WE WON THE SHIELD: Phillip Shapter, president of the Barraba RSL and Recreational Club’s Amateur Anglers Club, holds on tight to the Glenriddle Shield which remains in Barraba for at least 12 months.
THE 2013 Glenriddle Shield Catch-and-Release Competition last weekend saw the rain arrive a little earlier – but the fish returned after being notably absent last year.
Barraba RSL and Recreational Club’s Amateur Anglers Club treasurer Kim Reading said eight fishing clubs were represented as well as individual entrants.
The 104 entrants included 21 juniors with teams from Barraba, Manilla, Tamworth, Bingara, Somerton, Quirindi and Wellington.
The fish started being caught and released fairly soon after the 7am Saturday start.
There were seven cod, 40 yellowbelly and 46 catfish measured during the two-day competition.
“A total of 93 fish is a huge improvement on last year. There were no silver perch to be seen but I have been assured they are in there,” Mrs Reading said.
The cod ranged in size from 475mm to 751mm, yellowbelly 320mm to 530mm and the catfish measured 300mm to 540mm.
The competition measures both legal and undersized fish which provides some information on what is in the dam.
All the winners and runners-up each received prizes donated by various sponsors and the club.
The champion fisherman or woman received 20 per cent of the entry fees, with any profits from the weekend going to the Glenriddle Reserve Trust.
The Glenriddle Shield itself was hotly contested this year – it was won by the Barraba RSL and Recreational Club’s Amateur Anglers Club with a total length of 8120mm.
The Federal Hotel Fishing Club of Wellington came second with 7373mm.
The Pub Fishing Club of Tamworth was third with 5915mm.