"

Robinson off to States
  |  First Published: December 2004



**** MATTY PUT IN BLA NEW LOGO SOMEWHERE PLEASE *****

Andrew Robison, a 39-year-old underground coal miner, claimed the title of BLA Sunday Shootout Winner, and won an all-expenses-paid trip to USA to compete in a WON Bass tournament.

Bagging a two-fish second session limit of 1.94kg, Robinson relegated Harry Watson to second place (2/2, 1.91kg), to snatch the trip to the States. It topped off a fantastic year for Robinson, who won the title of BASS Pro Angler of the Year 2004.

With the field of 29 BASS Pro Grand Finalists split into five pools, based on their final ranking after the Grand Final, anglers fished over a shortened three-hour session with the objective of catching the largest bag of the six anglers competing in each pool.

The completion of session one saw five pool winners, plus one wildcard entrant through to the second and final session. With David Green (2/2, 3.21kg), Andrew Robinson (2/2, 2.45kg), Spiro Zantiotis (2/2, 2.58kg), Peter Keidge (2/2, 3.04kg), Trent Butler (2/2, 3.10kg), and Harry Watson (2/2, kg) all taking their positions on the start line.

By this time the competitors were feeling the effects of nerves and the fishing was becoming increasingly difficult, and they struggled to locate fish in ample quantities during the final session.

Three tense hours for spectators and anglers provided an action-packed weigh-in. The results saw Andrew Robinson (2/2, 1.94kg) finish on top, followed by Harry Watson (2/2, 1.91kg), Peter Keidge (2/2, 1.63), David Green (2/2, 1.50kg), Trent Butler (1/2, 1.08), and Spiro Zantiotis (1/2, .55kg).

In compiling his session limits, Robinson focused his angling time on the middle reaches of the dam, targeting the banks in the area near the junction of the Stuart and Boyne arms of the waterway. While Robinson caught fish from close to the banks earlier in the day, as the day progressed he found the need to position his boat and target fish that had moved out into deeper water.

“In session one I was catching fish while the boat was in 15-20 feet of water,” Robinson explained. “By the second session I couldn’t find any, let only catch any at that depth, so I dropped back to water that was up to 40 feet deep and I found the fish.”

Robinson, like most anglers over the weekend, chose a Jackall as his go-to lure. He alternated his choice between the TN-60 and the Mask Vib60, both in Ayu colour. Fishing the TN-60 with a slow retrieve, Robinson used pauses to tempt the fish he pinpointed with his sounder. His approach when using the softer version was less reactionary, with a traditional soft plastic hop-drop retrieve used to catch his tournament-winning limits.

His tackle of choice was a Black Diamond Bass Predator rod, 2-4kg, 6’6”, a TDX Daiwa HSD 100 reel, 20lb Bionic Braid and 20lb Nitlon Leader.

Robinson’s outfit of choice when opting for a soft Jackall was a Black Diamond Bass Predator Spin Jig rod, 3-5kg, 6’6”, a Daiwa Advantage 2000 reel, 4lb Fireline, and 10lb Nitlon.

After receiving the BASS Pro Angler of the Year trophy, Robinson, one of the most liked anglers on the circuit, thanked his sponsors and the people who have helped him out since he started fishing the tournaments. Along with his prize of a trip to the USA, Robinson will be fitted out by BLA with all the wet and cold weather clothing he’ll need to survive the chilly conditions on his trip to the States.

Information for the 2005 BASS Pro Series will be available in the 2005 Tournament Anglers Guide, mailed to all ABT members in 2005. Call Simon Goldsmith during business hours (07) 3268 3992 for more information - ABT

Facts

BLA Sunday Shootout Final Session

PlaceAnglerFishWeight
1Andrew ROBINSON21.94
2Harry WATSON21.91
3Peter KEIDGE21.63
4David GREEN21.5
5Trent BUTLER11.08
6Spiro ZANTIOTIS10.55

Reads: 1172

Matched Content ... powered by Google