PROSTON, Queensland — Following the Australia B.A.S.S. Nation’s first official tournament earlier this spring, the inaugural Queensland B.A.S.S. Australia Nation event took place May 24-25 on Lake Boondooma near Proston.
The Ecogear Boondooma Battle was the second qualifier for the Atomic B.A.S.S. Australia Nation Series.
“Some guys weighed in some cracking bass while others found the going very tough,” said Drew McGrath, Australia B.A.S.S. Nation president. “Up until a few weeks earlier, all the reports were coming out that the fishing was off the charts, but with a small cold snap hitting the week before the fishing had slowed.”
Brad Clark of Toowoomba won the event with a four-fish limit of Australian bass weighing 6.09 kgs (13 pounds, 7 ounces). He won with his own brand of rods, Barrabass Rods.
Clark noted that he doesn’t like to fish community holes, and staying away from the crowds was important to winning the tournament.
Clark told McGrath that if he had the opportunity to be the first ever Australia representative to head to the states to compete in the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, Nov. 6-8 on Louisiana’s Ouachita River, it would be an absolute honor and dream come true.
Behind Clark were Dean Silvester with 5.94 kgs and Mark Reinbott with 5.71 kgs.
Allan Price won the co-angler competition, followed by Corey Goldie and Arthur Allen. Dave Young caught the biggest sack, 3.56 kgs, to earn the Austackle Big B.A.S.S. Bag, and Tom Slater, winner of the Inaugural Damiki Classic earlier this spring, won the Fish Arrow Big Bass.
“The entire round was a huge success and everyone had a great time,” said McGrath. “When we visit these locations, we bring the spirit of B.A.S.S. and represent the tournament scene very well.”
“We need to thank our main stakeholders who are helping the tournaments grow in Australia,” continued McGrath. “The guys at Atomic are instrumental in helping out significantly, and without their help the event wouldn’t be as successful. Ecogear was fantastic in helping promote the tournaments and we need to thank Tony and Jack from JML for backing us at such an early stage.
“The Lake Boondooma management personnel were great to work with, and we advise anyone interested in visiting the area to pop into this great area and enjoy your stay. We also need to thank the local stocking group and local council for getting the lake back up and running in such short time after the floods of recent year. It just shows how much work and importance they have placed on Boondooma, as it’s only been a couple of years since the devastating natural disasters, and the fishing is exceptional.
“The next round is the Tonic Polarised Eyewear Somerset Slam, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see some record bags weighed in,” added McGratch, “as Somerset has the reputation for some of the largest bass in the country.