Fishing and fun during Lake Boort Carp Eradication Weekend
Published on 05 October 2017
Try your fishing luck, be in the running for great prizes and help reduce carp numbers in Little Lake Boort at this year’s Lake Boort Carp Eradication Weekend.
Promising fishing and fun for the whole family, the competition will be held on 21 and 22 October as part of this year’s Naturally Loddon Spring Festival.
This will be the fifth year the competition has run, with the event consistently seeing more than 100 people take part, watched by plenty of spectators. As well as locals, the competition includes entries from as far away as the Melbourne and Geelong regions.
Boort Angling Club Inc. Vice President Rod Stringer said the competition was a great opportunity to get outdoors, fish and socialise.
“We aim at encouraging people into the wonderful sport of fishing and enjoying the outdoors,” Mr Stringer said.
“This event appeals to children, beginners and experienced fishers alike. We want locals and visitors to come together and enjoy the wonderful facilities we are fortunate enough to have.
“We’ve got this beautiful lake and if we can get people here to sit around and enjoy the lake for a couple of sunny days, it is a good way to showcase the town.”
He added that the competition also had a positive effect on carp numbers.
“Removing large numbers of carp each year helps the environment of our lake. The 2016 competition took 365 carp out for the two days. The 2015 competition was very similar.”
This year’s competition has seen a range of generous sponsors come on board, including 14 local sponsors from the Boort area and 16 sponsors from Bendigo, Swan Hill, Kerang and other areas.
“We greatly appreciate the generosity of these people, as we could not continue without them,” Mr Stringer said.
The competition’s main sponsor Tint Central Bendigo will once again donate the event’s major prize – a portable generator and camping accessories to the value of more than $1000.
“Every adult who enters is eligible to win this major prize,” Mr Stringer said.
“There are six junior sections and six adult sections who share the generosity of various other sponsors who help out each year. We also have various mystery prizes and giveaways.”
Mr Stringer added that new members were always welcome to join the Boort Angling Club.
“We constantly invite new members who bring new ideas and lift the social side of the club,” he said.
“The carp eradication event is also a good way to bring in members. We have a few people and their families who have joined the angling club after taking part in the competition for a number of years.”
The Boort Carp Eradication Weekend will be held from 8.30am to 5.30pm on the Saturday and 8.30am to 11.30am on Sunday.
There is a competition entry fee of $25 for adults (16 years and over) and $50 for families (there is no charge for junior entrants). The entry fee includes two breakfasts and a barbecue dinner on the Saturday night (as well as fishing on both days).
People can register before the event or on the first day of the competition. All entries must be registered before fishing gets underway.
Camping is available anywhere around the lake for the weekend. For more details or to get an entry form, phone Rod on 0428 513 888 or email stringer_rod@yahoo.com.au.