Well its time again folks to nominate your entry for the FFF barra challenge. 2009 was a blast and saw a lot of good fish grace the forums. Part of the reason the comp was started was to encourage more ‘’fishing’’ related posting, which I think was achieved.
At this stage either post your nomination here or send me a PM letting me know you want to enter. I will create a master list of all entrants similar to last year and as entry fees are received it will be marked off on the list – the same as last year.
There has been some discussion on minor rule changes on the 09 comp. At this stage nothing has been changed were going to put it to the public to see what you think. If you have an idea of how we can make this comp better please post it here or PM me. The more input the better we can make this comp more successful. No point winging about it later in the year if you don’t have your say now.
Here are a few things myself and matt have been discussing:
• One rule that will be enforced more in 2010 is the date you must submit your entry. Fish must be submitted by the last day of the month and a date will be set on how long from then you must submit your barra report (eg. a week max). Matt suggested maybe a minimum of 100 or 200 words saying basically where, when, how you caught the fish. This is unless of course you are out fishing and cant do so. Where not going to be totally pedantic about it, but posting your fish and report a month late wont be accepted.
• The idea of whether or not a newspaper or piece of paper with the month written on it should be included with the brag matt shot is also being discussed. We realise people like dingo up at the tiwis may find it hard to get hold of news papers occasionally so would like some input on this to.
Most of the rules will stay the same as last year. For those of you who entered last year you will already know them, but here they are for newcomers to the comp.
1)You can submit your best legal barra each month.
2) 1 point will be awarded for every cm of fish.
3) You must submit a picture of the fish on a brag mat, sticker or tape measure -Make sure the fish's mouth is closed and up against the end of the brag mat
4) You must submit your fish before the end of the month
5) You don’t have to catch a fish a month to win - but do to complete the barra a month challenge
6) Barra may be caught anywhere, on live bait or on lures
7) You must supply the date captured, location, length and method (lure, live bait) as well as a story or preferably a link to a story you posted about your trip
8)NO PHOTOSHOPPED entries
9) if your entry is missing any of the above then it will not count
10) No pro guides
11) Newspaper in photos to prove date (remote area fishos excepted)
I think the idea of a 2 lure entry fee is the best and suggest we keep it at that. Again, if you have a better idea, make it known. Hopefully we will work on getting some more sponsors on board to make it a great comp again. 2009 prizes haven’t been given out yet but I know there is a lot there in the kitty. Matt will make an announcement at some point on whether they will be sent out by post or a small presentation or something.
The 2 Barra lures should have a value of around $25-$30. These lures will then be put back up as prizes.
This is a list of lure companies that support FFF so I would ask that the lures be in this range
DOA
Reidys
Halco
RMG
Killalure
Classic
Tilsan
Rapala
Storm
Berkley
Nils Master
Try to buy a lure that you would use yourself. Whether the lures will be dropped off or sent out will also be decided promptly and all entrants will be made aware of how they can do this ASAP.
That’s all for now. The Rules will be finalized and posted before the end of the month. And how the prizes will be distributed. Ill say it will be the same as last year, biggest fish of each month, mystery length of each month, there will have to be a prize for everyone that completes the challenge, and obviously a 1st prize and 2nd and 3rd if we have enough entrants. Again this will be finalized shortly.
SO get on board, help make this comp even better. Give us your feedback and input. I hope we have as many entrants as last year to make it a success. People who didn’t enter are also encouraged to do so. There will be plenty of prizes up for grabs so you don’t have to be the best barra fisho to be in for a shot. This is a very friendly comp and were keeping it at a social level. It is the FFF Barra Challenge – And it’s a CHALLENGE at that - to score the holy grail of 12 from 12 - as was proved this year.
Cheers, Bandit (2010 FFF Barra challenge coordinator)
... and the next decade.... 
