Walpole ABT Tour Diary 2010

Author: Shufoy

Category: Expeditions

Published on Friday, 19 February 2010 12:31

Written by Brett Ozanne

Day 1-1.5, Thursday, Friday.

What a day, blinder at work so i could finish in time to get to Sailpower and pick up the ProAngler, and some extra stuff for Grant. He was also busy, and tied up with customer whilst trying to hit the road. I finally get home, packed and on the road by 4.30ish.

The Triton has a PA on the roof, and some weight in the back, yet still manages a decent pace, admittedly sucking fuel like teenage binge drinkers. The drive was awesome once you got past Manjimup! Windy road through incredible forrest, and the rejuvinating smell, clear fresh air! So by the time i hit Walpole, just on 9pm, i was pumped!
Grant, his wife Leanne and their young girls Lucy and Molly had just beaten me and already was at the chalet, overlooking the Walpole Inlet. On arrival i was also greeted by Greg Lewis, who had a few cold beers, and we all got chatting whilst unpacking the car. The other Hobie Team guys had just arrived that evening, with Scott Lovig and Scott Baker driving down from Perth, and Steve Fields flying into Albany.

After sitting out on the front porch for a while, we all hit the hay by midnight, and slept like babies.

Woke up at 5am friday, and was picked up by local Mark Halse in his awesome Bream boat. He took me for a tour of the Walpole and Nornalup inlets, and also about 10km up the Franklin River, where we had a bit of a fish, before heading back. Was an amazing trip, and it really shows of the beauty of the place, lush forrests and beautiful waterways. Also he gave me a few tips on chasing bream, information obviously wasted on a bream gumby like myself... 

That afternoon, after a bit of quiet time on the porch, i headed out for a bit of a fish and a re-acclimatise of the Pro Angler, i wasn't going to use lures, but as everyone else i saw was, i decided to have a crack. The Hobie Team were already out there, after unpacking their PA's and fitting their Sounders and other items. I fished the Walpole Inlet and the channel between the two Inlets, and ended up landing a heap of average bream, building some big hopes for the first day of the comp.

Day 2, Saturday. 

Woke up about 5am, and the chalet was deathly quiet. I was thinking everyone had headed down already for the 6am start, but no, the alarm didn't go off!! So i stomped around the place, waking everyone up. Especially Shorty, who was in deep sleep!!

I set up my gear, and mosied down to the launch. Grant and Leanne from Sailpower had set up breakfast and Tea and Coffee. The lads all assembled for the briefing, where Simon Goldsmith from the ABT gave us a run down, Steve Fields also added a few words about the Kayak Comps in general, and we had a shotgun start and were off!



I had a plan for the day, that was to fish the Walpole Inlet, starting at the jetty, then heading to the point, working around to the boat ramp jetty, and then heading into the Walpole River around 10.30am. After much discussion with Mark, we decided on this plan based on the river was fairly quiet (apparently) and with the increased boat pressure, things might shut down, which unfortunatley, they didn't.

So on arrival at the jetty, tied on a SX40 and started working the sides of the pylons, i could see plenty of fish under the jetty, and feeding on the timber poles, so i got it in as close as i could. A few touches followed before WHAM!!!!! I was on, big time, i tried to manouvere the fish away from the structure, but after a short one-sided fight, it was ping! I grumbled and moaned, and tied on another lure. I threw SP's under the jetty to tempt the fish there, but no luck, and resorted bac to my trusty HB's and landed a few small fish.

I then headed up to the point area which drops of sand flats to the deep water of the channel. Here i caught up with Shorty just as he dropped a great fish next to the Yak! We fished here for a while, and Shorty managed another keeper for the livewell, and i also landed a bunch of small fish.

Day 1 Results:

Place Angler Pro F1 W1 BH1
1 Greg Lewis Yes 3 1.47 0.5
2 Steve Fields Yes 3 1.365
3 Scott Lovig Yes 3 1.305
4 Ben Hough 3 1.245 0.525
5 Colin Peasey 2 1.14
6 Brett Ozanne 1 0.54 0.54
7 Alan Durkin 1 0.35
8 Scott Baker Yes 1 0.34

That night Shorty, Grant and leanne and myself kicked back with a BBQ and a few beers, in bed early for the final day, and the drive home! 

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