QUEENSLAND, Australia — Steve Kanowski won the Berkley Boondooma Brawl presented by Atomic on Australia's Lake Boondooma in March. In addition, one of the Australian bass he caught measured 482 mm, which qualifies for an IGFA world record in length.
Kanowski weighed in 8.21 kg to win the tournament. He had already qualified for the Megabass Championship, slated for this September. In second place and nearly 2 kgs behind was Dane Radesovic with 6.4 kgs.
John Noble, the current leader in the Co-Angler of the Year standings, won the co-angler division with 5.79 kgs.
Michael Thompson caught the Stormr Big Bass, which weighed 1.77 kgs. Thompson caught it on an OPS spinnerbait in the timber.
In addition to winning the tournament and catching a record bass, Kanowski won the Big Yella Time Lures Big Bass Bag, with the biggest daily weight of 3.04 kgs.
"It is safe to say that Steve Kanowski is a seasoned tournament angler who is revered by his fellow competitors not just for his fishing abilities, but also his gentlemanlike nature and the consistent sportsmanship he displays," said Drew McGrath, president of the Australia B.A.S.S. Nation. "Steve is always humble when victorious, but this win was well-deserved."
Kanowski used a 7-3 Pflueger Supreme rod, a 2035 Pflueger Supreme reel, 12-pound Berkley Fireline Exceed and a 12-pound Berkley Sensei fluorocarbon leader. He caught his bass in channel edge trees in 20 to 35 feet of water using SMAK 5/8-ounce spinnerbaits.
Australia became a member of the B.A.S.S. Nation just more than a year ago, and McGrath has seen real growth in the amount of interest in his home country as well as the number of competitors.
"The interest around the tournaments is improving out of sight," said McGrath. "Our anglers have superceded the competition tournaments as well. We are getting stronger fields with a larger turnout. Good things are happening."