Lowburn’s annual fishing competition drew one of its strongest crowds in years on Sunday (November 16), with 134 anglers taking to Lake Dunstan in calm spring conditions.

Organiser Phil Henderson said it was “one of the highest entry numbers we’ve ever had”, and 38 children under 12 joined the field.

Anglers brought brown trout, rainbow trout, perch and a couple of elusive salmon to the weigh-in, which took place at the community hall beside the Lowburn Inlet.

Phil said there was “a good mix of all of those” and “some good-sized fish too”.

Fish and Game officer Mason Court and Cromwell Rotary’s Craig Lunn at the weigh-in. Image: The Central App.

The Rotary-run event has been going for 31 years. 

Phil said about half of all entries were made on Sunday morning, with people registering from 6am. 

Proceeds will “all go back through to the community through grants and supporting projects,” he said.

Bannockburn angler Josh Dicey weighed in a 1.48kg rainbow trout caught “right up the top of the lake”. 

He said he’d had a good day on the water but planned to give the trout to his boat mate’s neighbour because he prefers saltwater fish.

Nine-year-old Cromwell angler George Borges recommended his Tassie Devil lure and said he realised he had a strike when his rod started to bend.

“I thought it was just going very deep. Then I ran to it and reeled it in,” he said. 

Carter Johnston, 10, with his brother Wyatt, 7, both of Queenstown, and George Borges, 9, of Cromwell. Image: The Central App.

After fishing since 6.30am, another highlight was “jumping off the wharf” once he came back in.

Clyde Primary School pupil Harlan Smith, 12, arrived with a bag of fish alongside his family.

He described one of the tougher fights of the day: “We had to play them a wee bit. They were pretty strong,” he said. 

His brother handled the net, which their dad Jeremy said was “important because a lot of them are lost at the boat trying to get it in the net”.

The Smiths planned to head home and cook their rainbow trout crumbed or battered “just like the fish and chip shop,” Jeremy said.

Approximately 100 fish were weighed overall. The heaviest was a 2.24kg rainbow trout, while the top brown trout weighed 2.23kg.

Matai Alexander of Cromwell didn’t land a fish but left with a prize. 

The heaviest perch of the day, weighing just over one kilogram. Image: The Central App.

At the prizegiving, organisers asked for a 12-year-old with no catch to come forward. 

Matai walked away with six handmade flies crafted by Cromwell flyfishing stalwart Henry Smith.

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