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Berkley Manning River BREAM Challenge Results & Story
#332 - 0--bream--Berkley Manning River BREAM Challenge Results & Story--2008-02-08 14:44:00
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A swollen mud coloured river tested anglers adapablity and mental toughest with one angler mastering the conditions to the best to secure his first victory on the BREAM tour.
- For event winner Russell is was a fairy tale victory, climbing from fourth on the first day to second on the second day, and ascending to the number one spot on the final day. Living in the shadowed of many of his Team Berkley stable-mates Babekuhl showed that he had to the ability to beat anyone on tour, compiling a 15/15, 8.53kg limit to become only the fifth person to claim a $10,000 Super Series prize winners cheque.
Fishing the Scotts Creek region of the Manning River system for the duration of the tournament Babekuhl targeted fish holding on the mangrove edges in behind the flooded oyster racks using a cut down 3” Berkley Gulp Craw (colour- camo) rigged snagless on a modified 1/50oz Nitro Torpedo jighead.
“I shortened the tail of craw to minimize short strikes and trimmed the tip of the lead on jighead to lighten the whole rig even more”, explained Babekuhl.
The end result was an ultra light compact plastic that Babekuhl could fish slow and methodical, tight into the mangroves where the fish were holding. Hanging wide of the bank to reduce the likely hood of spooking fish Babekuhl would then make a long presentation up into the shallows, landing his offering tight to mangrove fringe.
“It was cruicial to get the lure as close to the bank as possible”, explained Russ.
Once the lure was there he would let the lure sit for a couple of seconds before giving the lure a shake, all the while conscious of not moving the lure out of the strike zone. He followed this with a series of slight hopes interspersed will the all important pause.
“Most of takes came in the first few inches of the edges so it was important to maximise the lures time in the strike zone and not work it back to the boat to quickly”, he added.
Once the lure was three metres out from the edge Babekuhl would crank the lure back in and start the whole process again.
The approach proved effective delivering upgrades each day and his kicker fish on the third and final day. Wrestled from the mangrove strewn shoreline, the 1.23kg specimen opened his account on the final day and added another $500 to his prize purse as the tournament’s Go-So Big Bream.
Babekuhl opted for two complementing outfits during the tournament, a lighter more finesse style set-up for filling his well, and a slightly heavier outfit when targeting upgrades. The former of the two comprising of a 6’10”, 2-4kg Berkley Pro Tactic rod, ABU Cardinal 801 reel, spooled with 2lb Stren, and fished right through to the jighead.
The heavier upgrade outfit featured a 7’, 2-5kg Berkley Pro Tactic rod, ABU Cardinal 801 reel, spooled with 4lb Stren Microfuse and a 4lb Berkley Vanish leader. Babekuhl’s assortment of tackle didn’t stop there with Super Series champ liberally applying Gulp Alive scent on just about every cast.
“I went through two bottles of the spray over the weekend, it was a must when it came to maximizing the presentation of the lure in the water”, Babekuhl explained.
His rewards for the weekend didn’t stop with the winners and big bream cheque with the new crowned winner adding another $250 to his pocket by securing the Mercury bonus as the highest placed Mercury user.
As one of the young guns on the tour Babekuhls’ Mannning River victory is sure to become the first of many.
Not to be over shadowed during the tournament was unknown tournament angler David Gibson of Sydney who produced his best tournament result to date to secure second place and $5000. Compiling a, 12/15, 7.48kg, limit for the event Gibson spent the duration of the tournament fishing an 8 feet deep rock wall at Harrington, located in the lower reaches of the Manning.
Buffeted by the constantly ebbing flooded waters Gibson worked the wall with a deep crankbait presentation, searching out his fish in the murky waters.
“A crankbait seemed like a logical choice in the cloudy and brown water, with its’ noise and vibration hopefully making it easier for the fish to find than a soft plastic”, explained Gibson.
The choice of lure proved spot on, delivering fish each day, including a 42cm P.B. during the Thursday prefish. The presentation of the lure involved Gibson working his way along the wall casting the lure parallel to wall before retrieving it back to the boat with a slow rolling retrieve interspersed with an occasional pause.
“The key was to get the lure tight to edge of the wall and worked it back bumping it over the rocks”, explained Gibson.
This proved vital for success with majority of hits and fish coming when lure was at its’ closest to the edge of the rock wall. The lure that Gibson chose for the job was the ever-popular deep diving Jackall Chubby in a matt/yellow/brown colour, a colour that Gibson regretfully informs is no longer able to get.
The remainder of his tackle included a 6’9” Daiwa Battler Kingbolt rod, matched to a 2000 sized Daiwa Caldia Kix reel spooled with 4lb Platypus braid and 8lb Yamatoyo Rockfish fluorocarbon leader.
Like all good crankbait anglers Gibson studiously replaced trebles on his lure each day, and sweetened his offering with the addition of CLF Dizzy Scent. Post event Gibson was acknowledging of his keys to success for the event and was openly praising of them.
“The colour changes were hot spots for fish, definitely producing the majority of fish and the bigger ones as well. The other was my non-boater on day two Nick Lototzky, he definitely helped lift my spirits with his enthusiasm, and that was something I needed after the disappointment of only two fish on day one”.
Heading into the final day Gibson had only one goal he wanted to achieve, to hold onto fifth place and secure a berth into the BREAM Grand Final. He did that and more, producing the biggest limit for the tournament and steam rolling into second place. If he had a more productive day one it may have been a true fairy tale finish.
Claiming the title of champion non-boater for the event was 52 year old Blue Mountains resident Phil Nix. Partnered with Darryn Love on day one and Craig Simmons on day two, Phil spent his tournament, like many, fishing the mangrove fringes in the upper reaches of Scotts Creek.
Opting for a crankbait presentation in the murky water, Nix presented his lure, a shallow running Jackall Chubby tight to the edges before twitching the lure a couple of times then beginning a slow retrieve back to the rod tip.
“The hits were hard and in most cases came with the first couple of turns of the reel handle”, explained Nix.
The approach proved productive for Nix delivering him a, 8/10, 3.43kg limit, a tournament bag that eclipsed those of many seasoned and highly regarded boaters.
“Getting the lure deep back into the mangroves were the fish were feeding was vital to get the hits”, explained Nix.
“If you were half a foot of the mark you missed out completely”, he added.
Nix’s choice of tackle included a G.Loomis 842 rod, 2000 Daiwa Sol reel, spooled with 4lb Berkley Crystal Fireline and 6lb Sunline FC fluorocarbon leader. While is choice of colour for his Jackall Chubby was a gold version on day one and the ever-popular ayu on day two.
The newly added Daiwa Sponsors Bonus received strong support through the tournament, with easily distinguishable orange Daiwa cap littered throughout the field. Taree local Daniel Brown claimed the bonus prize for the tournament on day one, being the first angler back to the weigh-in wearing his orange cap. The battle to claim the prize is sure to heat up as more anglers receive their cap as part of their 2008 membership renewal pack.
The next round of the Ford Ranger BREAM Series sees the tour head to St Helens for the opening round of the Tasmania leg of the series. For more information on the event or any of the series visit www.bream.com.au or phone ABT (07) 3268 7958.
Berkley Manning River BREAM Challenge D2 Non-Boater Results
| Place | Angler | State | F1 | W1 | F2 | W2 | F3 | W3 | TF | TW | Payout $ |
| 1 | Russell BABEKUHL | NSW | 5 | 2.63 | 5 | 2.42 | 5 | 3.48 | 15 | 8.53 | $10,000 + $500 Go-So Big Bream + $250 Mercury Bonus + $50 MRM tackle voucher |
| 2 | David GIBSON | NSW | 2 | 1.11 | 5 | 2.59 | 5 | 3.78 | 12 | 7.48 | 5000 + $50 MRM tackle voucher |
| 3 | Andrew HOWARD | NSW | 5 | 3.13 | 5 | 2.32 | 3 | 1.58 | 13 | 7.03 | 3000+ $50 MRM tackle voucher |
| 4 | Tim MORGAN | QLD | 2 | 1.34 | 5 | 2.45 | 5 | 3.16 | 12 | 6.95 | 2000+ $50 MRM tackle voucher |
| 5 | Scott TOWNER | NSW | 5 | 3.02 | 4 | 1.79 | 4 | 1.6 | 13 | 6.41 | 1000+ $50 MRM tackle voucher |
| 6 | Nigel WEBSTER | QLD | 5 | 2.63 | 1 | 0.74 | 5 | 2.79 | 11 | 6.16 | 900+ $50 Port Tackle tackle voucher |
| 7 | Kristoffer HICKSON | NSW | 4 | 1.65 | 4 | 1.97 | 5 | 2.44 | 13 | 6.06 | 800+ $50 Port Tackle tackle voucher |
| 8 | Darren SECKOLD | NSW | 4 | 2.24 | 2 | 1.35 | 3 | 1.38 | 9 | 4.97 | 700+ $50 Port Tackle tackle voucher |
| 9 | Michael COLLINS | NSW | 5 | 2.15 | 3 | 1.49 | 2 | 0.91 | 10 | 4.55 | 600+ $50 Port Tackle tackle voucher |
| 10 | Martin RICHARDSON | NSW | 5 | 2.82 | 1 | 0.47 | 1 | 0.57 | 7 | 3.86 | 500+ $50 Port Tackle tackle voucher |
| 11 | Wayne REED | NSW | 5 | 2.18 | 2 | 1.02 | 7 | 3.2 | |||
| 12 | Robert KWIATKOWSKI | Qld | 3 | 1.63 | 2 | 1.52 | 5 | 3.15 | |||
| 13 | Glenn HELMERS | NSW | 4 | 2.33 | 1 | 0.65 | 5 | 2.98 | |||
| 14 | Brian EVERINGHAM | NSW | 5 | 2.81 | 5 | 2.81 | |||||
| 15 | Chris WRIGHT | NSW | 3 | 1.13 | 3 | 1.64 | 6 | 2.77 | |||
| 16 | John BALCOMB | NSW | 2 | 0.91 | 3 | 1.61 | 5 | 2.52 | |||
| 17 | Adam WARD | NSW | 2 | 0.99 | 3 | 1.4 | 5 | 2.39 | |||
| 18 | Darren BORG | NSW | 1 | 0.72 | 3 | 1.54 | 4 | 2.26 | |||
| 19 | Matthew KELLY | NSW | 3 | 1.26 | 2 | 0.88 | 5 | 2.14 | |||
| 20 | Daniel BROWN | NSW | 2 | 0.88 | 2 | 1.26 | 4 | 2.14 | |||
| 21 | Anthony WISHEY | QLD | 4 | 2.1 | 4 | 2.1 | |||||
| 22 | Steve MORGAN | QLD | 2 | 1.05 | 2 | 1.02 | 4 | 2.07 | |||
| 23 | Graham FRANKLIN | NSW | 4 | 1.99 | 4 | 1.99 | |||||
| 24 | Chris BRITTON | QLD | 2 | 0.83 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1.83 | |||
| 25 | Craig SIMMONS | QLD | 2 | 1.3 | 1 | 0.52 | 3 | 1.82 | |||
| 26 | Shaun CHAPMAN | NSW | 3 | 1.37 | 1 | 0.42 | 4 | 1.79 | |||
| 27 | Dean SILVESTER | QLD | 3 | 1.14 | 1 | 0.65 | 4 | 1.79 | |||
| 28 | Mark MANGOLD | NSW | 4 | 1.59 | 4 | 1.59 | |||||
| 29 | Peter RICH | NSW | 3 | 1.58 | 3 | 1.58 | |||||
| 30 | Darren GEORGESTON | NSW | 2 | 0.96 | 1 | 0.61 | 3 | 1.57 | |||
| 31 | Gavin DUNNE | QLD | 3 | 1.56 | 3 | 1.56 | |||||
| 32 | Ben GODFREY | Qld | 3 | 1.24 | 3 | 1.24 | |||||
| 33 | Aaron HORNE | NSW | 1 | 0.34 | 1 | 0.88 | 2 | 1.22 | |||
| 34 | Neil FOLEY | NSW | 2 | 1.21 | 2 | 1.21 | |||||
| 35 | Jack OLMOS | NSW | 2 | 1.08 | 2 | 1.08 | |||||
| 36 | Ben LOCKWOOD | NSW | 2 | 1.03 | 2 | 1.03 | |||||
| 37 | Peter MCKINNON | NSW | 2 | 0.99 | 2 | 0.99 | |||||
| 38 | Peter MACOR | NSW | 1 | 0.37 | 1 | 0.62 | 2 | 0.99 | |||
| 39 | Todd SIMPSON | NSW | 2 | 0.9 | 2 | 0.9 | |||||
| 40 | Andrew HOMANN | NSW | 2 | 0.89 | 2 | 0.89 | |||||
| 41 | Warren CARTER | Vic | 2 | 0.87 | 2 | 0.87 | |||||
| 42 | Norm KEMP | NSW | 1 | 0.33 | 1 | 0.49 | 2 | 0.82 | |||
| 43 | Darryn LOVE | Qld | 1 | 0.71 | 1 | 0.71 | |||||
| 44 | John TIMBRELL | NSW | 1 | 0.35 | 1 | 0.35 | |||||
| 45 | Gary NEWELL | NSW | |||||||||
| 45 | David WELFARE | NSW | |||||||||
| 45 | Dean HAMMOND | NSW | |||||||||
| 45 | Jorg VANHUSEN | NSW | |||||||||
| 45 | Richard POTTER | NSW | |||||||||
| 45 | Tom WEIERS | NSW | |||||||||
| 45 | James YEUNG | NSW | |||||||||
| 45 | Scott DWYER | NSW | |||||||||
| 45 | Michael TORLEY | QLD | |||||||||
| 45 | Craig GREENAWAY | NSW |
Berkley Manning River BREAM Challenge D2 Non-Boater Results
| Place | Angler | State | F1 | W1 | F2 | W2 | F3 | W3 | TF | TW | Payout |
| 1 | Philip NIX | NSW | 3 | 1.25 | 5 | 2.18 | 8 | 3.43 | Engel Fridge, prize pack & Berkley Pack + $50 MRM Gift Voucher | ||
| 2 | Michael COLLINS | QLD | 3 | 1.41 | 3 | 1.82 | 6 | 3.23 | Jarvis Walker Watersnake electric + Shimano Sedona reel, & Berkley Pack + $50 MRM Gift Voucher | ||
| 3 | Cameron BALL | QLD | 4 | 2.54 | 1 | 0.51 | 5 | 3.05 | Berkley Dropshot rod, Cardinal reel, Prize Pack, & Berkley Pack + $50 MRM Gift Voucher | ||
| 4 | Brad GOYEN | NSW | 2 | 1.16 | 3 | 1.61 | 5 | 2.77 | Berkley Dropshot rod, Tica reel, prize pack, & Berkley Pack + $50 MRM Gift Voucher | ||
| 5 | Roy HILLS | NSW | 2 | 1.06 | 2 | 0.82 | 4 | 1.88 | Daiwa Tierra rod & Pflueger reel, prize pack, & Berkley Pack + $50 MRM Gift Voucher | ||
| 6 | Dean NASH | NSW | 4 | 1.59 | 4 | 1.59 | Spotters sunglasses, prize pack, & Berkley Pack+ $50 Port Mac Tac Gift Voucher | ||||
| 7 | Karen FONTAINE | NSW | 3 | 1.59 | 3 | 1.59 | Shimano Starlo Stix, prize pack & Berkley Pack + $50 Port Mac Tac Gift Voucher | ||||
| 8 | Trent MANDER | QLD | 2 | 1.06 | 1 | 0.52 | 3 | 1.58 | Shimano Starlo Stix, prize pack & Berkley Pack + $50 Port Mac Tac Gift Voucher | ||
| 9 | Trent FAHEY | NSW | 2 | 1.48 | 2 | 1.48 | Uglyfish Sunglasses, prize pack & Berkley Pack + $50 Port Mac Tac Gift Voucher | ||||
| 10 | Arthur HATZIPETROW | Qld | 1 | 0.41 | 2 | 1.03 | 3 | 1.44 | Uglyfish Sunglasses, prize pack & Berkley Pack + $50 Port Mac Tac Gift Voucher | ||
| 11 | Troy VANKAMPEN | NSW | 3 | 1.42 | 3 | 1.42 | |||||
| 12 | Mick LEAVEY | NSW | 2 | 0.87 | 1 | 0.53 | 3 | 1.4 | |||
| 13 | Craig ELLIS | SA | 3 | 1.34 | 3 | 1.34 | |||||
| 14 | Simon MARSHMAN | NSW | 2 | 1.26 | 2 | 1.26 | |||||
| 15 | John SMALL | NSW | 2 | 0.67 | 1 | 0.56 | 3 | 1.23 | |||
| 16 | Steven MCDONALD | QLD | 1 | 0.38 | 2 | 0.8 | 3 | 1.18 | |||
| 17 | Wayne BEAZLEY | NSW | 2 | 1.17 | 2 | 1.17 | |||||
| 18 | Jordan TRUSTY | VIC | 1 | 0.56 | 1 | 0.59 | 2 | 1.15 | |||
| 19 | Andrew FAWCETT | NSW | 2 | 1.14 | 2 | 1.14 | |||||
| 20 | David WILLIAMSON | NSW | 1 | 0.46 | 1 | 0.6 | 2 | 1.06 | |||
| 21 | Jeff MOULDS | ACT | 1 | 0.51 | 1 | 0.48 | 2 | 0.99 | |||
| 22 | Steve REILLY | NSW | 1 | 0.39 | 1 | 0.59 | 2 | 0.98 | |||
| 23 | Paul HOOK | NSW | 2 | 0.97 | 2 | 0.97 | |||||
| 24 | Mark HEALEY | NSW | 2 | 0.92 | 2 | 0.92 | |||||
| 25 | Kyle BRANCH | NSW | 1 | 0.41 | 1 | 0.51 | 2 | 0.92 | |||
| 26 | Geoffrey BORG | NSW | 1 | 0.78 | 1 | 0.78 | |||||
| 27 | David CRAIG | NSW | 1 | 0.72 | 1 | 0.72 | |||||
| 28 | Tony NEAL | NSW | 1 | 0.59 | 1 | 0.59 | |||||
| 29 | Peter HOLT | NSW | 1 | 0.57 | 1 | 0.57 | |||||
| 30 | Dale MULLINS | QLD | 1 | 0.45 | 1 | 0.45 | |||||
| 31 | Kevin ATTARD | NSW | 1 | 0.44 | 1 | 0.44 | |||||
| 31 | Peterj. HERBST | QLD | 1 | 0.44 | 1 | 0.44 | |||||
| 33 | Rodney THORPE | NSW | 1 | 0.38 | 1 | 0.38 | |||||
| 34 | Mick BROOKS | NSW | 1 | 0.37 | 1 | 0.37 | |||||
| 35 | Michael CULIBRK | NSW | 1 | 0.31 | 1 | 0.31 | |||||
| 36 | John STARTIN | NSW | |||||||||
| 36 | Peter MORGAN | QLD | |||||||||
| 36 | Ricky COOPER | NSW | |||||||||
| 36 | Peter MESSENGER | NSW | |||||||||
| 36 | Andrew HANSLER | NSW | |||||||||
| 36 | Michael COLOTOUROS | NSW | |||||||||
| 36 | Brian WEBB | NSW | |||||||||
| 36 | Mark HOLMAN | NSW | |||||||||
| 36 | Dave TRINDER | NSW | |||||||||
| 36 | Dave HEDGE | NSW | |||||||||
| 36 | Nathan SEWELL | QLD | |||||||||
| 36 | Chris FINDLAY | NSW | |||||||||
| 36 | Nick LOTOTZKY | NSW | |||||||||
| 36 | Rod RILEY | NSW | |||||||||
| 36 | Chris GARRETT | NSW | |||||||||
| 36 | Andrew OWCZAREK | NSW | |||||||||
| 36 | Paul KIRKMAN | ||||||||||
| 36 | Warwick CREGAN | NSW | |||||||||
| 36 | Mick WESLEY | NSW | <br |
