EDENHOPE will host hundreds of visitors to Lake Wallace at the weekend for the annual Edenhope Fishing Competition, an event just a few years ago was unimaginable.
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The lake was dry for a number of years with the competition returning last year – a welcome sight for Edenhope and west Wimmera residents.
Edenhope Angling Club president Luke Munro said the lake was the heartbeat of the town.
“The lake went dry in 2002 and had a bit of water after 2010 and then it went dry again,” he said.
“There’s been water in it now for a few years and it was unbelievable to see the lake last year. There were about 106 boats on the lake at one point, which probably hasn’t ever happened before.
“The lake just looked sad when it wasn’t full. When it is full the town looks vibrant and it’s a lot nicer for visitors.”
The fishing competition brings plenty of visitors to a community that has about a population of 1,000 people.
“The competition adds vibrancy to the town and also money from visitors – hopefully we can help lift the economics of the area,” Munro said.
With the competition, Munro said taking care of Lake Wallace was vital.
“Keeping it clean is important – West Wimmera Shire Council has done a great job getting the camp sites ready and cutting the grass,” he said.
“Last year it was amazing to see how people left the sites and that respect for the town. Hopefully that continues this year.”
People can start staking sites already, with the registrations happening on Saturday morning.
The club has also come up with a way to bring people back to Edenhope throughout summer after the competition has wrapped up.
“We will have an ongoing tagged fishing competition,” Munro said.
“We will release some tagged fish into the lake in the middle of November with up to $4,000 in prizes. There will be two fish with $1,000 tags on them. That will continue until the end of March unless the fish are caught.
“We want to get people to come back after the competition, and hopefully this will keep people coming to Edenhope throughout Christmas.”
Munro said he expected to see people from across the Wimmera, South Australian border areas and as far as Melbourne at Edenhope for the event.
“Hopefully we get plenty of support from the Wimmera and south-east of South Australia, like we did last year,” he said.
“We also had people from as far as Melbourne and Adelaide last year.
“What it brings to the town is really immeasurable but it does bring a lot of money into the businesses.”
