater Results

PlaceAnglerStateTFTW(kg)
1Christian SERNEQLD23.21
2Mike CONNOLLYQLD22.74
3Peter LEGGETTQld22.09
4Alan MCNAMARANSW11.85
5Garry HARDMANNSW11.77
6Carl JOCUMSENQLD11.26
7Jesper NOIESENQLD11.10
8Aaron MOGGQld10.99
9Adrian MELCHIORNSW10.92
10John BRIDERQld10.90

Unitika Monduran BASS PRO Non-Boater Results

PlaceAnglerStateTFTW(kg)
1Peter MAYQld23.00
2Kevin HULSEQld21.90
3John PICTONNSW11.65
4Jay TORRANCENSW11.44
5Shane ANDERSONQLD11.19
6Peterjames SPITTALQld11.18
7David MELROSEQld11.03
8Malcolm STEWARTNSW10.93
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