Vicbream Hopkins River round 2011.............

[Breamobsession]

Originally Posted by NORDY

Tough comp guys, I personally pulled out today, weather was so bad early this morn and after prefish and comp day 1, 4 perch and small salmon to show for hundreds of casts, wasn't up to braving the wind and hail. 7hr drive back home etc. 19 teams weighed in 1 fish or none, 10 teams weighed in 2 fish, 5 teams weighed in 3 fish for two days crikeys that's tough going. Not sure whether I like this river system , it's so different to what we are used to in Gippsland that's foresure. But that's probaly been debated before.

Well done to the 5 teams that got 5 fish or more for the two days excellent fishing !

Bad luck Nordy, better luck next time mate. Very very tough by the looks of it. I've never fished Hoppies before but it sounds like it was pretty tough going for most so you were not alone. Always tough fishing a new system as well.

[NORDY]

Breamobsession mate it's a tough place to fish, there's bugger all structure, the river mouth is open and the water level is super low, there are virtually no trees or snags in the river at all, reed beds had no water depth in front of them, so weird, never fishing it before was tough. most of the gippsland anglers did it tough. next time if I ever go back have bit better knowledge , but to say it again after fishing Nelson, and Now the Hopkins I feel we are lucky in east gippsland having such great water ways for Bream. Looking forward to Next years Vic Bream Classic , was 1st apprentice this year. Learnt so much.

[Breamobsession]

Originally Posted by NORDY

Breamobsession mate it's a tough place to fish, there's bugger all structure, the river mouth is open and the water level is super low, there are virtually no trees or snags in the river at all, reed beds had no water depth in front of them, so weird, never fishing it before was tough. most of the gippsland anglers did it tough. next time if I ever go back have bit better knowledge , but to say it again after fishing Nelson, and Now the Hopkins I feel we are lucky in east gippsland having such great water ways for Bream. Looking forward to Next years Vic Bream Classic , was 1st apprentice this year. Learnt so much.

Yeah we are very lucky i'd say. Does sound very different to what we are used to.

[Bigrod]

Originally Posted by crabcrusher

Yeah the rain and hail is not the best conditions to be fishing in..

Well done Jesse and Ryan on pulling some good fish in trying conditions... Your having a great year Jesse....

Thanks mate, Jesse did all the hard work and it payed off.
Considering I'm a newbie at lure fishing for bream I am loving it.

Cheers Ryan

[IceManDude]

a Big Congrats to Jesse and Ryan, pulling over 6 kegs for 9 fish in a tough bite is awesome.

And also Cam and Warren for just under 6 for 9 as well...and with that sercuring the VicBream TOY honours too!!

[MitchT]

Originally Posted by NORDY

Breamobsession mate it's a tough place to fish, there's bugger all structure, the river mouth is open and the water level is super low, there are virtually no trees or snags in the river at all, reed beds had no water depth in front of them, so weird, never fishing it before was tough. most of the gippsland anglers did it tough. next time if I ever go back have bit better knowledge , but to say it again after fishing Nelson, and Now the Hopkins I feel we are lucky in east gippsland having such great water ways for Bream. Looking forward to Next years Vic Bream Classic , was 1st apprentice this year. Learnt so much.

I must disagree, I fished Hoppies a couple of weeks ago in the Hobie ABT and there is alot of structure mostly reef but there is structure that the Bream hold in. All the cliffs leading into the water is great structure for Bream. I was lucky enough to find one good fish comp day which secured 3rd place, shows how tough the comp is if 1 fish can get someone to 3rd place!!

It doesn't compare to some of the Gippsland estuarys though, thats for sure! Its a nice river though that I reckon would fire certain times of the year.

Congratz to the people who weighed in fish, top effort as it would've been hard conditions with the holwing windy city(Warnnamabool) winds and rain!
Cheers Mitch!!

[Breamobsession]

Originally Posted by MitchT

I must disagree, I fished Hoppies a couple of weeks ago in the Hobie ABT and there is alot of structure mostly reef but there is structure that the Bream hold in. All the cliffs leading into the water is great structure for Bream. I was lucky enough to find one good fish comp day which secured 3rd place, shows how tough the comp is if 1 fish can get someone to 3rd place!!

It doesn't compare to some of the Gippsland estuarys though, thats for sure! Its a nice river though that I reckon would fire certain times of the year.

Congratz to the people who weighed in fish, top effort as it would've been hard conditions with the holwing windy city(Warnnamabool) winds and rain!
Cheers Mitch!!

I think Nords was more referring to the lack of bank side structure in the way of fallen trees etc which we are very spoilt with in Gippy and used to targeting.

[CHUNQX]

Structure or no structure, I've fished the Hopkins even when the water is up and its considered good fishing and still found it tough. You will come across good fish but its hard work when compared to a lot of other rivers.

[Emo]

The few times I've fished there it has always been tough fishing and on the weekend was no different, the results from the weekend are testament to that.
Some good fisho's did manage to do well considering the conditions and they earned there results.

[Piscateur]

Congrats Jesse & Ryan, Awesome bag in tough conditions.

[NORDY]

Originally Posted by Breamobsession

I think Nords was more referring to the lack of bank side structure in the way of fallen trees etc which we are very spoilt with in Gippy and used to targeting.

Thanks Breamobsession yes exactly, also the rock edges look great but there was no water depth on most of them, the water was so low they where exposed, I could see maybe with at least another 2 foot of water you would have some nice edges, maybe we struck a super low tide ?. All in all its a tough venue 19 teams only getting 1 fish or less, not my idea of a great weekend, think we are just spoilt in Gippsland. Would only fish it again if I needed to qualifly for grand final next year, would have to change the way we fish in Gippsland to suit etc. all part of the learning curve to make me a better Bream fisherman.

Congrats to 1st and 2nd place with there 9 fish total they deserve big pat on the back well fished. Great fisherman. Amazing also to watch team Minn Kota's professional approach working an area those guys also deserve TOY well done.

All in all great series so far. Grand final will be awesome to follow.

[decoydestroyer]

The Hopkins has changed in a massive way since the rains of last summer and has not fished real well since. It will be great for the river in the long term, you know short term pain, long term gain blah blah......but the way it has fished for a while now is not representative of what it can really be like.

[driftcorp86]

Originally Posted by decoydestroyer

The Hopkins has changed in a massive way since the rains of last summer and has not fished real well since. It will be great for the river in the long term, you know short term pain, long term gain blah blah......but the way it has fished for a while now is not representative of what it can really be like.

i totally agree the hoppies can certainly go off its head for weeks on end with kilo plus bream pulled out every session. It has certainly slowed since the floods with finding fish and getting smashed a lot harder than it used to be. went out today around 12pm today got a few good hits but that was all.