Where quality(🤔) not quantity counts!

The DDAS Carp Competitions for 2026 was held over the weekend 17-19 Jul at Orchard Lakes New Milton. With temperatures remaining high, these unfavourable conditions did not seem to put the fish off as all anglers caught from the first to the last minute. With a format of your three heaviest fish to count, it was not a case of catching but trying to entice the lakes bigger residents. The Saturday morning break allowed competitors an onsite café visit and replenished with a hearty breakfast, all resumed trying to upgrade their three fish total. Come the final whistle 1600 Sunday, it was new to the DDAS Carp scene Damien Thomas that recorded the heaviest weight and was crowned the 2026 Carp Champion. Congratulations to Damien and what was his winning tactics? He would say resting his swim, but we would say maximising the onsite café/shower facilities.

1st Damien Thomas 65.05 lb 

2nd Tim Broughton 59.02 lb

3rd Chris Brown 57.01 lb

Biggest fish Tim Broughton 26.02 lb Mirror

                         Lloyd Richards 24.10 lb Common

With eight 20 lb plus fish caught and many to high teens, the venue proved a great success, and all now look forward to next year’s event.

A big thank you must go to the competitors, Paul Haigh as 2 I/C, Shane the fishery manager and all the café staff.