Ep 186: Hobie Kayak Fishing, Round 2 Marlo, February 21-22 2026

🎣 Hobie Fishing Series Australia – Marlo Round 2 (2026) | Full Breakdown + Angler Interviews In this episode of The Bream Fishing Project Podcast, we head to Marlo, Victoria for Round 2 of the Hobie Fishing Series Australia, held on February 21–22, 2026. Andrew was on the ground for this one, soaking up the atmosphere, catching up with mates, and diving deep into what turned out to be a fascinating and highly tactical tournament. Marlo is one of those iconic systems that can reward anglers with big BREAM—but it can also humble even the best. This round showcased exactly that, with strong bags, shifting bite windows, and a mix of finesse and surface techniques proving critical. 🏆 Tournament Overview We break down all the key results and standout performances from the event, including: Anaconda Big BREAM: Patrick Byrne – 1.4kg Monster Mover: Evan Leonard (Donut Day 1 → Huge comeback Day 2) Youth Division Winner: Riley Whelan Women’s Division Winner: Beth Harris Masters (60+) Winner: Lindsay Pryke (4.95kg – inside Top 10 overall) Top 10 Highlights: 1st – Joseph Gardner – 6.15kg 2nd – Brendan Pieschel – 5.93kg 3rd – Ben Hanscombe – 5.84kg 4th – Simon “Batman” Morley 5th – Dale Baxter 6th – Tyler Bruce 7th – Lindsay Pryke 8th – Leon Loeng 9th – Joe Crosby 10th – James Scott 🎙️ Featured Angler Interviews This episode includes in-depth interviews with the Top 3 finishers, breaking down exactly how they approached the event: 🥉 Ben Hanscombe (3rd Place – 5.84kg) Dialled in shallow water finesse bite Key lure: Pro Lure Hybrid Shrimp Fishing ultra-light (3lb straight through) Focused on lake edges and subtle presentations 🥈 Brendan Pieschel (2nd Place – 5.93kg) Incredible Day 2 comeback with the biggest bag of the tournament (3.56kg) Key lure: Hurricane Skimp (cleaver colour) Strategy built around tight casting into reeds and shallow structure Stuck to one lure for the entire comp 🥇 Joseph Gardner (1st Place – 6.15kg) First time fishing Marlo and takes the win Unique approach using surface (Bent Minnow) Long pauses and ultra-subtle retrieves triggered bites Focused on less-pressured water in Frenchs Narrows 🧠 Key Takeaways from Marlo Surface lures can dominate—even in tough systems Slow presentations and long pauses were critical Light line vs confidence—finding the balance Managing pressure and fish location over multiple days Adapting retrieves based on weather and light conditions 🎣 The Marlo Factor Marlo continues to prove why it’s one of the most exciting—and challenging—BREAM fisheries in the country. Big fish are there… but not easy Bite windows are short and crucial One decision (or one lost fish) can change everything 🤝 Thanks & Acknowledgements A big thank you to Hobie Fishing Australasia for running another outstanding event, and to all competitors who shared their insights throughout the episode. 🔗 Join The Bream Fishing Project Collective If you want to improve your fishing faster and learn from Australia’s best anglers, check out: https://breamfishingproject.supercast.com Inside the Collective: Monthly live streams Exclusive content Direct access to Andrew (AMA sessions) A community of anglers all working to improve 🎧 Listen Every Tuesday Make sure you’re subscribed so you never miss an episode of The Bream Fishing Project Podcast—your home for tournament insights, techniques, and stories from Australia’s best BREAM anglers.