Ten-year-old fishing enthusiast Harriet Crowley has been travelling across NSW to compete in numerous big game fishing competitions this year, and has come home to Dubbo with more than just a story or two to tell.

In February Harriet travelled to Nelson Bay with her father Brendan, grandfather Peter Dent, and fishing buddy Ray Wykes, to compete in the Nelson Bay Lure Shootout.

Although known as a ‘small fry’ in the game fishing world, Harriet managed to tag and release four dolphin fish, which in turn handed her the junior championship.

She was presented with $600 in gift vouchers and $200 in prizes at her first game fishing competition.

On May 17 and 18 the Crowleys travelled to Forster to compete in the Great Lakes Blue Marlin Classic.

Fishing again with her father Brendan and grandfather Peter aboard the family boat ‘Backed Up’, Harriet managed to land three dolphin fish in the first half hour of the tournament.

Soon after there was much excitement as little Harriet found herself locked in battle with a 50-plus kilo marlin, on a 10kg line.

The marlin came to the boat after a half-hour fight, and although they didn’t know it at the time the fish handed Harriet the Great Lakes Blue Marlin Classic Junior Championship, and junior encouragement award.

The second day of the tournament was called off due to gale-force winds, so at the presentation dinner on Saturday night Harriet was presented with $1500 in prizes including two new fishing rods and reels, fishing line, a new gaff, hats, T-shirts, stainless steel rod holders, and $200 in cash.

The budding angler also received a fantastic trophy complete with marlin atop.

Still abuzz with excitement after her success, Harriet came in to meet Explore Outdoors staff, and was presented with a selection of Jazz Spinnerbaits and lures, and a DVD entitled Snapper Down Under for her fantastic report complete with photos.

Harriet’s next outing will be in Coffs Harbour in October where she will compete in a four-day competition.

Burrendong Dam

Greg Strong fished Burrendong at the weekend and managed to troll up a 55cm Murray cod on a Jackall Super Squirrel in red and black.

Greg also reported that some thumping 50cm ‘reddies’ were about, just one of them sizable enough to feed four people.

Ben Mosley reported that fishing was consistent over Friday and Saturday, picking up 19 golden perch with mate Scott Mills.

Yabbies fished at night off the bank in the Cudgegong arm proved deadly, with a few of the fish pushing eight to nine pounds.

About five of the 19 fish were caught by trolling hard-bodied lures, but the constant ringing of the bells meant the boys didn’t get much sleep that night as they were too busy pulling in fish hand over fist.

Macquarie River

The Macquarie River is simply going from strength to strength with Steve Dunn from Parkes catching a 43-pound monster at Gin Gin.

Steve was guided by local angler Nath from Narromine, and with a bit of local knowledge thrown in managed to lure the big Murray out with a Poltergeist 80 in bright green.

Matt Campbell enjoyed taking on some of the resident European carp at the South Dubbo Weir on light tackle, and managed to bank one solid mud marlin that went 10.5 pounds.

From all reports the light braid Matt was using was screaming off the reel.

Smaller Murray cod are attacking lures with gusto close to town, with the majority of anglers reporting that Spinnerbaits and the AusSpin Cod-botheror were producing the goods.

Jindabyne and Eucumbene

Trout fishing in the Snowy region is going absolutely ballistic, with 14- to 20-pound fish making an appearance as spawning gets into full swing.

Some anglers reported fish that were simply just too big for the net, with many going home with photos that would be fit for any fishing magazine.

Pheasant tails, Hare and Copper, gold bibbed Hare’s Ear, black and brown Nymphs and Glo Bugs have been working well for the fly fishos in the rivers, while in the impoundments Craig’s Nightime, Mum’s Poodle, Fuzzy Wuzzy, and Woolly Buggers are producing trout.

Lead-core liners, down-riggers and persistent Tassie Devil trolling anglers are all reporting that the trout are well and truly on the bite.

Bait anglers opting to use power bait have been pushing double figures quite regularly during both morning and afternoon sessions.