The Champion Angler Title belonged to Darren Lewis, catching fish both days for a total limit of 367cm. Travelling all the way from Mussellbrook in NSW to fish the tour, Lewis a bi-yearly visitor to the dam utilised advice from his father and local tackle store shop owner Lindsay Dobe to locate and catch his fish.
Slow and windy conditions greeted 22 teams on the first day of the Peter Faust Dam leg of the ABT Daiwa BARRA Tour. 16 anglers caught fish, but it was a 118cm specimen, the largest to date on the tour that was the show piece of the event.
After a slow first night, Team Attack/Gamakatsu came through on the final day to claim the title of Champion Team. Fishing from the largest boat in the field, anglers Steve Blaney and Paul Topp sounded some arches and anchored up to catch their 5 fish for a total of 459cm.
The Daiwa Big Barra prize was captured by Matt Coleman on a Storm soft plastic, black and gold in colour. The 118cm fish was caught in the main channel of the dam, and was found holding on a weed bed in about 10-15 feet of water. Coleman’s choice of tackle included a Shimano T-Curve 6’6 rod, matched to a Shimano Calais baitcaster reel, spooled with FINS 50 pound braid and finished with an 80 pound mono leader.
The Champion Angler Title belonged to Darren Lewis, catching fish both days for a total limit of 367cm. Travelling all the way from Mussellbrook in NSW to fish the tour, Lewis a bi-yearly visitor to the dam utilised advice from his father and local tackle store shop owner Lindsay Dobe to locate and catch his fish.
Second place was secured by a consistent Peter Price with 4/10, 348cm, while the remaining place getter included, Steve Blaney (3/10, 297cm) in third, Jason Medcalf (2/10, 211cm) in fourth, and Michael Boehm (2/10, 192cm) in fifth.
Lewis armed himself with a 5’8 Typhoon rod, teamed to an ABU 5500C reel, 50 pound Harro braid and 80 Penn 10X leader. Choosing to throw a gold Bomber lure in the shallows and a gold 1 metre Predatek Viper lure in the deeper water, he landed 4 fish and pulled the hooks on another at the boat. On a tough first day he landed a 94cm specimen in a shallow bay, the average size for the tournament.
The final day included two fish over a metre and a smaller 45cm specimen that in the end won him the event.
“One of the larger barra initially jumped and then took about 150 metres of line†Lewis explained. “Al, my partner, had to pull the anchor so we could chase it down and get some line back†he said.
Catching 2 fish each day was runner up Peter Price. Tying the boat off a solitary log near the weed, he continued to cast the Squidgy Slick Rig in the drop bear colour. Using a G. Loomis 665 rod, matched to a 253 Daiwa Millionaire reel and spooled with 30 pound Bully braid, and a specially made mono leader. Modelled on a similarly constructed version by Jack Erskine the leader provided Price with the protection he needed against the abrasive characteristics of his quarry.
“I like to fish a light drag†Peter explained. “This way we can lead the barra around until it tires and decides to come up on its side†he said. “This go-easy technique seems to minimise the barra leaps and head shakes†he continued.
A $200 donation was made to Andy Thomsen from the local stocking group. “This money helps to provide future fish for all anglers. We hope to be able to continue the big fish that we see here at Peter Faust Dam†he told the crowd.
With the moon rising late over the hills of Proserpine, the Night Championship Monday night is shaping up to see plenty of full limits. This may be the best chance to see record breaking bag on the 2005 Daiwa BARRA Tour.
If you would like to join in the fun for either the remainder of the 2005 Daiwa BARRA Tour or want to start planning for next year, check out all the info at www.australianbarra.com.au.
| Place | Angler | F1 | L1 | F2 | L2 | TF | TL |
| 1 | Darren Lewis | 1 | 94 | 3 | 273 | 4 | 367 |
| 2 | Peter Price | 2 | 152 | 2 | 196 | 4 | 348 |
| 3 | Steve Blaney | 3 | 297 | 3 | 297 | ||
| 4 | Jason Medcalf | 1 | 106 | 1 | 105 | 2 | 211 |
| 5 | Michael Boehm | 2 | 192 | 2 | 192 | ||
| 6 | Paul Topp | 2 | 162 | 2 | 162 | ||
| 7 | Matt Coleman | 1 | 118 | 1 | 118 | ||
| 8 | Scott McAuley | 1 | 104 | 1 | 104 | ||
| 9 | Gavin Dunne | 1 | 103 | 1 | 103 | ||
| 9 | Rodney Collings | 1 | 103 | 1 | 103 | ||
| 11 | Les Reibelt | 1 | 102 | 1 | 102 | ||
| 12 | Andy Thomsen | 1 | 101 | 1 | 101 | ||
| 13 | Cathy McNaught | 1 | 91 | 1 | 91 | ||
| 14 | Denny Howarth | 1 | 85 | 1 | 85 | ||
| 15 | Clay Dale | 1 | 82 | 1 | 82 | ||
| 16 | Dennis Schwerin | 1 | 79 | 1 | 79 | ||
| 17 | Brian Hampton | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 17 | Barry Collett | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 17 | David Lang | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 17 | Steve Tracey | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 17 | Trevor Cassidy | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 17 | Ken Best | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 17 | Ken Berry | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 17 | John Schwerin | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 17 | Gary Boyd | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 17 | Steve Morgan | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 17 | Chris Machonachie | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 17 | Christine Machonachie | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 17 | Alan Macnamara | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 17 | Luke Coleman | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 17 | Peter McAuley | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 17 | Philip Lyons | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 17 | Geoff Busbridge | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 17 | Arthur Lovern | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 17 | Jack Erskine | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 17 | Lindsay Dobe | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 17 | Peter May | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 17 | Brad Cooper | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 17 | Adam Meredith | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 17 | John Schofield | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 17 | Peter Morgan | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 17 | Trevor Burgess | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 17 | Peter Roberts | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 17 | Graham Vallance | 0 | 0 |