Perfect weather and pristine water kept over ten thousand Easter weekenders happy at Copeton Dam.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
With the phones "ringing off the hook", the Reflections Holiday Parks Copeton Waters team said the numbers were the biggest they've seen for years.
"Over the long weekend, we reckon we'd have seen about 10,000 plus people come through," Danielle Barrett enthused.
"We knew we were going to be busy, but I think we were all shocked at just how busy we actually were."
READ ALSO
As guest services and house keeping supervisor, she said the last time they saw that many people would've been over five years ago, before the drought hit.
"We had a lot of day visitors come through to see the level at 40 per cent - locals who haven't seen it there for years and others driving in just to see it at that level," she said.
All I can say is keep and eye out in the next few months, as we will be organising a specific Cod tournament at Copeton Dam.
- Chris Nicarla
"It's great to see the inflow, and it's even better to see the dam has been given a good flush out - nice to see the water so fresh and so clear."
But big numbers weren't the only thing with size to be reeled in.
The Long Weekend Cod and Yella catch and release competition had many impressive entries come from Copeton Dam.
Run by the East Coast Sport Fishing, tournament director Chris Nicarla was himself at Copeton for the weekend.
The dam left such an impression on him he's planning on hosting another comp, specifically for Copeton.
"I've never seen so many people on the lake," he explained.
"All I can say is keep and eye out in the next few months, as we will be organising a specific Cod tournament at Copeton Dam."
Jessica Leale from Aberglasslyn, took out the women's catch with a Cod measuring 730mm.
Her second time at Copeton, she and her fiancé fished for three days, catching her winning fish on the very last.
See the other winners below:
"On our final morning I got up early and decided to go with my fiancé Nick - unshowered, hair not brushed in a couple of jackets and trackies. After four hours of nothing we finally got a hit and three decent size fish within 20 minutes."
She was "just glad to get a bigger fish than Nick".
Her only tips: persistence and patience.
"It was great to see so many campers, more than the October long weekend. It was amazing to see the dam so full in comparison," she said.
"I'll be back for sure."
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:
- Bookmark inverelltimes.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter: @inverelltimes
- Follow us on Instagram @inverelltimes
- Follow us on Google News
