BARHAM fisher Lisa Frankling won Champion Angler at the Koondrook Barham Fishing Championship at the weekend, with her 80.5cm cod Sunday catch taking her over the line.
Ms Frankling spent the weekend enjoying the water with her uncle Doug and aunt Rhonda Frankling focusing on catching cod but largely catching carp.
“It was a great weekend with lovely weather and a breeze on the water,” she said.
“My uncle caught two cod on the Saturday, one 71cm and the other 55 and was Champion Angler for the day, while I got a 60cm cod.
“I got a 65cm cod on the Sunday which put me a centimetre or so off his score, and then I got a 80.5cm after that which was huge.
“The rod was bent over in half right from the start and it didn’t give up the whole time, and ran a few times before we got it in the boat.
“It had a lot of energy, and it was amazing, just great fun.”
While the win was an unexpected joy, the trio have made a tradition out of the weekend.
“My uncle and aunty and I have been doing the fishing competition together for about six years,” Ms Frankling said.
“My uncle was driving the boat and basically put me where all the cod were.
“My aunty got some carp this year but unfortunately didn’t get any cod.
“She normally sweeps the floor with all the fish, but we got all the cod this year.”
All the fish are catch and release, as the native cod and yellow perch are the eligible fish.
“All of my cod were caught on cheese – from the Bega Tasty Bar-B-Cubes, even the carp which aren’t choosy,” Ms Frankling said.
“I’m fine with my hands getting dirty holding up a huge fish, but not when I’m baiting the hook.”
Ms Frankling won a myCoolman car fridge for her efforts reeling in the 80.5cm cod.
