Born from the river. Built for the catch.
Born on the Banks of the Hawkesbury
SillyFish creator Dean Hanckel was born, bred, and raised on the banks of the beautiful Hawkesbury River, in Sydney’s northwest, NSW — a place that has shaped who he is and everything he does. From a young age, Dean was out on the water with his dad, learning the rhythm of the river and developing a lifelong passion for fishing.
Around the year 2000, he began experimenting with artificial baits, chasing that perfect combination of shape, movement, and balance that could tempt even the wariest fish. Over time, that curiosity grew into an obsession with how lures perform — how every subtle detail changes the way they swim, flash, and strike in the water.
The Hawkesbury gave Dean more than fishing. It’s where he learned to water ski, where he trained and competed, and where, in 1996, he won Australia’s most iconic water-ski race — the Bridge to Bridge — outright, breaking the existing record by more than three and a half minutes. That experience taught him precision, persistence, and respect for the river — lessons that guide every lure he designs.
Since early 2022, Dean has spent countless hours designing, shaping, testing, and refining SillyFish Lures — first on the Hawkesbury River, and then across a range of waterways throughout Australia. Each location has helped fine-tune his designs for different species, conditions, and water types — ensuring every SillyFish lure performs wherever you fish.
At SillyFish, it’s not about making just another lure — it’s about creating something that carries a story, born from the river and built for anglers who fish with heart, patience, and purpose.
Highlights
1 Founder: Dean Hanckel
2 Home waters: Hawkesbury River, Sydney’s northwest, NSW
3 The Hawkesbury River runs through Dean’s veins
4 Lure design & testing: Developed on the Hawkesbury and tested across Australia
5 Core values: Precision: • Passion • Persistence
Born on the Hawkesbury. Proven across Australia.
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