The annual Jeparit Fishing Competition was held on the banks of the Wimmera River on Easter Saturday, with nearly 370 keen anglers trying their luck to catch the ‘big one’.
The uncle and nephew combination of Luke Walkenhorst and Landon Walkenhorst won the top prizes for the heaviest fish in the Senior and Junior sections, respectively. Luke landed a 1,810 gram Golden Perch and Landon hooked a 1,982 gram Silver Perch.
A total of 74 fish were weighed in, with Yellowbelly (Golden Perch), Catfish, Redfin (English Perch), and Silver Perch all represented, along with European Carp.
In addition, many small fish were caught but released back into the river, boding well for next year’s competition, and many carp were also removed from the river.
Competitors came from a wide area, with many Wimmera locals joined by those from right across western Victoria, including the Ballarat, Geelong, and Swan Hill areas, Central and South-West Victoria, plus several from Naracoorte, Hallett Cove and Adelaide in South Australia and Wentworth and Mulwala in New South Wales.
The winners travelled from Tabor and Penshurst.
2022 Jeparit Fishing Competition - Results
Senior - Non-Carp
Heaviest Fish - Azza’s Tyers - $2,000
| Fish Species | Weight | Angler | Town |
|---|
| 1 | Golden Perch/Yellowbelly | 1810 grams | Luke Walkenhorst | Tabor
| | 2 | Golden Perch/Yellowbelly | 1210 grams | Jason Hatcher | Mt Egerton
| | 3 | Golden Perch/Yellowbelly | 1176 grams | Tim Jefferies | Warracknabeal
| | 4 | Catfish | 1056 grams | Laurie Brymer | Antwerp
| | 5 | Catfish | 1012 grams | Nathan Beer | Ballarat
| | 6 | Catfish | 1004 grams | Greg Proud | Dimboola
| | 7 | Golden Perch/Yellowbelly | 982 grams | Jason Wouters | Haven
| | 8 | Catfish | 916 grams | Josh Beer | Miners Rest
| | 9 | Golden Perch/Yellowbelly | 906 grams | Aaron Webb | Nhill
| | 10 | Golden Perch/Yellowbelly | 902 grams | Troy Noordam | Horsham
|
Junior - Heaviest Fish - $500 and Swag
| Fish Species | Weight | Angler | Town |
|---|
| 1 | Silver Perch | 1982 grams | Landon Walkenhorst | Penshurst
| | 2 | Golden Perch/Yellowbelly | 962 grams | Phoebe Greig | Ballarat
| | 3 | Golden Perch/Yellowbelly | 886 grams | Tarah Bond | Antwerp
| | 4 | Golden Perch/Yellowbelly | 810 grams | Kalan Souter | Horsham
| | 5 | Golden Perch/Yellowbelly | 714 grams | Abbie Mcconnell | Mount Clear
| | 6 | Golden Perch/Yellowbelly | 684 grams | Cianna Beer | Ballarat
| | 7 | Golden Perch/Yellowbelly | 608 grams | Imogen Emmerson | Cardigan Village
| | 8 | Golden Perch/Yellowbelly | 596 grams | Levi Altmann | Horsham
| | 9 | Golden Perch/Yellowbelly | 522 grams | Mackenzie Hocking | Snake Valley
| | 10 | Redfin | 288 grams | Caleb Tregenza | Rainbow
|
Heaviest Carp
Senior
| Fish Species | Weight | Angler | Town |
|---|
| 1 | Carp | 1352 grams | Rodney Beer | Ballarat
| | 2 | Carp | 1350 grams | Lauren Abbey | Kangaroo Flat
|
Junior
| Fish Species | Weight | Angler | Town |
|---|
| 1 | Carp | 1262 grams | Maggie Fisher | Yaapeet
| | 2 | Carp | 1172 grams | Flynn Hutson | Jeparit
|
Mystery Weight
| Fish Species | Weight | Angler | Town |
|---|
| Fish | Angler | Town | Weight
| | Redfin | Marc Greig | Ballarat | 270 grams |
|
