With time fast approaching the organising committee could not be happier with the way this year’s great inland fishing festival is shaping up.

The premier inland NSW fishing competition is held over the first weekend in December and regularly attracts in excess of 500 anglers who come from far a field to converge on Copeton Dam.

To ensure the ongoing success of the event the committee have implemented a number of changes to the competition structure.

Committee publicity officer, Brett McInnes, said the 2012 festival would be run under the banner of new major sponsor Inverell Compleat Angler & Camping World.

“New business owners Greg and Michelle Cannon both enjoy fishing and the outdoors and were keen to build on the support offered by previous owners last year.

“They see a natural synergy between their business and what the family focused festival is all about,” Brett said.

While the competition has always attracted the serious angler seeking the generous cash prizes on offer it is also a magnet for the more recreational fisher seeking a fun filled long weekend on the dam.

“In trying to keep the appeal as broad as possible we will this year be offering a broad range of mystery length and entry number prizes which strikes a balance between competition and participation,” Brett said.

“We have always had mystery prizes for our large number of juniors who compete each year and this is now giving the mums and dads a chance at a great prize by simply signing on.”

The boat raffle package has for a long time been synonymous with the fishing festival but it to has undergone a change this year.

“The boat has been replaced by some fantastic fishing and camping packages which should appeal to a broad range of people.

“We will still be around the streets selling tickets in the lead up to the event and without the great support we receive from the local community and business houses it would not be possible to run such an event as this,” Brett said.

With the dam currently peaking at 54 per cent the committee was quietly confident of record entry numbers, which will be well catered for with the recently redeveloped Copeton Waters State Park.

“The horrific weather with flooding rains prevented a number of people making it on the same weekend last year but we are certainly hoping to reap the benefit of the additional water now,” Brett said.

© 2011 Inverell Times

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