Event organisers, the Far South Coast Bass Stocking Association timed its annual release of bass into Brogo Dam with the gathering of bass fisherman gathered for the competition on the weekend.

A crowd gathered at the boat ramp just before the awards ceremony began on Sunday to watch Bruce Lawson, who grows the native Australian bass at Narooma hatchery, release 10,000 baby bass.

The association has for the past 14 years used the proceeds from the Bash to purchase up to 20,000 bass, which are released into the dam along with yet more stocked by Fisheries.

This year’s competition saw the 100-person quota almost met with 97 anglers fishing in 43 teams and camping out at the dam.

Among those spreading the bass out with buckets were local Bega lads Matthew Stapleton and John Parberry who were named Champion Anglers for 2013.

Also watching were fellow winners Champion Junior Matt Rollason and Champion Lady Sue Pauline.

Association president Darren Redman said fishing on Saturday was particularly tough with the fish stuffed with termites brought on by hot, calm, sultry conditions.

But a good time was had by all including two of the country’s top bass anglers Dave Mann and Mick Skinner, who finished second in the grand final of this year’s Australian Bass Tournaments (ABT) series.

The guys agreed conditions were tough and even though they got 16 fish in the boat on Saturday, it was not good enough to beat the locals.

They were excited to confirm the ABT Bass Electric series would be holding an event at Brogo Dam in March, which again would attract a crowd of visiting anglers.

This year’s Bass meanwhile attracted a team from Hobie kayaks with demonstrations and a kayak that was raffled and won by a yet undisclosed local.