FIFTY two of Australia’s best kayak bream anglers descended on the pristine water of Victoria’s Bemm River for the 2012 Daiwa-Hobie BREAM Grand Final.
Shane Taylor showed he was the cream of the crop by compiling an impressive 6/6, 6.165 kg two-day limit to take the win by 415 grams over 2012’s most consistent kayak angler, Victorian Richard Somerton, 6/6, 5.75kg.
With no pre-fish day for the event Taylor headed out on day one in search of water that he was accustomed to fishing at home, in the belief that it would hold quality fish.
With this in mind Taylor headed to the eastern side of the basin looking for flats with 1.5 to 2 metres of water and a good amount of weed to provide cover for both bait and bream. Once he found his desired flat Taylor would make long wind assisted casts before making a slow rolling retrieve back to the kayak.
Taylor also deployed his drift shoot, slowing his drift rate down and in turn giving him more time to work over his productive flat. Taylor’s lure of choice was a Hurricane Fatty crankbait. A lure he cast on a Daiwa Sol 701 LXS rod matched with a Daiwa Sol 2000 reel spooled with 5lb Power Pro braid and 4lb Yamatoyo Fluorocarbon leader.
“The Hurricane was the perfect lure for the job as it would run just above the weed, but still managed to get in the bream’s face”, explained Taylor. His selection of location and lure was spot on, with Taylor catching his limit, including the day one Hogs Breath Boss Hog on his first drift.
Rather than stay on his productive flat Taylor made the choice to go in search of back up locations for day two. “I knew there was good fish holding in the location but with no back up spots for day two I need to be sure I gave myself options if the fish changed mood”, explained Taylor.
Spending the rest of the day in pre fish mode Taylor landed twelve more legal fish for the day but failed to upgrade his fish from his first location. Weighing a 3/3, 3.185kg limit for the day Taylor was the only angler to break the three kilo mark and had the lead heading into day two.
With the reverse start Taylor headed out last on day two heading straight back to his day one honey hole. “I was quite nervous watching all the other competitors leave before me but turning up to my location and getting a fish first cast was the best way to settle the nerves”, explained Taylor.
With the fish harder to come by one day two Taylor changed his lure to a Maria MJ1-D50SP in bsg colour. The change was just what he needed with Taylor managing to get a fish every drift but with the wind picking up throughout the session by 11.30am Taylor’s productive water had now become unfishable.
Taylor was the last angler to hit the stage needing 2.565 kg to take the win. Weighing in 2.98kg he did it easily, making him only the third angler to win the Daiwa-Hobie Bream Kayak Grand Final and in turn earn a spot on next year’s AFC.
With the 2012 Daiwa Hobie Series run and won for another year attention now turns to 2013. Head to www.bream.com.au and www.hobiefishing.com.au for all the GF placings, tournament information and dates.
