Angler 12 Daiwa

12EXTRASRun n Gun Action Planning to Win A Perfect Score

BASSDirty Water Bassin Topwater Action Deep Crankin Tips

BARRALightline Tactics Topwaters Exposed 2012 BARRA Tour

BREAMShallow Water Secrets Kayak Grand Final One Box SpecialGROUP

2012 ABT EnTry Forms rEcords, EArnings And rAnkings

$9.95

GST INC. 2012 TOURNAMENT ANGLER GUIDE

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editorial

The big picTureanglers fishing the best events with the goal of becoming the best. While the boom in events, especially teams events, may initially seem to provide more opportunities to achieve these goals, in reality do they achieve the big picture outcomes for the sport as a whole and for the individual? From a stewardship point of view I dont think they necessarily do. Granted they drive equipment sales, expansion in angler numbers, deliver an income and business to many, (ABT included) but they have limitations in what they can achieve. These include; limited individual accolades and the ability to promote and sell the individual as a brand, and a reduced cross pollination of ideas, techniques, and talent. All these are desirable components of the sport that you dont want to dilute or stifle, and are ones that have always been at the forefront of ABTs operation since it ran its first event in 1999. Tournament season 2012 is very much about reaffirming these objectives. Our pathway concept of turning the first-time non-boater into an eventual AFC angler is as strong now as it has ever been. For anglers getting started in tournament fishing, ABT is the only place where you get the chance to share a boat with the likes of Tim Morgan, Tristan Taylor, or Steve Kanowski an opportunity that is available only via boater/non-boater events, and one that is worth a hundred magazine articles or online interviews! For those who want to challenge themselves on the biggest stage (boater) and strive to be the best, the Daiwa BREAM Series, Daiwa BREAM Australian Open, and Smak Lures BASS Pro Series offer the ultimate test. It gives you the best of the best fishing in the most competitive series Australia has to offer. If you strive to fish against the best and be the best, ABT is the only place for you. 8 TOURNAMENT ANGLER GUIDE 12

TournamenT SeaSon 2012

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BT events have always been about providing anglers with the ultimate tournament experience. The best

So lets look at whats in store for competitors in 2012 and the rewards that are on offer for anglers keen to do battle and come out on top.

THE FULL WRAPABT takes its event coverage up a notch with the live streaming of our BREAM events, revised full-colour post-event write ups in Fishing Monthly, and associated media partners delivering unprecedented event and angler coverage. If you finish first or second as a boater, or win as a non-boater, youll receive full exposure in our write-ups on what you did and how you did it. Daiwa Australia, lureandfly.com and a host of ABTs sponsors will have a strong focus on ABT in 2012, with the events, results and anglers prominent in their tournament media. The ultimate promotion and media exposure for anglers is via AFC, and ABT events of course are the only pathway there. If youre looking for maximum exposure and more bang for your buck, ABT events are for you.

BREAMThe Daiwa BREAM Series follows the less is more approach for the new season with eight qualifying events plus a Grand Final. Each event will receive the live stream treatment, with live scoreboard, audio and video delivering unrivaled event exposure. The BREAM Grand Final Week returns to Queensland in 2012, with Bribie Island (BREAM Grand Final), and the Gold Coast (BREAM Classic Championship) playing host to the week-long bream feast. The Daiwa-Hobie BREAM Kayak Series returns and now includes ABT-run qualifier and state title events as well as a select number of rounds integrated into many of the BREAM Classic events run throughout the country. Victorias Bemm River is the venue for the Grand Final, with east Victoria bream host spot playing host to Hobie road show in November.

WITH THANKSAs we head into a new tournament season, I would like to thank those who have helped us get to where we are today and who are continuing to help us provide the best tournament experience possible. To the ABT staff Chris and Elliot and to all our casuals, thank-you for your professionalism and focus on what we do. To the crew at lureandfly.com, thank-you for you efforts in 2011 and also for what we have planned for 2012. To our sponsors, your input is never taken for

BASSWith competitors holding their heads high following a red-hot Grand Final at Boondooma, anglers will be keen to hit the water at Boondooma in February for the opening round of the Smak Lures BASS Pro Series. Four qualifying rounds, a Grand Final (St Clair), and Megabass BASS Megabucks (Glenbawn) make up the season for BASS Pro anglers. Blue Fin Boats will once again headline the BASS Electric Series.

BARRAAfter a quiet tour last year the BMA BARRA Tour is returning with a vengeance in 2012, with the series streamlined to four events and split into a northern and southern tour. Scheduled three months apart and hitting the lakes on the full moon, it will mean more manageable time away from home and work to fish the events, and will see anglers fishing the dams at their peak bite times. With another year of recovery after the floods of 2011, the dams and the BARRA Tour should be ready to fire in 2012.

granted. Without it ABT and tournament fishing in Australia wouldnt be at the level that it is today. So there you have it, the plan for 2012. So sit back enjoy the latest issue of the ABT Tournament Angler Guide, and remember if youre looking for the ultimate tournament experience, ABT is the place for you.

Simon Goldsmith Tournament Angler Guide and ABT Tournament Director.

contents12 18 24 32 44 50 55 62 70 78 84 92 100 110 116 126 132 138 153 Busting Down the Door............................Simon Goldsmith How Shallow Art Thou................................. Elliot Fooks Drop and Give Me Five................................. Chris Seeto Master Plan.........................................Mike Sutcliffe Run n Gun or Stay n Play........................... Josh Carpenter Show us Your Box................................... Steve Morgan BREAM Records, Earnings & Rankings......................... ABT Macquarie Madness................................. Grayson Fong A Perfect Score.................................... Josh Carpenter Talking Heads....................................... Chris Byrnes Time to Rise ........................................Dean Silvester Dirty Water Bassin...................................... Tri Vi Ton Digging Deeper...................................Simon Goldsmith Head to Head......................................... Elliot Fooks BASS Records, Earnings & Rankings ........................... ABT Exploding the Myth....................................Steve Booth The Lighter Side..................................... Daniel Grech BARRA Records, Earnings & Rankings......................... ABT ABT Entry and Membership Forms............................. ABT3. available. They do more than just look cool on the back of the boat in the right hands they can be a deadly tool. The idea behind the Power-Pole and the Minn Kota Talon is quiet, shallow water angling. Stopping mid-drift with these shallow water anchors can give you the time to unhook fish or pepper areas that may have a school of fish holding in a particular zone. But what if you cant afford a shallow water anchor? Steve Morgan has the answer. I know it sounds odd but before we had shallow water anchoring systems we simply trimmed down our outboard, he said. Just dont do it on the rocks!

12EXTRASRun n Gun Action Planning to Win A Perfect Score

BASSDirty Water Bassin Topwater Action Deep Crankin Tips

BARRALightline Tactics Topwaters Exposed 2012 BARRA Tour

BREAMShallow Water Secrets Kayak Grand Final One Box SpecialGROUP

2012 ABT EnTry Forms rEcords, EArnings And rAnkings16/12/11 2:51 PM

Contents 1-9.indd 1

COVER: 2011 Daiwa - Hobie BREAM Kayak Grand Final Winner Daniel BrownGlass boats have the edge over non-glass boats in the shallows, with their shallow draft and quieter presence producing more fish.

$9.95

GST INC. 2012 TOURNAMENT ANGLER GUIDE

Master Planwith HD Side & Down ImagingTexT: Mike SuTcliffe PhoTograPhy: Jeff clelland and SiMon goldSMiTh

the new 1198cx SI ComboA winning day on the water starts a long time before the day itself, but just how long varies from angler to angler. Here, five of the most successful fisherman on the ABT BREAM tour share their plans.

St Helens is shallow water heaven for breamers, Jordan Trustys big smile is proof of that.

TIPS FOR YOUNG PLAYERSIn tournament fishing its not uncommon for anglers to push themselves to the limit, but in the shallows it pays to know when to stay and when to go. Anglers need to be in tune with the areas theyre fishing and know what the tide is doing. Of course, they also need to know how much water their boat needs to run though or be pushed through. We have all seen someone who has stayed in shallow water for a little too long and have been stuck until the next high tide (many of us have done it ourselves). Knowing your boat, the area that youre fishing and what the tide is doing are three key ingredients to keep you fishing. It pays to learn them.

ThINkING OUTSIdE ThE SqUARETournament angling is an ever-changing game and there are new tools being developed every day, so why not skip buying22 TOURNAMENT ANGLER GUIDE 12

that next rod and take a look at the rest of your bream fishing arsenal? Think wider than just your standard tackle, because it may just prove to be the final piece of the puzzle. As ABT anglers we are lucky to be able to

benefit from the lessons learnt in all three sides (BREAM, BASS, BARRA) of our sport, and sometimes one of these other branches may have tips or tricks that could improve your next tournament result.

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eve all seen it someone giving Derwent River in Tasmania. He loves his a short speech, thanking their black bream, as you can tell. sponsors, perhaps giving credit Szarn Tink A resident of WA, Szarn to a long-suffering spouse for putting up has been known to pop up (and earn top with all the weekends away from home 10 places) at tournaments all over the and the strong smell of Gulp in the garage; country both as a boater and non-boater. then grinning as they hold up an oversized However, its in WA where hes enjoyed the novelty cheque. most success, and has been the states And all the while, as we smile and AOY several times. applaud their efforts (so what if they beat Wayne Reed Wayne has become us by 3kg?), were thinking, Why cant I something of a fixture on the BREAM circuit, do that? fishing in as many competitions as he can Well, heres some good news for the both individually and as part of a team. He terminally and partner Adrian Neoh shook up the field SIDE IMAGING SONAR: Amazingly envious: you can do it. It just takes time and a bit of work. Because, as at the 2007 Bing Lee BREAM Australian BREAM GRAND FINAL 2010 BARRA CLASSIC 2011 clear, picture-like images of fish, the successful anglers will all tell AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2011 what CLASSIC BARRA these five you, HICKSON with TEAM is still a record bag for KRIS Open SHAUN CLANCY BASS GRAND FINAL 2011 bottom and structure. With massive for that speech can start days, preparing Sydney Harbour a massive 6.18kg. As an MATTHEW MOTT weeks, before they individual, he finished 5th in the 2010 Daiwa coverage of 146 metres from side to side, or even months NATIONAL TEAMS ever BREAM make a BREAM Grand Final. GRAND FINAL you can scan in mere minutes what use cast in a tournament. 2011 KRIS HICKSON, DANIEL BROWN Kris Hickson Still ridiculously young to to take hours. THE CREW have had as much success as he has, Kris Here are the fishermen who will be sharing is an angler to be reckoned with in just their secrets for the perfect tournament day: about any competition he enters, and has Cameron Whittam The 2011 Lowrance gradually risen up the BREAM rankings in Victoria BREAM AOY, Cam has been the past couple of years. He also finished fishing for years (hes a former casting a very close 2nd in the 2011 BREAM AOY CHRIS WRIGHT - Tournament Angler Distributed exclusively by champion, too), and has recently started rankings and won the 2011 Daiwa BREAM Since using Humminbird I have found more fish and to enjoy regular success in ABT BREAM Australian Open. structure than ever before. To see fish out the side of tournaments, winning the 2011 Gippsland Tristan Taylor Tristan is a dentist and the boat on Side Imaging, cast to them and land them boatinglifestyleadventure round and also in recent years, his smile has looked like is something I have never seen before. For the first timefinishing third on the

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Finding fish couldnt be easier...

HUMMINBIRD WINS

bla.com.au

I am 100% confident in what my electronics are telling me.TOURNAMENT ANGLER GUIDE 12

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bassinTexT: Tri vi Ton PhoTograPhy: Simon goldSmiTh and jeff Clelland

dirty waterIts the first morning of an event, and youve arrived at a lake that looks like Mother Nature has built a Starbucks at its headwaters.

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TOURNAMENT ANGLER GUIDE 12

92/93Queenslands lake Boondooma rose significantly in the early part of 2011 with dirty water and tough fishing challenging anglers during the Skeeter BaSS Pro Series.


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Head to HeadTexT: ellioT Fooks PhoTograPhy: simon goldsmiTh

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The race for the 2011 Blue Fin Boats BASS Electric Angler of the Year title was always going to be a marathon. Twenty-five events scattered throughout NSW and Queensland, reduced down to an anglers best five results meant it was always going to be close.

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THE L WORD Here are my go-to lures when deep cranking. 1. Rapala DT10 2. HideUp HU-300 3. Megabass DD Griffon 6CC 4. Lucky Craft Flat Mini DR 5. Imakatsu IK-250 6. Evergreen Combat Crank Flatside 7. OSP Blitz Max DR

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out in the deep and cast as far as you could towards the island, then engage the reel and slowly crank the lure back. The hits came anywhere during the retrieve, but more often than not came as the lure swam over the edge into the deeper water. If the fish moved a little deeper simply immersing the rod half way into the water gave the lure a couple more feet in running depth, and was often enough to reach the fish that you had been missing.

Stalling the lure cloSe to Structure, Speeding the retrieve up to elicit a reaction from a fiSh, and twitching the lure to replicated an injured bait fiSh all payS dividendSwill deliver longer casts and allow you to cover more water. How you use the rod, both on the cast, the retrieve and during the fight is important. For close quarters work I prefer to use flat, side and underhand casts to deliver greater line control, particularly when fishing tight to timber, while for longer work Im more incline to use overhead and casts to get more distance. The rod position largely remains the same regardless, with a rod tip down and rod to the side holding position delivering optimum contact and feel of the lure. The positioning of the rod also allows the slow taper of the rod to do its thing when a fish bites. Namely not sling shot the lure out of the fishs mouth when it hits the lure. The taper also allows the rod to progressively through the blank, cushioning the fight of hooked fish. The outcome is more bass landed and less dropped fish.

Grab your Gear were GoinG SwiMMinGWhile on-water adjustments such as this with your tackle can deliver small improvements its in the initial selection of tackle where the most benefits can be made. Rod selection is the first piece to the puzzle, with slow and regular taper rods the best for the job. The more reserved action of these style of rods minimises the chances of pulling hooks on fish and facilitates a better hook-up rate. For short distance works rod in the 6 to 66 prevail, while for longer work 66 and longer104 TOURNAMENT ANGLER GUIDE 12

iS THaT reeLy wHaT you wanT?Reel selection is best described as slow, with slow ratio reels the way to go. For baitcasters 6.3:1 or preferably slower are the preferred choices, while for spin reels 4.8:1 is the maximum ratio you want to go with. The line you put on the reels is always a point of contention and is best left to personal preference. Personally I like to use the lightest and thinnest PE that is suitable to the fish and location that Im fishing. 12lb Daiwa Hyper PE is my go-to choice at present, with a 10-14lb

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1102011 was a watershed year for shane anderson. The Bundaberg basser claimed the inaugural Bass electric aoy crown by the narrowest of margins (1 point) over dave Trinder.

16/12/11 3:01 PM

Managing Editor: Steve Morgan Editor: Simon Goldsmith Assistant Editor: Nicole Penfold Publishers: Fishing Monthly Group Steve Morgan, Robyn Lawrie and Matthew Drinkall

Sponsorship: Steve Morgan, Travis Davies Art Director: Matthew Roberts Production: Matthew Roberts, Melissa Carroll, Jeff Clelland, Amy McGowan, Karen Millward Printing and Prepress: Fergies Image to Press

Distribution: Gordon and Gotch 201 Tournament Angler Guide is a Fishing Monthly Group publication . ABN 72 010 542 195 PO Box 3172, Loganholme, QLD 4129 Phone: (07) 3387 0800 Fax: (07) 3387 0801 Business Office: Unit 3, 11 Knobel Court, Shailer Park, QLD 4128

ABT P .O . Box 7196 Loganholme, QLD, 4129 Phone: ((07) 3387 0888 Fax: (07) 3387 0889

All material is copyright and cannot be reproduced in part or full, by any means, without written permission of the Managing Editor. The view expressed in this publication editorially or in advertisement are not necessarily those of the Publisher.


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20Daiwa BREAM SERIES

calendarThe Daiwa BREAM Series is the premier bream circuit in the country, and the only pathway to AFC and the title of Australias best breamer. Eight qualifying events throughout the country allow you to fish as a boater (with a boat) or as a non boater (randomly paired with a boating angler) and qualify for the biggest event of season the Daiwa BREAM Grand Final, where you can win a Basscat / Mercury boat. All events in 2012 will be live-streamed on www.bream.com.au, with a live, scoreboard, vision and audio delivering anglers unprecedented exposure, a bonus for both anglers and sponsors alike. From the competitive elite to tournament fishing new comers the Daiwa BREAM Series is the ultimate series to test your skills or develop your skills. So dont sit on the sidelines in 2012 get breaming and get competing. BREAM Qualifiers Boater $200, Non Boater $100.

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BReAM sERIEsDATE 11-13 Jan 21-22 Jan 11-12 Feb 10-11 Mar 23-25 Mar 31 Mar - 1 Apr 5-6 May 19-20 May 16-17 Jun 14-15 Jul 11-12 Aug 17 Aug 19-21 Oct 3-4 Nov 9-11 Nov STATE NSW SA VIC NSW QLD TAS WA NSW QLD NSW QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD LOCATION Sydney Harbour Glenelg River Mallacoota Forster Moreton Bay Derwent River Albany St Georges Basin Tweed River Lake Macquarie Bribie Island Gold Coast Moreton Bay Gold Coast Sth Bribie Island EvENT BREAM Australian Open BREAM Qualifier #1 BREAM Qualifier #2 BREAM Megabucks TTS BREAM Invitational BREAM Qualifier #3 BREAM Qualifier #4 BREAM Qualifier #5 BREAM Qualifier #6 BREAM Qualifier #7 BREAM Qualifier #8 BREAM Pro-Am (Conference) BREAM Queensland Open BREAM Classic Championship BREAM Grand Final Shimano Strike Pro Hobie Atomic FINS Braid Ecogear ABT Humminbird Evinrude Daiwa SPONSOR Daiwa Mercury Rapala Minn Kota

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BReAM KAYAK sERIEsEvENT Qualifier SA State Titles + WQ1 Qualifier Qualifier Qualifier + WQ2 DAYS 1 2 1 1 2 ORGANISER WEB GTS ABT SSBS WA Classics SSBS ABT ABT ABT GTS ABT WA Classics SSBS ABT GTS ABT GTS VBC ABT ABT www.gamakatsu.com.au/gts www.bream.com.au www.ssbs.basinlureandfly.org.au www.wabreamclassics.com.au www.ssbs.basinlureandfly.org.au www.bream.com.au www.bream.com.au www.bream.com.au www.gamakatsu.com.au/gts www.bream.com.au www.wabreamclassics.com.au www.ssbs.basinlureandfly.org.au www.bream.com.au www.gamakatsu.com.au/gts www.bream.com.au www.gamakatsu.com.au/gts www.vicbreamclassics.com.au www.bream.com.au Note: no prefish for 2 weeks

DATE 8 Jan 21-22 Jan 29 Jan 12 Feb

STATE LOCATION NSW SA NSW WA Forster Glenelg River Georges River Swan River St Georges Basin Marlo Forster Swan River Clarence River Albany Mandurah Mallacoota Tweed River Gold Coast Bribie Island Ballina Mallacoota Narrabeen Lake Bemm River

18-19 Feb NSW 25-26 Feb VIC 10-11 Mar NSW 28-29 Mar TAS 29 Apr 5-6 May 20 May NSW WA WA

VIC State Titles + WQ3 2 NSW State Titles Tas State Titles Qualifier Wa State Titles Qualifier Qualifier Qualifier Qualifier 2 2 1 2 1 2 2 1

26-27 May VIC 16-17 Jun QLD 8 Jul QLD

11-12 Aug QLD 30 Sep 13-14 Oct 27-28 Oct NSW VIC NSW

QLD State Titles + WQ4 2 Qualifier Qualifier Qualifier Grand Final 1 2 2 2

Daiwa-HoBie BREAM KAYAK SERIES2012 sees the series expand to include a host of new tournament arenas, events and format types. 18 events make up the series, and include events run by ABT (State Title & Qualifier events) and selected BREAM Classic organizers. WA, SA, VIC, TAS, NSW and QLD play host to rounds, with the pinnacle event of the series, the Daiwa-Hobie BREAM Kayak Grand Final hitting the Bemm River, Vic, in November. The final will once again receive the full Hobie treatment with anglers fishing from factory supplied Hobie kayaks. The series shapes up to be exciting and one not to be missed for keen breamers and kayakers. Daiwa-Hobie BREAM Kayak - $100, Pro additional $50 cash. (ABT Qualifiers & State Title Events)

17-18 Nov VIC

BASS ELECtRIC sERIEsDATE 4/5 Feb 11-12Feb 4 Mar 4Mar 10/11Mar 11 Mar 18 Mar LOCATION Cania Dam Danjeera Dam Lake McDonald Lostock Dam Brogo Dam Cressbrook Dam Clarrie Hall Dam EvENT BASS Electric Series #1 BASS Electric Series #2 BASS Electric Series #3 BASS Electric Series #4 BASS Electric Series #5 BASS Electric Series #6 BASS Electric Series #7 BASS Electric Series #8 BASS Electric Series #9 DIRECTOR Chris Horne Dave Mann Paul Fleming David Mudd Dave Mann Brad Clark Tony Payne Adrian Melchior Dave Mann Gary Leather ABT Rory Saint ABT Brad Clark ABT ABT Tony Payne Daniel Malloy Chris Horne ABT ABT Paul Fleming ABT Gary Leather Brad Clark ABT CONTACT 0410 716 701 0417 232 652 0488 232 249 0409 711 064 0417 232 652 0448 588 955 0409 260 977 0415 587 900 0417 232 652 (07) 4153 4747 (07) 3387 0888 0415 445 142 (07) 3387 0888 0448 588 955 (07) 3387 0888 (07) 3387 0888 0409 260 977 0413 771 355 0410 716 701 (07) 3387 0888 (07) 3387 0888 0488 232 249 (07) 3387 0888 (07) 4153 4747 0448 588 955 (07) 3387 0888 EvENT TIMES 12-6pm / 5.30-11.30am 1-7pm / 6.30am-12.30pm 6.30am-12.30pm 7am-1pm 12-6pm / 6.30am-12.30pm 7am-1pm 7am-1pm 1-7pm / 5.30am-11.30am 11am-5pm / 7am-1pm 6am-12pm 7am-1pm 7am-1pm 7am-1pm 7am-1pm 7am-1pm 7am-1pm 7am-1pm 7am-1pm 7am-1pm 7am-1pm 7am-1pm 6.30am-12.30pm 7am-1pm 6am-12pm 7am-1pm 7am-1pm

31 Mar-1 Apr Toonumba Dam 31 Mar-1 Apr Danjeera Dam 15 Apr 6 May 13 May 20 May 27 May 10 Jun 17 Jun

Isis Balancing Storage BASS Electric Series #10 Maroon Dam Moogerah Dam Lake St Clair Cressbrook Dam Wivenhoe Dam Maroon Dam Clarrie Hall Dam Wivenhoe Dam Cania Dam Lake St Clair Wivenhoe Dam Lake McDonald Moogerah Dam BASS Electric Series #11 BASS Electric Series #12 BASS Electric Series #13 BASS Electric Series #14 BASS Electric Series #15 BASS Electric Series #16 BASS Electric Series #17 BASS Electric Series #18 BASS Electric Series #19 BASS Electric Series #20 BASS Electric Series #21 BASS Electric Series #22 BASS Electric Series #23

Blue Fin Boats BASS ELECTRIC SERIESBlue Fin Boats headlines the BASS Electric Series again in 2012, with the grass roots bass series hitting a swag of quality bass lakes as it travels its way through QLD and NSW. Single and two day events are once again on the menu for anglers with ultimate goal to qualify for the Blue Fin Boats BASS Electric Convention in October. Following its successful introduction last year the Pro Up option will be on offer again in 2012, with an additional $20 entry on the day getting you in the game to win cash. Check out the calendar to find out where and when you can get your Blue Fin Boats BASS Electric fix. BASS Electric Entries - $20, and optional $20 Pro option on the day.

1 Jul 8 Jul 15 Jul 22 Jul 5 Aug 19 Aug 2 Sep 9 Sep 30 Sep 13/14 Oct

Isis Balancing Storage BASS Electric Series #24 Cressbrook Dam Hinze Dam BASS Electric Series #25 BASS Electric Series Convention

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DATE 25-26 Feb 21-22 Apr 23-24 Jun 25-26 Aug 18-19 Sep 15-16 Sep

STATE QLD NSW NSW QLD NSW NSW

LOCATION Boondooma St Clair Glenbawn Somerset Glenbawn St Clair

EvENT Qualifier #1 Qualifier #2 Qualifier #3 Qualifier #4 BASS Megabucks BASS Pro Grand Final

SPONSOR Samurai Reaction Sufix G.Loomis TT Lures Megabass Smak Lures

DATE 28-29 Sep 1-2 Oct 30 Nov-1 Dec 3-4 Dec

AffilliAteD EvEntsDATE 8 Jan 15 Jan 29 Jan 4-5 Feb 5 Feb 5 Feb 18-19 Feb 19 Feb 18-19 Feb 11 Mar 17-18 Mar 18 Mar 24-25 Mar 25 Mar 6 Apr 14-15 Apr 21-22 Apr 21-22 Apr 29 Apr 5-6 May 6 May 20 May 20 May 26-27 May 3 Jun 16-17 Jun 24 Jun 8 Jul 29 Jul 4-5 Aug 12 Aug 26 Aug 9 Sep 9 Sep 16 Sep 28-29 Sep 13-14 Oct 3-4 Nov 24-25 Nov 1-2 Dec STATE NSW NSW NSW VIC NSW WA TAS QLD NSW NSW VIC NSW TAS SA QLD WA NSW TAS NSW VIC NSW SA WA VIC NSW VIC QLD QLD NSW NSW WA NSW NSW NSW WA NSW VIC QLD VIC SA LOCATION Forster Lake Macquarie Georges River Yarra River Hawkesbury R Swan R Swan R Bribie Island St Georges Basin Forster Metung Urunga St Helens Port River Gold Coast Sth Albany Port Macquarie Derwent River Clarence River Glenelg River St Georges Basin Port River Mandurah Mallacoota Port Stephens Hopkins River Gold Coast Gold Coast Sth Port Macquarie Sydney Harbour Mandurah Forster Tweed River Sydney Harbour Swan R Richmond River Mallacoota Gold Coast Sth Metung Port River EvENT GTS - Sth BETS #2 SSBS Atomic BIA VIC Bream Classic #1 BETS #3 WA BREAM Classic #1 TAS Classics #1 GTS - Nth SSBS BETS #4 Club Marine East Gippsland VIC Bream Classic #2 GTS - Sth TAS Classics #2 SABT Classic #1 Easter BREAM Classic WA BREAM Classic #2 PMBC TAS Classics #3 GTS - Nth Alsta Angling Glenelg Shire VIC Bream Classic #3 BETS #5 SABT Classic #2 WA BREAM Classic #3 SSBS GTS - Sth Hooked On Rods N Reels VIC Bream Classic #4 Dash 4 Cash GTS - Nth GTS - Sth BETS Grand Final WA BREAM Classic #4 GTS Semi Final Sth GTS Semi Final Nth NSW BREAM Classic WA BREAM Classic GF GTS Grand Final Alsta Angling East Gippsland VIC Bream Classic #5 BREAM Classic Championship Humminbird VIC Bream Classic Grand Final SABT Classic #3 DIRECTOR Australian Fishing Tournaments BETS Jim Barrie Bill Hartshorne BETS Craig Leatt-Hayter Alistair Creed Australian Fishing Tournaments Jim Barrie BETS Bill Hartshorne Australian Fishing Tournaments Alistair Creed Tom Deer Stephen Wilson Craig Leatt-Hayter David Poulton Alistair Creed Australian Fishing Tournaments Bill Hartshorne BETS Tom Deer Craig Leatt-Hayter Jim Barrie Australian Fishing Tournaments Bill Hartshorne Christine Hunt Australian Fishing Tournaments Australian Fishing Tournaments BETS Craig Leatt-Hayter Australian Fishing Tournaments Australian Fishing Tournaments Alan Loftus Craig Leatt-Hayter Australian Fishing Tournaments Bill Hartshorne ABT Bill Hartshorne Tom Deer 0412 249 647 0459 401 612 0459 401 612 0419 629 932 0412 249 647 0459 401 612 0409 823 070 (07) 3387 0888 0409 823 070 0414 901 550 www.wabreamclassics.com.au www.gamakatsu.com.au/gts www.vicbreamclassics.com.au www.bream.com.au www.vicbreamclassics.com.au www.bream.com.au 0414 901 550 0412 249 647 0409 275 434 0459 401 612 0409 823 070 0433 150 985 0459 401 612 0459 401 612 www.gamakatsu.com.au/gts www.gamakatsu.com.au/gts www.betsbream.com.au www.wabreamclassics.com.au www.gamakatsu.com.au/gts www.gamakatsu.com.au/gts 0409 823 070 0459 401 612 0408 109 204 0414 901 550 0403 694 178 0412 249 647 0401 191 554 0408 109 204 0459 401 612 0409 823 070 www.wabreamclassics.com.au www.portbreamclassic.com.au www.bream.com.au www.gamakatsu.com.au/gts www.vicbreamclassics.com.au www.betsbream.com.au www.bream.com.au www.wabreamclassics.com.au www.ssbs.basinlureandfly.org.au/ www.gamakatsu.com.au/gts www.vicbreamclassics.com.au 0412 249 647 0408 109 204 0459 401 612 0409 275 434 0409 275 434 0409 823 070 CONTACT 0459 401 612 WEB www.gamakatsu.com.au/gts www.betsbream.com.au www.ssbs.basinlureandfly.org.au/ www.vicbreamclassics.com.au www.betsbream.com.au www.wabreamclassics.com.au www.bream.com.au www.gamakatsu.com.au/gts www.ssbs.basinlureandfly.org.au/ www.betsbream.com.au www.vicbreamclassics.com.au www.gamakatsu.com.au/gts www.bream.com.au www.bream.com.au

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AffILIATED aBT EvENTSGrass roots team events have exploded in recent years and 2012 will be the biggest and busiest season so far. Anglers across Australia have a host of events to choose from, with every state catered for in the BREAM Classic calendar. If youre a tournament angler the angling options available have never been better or more numerous. All BREAM Classic events run under the ABT umbrella and are a combination of one or two day events and feature cash and product prizes. They also provide anglers with their only pathway into the National BREAM Classic Championship and the ability to accrue BREAM Classic Ranking points. Make sure you dont miss out on your chance to become the No 1.BREAM team in Australia. Classic Championship prize is a Skeeter / Evinrude boat package. Classic Entries refer to individual Classic Organisers.

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This is the fish that did it, Russ day three kicker fish, the Forster special that anchored his 3.38kg day-three limit.

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Busting Down the DoorTexT and PhoTograPhy: Simon goldSmiTh, ChriS SeeTo

Tournament fishing, like any competitive sport, is at its most compelling when the competition is close fought. Anglers going head-to-head all the way to the finishing line is the stuff that makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck and it gets the competitive senses tingling.hat played out at the 2011 Daiwa BREAM Grand Final blew this scenario out of the water, with Berkley BREAM Pro Russell Babekuhl busting down the door to charge through from 11th place to claim the event win at Forster. Timing his final run perfectly Babekuhl held his cards close to his chest until the final day when he pulled out his aces to smash his opposition, weighing in his biggest bag for the tournament, and in doing so claim the biggest prize in tournament bream fishing.

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It BegIns nowBabekuhls long road to victory started with the first bream he ever caught. It happened almost 11 years ago in the racks at Forster. Thats where the addiction started, he said. One fish from an oyster rack while I was fishing out of my canoe. From then on Ive been hooked on them and Forster. With the Wallis Lake system littered with oyster racks, finding the big bream needle in the haystack can be difficult. Babekuhl had a decade to hunt for that needle, and he found it: Jurassic Park. He decided to save it for a special occasion, and that special occasion turned out to be the 2011 Daiwa BREAM Grand Final.

tone for the event. It was just too clear and still so I cut my losses pretty quickly and headed upriver, he explained. Not content to bide his time and wait for the fish to come on, Russ quickly stowed his electric motor, strapped down his rods to the deck and hightailed it up the Wallamba River in search of tidal movement and active fish. It didnt take long to get stuck into them, he said. The tide was pumping, the prawns were on the move and the bream were straight onto our lures. Focusing his attention on rock walls, fallen trees and mangroves edges, Russ go-to

technique involved skipping a Berkley Pop Dog in tight to structure then working it back out with a walk-pause retrieve. You didnt have to be super tight with how you worked the lure, he said. You just needed to make sure you got the lure in close where the prawns and the bream were. While his first stop at the racks may have given him an unwanted slow start to the day, his prawn-fuelled flurry of topwater action made amends and had Babekuhl sitting pretty with a limit in the well by mid-morning.

the wInd BReAkeRRuss first task for the day, catching a limit, was done. His second task, upgrading, would prove to be a little harder. Russ knew the racks towards the bottom would give him the best chance of upgrading, but only if one particular factor went in his favour: wind. The racks down the bottom are in

Winning the nSW lowrance angler of the year title, daiwa Bream grand Final crown, plus the mercury Cup, Babekukl added a trio of trophies to his mantelpiece in 2011.

Up A RIveRHeading off 7th on an overcast and windy opening morning, Babekuhl headed straight to a selection of oyster racks on the northern side of Wallis Island, hoping that hed put some fish in the well early and set a positiveTOURNAMENT ANGLER GUIDE 12 13

Russ Rack Raid

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his limit in the well by lunchtime. The peak bite was late in the session as the incoming tide started to flood through the lake. While his bag (2.46kg) was down on the day before, Babekuhl reminded himself of the daily goal he set himself before the tournament: Just catch 2.5kg and youll be in with a chance.

Tinkering in The ShedPause Pausex x x x

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clear water so the fish are super spooky, he explained. You need the wind to blow otherwise its a waste of time. By 10am the wind had picked up enough so Russ packed away his topwaters, left the protective comfort of the Wallamba and headed downriver to spot hop his way between racks. He focused on fixed racks in the shallows that had both wind and current. With his surface lures tucked away in his rod locker, Babekuhl went finesse, rigging a 2 Berkley Gulp Shrimp on an unweighted worm hook and fishing it over and under the racks. The technique was straightforward I worked my way along the edge of the rack, made a long cast parallel with the rack so it landed up on the tray, pointed the rod out to the side away from the rack and just swam the Shrimp back across the tray, Russ explained. I then paused it just as it came off the edge and sank it down into the shade. It was just what the fish wanted on the opening day of competition. Babekuhl upgraded his whole limit and finished the day with a healthy 3kg bag. Heading into the event I thought if you got 2.5kg each day youd do alright, so when it went 3kg I was over the moon, he said.

Carbon CopyDay two was repeat performance of Russ day one itinerary: a pit-stop at the racks early followed by a quick session up the Wallamba to catch a few legals before heading back down to the racks. The current, the prawns and the bream that were up the Wallamba on the first day were gone, Russ explained. I only managed to get two legals so I called it quits after two hours and headed down to the racks. Making the move despite the lack of wind, Babekuhl was happy to plug away, content that the wind would come and that the bream would bite. It didnt take long for his faith to be rewarded; things turned around and he got THE DOG AND THE PRAWN SHOW Babekuhl fished the Grand Final with the following products: Berkley 3B Crank Pop Dog (snoop colour, 65mm, 3.2g) Berkley Gulp 2 Shrimp (pepper prawn) Berkley 2 Bulky Hawg Owner worm hook (size 1) Nitro Bream Pro jighead (1/32oz, size 1)

Babekuhl had no more chances. Having slipped to 11th place at the end of day two he was getting further off pace and he needed one place to fire Jurassic Park. He didnt hit it straight up though. Instead, he waited and bided his time until it was ready to fire. The Wallamba was out due a lack of current and the racks were unlikely to produce anything because it was too still so I went and fished the oyster sheds and poles at The Paddock, he explained. The sheds and poles had been largely overlooked by most of the field on the first two days. With the water gin clear and glassed out, Babekuhl fished 3lb Trilene straight through, skipping Berkley Shrimps and Hawgs rigged on a worm hook into the shade pockets, and then dead sticking them. The hits, as expected, came when the bait was doing its least, just replicating bream fodder sinking to the bottom. The less is more approach produced three legals, one of which came from a lone boat moored in the area.

niCe raCkBy 8.30am the wind had arrived so Russ made his move. No more B-grade locations, just a beeline to his number one spot: Jurassic Park. This area of crystal clear water is littered with rows and rows of oyster fattening trays, loaded with fish, and it had remained untouched for the tournament. Fishing up and down each row, Russ approach was straightforward except for one small twist. I fished down one side of the rack, then

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Consistency over the first two days, followed by a bag of big fish on the final day was Russ path to victory.

GETTING CHANGED Russ adapted to conquer at the Grand Final, adjusting both his technique and tackle to catch his fish. Here are some of changes he made throughout the event. Rigged his Shrimps on a 1/32oz jighead rather than a worm hook on days two and three, due to the strong wind. Replaced the rear hook of his topwater with a size 8 Owner treble so the lure would sit lower in the water. Downsized to 6lb leader to catch his limit on day three, and then (after he had his limit) upped his leader to 8lb and 10lb to give himself a better chance of landing fish. Increased the thickness of his mainline (12lb) as thinner line was getting blown around in the wind and was difficult to fish around the racks. Swapped to straight-through 3lb fluorocarbon when fishing the oyster sheds and poles on the last day because the water was clear and still.

fished my way back up not on the other side of the same rack, but on one rack over, he explained. This up and back approach allowed Russ to fish clean water on each pass rather than waste his time fishing water muddied by his electric motor. This thinking anglers approach paid off, with Russ filling his limit within half an hour.

CatChing a Forster speCialThe first fish was a true Forster special: a big blue-nosed, high-headed Forster dinosaur that youd expect to come from a place called Jurassic Park. It, and all of the fish at Jurassic came on the same lure and with the same retrieve as the two days before a wind and drop with a Berkley Shrimp. Just like the days before the key was to crank the plastic over the tray then sink it down into the shade, Russ said. With the conditions at their toughest for the tournament the takes were super soft and subtle. This meant competitors needed complete focus and attention to what was going on. You had to look and watch for the line to twitch on the drop, Russ explained. As soon as I saw it move I struck hard to set the hook.

Russ slowly pegged back his opposition. As he placed his key tag on the check-in board Russ finished the session as one of only six anglers out of the final day top 20 to have caught their limit. Hitting the stage midway through the weigh-in, Babekuhl set the mark to beat. A 3.38kg bag on the final day and combined bag of 8.84kg were the two numbers that were on the tip of everyones tongue at the weigh-in. Occupying the hot-seat, Russ saw off challenger after challenger until, in the end, there was no-one left to stand in his way. There was just him and the Daiwa BREAM Grand Final trophy that he was holding aloft on front deck of his $40,000 Bass Cat/Mercury prize boat. To claim the win Babekuhl had turned a 760g deficit into a 270g winning margin. To place his final day heroics into some sort of perspective, Russ had run down the leader from 11th while Darren Dizzy Borg, who was equal in 11th place, slid to 19th. When someone outshines Dizzy to this degree on the final day, they have definitely done something to go into the annuls of tournament fishing!

BREAM tour. Russ achievements include his maiden Lowrance Angler of the Year Title (NSW), victory at the Strike Pro St Georges Basin BREAM Qualifier, 3rd at the Daiwa BREAM Australia Open, and multiple top tens. Combine these with his honour of being the only angler to win two Super Series events (both of which, incidentally, were Berkley naming sponsored events), and Babekuhl is steadily ascending the ranks of Australias premier BREAM anglers. Now ranked 3rd in Australia, Babekuhl is sure to have his eyes set on Steve Morgan (1st) and Kris Hickson (2nd) in 2012.

Charging through from 11th place on the final day Russ did it, claiming the ultimate win in bream fishing, the Daiwa BREAM Grand Final.

whats on the MantlepieCeRuss now surpasses Shaun Clancy (10th) as the greatest come-from-behind win in Daiwa BREAM Grand Final history, with the Forster win capping off a sensational year on the

Busting Down the DoorAs the session unfolded Russ upgraded many times, and with each fish added to his well16 TOURNAMENT ANGLER GUIDE 12

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How SHallow art tHouTexT: ChRis ByRnes PhoTogRaPhy: simon goldsmiTh

So you have your favourite shallow water technique and a rod and reel combo that always does the job but are you really getting the most out of your favourite shallow water bream haunt?

Tristan Taylor with a couple of shallow water Redcliffe bream.

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he first thing people think about when fishing shallow is the lure, rod and line, but what about all the other gear and preparation you need before you get near those shallow water bream? Getting all of these complicated pieces together can mean the difference between success on the shallows and coming up empty-handed. And interestingly, useful shallow water tricks and tips dont just come from the realms of bream fishing.

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guesswork out of your fishing. With the fish pinpointed in the shallows, the next step is approaching them.

THE BIG FOURThe Daiwa BREAM Series visits a host of quality shallow fisheries on its travels. Here are the big four that are getting anglers licking their lips. Forster, NSW: Home to the all-time ABT Big Bream (Chris Wright, 1.99kg, 2004) Forster is famous for its rack fishing, but it is increasingly being acknowledged as one of the gun flats fisheries in the country. At its best during the warmer months, Forster is the place to go for topwater fun. Walpole, WA: The WA Mecca for flats breaming, Walpole has acres of skinny water to fish, and bags of black bream to catch. If you want to catch big fish on the flats in WA, this is the place to go. Mallacoota, NSW: The big kahuna when it comes to numbers and size, Mallacoota is the location that all breamers have to fish at least once in their life. If you still arent convinced, just take a look at the results from the 2011 Vic BREAM Classic Grand Final a 7kg two-day bag only got you 30th place, and the winner caught over 10kg. St Helens, Tas: Big black bream in clear, shallow water is the name of the game at St Helens, but the going isnt always easy. The tide really dictates things here, with a run-in tide needed to get the fish moving and feeding in the shallows. When it fires, the fishing can be stuff of legends.

Use the ForCeGrayson Fong is a master of using the Moreton Bay winds to sneak up on bruising Redcliffe reef bream. For those who dont know him, Grayson has been quietly working his way up the BREAM ladder, and much of his skill comes from his keen attention to detail and thinking outside the box. Fong believes that by using the wind and keeping noise to a minimum he can get more out of every cast. Grayson looks for locations where the wind will push him onto the structure, and he casts with the wind to cover a greater area. In an ideal world Fong looks for areas where the sun is in his face and the wind is on his back. It amazes me what can spook fish, he said. The first thing to remember is that the less shadow on the water, the better. Also, the rougher the water on the shallow reefs, the better it will fish. One of the biggest fishing adjustments for Fong has been changing from his oldschool tinny to a much shallower Skeeter. The Skeeters minimal draft allows Fong to drift up into water that most anglers can only think of entering. Maybe its my size, but the Skeeter can run in next to no water, Grayson said. When moving across a shallow reef, this minimal draft can mean the difference between drifting over the next pinnacle and

I spy wIth my lIttle eye somethIng startIng wIth BBarra fishing may not seem like a logical connection to breaming, but when it comes to using depth sounders we can learn a lot from our northern counterparts. Nowhere has the use of a quality sounder been such a key factor to an anglers success than during the 2011 Daiwa BARRA Tour. Craig Griffiths showed that by using his Humminbird Side Imaging unit he and team mate Rob Wood were able to pinpoint fish and maximise fishing time. We use the Side Imaging for a whole range of fishing, Craig explained. With smaller species you look for the bait they are feeding on and for larger fish, such as barra, you look for the fish themselves. Time is the tournaments anglers most valuable commodity, closely followed by self-confidence. For Craig, using Side Imaging gives him both of these precious assets. Learning to read these sounders is a steep learning curve, he said, but once you can read the images it will take all the

This isnt a deserted island in the tropics, this is Walpole. Beautiful and home to plenty of bream.


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getting that kicker fish, or being stuck until the next high tide.

DONT SLAM ITSometimes the wind just doesnt work for the location youre fishing, forcing you rely on your electric. As far as Steve Morgan is concerned, when it comes to using an electric, less is more. When fishing the shallows he aims to use no more than 30% power, and likes to have his motor running on a constant low humming sound rather than in bursts. Why? Imagine youve just walked into a bar, Steve said. After only a few minutes, the sound of the music and the crowd turns into background noise. Compare that to when the kid next door practices his trumpet skills you definitely hear that, and it never turns into background noise! Its the same with fish. Loud, irregular sounds quickly spook them. So, while maintaining a low speed, how can you get the most out of your electric motor? Aaron Martens has the answer. Aaron is one of the best anglers on the BASS Elite series in the US, and knows his gear intimately and how to get the best out of it. As many of you may know, there is a interesting clip of his boat set-up on YouTube, where Aaron takes you through his meticulous set and speaks briefly about sharpening his electric motor blades (go to

youtube.com and type in Aaron Martens boat). He explains that sharpening your blades can make your motor run at up to 5% higher efficiency, and says these sharper blades also cut through the weed that can chew the precious battery life.

SHALLOW WATER STANDOUTSNot all lures are created equal. Heres a selection of shallow water standouts that competitors regularly use and win money with. Megabass Dog X Jnr Atomic Hardz Crank 38 Lucky Craft Gunfish 75 Zip Baits Khamsin Jnr Jackall Chubby Minnow Cranka 35mm Shallow Crank Ecogear SX40LC

PUSH IT REAL GOOOODSome days your electric motor just wont get you to the fish because its too shallow or weedy. In these situations, you may want to consider push poling your way into those fish. In the US youre not a real flats angler unless you have a push pole on board. The art of push poling is one that US guides take great pride in and its an art form that delivers both efficiency and stealth. Anglers in the US comment that it takes as much skill to be the man behind the push pole as it does to hook that fish of a lifetime. Its not easy to become a master of the art of push poling, but for the sake of almost total stealth its worth a try. Even the anglers of the Bassmaster Classic have been know to pull out the pole when fishing thick weed or tough conditions.

STOP IN THE NAME OFWith the rise in technology and the number and design of boats that are hitting our shores from the hub of tournament fishing, the USA, we have seen an increase in the number of shallow water anchor optionsSmall things can make a big difference, making sure the blades on the prop of your electric motor are smooth and not rough increases motor efficiency and speed.

Power Poles are benifical tools to have in the shallows, allowing greater boat control and more thorough fishing time.

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Glass boats have the edge over non-glass boats in the shallows, with their shallow draft and quieter presence producing more fish.

available. They do more than just look cool on the back of the boat in the right hands they can be a deadly tool. The idea behind the Power-Pole and the Minn Kota Talon is quiet, shallow water angling. Stopping mid-drift with these shallow water anchors can give you the time to unhook fish or pepper areas that may have a school of fish holding in a particular zone. But what if you cant afford a shallow water anchor? Steve Morgan has the answer. I know it sounds odd but before we had shallow water anchoring systems we simply trimmed down our outboard, he said. Just dont do it on the rocks!

St Helens is shallow water heaven for breamers, Jordan Trustys big smile is proof of that.

TIPS FOR YOUNG PLAYERSIn tournament fishing its not uncommon for anglers to push themselves to the limit, but in the shallows it pays to know when to stay and when to go. Anglers need to be in tune with the areas theyre fishing and know what the tide is doing. Of course, they also need to know how much water their boat needs to run though or be pushed through. We have all seen someone who has stayed in shallow water for a little too long and have been stuck until the next high tide (many of us have done it ourselves). Knowing your boat, the area that youre fishing and what the tide is doing are three key ingredients to keep you fishing. It pays to learn them.

ThINkING OUTSIdE ThE SqUARETournament angling is an ever-changing game and there are new tools being developed every day, so why not skip buying22 TOURNAMENT ANGLER GUIDE 12

that next rod and take a look at the rest of your bream fishing arsenal? Think wider than just your standard tackle, because it may just prove to be the final piece of the puzzle. As ABT anglers we are lucky to be able to

benefit from the lessons learnt in all three sides (BREAM, BASS, BARRA) of our sport, and sometimes one of these other branches may have tips or tricks that could improve your next tournament result.

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Filling your limit is the goal of every BREAM tournament angler. Finding the technique thatll do it can be the hard part. In this feature we dissect one of the more popular techniques for largemouth bass, drop shotting, and find out how it works for bream. Its time to drop and get your five!

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W

hat have We here?

Drop shotting is used as a finesse approach to fishing a soft plastic. It requires a weight to be hung under a small nose-hooked soft plastic, delivering an unweighted presentation that wafts enticingly in the current. The drop shot weight anchors the line to the bottom, while the small hook and plastic are left to float freely. This technique is perfect for those times youve wanted to use an unweighted plastic but the wind, weather or structure has made it difficult or the fish are suspending at a particular depth where other techniques cant hold the lure in the zone.

fishing is the amount of weight to fish. Unlike standard jigheads, fishing drop shot weights requires more weight than usual. Its not unusual to fish around a 1/4oz weight, as youll need to maintain contact with the bottom as you work the rod tip.

hooksThis technique requires tiny hooks with a specific shape. When tied, they sit perpendicular to the leader and only need to nose-hook the soft plastic. The Gamakatsu drop shot hook is a good hook, being small enough for the mouth of our bream but with a unique shank exposing more hook point for a better hook-up.

the tools of the tradeDrop shot weights and drop shot hooks are available in Australia. Often the drop shot hooks are used by anglers as stinger hooks, but sourcing tungsten weights can be a challenge. Tungsten weights are more compact than lead and provide a better feel for the bottom, as they transfer each bump from rocks or weed much better than lead (they are also more expensive). The small tungsten weight causes less of a commotion when splashing into the water, which is great when its a tough bite and finesse techniques are required. The important thing about this style of

PlasticsYour choice of soft plastic is important. The best choice is a hand poured style soft lure that has plenty of action. Plastics such as Keitech Live Impacts, Tacklecraft Flat Back worms and Flat Back minnows all work well. If you want something smaller, try little creature baits (I like the Keitech Little Spider with long feelers to get the attention of the fish). If your soft plastic floats or suspends, thats even better. Some plastics are much better suited than others but with a bit of practice, youll find out what suits your style.

Drop shot fished soft plastics are new to most anglers and bream, throwing them in a tournament may just be the ticket to quality fish like this one.


25

Banks and points buffeted by wind and waves produce fish but can be hard to fish with lightly weighted plastics. Drop shotting allows you to fish light weighted plastics without the short comings of using a jighead.

RodLike all types of fishing, particular styles of fishing rods will work best. A fast-actioned braid set-up will provide good contact and feel with the lure. Remember, the hook is suspending mid-way up your leader and the takes may be subtle, so a rod like the Daiwa Steez Feral Cat or the New Black Labels will do the trick. Use a good quality STANDARD DROPSHOT RIG

PE braid or even a sinking PE braid for better feel.

The TeRRainYoud think that fishing a 1/4oz weight would mean you end up fishing in 10m of water, right? Not necessarily. Ive had the most success fishing the edges in less than 1m, flicking

Drop shot setup with a selection of rigging options.

Soft plastic options

the lure out and violently shaking the rod tip but only slowly moving the lure away from the bank. Thats why you need a lot of weight the drop shot weight acts as an anchor, holding the line in one spot, while you can shake the slack line and make the lure vibrate like an injured fish. A great starting point is to find baitfish. When you see the bait around, match the hatch and get your drop shot set-up into the water. Whether youre fishing weedy edges, rocky terrain or sandy bottom, the drop shot set-up will usually keep the hook point out of harms way. If you do snag up, you can often pull the weight free because it doesnt have a hook point to get caught on. If it does get wedged between a rock and a hard place, youll be able to pull the line through the end of the weight without busting off the hook.

Gone WiTh The WindHook options

Sinker options

This technique works in any water depth, whether it be fished high up in the shallows or suspended off the bottom in deep water. Wind-blown banks are a fish magnet but can be restrictive if youre fishing lightly weighted or even unweighted baits. The wind blows all manner of fish attractants which are a magnet for baitfish. It creates chop that can dislodge morsels from rocks or snags not usually exposed to water, and also makes fish less wary. Casting unweighted baits in this scenario can result in limited casting distance and accuracy and bait being blown out of the strike zone. With a drop shot set-up, the extra weight can aid casting accuracy but importantly leave the bait to float freely in the strike zone.

26


unweighted plastics are required but wind, terrain or casting distance limit opportunities. Times when long casts, but unweighted plastics are required suit drop shotting, regardless of wind, current or anything else that can influence a soft plastic, the drop shot weight can hold the lure in the zone for longer. When the situation calls for it, having the drop shot rig in your fishing arsenal may be the difference between plugging away and catching fish. The ability to suspend a soft plastic in any situation provides options to the angler.

distinct bite, a small bite or just a territorial bump. Having a feel for the bite versus just seeing the bite when there is belly in the line, provides a better understanding of how the fish are biting and what will work. Unlike the flick and hope approach with an unweighted plastic, drop shotting can shift the odds in the anglers favour.

Youre GoinG Deep nowAlthough drop shotting works really well in shallow water, applying the same techniques in deep water provides an added advantage and a point of difference. Getting a finesse technique down deep is a challenge with a lot of techniques. Throw in a bit of current and wind and the battle is lost. The drop shot set-up provides a fresh alternative to this. Casting a 1/4oz weight allows the bait to get down and stay in the zone while presenting an unweighted plastic, sitting off the bottom. The hook point is also kept away from any nasty structure.

sHake anD BakeA technique that is almost impossible to achieve using a traditionally weighted plastic or even a suspending hard bodied lure is easily achievable when you suspend a soft plastic with a drop shot weight. By shaking the rod tip just enough to get the lure to vibrate in the water, without drawing it forward, you can keep a soft plastic in theFast actioned rods provide optimum contact with the lure when its being worked, and deliver good fighting power once hooked.

You Have an aDvantaGeWind isnt the only factor that limits conventional jigheads. While fishing heavy wash, most anglers will encounter the frustrating scenario where their jigheads will become snagged in the rocky structure, resulting in loss of fishing time. The drop shot offers a unique advantage of suspending the hook point above the structure, in the face of any bream and ultimately out of harms way. If the drop shot weight does become snagged, pull the line free of the weight and spend more time fishing, with less time re-tying.

Wash areas hold plenty of bream and are well suited to fishing with a drop shot approach.

tHis is How You Do itLike any style of lure fishing, different techniques work in different situations. Experiment with shaking the rod, sweeping the rod or hopping the lure; each approach will work on any particular day. Once you get the bites, be patient and wait for the bream to suck in the lure before setting the hook. During the fight, the drop shot weight can work in favour of the fish, working the hook free, so it is important to maintain the pressure on the fish. A lapse in line pressure can mean a lost fish. This technique isnt limited to bream or just finesse fishing but can be used for those occasions where lightly weighted or28 TOURNAMENT ANGLER GUIDE 12

face of bream for longer. Being able to shake the slack in the line results in the lure shaking in the same spot. Being able to do this multiple times means more time attracting wary fish and less time recasting, potentially scaring fish.

its loGicalDrop shotting may seem like a bit of an experimental approach, but when you consider the added advantages of this technique, it makes sense. Casting unweighted presentations a common finesse technique used when the bream are finicky requires any number of factors to align before it can be successful. Drop shotting, on the other hand, gives you the ability to make long casts, get down deep in the water column and stay down there, while still presenting an essentially unweighted soft plastic. It can be the key to turning a long, tough tournament day into a successful day on the water.

tHe tiGHt lineTypically fishing unweighted soft plastics means plenty of belly in the line, making it virtually impossible to fish when its really windy. The wind can also prevent casting unweighted soft plastics effectively. The drop shot fixes a lot of those problems by providing a finesse approach with almost tight line, giving better feel of a

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A winning day on the water starts a long time before the day itself, but just how long varies from angler to angler. Here, five of the most successful fisherman on the ABT BREAM tour share their plans.

eve all seen it someone giving a short speech, thanking their sponsors, perhaps giving credit to a long-suffering spouse for putting up with all the weekends away from home and the strong smell of Gulp in the garage; then grinning as they hold up an oversized novelty cheque. And all the while, as we smile and applaud their efforts (so what if they beat us by 3kg?), were thinking, Why cant I do that? Well, heres some good news for the terminally envious: you can do it. It just takes time and a bit of work. Because, as these five successful anglers will all tell you, preparing for that speech can start days, weeks, or even months before they ever make a cast in a tournament.

W

THE CREWHere are the fishermen who will be sharing their secrets for the perfect tournament day: Cameron Whittam The 2011 Lowrance Victoria BREAM AOY, Cam has been fishing for years (hes a former casting champion, too), and has recently started to enjoy regular success in ABT BREAM tournaments, winning the 2011 Gippsland round and also finishing third on the32 TOURNAMENT ANGLER GUIDE 12

Derwent River in Tasmania. He loves his black bream, as you can tell. Szarn Tink A resident of WA, Szarn has been known to pop up (and earn top 10 places) at tournaments all over the country both as a boater and non-boater. However, its in WA where hes enjoyed the most success, and has been the states AOY several times. Wayne Reed Wayne has become something of a fixture on the BREAM circuit, fishing in as many competitions as he can both individually and as part of a team. He and partner Adrian Neoh shook up the field at the 2007 Bing Lee BREAM Australian Open with what is still a record bag for Sydney Harbour a massive 6.18kg. As an individual, he finished 5th in the 2010 Daiwa BREAM Grand Final. Kris Hickson Still ridiculously young to have had as much success as he has, Kris is an angler to be reckoned with in just about any competition he enters, and has gradually risen up the BREAM rankings in the past couple of years. He also finished a very close 2nd in the 2011 BREAM AOY rankings and won the 2011 Daiwa BREAM Australian Open. Tristan Taylor Tristan is a dentist and in recent years, his smile has looked like

an even more winning one. In fact, his rise in the world of competitive breaming has been nothing short of meteoric, resulting in a string of top 10 finishes around the country and his first Lowrance BREAM AOY Queensland, 2011 title. Five different competitors, one common factor: success. But what, we asked them, goes into planning for that success?

Get it toGetherLets start at the very beginning. What intelligence-gathering methods do they all use well ahead of comp day? Whittam goes old and new school to get the inside running. If Im not familiar with the system, I use Google Earth to get an overall feel of the place, he says. Sometimes I even ask local tackle shops to send me maps of the area. I also contact my sponsor and see if theres another pro team member whos not fishing the competition but has some knowledge of the arena. I just get general areas from them, as I like to make up my own mind what to do come day one. Both Szarn Tink and Wayne Reed take forward planning very seriously, starting their preparation from the moment the previous years tournament ends! Szarn says he always takes note of where the top guys fished, what tackle they used and the amount of rainfall there was. Reedy likes to get a few tips straight from the horses mouth. I speak to the winner from the previous year, Wayne says. You wont always get the whole truth, but when someones won, theyre more inclined to be generous with their information. Sometimes its just useful to rule out something you know wont work for you.

Kris Hicksons is one of the most consistent anglers on the BREAM tour due to his thorough preparation .

We have historyGiven the number of tournaments Kris Hickson he fishes (lucky lad), he knows many of the countrys major competition arenas better than most. However, even Kris has a few long-range plans. For big tournaments or arenas I havent fished before, I get in at least one pre-fish before the ban, just to get a feel for the waterway, he explains. However, if its somewhere Ive fished many times before, I normally rely on the official pre-fish day to get a feel for whats happening there, but I also check tides, weather and recent fishing reports to get a more complete picture. Tristan Taylor also does his fair share

of research. I start thinking about a tournament at least four weeks out, he says. I start by trying to get any information I can on the waterway including personal experience and anything people might have told me about it. I really consider the time of year. Between November and March Im thinking summer patterns (shallow water patterns with hardbodies or topwater lures), and between June and early September Im thinking spawn/post spawn patterns, and the deeper water towards the mouth of the system with blades or plastics.

LoGGinG inOne thing all these successful fishermen agreed on was that there was one piece of

equipment that was pretty much essential to their planning: a mouse. All five of these competitors use the internet extensively to get new ideas and information. Many of them use Google Earth. Kris Hickson says photo maps like Google Earth are definitely a handy tool for finding visible structure, and Tristan Taylor agrees. Google Earth is a fantastic way to scout for areas that are likely to hold bream, Taylor says. You can check the shape of the river and mark down areas of deep water (such as the outside bends of a river) or find areas of shallow weed flats! Another site Ive recently found is nearmap.com.au it has very detailed images. Another thing these competitors agreeTOURNAMENT ANGLER GUIDE 12 33

Serious About Bass Tournament Angling?Kris Hickson knows his Humminbird sounder inside out and has a host of GPS marks stored that he can draw upon marks come tournament time.

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on is that one of their favourite ways to start planning for an ABT win is to visit the ABT website, reading up on previous results and tournament coverage to give them a few pointers. I research previous results and BASS X techniques, not so much to find spots, but to get a general idea of what sort of terrain the local fish inhabit and the baits they regularly take, Hickson explains. Although, generally speaking, bream are bream wherever they are. GALAXIA MINNOW Taylor follows a similar path and thought process. I certainly read all the results on the BREAM website and pinpoint what was working at what time of year in previous tournaments, he says. As the ABTs motto says: Who shares Wins! Combining the tournament write-ups with Google Earth is a very handy way to see what types of locations are popular and then scouting for SPINNERBAIT 1/4 OZ similar looking areas in the system. You only have to read two or three Forster results to see that Green Point and Pacific Palms are likely areas to find big bream!

competition venues, pre-fishing before the official ban is a luxury not everyone can afford. However, it can be a great time to do a little experimenting, safe in the knowledge that it doesnt really matter and theres no one to laugh at you but the fish. I pre-fished Mallacoota before the 2010 Daiwa BREAM Grand Final as I felt Id been fishing badly there for a couple of years, Cam Whittam recalls. I wound back the clock and spent my time throwing lures that were buried in the bottom of my box. I also NEW forced myself to fish fluoro straight through, PRODUCT as I felt it could be a definite advantage come day three if I was lucky enough to make the shootout.

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Pulling up at the boat ramp ready to launch for the official pre-fish day can be a daunting experience particularly if all youve seen of it is from Googles handy little Spy in the Sky. So, now that youre actually seeing the water first-hand, what are the first steps? Once you get to the waterway, find out PROUDLY DISTRIBUTED are having BY where the hazards and shallow water IN AUSTRALIA a Look around FOR YOUR run aground, Reedy advises. NEAREST DEALER CALL Tristan9555 believes simply getting (03) Taylor 5433 so you dont OR VISIT www.jurofishing.com doing it is often the out there and I once spent six hours of a pre-fish day on

a sandbank waiting for the tide to change so I could re-float my boat! I was late to the briefing so I had to start last, and the next morning I lost my best spot to someone else who got there first. Once youre on the water, your VIBE 50 CYBER eyes and your sounders are your best tools. Kris Hickson finds the need for need for on-water nagivation just as important as Reed. Make sure you have something like a maritime chart or map with navigation aids marked on it, Kris says. Itll help you BOB N SPOON get around safely and might also show some structures that are not visible just by driving around. I tend to start by fishing the type of structure Im most comfortable fishing, then do a lot of driving around, looking at banks and the sounder, to try and find some fish and go from there. Possibly the most frustrating thing to find out when you arrive REDFIN JIG at a venue is that the areas you plan to fish are too shallow to hold fish and look nothing like you had planned!

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best approach. At the end of the day, the best approach is often to go searching for fish using the techniques you prefer on your home waters, he says. If youre a gun with the plastics, why try to fit into how someone else fishes the system with topwater? Cam Whittam backs his judgement and follows traditional fish patterns to help get a handle on whats happening. When I arrive at a venue, like most anglers, I have a fair idea what the fish would normally be doing at any given time of year, he says. This helps point me in a direction to start my pre-fish day. I always look for features that would hold fish if it were my home water and use that as a starting point. Old adages like no run, no fun spring to mind if I dont know the area and I always bear in mind that Im not there to revolutionize breaming by coming up with the next big thing when it comes to catching them. Its a pre-fish after all you dont need to catch a million fish to establish some sort of pattern. Tristan has evolved his pre-fish

on your experience on similar waterways to give you a feel for what to do, what to look for and what to throw. Always go with your gut instincts. Your gut feeling is your subconscious telling you to need to move or change your lure, jighead and so forth. If I say to myself more than once in a five-minute period, I need to move, I have no hesitation in leaving a spot. Cam also relies on his senses to help him on pre-fish day. My preference is to fish shallow, and my eyes are the most important part of my tournament arsenal in this situation, he says. I would describe my pre-fish approach as calm but calculated and organized. If I have a bad pre-fish, I dont worry too much, as I console myself by thinking Ive eliminated some methods and areas that I might have gone to if I was struggling on day one. Of course, these days, the smarts arent just in an anglers head. They can be attached to the boat as well, as onboard electronics have a huge role to play

I expected too much of myself. I would have had a bad nights sleep, worrying about the day ahead and whether my plan would work. I would find myself looking at the field thinking about what other guys would do, rather than about my own day. The biggest improvement in my fishing came after I made the decision to channel my energy into just going fishing, rather than being so concerned with things outside of my control. Once youre underway and on the water, and the actual business of trying to fill the livewell has started, it seems that a common factor with some of our top anglers is the need for on-water discipline and even an internal clock.

Sticking to the rulesSzan Tink has a rule and he sticks to it on tournament day. On game day, I may have a number one spot, and I stick to my rule that in a certain distance along a shoreline there has to be a minimum number of fish available to me. However, if I go for 15 minutes without a single touch, I leave at the 30 minute mark. Whittam is similarly regimented. I generally have a rough cut-off time in my head regarding my go-to spot, he explains. This can change depending on the feel of the area on the day. There may be a lot of bait in the area, which will bolster my resolve, or the area may feel dead. Trusting your instinct is something I really believe in and I will generally use this as my guide rather than the clock. Kris Hickson, however, is a bit more fluid in his approach. I generally try to accumulate a milk run of spots during the pre-fish that I can work through throughout the tournament, he says, The length of time I spend at each location will depend on three things: how many fish I think may be there, if I need to use the spot more than once in the tournament, and whether the fish are biting or not. Still, as with everything in fishing, there are no hard and fast rules. Taylor stresses that flexibility is important. If your pre-fish spot is not working come game day, you need to be flexible, he says. Think about what could have changed did you sting them yesterday? Is the tide different, is the wind different, is there more or less cloud cover? It often pays to try your second or third spot and return to the number one spot a little later and see if it fishes better, rather than flogging a spot that clearly isnt working on

At the end of the dAy, the best ApproAch is often to go seArching for fish using the techniques you prefer on your home wAters.technique over the years, and now is more methodical in how he goes about it. In the early days I relied on gut instinct, haphazardly running from one area/habitat type to another in the hope of cracking a pattern, he explains. Sometimes it worked and I got lucky, but you wouldnt believe the number of times Id travel far and wide and miss the fact that fish were less than 100m from the start line! Nowadays, I generally begin my search at the tournament start area and fish every likely area I see on my way further from this point. Having said this, it always pays dividends to remember the tides. No run, no fun so a rock wall that looks the goods but has no fish at high tide is worth a second look when the tide starts to run out. in planning your competition day. Cam Whittam says his Humminbirds play a big part in his day if hes planning to fish deep. I use them to find and mark fish and also mark likely structures that may hold fish at some stage during the day, he says. Kris Hickson similarly relies on his sounders heavily. Im definitely one for punching in GPS marks be it in deep or shallow water just as a reminder for the next day or the next trip that there was either a stand-out structure or a school of fish in a certain position, he says.

LetS Get it OnSo here it is: Day One has finally arrived your first chance to put all that planning and those pre-fish strategies to the test. This is where the difference between fishing and tournament fishing becomes most evident. Cam Whittam admits he used to suffer from nerves in his early days. I recall sitting at the start of a few tournaments shaking with nerves, he says.

YOure new Here Arent YOu?Wayne Reed has some sage advice for anyone boater or non-boater on approaching a new venue for the first time. Go to a new arena with no expectations of anything, he advises. Once there, rely36 TOURNAMENT ANGLER GUIDE 12

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Protecting your prizeOf course, it wouldnt be game day without a bit of gamesmanship, and protecting a hot spot can be the difference between one of those jumbo cheques and standing at the back applauding. Wayne Reed explains his approach. Never give up your spots to anyone before youve fished them on comp day. If youre in the lead after session one, people will find you. Dont make it easy for them by telling them where youre catching fish. And if people do turn up, dont let it bother you. Just put it out of your mind, protect your spot and never be unprofessional. Youre representing yourself, your sponsors and the ABT. Think to yourself, Im going to smack em, whether those guys are watching or not. Sometimes theyll just shake their heads and leave. Do, however, share techniques when you think you havent quite worked it out,

he adds. Youll never win a comp without some help from other anglers. Someone else might just have a better idea that will improve what youre doing.

Youve got companyOf course, in most cases, theres now someone else on the boat with you. So do their non-boaters ever influence our tournament pros? My game day approach is generally a combination of pre-fish and prior knowledge and is very rarely influenced by a non-boater, Hickson says. Thats unless my second day non-boater is in a position to do well, in which case, once Ive got my five, I may stay on smaller fish to try to get him his limit instead of loo

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