Catch, Snap & Win Fishing Competition
Monday 23 March to Sunday 19 April 2026.
Hosted by council with 2 Bent Rods, this fun fishing competition will inspire you to get outdoors and appreciate Ipswich’s creeks and rivers.
A total prize pool worth up to $2500 in value is up for grabs, including a kayak.
Check out some great fishing spots in the Fishing Places of Ipswich brochure(PDF, 1MB).
How to enter
- Download the 2 Bent Rods app via the Apple or Google Play stores and select the Catch, Snap and Win competition
- Catch a fish in an Ipswich waterway during the competition period (23 March - 19 April)
- Use the 2 Bent Rods app to provide the required photos, including of the fish, yourself and the competition code.
Categories
Entries are in Open, Youth (12-25 years) and Child (aged up to 11) categories.
- Random draw (all participants)
- Longest Australian bass
- Most impressive catch
- Most pest fish overall
Winners will be contacted by Friday 24 April. Prize collection will be from the Queens Park Environmental Education Centre, open Tuesday – Saturday 9.00am to 2.00pm.
Terms and Conditions(PDF, 258KB)
Learn to Fish - Active and Healthy program
People of all ages will have a ball with 2 Bent Rods. Learn all the basics of fishing including how to tie fishing knots, bait hooks and cast a fishing rod. Find out the rules for different species and how to identify your catch, and sustainable fishing practices.
Adults fishing at Springfield Lakes
- Tuesday 31 March, 1.30pm – 4.30pm
- Thursday 2 April, 1.30pm – 4.30pm
Family fishing
- Saturday 11 April, 12.30pm – 3.30pm at Colleges Crossing
- Saturday 18 April, 8.00am – 11.00am at Joseph Brady Park
- Sunday 19 April, 11.30am – 2.30pm at Joseph Brady Park
Kids fishing at Joseph Brady Park
- Monday 13 April, 8.30am – 11.30am
- Friday 17 April, 1.30pm – 4.30pm
Registrations via the Active and Healthy calendar.
Canoeing basics - Active and Healthy program
Learn the basics of canoeing with Scouts! It’s a memorable way to explore the natural surroundings from the water. The session introduces basic paddling skills, water safety and teamwork while enjoying the peaceful environment of the Brisbane River at Mount Crosby.
- Monday 13 April, 9am – 12pm
Registrations open via the Active and Healthy calendar.
Waterbugs in Tulmur Place
Get up close to wonderful waterbugs these school holidays with special free activities at Tulmur Place, Nicholas Street Precinct.
From Tuesday 7 April to Friday 10 April (10am-2pm daily) join Natura Pacific and Ipswich City Council for a free drop-in event. Get up close to real waterbugs and learn how to identify these tiny but terrific creatures.
Play a special Agents of Discovery Mission anytime during the April school holidays. Download the free Agents of Discovery app to your smartphone and visit Tulmur Place to play family-friendly challenges that dive deep into the world of waterbugs.
Queens Park Environmental Education Centre
In celebration of WaterFest the centre will have free activities for all ages. Drop in anytime during centre opening hours (9.00am - 2.00pm Tuesday to Saturday) for craft activities and screenings of Back from the Brink short films about Queensland’s most threatened plants and animals, what is happening to them, and how we can help save them from extinction.
Special activities will also be held during the Easter school holidays. These events are free but registrations will be required.
- Creatures of the Creek animal show, 10am on Saturday 11 April (tickets available from 23 March)
- Terrarium building workshop, 11am on Tuesday 14 April (tickets available from 24 March)
- Rodney the Rainbow Fish author reading and activity, 10.30am on Thursday 16 April (tickets available from 23 March)
Register for these free events on the ICC Environment Humanitix page.
Community planting
2.00pm Saturday 18 April 2026
Help improve habitat on the banks of Bundamba Creek with a special WaterFest community planting in partnership with Conservation Volunteers Australia. As part of the day, you’ll also be able to enjoy a free lunch and go on a special walk-and-talk with Dr Tamielle Brunt from PlatypusWatch, where you’ll learn more about platypus conservation from an expert who knows these elusive creatures inside out!
Your efforts will support creek bank stabilisation and healthier waterways.
It is free to attend but registrations will be required. Visit https://conservationvolunteers.info/WaterFestPlanting2026 for more details.
Agents of Discovery
Download the free Agents of Discovery app for nature-approved screen time!
In May, visit Kholo Gardens for a new Mission. We also have Missions to enjoy at Queens Park, Ipswich!
Simply use the app on your smartphone and walk around the location to unlock fun games and challenges. Suitable for children with adult supervision, Missions take less than an hour to play.
See more about Agents of Discovery.
Bird ID walk at Sapling Pocket
7.00am, Saturday 9 May 2026
Go on a special walk with bird expert Cesar Puechmarin in a special Enviroplan conservation reserve. Sapling Pocket contains one of the few remaining pockets of riverine rainforest along this stretch of the Brisbane River. This will be a memorable morning walk for both seasoned birders and newcomers, with opportunity to encounter species such as elusive Black-breasted button quail, vibrant Rose-crowned fruit dove and distinctive Australian spectacled monarch.