Hi everyone, and welcome to The Bream Fishing Project. In this episode we’re off to Nelson on the Glenelg River reviewing the 2025 TT Glenelg Shire Bream Classic, brought to you by the Vic Bream Classics. This one was held on 21–22 June 2025. One of the things I like about the Vic Bream Classics is they have all the divisions — juniors, Big Bream, Best Bag — heaps to dig into. Roll the intros and let’s get straight into it.

What’s inside this episode:

• Why the Vic Bream Classics format shines (juniors, Big Bream, Best Bag and more).

• Full event stats: fish activity wheel, major bite windows and tides for both days.

• Division highlights.

• Interviews:

– Team Blackfin (3rd overall): Steve Wheeler on mudflats vs edges, vibes vs plastics, and managing perch by-catch.

– Team Nomad BKK (1st overall on countback): Peter Bouquet Jr on structure, vibes, prototype plastics, and straight-through light leaders.

The Collective (subscriber group):

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Event stats (as discussed on the show):

Dates: Saturday 21 June & Sunday 22 June 2025

Location: Nelson, Glenelg River

Saturday:

• Fish Activity Wheel: 47

• Major bite: 7:03 –9:33

• Low tide: 1:04 AM @ 0.40

• High tide: 10:59 AM @ 0.71

Sunday:

• Fish Activity Wheel: 59

• Major bite: 7:58 –10:28

• Low tide: 1:48 AM @ 0.34

• High tide: 11:19 AM @ 0.84

Division highlights (as discussed on the show):

• Sunline Best Bag: Team Sniper (Ray & Brandon Doman) — 5/5 for 5.005 kg

• Ecogear Big Bream: Team Sniper (Ray & Brandon Doman) — 1.345 kg

• Monster Movers: Team Weedless (Matty Katon & Byron Blaine) — 5 for 3.325 kg on Day 2, up 23 places to 28th

• Junior Angler: Jarvis Kent (Team Apollo Bay Fishing Charters) — finished 8th

• Miller Rods prize: Team Slow Rollers (Darren Lock & Quentin) — 1.625

Full results are at: https://vicbreamclassics.com.au

Interview 1 — Team Blackfin (3rd overall)

Weights:

• Day 1: 5 for 3.580 kg (Big Bream 1.27)

• Day 2: 5 for 4.025 kg (Big Bream 1.175)

• Total: 7.605 kg (3rd)

Notes from Steve Wheeler:

• Prefish: launched at Dry Creek; checked rock-wall edges, reeds and mudflats. A 36 fork fish on a mudflat set the plan.

• Boat placement let them reach reeds in ~0.5–0.75 m and the drop into ~4 m; picked fish in that 4 m zone.

• Day 1 edges were quiet; moving wider with vibes (Cranka Vibe, Bivi Vibe) and small hops in 2.5–4 m produced bites. Added a heavy “muss” bite for an upgrade. Lots of perch mixed in.

• Day 2 similar program on mudflats with one early ~36 fork and a bag of 32–33s.

• Leader thinking: prefers thin-diameter 6 lb (and 8 lb on structure).

Prize: $1,500 split.

Interview 2 — Team Nomad BKK (1st overall, on countback)

Weights:

• Day 1: 5 for 3.980 kg (kicker 1.145)

• Day 2: 5 for 4.015 kg

• Total: 7.995 kg (tied with 2nd; won on Day-1 bag countback)

Prefish & pattern (Peter Bouquet Jr):

• Marked fish on Active Target (T1) before light; first ski zone edges dropping to 3–4 m with trees and rock.

• Early bites on a prototype Nomad soft plastic (natural/brown-orange) and ZX35 vibe (black, assist hooks).

• Structure (shacks & poles) produced 600–800 g fish on 1/16 hidden-weight jigs; saved it for comp.

Day 1:

• Two early ~700 g fish on the prototype plastic on structure.

• Taylor Strait: Cranka Crab (olive) on 3 lb straight-through for ~750 g.

• Donovans: mixed EP/bream school on side scan; heavier plastic (1/12) delivered a 1.145 kg kicker.

• Finished bag near the mouth; ZX-style vibe (black) with assist pushed through weed.

Day 2:

• More pressure and tentative bites.

• A foam/eddy on a pole produced three quick fish (~850 g, ~750 g, ~700 g) on the prototype plastic with stingers.

• First ski zone: another solid ~750 g on plastic from an undercut edge.

• Donovans: targeted shadow lines on rock; Cranka Crab (black) on 3 lb straight-through sealed the fifth fish and upgraded a 29.5 cm.

• Lines/leaders: 6 lb braid; 3–4 lb leaders (and 3 lb straight-through with crabs) to keep bites coming in winter; softer, longer rods helped keep hooks pinned.

Prize: $3,750.

Tackle mentioned (from the show):

• Hardbodies: Spike 53 (matt prawn), various edge cranks

• Vibes: Cranka Vibe, Bivi Vibe, ZX35 (black with assist)

• Crabs: Cranka Crab (olive, black); slow crawl; 3 lb straight-through noted

• Soft plastics: Prototype Nomad plastic (natural/brown-orange), hidden-weight jigs (1/16, 1/12), stinger hooks on Day 2

• Leaders: 3–4 lb (straight-through for crabs) up to 6–8 lb on structure; emphasis on thin diameters

• Electronics: Active Target (T1), side scan to find mixed EP/bream schools

Thanks & credits (from the show):

• Vic Bream Classics and Bill for running great events and varied venues.

• Team mates, travel crews and fellow anglers for the laughs and friendly rivalry.

• Nomad & BKK mentioned by winners.

• Full results: https://vicbreamclassics.com.au

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