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.

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