Media Release

2008 Yamaha Cod Classic

Australia’s richest freshwater fishing tournament and the most eagerly anticipated fishing and social event of the year, the “2008 Yamaha Cod Classic” and the “2008 Stumpjumper Lures Junior Cod Classic” is drawing near. Heading into its ninth year, the Cod Classic has over $100000 prizes on offer including an amazing 6 boat, motor, trailer and sounder packages. You would be crazy to miss this great weekend in Yarrawonga / Mulwala and the chance to “catch a legend”.

Organization is well underway for the 2008 Cod Classic with the guarantee of a great weekend for all those who participate. December 6th and 7th will see Lake Mulwala and the Murray River come alive with an estimated 1350 boats and 2800 plus competitors taking part.

The Cod Classic is a total catch & release event for all native species. Designed to cater for all levels of fishing skill using either bait or lures, everybody has the same chance of winning one of the many great prizes on offer. The majority of prizes are drawn from a barrel regardless of the legal length of your fish giving everyone who catches a legal fish an equal chance.

An amazing 6 boat packages will be given away. They will be given away by the means of 1- Major lucky door prize, 2-Raffle prize, 3-Murray cod mystery draw, 4-European Carp mystery draw, 5 - “Early bird entrant” (paid up before 21st Nov) and 6- A major lucky door prize with junior entrants being able to win this also.

All the popular features will remain including Flathead Fred for the juniors; David “The Barefoot Fisherman” Hodge’s casting clinics, the “Cod Gods”, Rod McKenzie & Gus Storer doing their catch & release / big fish handling clinics, trade displays and the Mulwala Water Ski Club Pro and Amateur Casting Championships. All festivities will take place under the massive 100meter long marquee set up on the Mulwala football ground with the club also utilizing their newly opened function centre for the event. All lucky door prizes will be presented on the Saturday night leaving only the fishing sections and raffle prizes to be presented on the Sunday. 

With many great sponsors and more coming on board daily, there will be over 1500 prizes (adults) and all juniors will receive several prizes. Boat- Motor-Trailer packages, sounders, interstate fishing trips, holidays, fishing gear, camping equipment and clothing just to name a few..

The big question is “Will there be enough water?” YES. The lake will always have enough water in it during December to run the Cod Classic. This is the case as the lake is used as a water storage facility to supply irrigation water downstream through the Murray River, Mulwala canal and Yarrawonga channels. The lake needs a minimum head pressure supply to do this and that is also enough to make the lake very fishable. It has been forecast that Lake Mulwala is expected to run at a constant higher level than it did in 2007, only 300mm below total full level.

Entry for the competition will be Adults $75 and juniors $25. This includes 4 meals, souvenir stubby holder, a free ticket in major boat raffle, Stumpjumper lure & Bassman Spinnerbait (for the kids), entry into 1000’s of lucky door prize draws and the promise of a great weekend.

The Mulwala Football Netball Club along with event director Tony Bennett are putting together a fair stable of fishing events with 4 others being planned, the 2008 Engel X-Mass Fish-a-rama, 30th December, the 2009 Golden Do$$ars, January 10th, the 2009 Lowrance Da$h 4 Ca$h and the His & Hers Partners Classic, March 21st. For more info on these, check out “Other Events” on this web site or call Tony & Vanessa Bennett on 0357 441667.

See you there!