The iconic inland catch and release event is in its 16th year and will be held over three days, December 5-7, at Copeton Dam.

“This year we have welcomed on board a new naming rights sponsor, Inverell Blue Sky Outdoors, and this has helped lay the foundation for what we are hoping to be another great competition,” said organising committee president, Brett McInnes.

The festival launch will be held next Saturday morning at Inverell Blue Sky Outdoors in Mansfield Street where a free sausage sizzle will be provided to shop patrons and tickets in the festival fisherman’s dream raffle available.

“With a 400 strong competitor base last year and up to 500 in years gone by, the competition is considered one of the premier inland events in the state,” Brett said.

“Last year’s champion Josh Usher has been landing some nice fish in recent weeks at the dam and is sure to be looking to make his presence felt again this year.

“We get a real mix of people ranging from the serious angler chasing the sizeable prize money on offer to family groups who like to come and wet a line and camp beside the dam for a long weekend.”

Brett said the prize structure also reflects this with a good mix of competitive titles up for grabs along with some fantastic mystery and participation prizes.

“We have pushed the participation angle even further this year with a $500 lucky entrant draw taking place,” he said.

“To be eligible you merely have to have entered the competition and be in attendance at the presentation on the Sunday, we will keep drawing until someone walks away with the $500. The business houses around Inverell are fantastic assisting us with prizes that we are able to offer over the event and form part of our Fisherman’s Dream Raffle”.

The committee has confirmed that Sapphire City Steel and Pipe, Ken Sparke Marine and Inland Waters Holiday Parks as the main day sponsors for this year’s event. Gwydir Fish Native Fish Hatchery has also again teamed with the committee to provide fingerling vouchers to the value of $2000 as part of the very popular club challenge component of the competition.

“We will also work closely with the organisers of the Northern Inland 4x4, Fishing, Caravan and Camping Expo again this year,” Brett said.

“The expo will be held the weekend before our competition and we see some great synergies.

“We will have a stand at the expo trying to register as many anglers as possible and that way they have the paperwork out of the road and can get straight on the water when the competition starts. Those showing the initiative of signing on at the expo will also go into a draw for some great prizes.”

The Great Inland Fishing Festival Committee is a not for profit group and any money they raise goes back into stocking local waterways and providing better facilities adjacent to the dams and rivers.