A RECORD breaking 100 plus sponsors from across Central Western NSW have combined to amass a monstrous prize pool valued at well over $50,000 for the Lake Burrendong Easter fishing Classic, to be held from good Friday on March 25th to Easter Sunday March 27th.
The Inland Waterways Rejuvenation Association (IWRA) volunteer committee has been busy mustering sponsors from far and wide, and have been blown away by the level of support shown by the community in 2016, with sponsorship numbers up by almost 20 per cent on last year’s fishing fundraiser.
“We have had donations of cash, and a range of prizes from gift vouchers, to brand new BMX bikes, fishing gear and camping fridges” IWRA vice president Mick O’Neill told Dubbo Catches.
Anyone looking to enter the fishing competition can do so from Thursday onwards over the Easter weekend, with contestants not even having to catch a fish to have a chance at winning some fantastic lucky draw prizes.
“You don’t have to be the world’s most dedicated fisherman or woman to come along and enjoy the Easter fishing classic”IWRA PR manager Gordon Cowen told Dubbo Catches. “You just have to turn up, enjoy being on the water, and relax and enjoy the family fireworks display on Saturday night, or the live music on the Friday night”.
The IWRA has also launched a brand new website in 2016, with galleries of years gone by, videos, and all the rules for the classic on display. The website also has details of IWRA river health projects that have been under taken with funds raised at the Easter fishing classic.
“Initially, we started out restocking our local waterways, however we now have a much more holistic approach to rebuilding our local river, through re snagging and riparian vegetation replenishment projects” IWRA Secretary Wendy Hood told Dubbo Catches.
“River health certainly is not just about tipping bags of fish in the river, and our aim is to re build the struggling sections of the Macquarie River by addressing habitat issues. After all, it really is habitat that makes fish happen,” Hood said.
