| One warm summers day in 2003 Mr. Alan Gurney and his wife were sitting around the kitchen table talking about his next fishing trip. It was then that the idea of starting the Thomson River Recreational Fishing Group begun.
The Group was formed consisting of 4 families and with the assistance of the Longreach Shire Council the 'Longreach Yellowbelly Classic' competition was about to become a reality for September 2003. Approximately 500 anglers from throughout the west converged on the Thomson River in September for what was a very warm spring weekend.
It was the following year Mr. Gurney left Longreach to seek bluer fishing adventures whilst living in Karumba and a 2nd family relocated to Maryborough so the 2004 event never took place.
In January 2005 James and Helen Balke had the idea of organising the competition again for the community to enjoy.
Fundraising took place for months until the group's bank account was financial enough to begin advertising for the competition for 2005. We decided to bring the event forward to the last weekend of August. Visitors travelling through Longreach on their way to the Birdsville Races would hopefully stop and enjoy a fun weekend. 550 entrants competed for a host of $12,000 in prizes with the adults major prize being a Stacer boating package being donated by the new owners of Terry's Marine Centre in Rockhampton and a $500 camping package for the juniors purchased by the Fishing Group.
In 2006 the event had grown to 700 entrants and with the attendance of Australian Rugby League Legend Andrew Ettingshausen as the special guest, spectators and fans flocked to have a chat and have their photograph taken with him.
At each years event the 2 Meet and Greet evenings have always been a success, with the Longreach Lions Association cooking up a feast for hungry anglers and both adults and children have joined in with the festivities. The yabby auctions and races are always popular with the anticipation of watching them walk over the finish line. (sometimes flapping over backwards). There's nothing like screaming at your yabby to walk faster. Other events such as the Hand Reel Casting competition have surprised the older anglers. Many times the juniors have cast their line into the bucket with a lot more accuracy and distance.
During the Australia Day celebrations in 2006 and 2007 the Longreach Yellowbelly Classic Event had been nominated and won both years for the best "Community Event" of the Year. This was an honour that went to James and Helen Balke as organisers.
During 2006 an application to be incorporated had started and on April 28 2006 the 'Longreach Fishing Club Inc.' had officially been formed through the efforts of James and Helen and treasurer Ron Rogers.
To this day the Club still holds their event on the last weekend of August with a prize pool valued up to $20,000 being keenly contested. We continue to listen to the locals and their many fishing adventures, with all looking forward to each Longreach Yellowbelly Classic event.
The Club and its members hope to see you here but if you're not joining us this time, Happy Fishing wherever you may be heading!
James and Helen | 
