The past weekend we finally visited Roodeplaat dam for some winter fishing. I arrived at the Roodeplaat Dam Resort at about 17h00 on the Friday afternoon. Perhaps just a bit later than I would have liked because the sun was already setting and setting up camp in the dark is not one of my favourite endeavours. But none the less, after a few minutes I had a fire going and I had my lines in.

At about 20h00 one of my friends, Gideon joined me. The whole night went by with only some movement on one of the lines. I “kapped” it real hard but found that the hook link was cut in half. I changed the rig and tried again, regularly changing and experimenting with different baits, but to no avail.

The next morning Andre woke us up with his car doors as we were still sleeping next to the fire. It was a cold morning with a bit of wind which later went away. In the afternoon some of my other friends joined us for a braai at the dam. It turned out to be a great afternoon party in the sun.

The fishing wasn’t that great though. We caught nothing the whole afternoon. The guys next to us caught a few Kurpers on artificial spoon-type baits.

After the friends left and I was busy packing up my other friends called and said they’re on their way, so I slept over again. This time round the fishing went somewhat (but only slightly) better as I changed my rigs to braid, which could not be cut in half by whatever was cutting it in half, and I managed to catch a small barbel on some custard dough which was strange, because he could have gone for the worm on the other hook.

All and all I was happy with the conditions at the dam. The water seems clean and the banks are neat.

At the best of times fishing becomes difficult when it’s raining. Temperatures drop and natural food is in abundance. Rain can easily affect a fishing session and it’s often necessary to change your strategy if you want to avoid the dreaded blank. So what do we do when the rain comes pouring down?

With the drop in temperature fish will often move to shallower water and it might be worth your while to move your target area and use natural baits such as earth worms. Inflows to your fishing area are worth considering since predatory fish such as barbel becomes more active in these areas when it’s raining. This is because of the natural food flowing downstream. It is important to note that fish species such as carp will become less active in the colder weather and that overfeeding should be avoided.

On a recent trip to Bon Accord dam, the rain was pouring down and fishing was hard but we managed to catch a barbel and a few small carp by changing our strategy. You can read more about the trip in our Bon Accord fishing at the start of 2011 post.

I’ve been interested in art lure fishing for quite a while now, not just for bass but for species including barbel, carp, tiger fish and whatever would be interested in the lure. Taking the time from my busy schedule however is sometimes a daunting task and reading up on this facet of the sport was left until a week or so ago when we got invited to a bass lodge in Nylstroom. I’m sure as is the case with most newbies to bass fishing, the variety of rods, reels and lures left me flabbergasted. So as the well known saying in IT goes, “Google is your friend”. Armed with my left hand on the keyboard and my right hand on one of the pages in the newest Tight Lines, I filtered through the vast variety of information that was yet again presented to me. Experts and beginners alike gave some valuable insight into art lure fishing, all comming to the same conclusion, a conclusion that is simple, a conclusion that I will be following next weekend, a conclusion that is spelled out below!

What equipment do I need?

As a begginer you do not need a boat, the most expensive rods and reels or a fast number of lures. First make sure that you really like this facet of fishing. As a carp angler I’m sure I would love art lure fishing, but different people have different interests! So start off with one of those old light weight fishing rods that is probaly lying around the house somewhere. If you do not have a small rod lying around, borrow one from a friend or buy one of those cheapies. A begginer bass combo (rod and reel) can cost anything from R300.00 to R1000.00, but if you are prepared to start of with the absolute basics, you can get a light weight combo for R100.00 to R200.00.

When it comes to lures, start off with the tried and tested. Rapala is a well known brand in South Africa with a proven track record. Lures can be expensive and one or two is often all you need. To be honest, as a beginner myself, I chose two lures on nothing else but instinct and a bit of common sense. The first lure I chose is a white Bronzeye pop frog by SPRO.

The white Bronzeye Pop frog

The following is said about this lure on the back of the box: ” The Dean Rojas signature series Bronzeye pop frog was designed to attract bass out of the thickest cover with its loud popping sound…”. I chose this lure for a variey of reasons. It’s bright, it makes a loud popping sound, the hooks fit the bait perfectly and it floats. Because this lure float, it is ideal to use at fishing spots with alot of structure causing snags and tangles. According to the loads of information I went through, this kind of lure is especially effective early in the morning, fishing near features such as water lillies. The second lure now part of my arsenal, is the Rapal Shadrap.

The Rapala Shadrap

This was a choice based purely on the look of the lure. There is really not much to say about Rapala, almost every article book or other piece of information available on bass fishing make mention of Rapala.

Where to fish

It is clear that the majority bass anglers prever the smaller private dams. These dams are often human made with great structures providing the perfect habitat for breeding monster bass.

As they say, practice makes perfect, and hopefully the more I practice the luckier I will get!

Leeuwkop dam. Leeuwkop dam?? I’ve never heard of this dam until someone mentioned it a month or so back. I tried to gain some information on this dam in various forums but no one could really give me sufficient insight, so I decided to make a quick session of it and take two to three hours to explore this venue. The first thought that popped into my head as we arrived at Leeuwkop was “Is this a dam or a swimming pool?”

Leeuwkop dam

We scouted the banks, decided on a spot and started with the 30 second drive to the other side of the dam. Half way to the other side we hid an obstacle, the road was a get-stuck-in-the-mud-disaster waiting to happen.

A get-stuck-in-the-mud-disaster at Leeuwkop dam

Looking around a few bakkies was spotted and I steered Gina towards the mud at a decent speed, against all instinct and Marnus cheering me on from the passanger seat! Left-right-slow-fast-faster and we were through much to the astonishment of onlookers. A high five and a air punch or two was in order with the thought in the back of my mind: “How the hell are we going to get back!”

Gina after a successful drive through the mud

Looking back in my rear-view mirror, two bakkies was following us. After flawlessly, with not too much trouble driving through the mud with my Getz (and here is some free advertising for hyundai) the two bakkies both got stuck!! As you all know a Hyundai Getz is not build for off roading, so if any influential people are reading this, this is your chance to sponsor Willndre with a bakkie! So now finally arriving on the other side of the dam, it was time to focus all my energy on the fishing. My strategy was a simple one, because the dam was unknown, I would fish on sweet white dough and a Rietvlei rig. The bottom was a bit muddy but there was no real sign of grass or other water plants. Marnus, not a regular angler took the same approach and we soon had combinations of banjo,mint,perdeby,rose and strawberry in the water.

Marnus at Leeuwkop dam

After almost two hours and with only an hour of my self allotted time left , I decided to investigate the content of our neighbours keep net. The little boy caught a comman carp of +- 2kg on… (Darn the name of the bait escapes me now! All I know is that it was brown, almost unpronounceable).

A Leeuwkop dam carp

+- 2kg carp at Leeuwkop dam

Not having any luck, we did what South African men do best, we had a dop-and-chop.

Having a dop-and-chop at Leeuwkop dam

With our tummies full and thunder somewhere in the distance we packed up, the question always present in the back of my mind of how we are going to get through the mud again. And here is the bit about how the wheel turn and all that… let me explain.Earlier we shared some food with two of the guards, we didn’t think much of it at that moment and continued with what we were doing, when we packed up the two guards came past and said they will show us a second exit that we can use. (and there you have it, the wheel turned again).

As we left Leeuwkop dam , I still had the question, is this a dam or a swimming pool??

Fighting my PB!

I set out from my home in Linden Johannesburg at about 5:30. I will meet Willem and Joe at Centurion from where we will travel to Rietvlei dam. This is our first visit as fishing buddies to this location and I am somewhat exited!

Apparently this is one of South Africa’s most challenging dams and if your day doesn’t end with a blank ,it ends with a personal best. Or so they claim Unfortunately I do not have my bakkie yet so the rods are lined up on Gina’s  roof with the essentials in the back.

Willem and Joe are a bit late and I decide to grab a ‘lekker koppie boere troos’ from the nearest Wimpy when they finally phone. I take a long look at the half full cup and think to myself … AAAH, screw the coffee! Today I want to catch a ‘LEKKER’ fish!

It’s a bit overcast  but the admission fee is only R25 per person, the reserve is in mint condition and the banks are already packed with people. As always we leave everything else and start with the preparation of the rods and bait.

Not having a bait boat we fish at about 50 to 70 metres. Ok, so now the lines are in the water and it’s time to finish that coffee that I was ‘forced’ to leave this morning. There was no time for breakfast and it’s taking effect now, Joe is preparing his camera for ‘Daai GROTE’ while Willem is looking for the bacon and eggs. In the meantime I am 100% focused on preparing that coffee…

100% focused on that coffee

Our lines have been in the water for little more than an hour now. With our ’magies’ full and another pot of coffee brewing, we start to wait… As any group of respectable 24 year old males will do, we keep ourselves busy with a few constructive activities…

Willem doing constructive activity one - The snake man

Joe the camera man doing constructive activity two - Pink Tooth

FINALLY there is a big ZZZZZZZZZZZ at my left rod and I almost die trying to swallow my fizzer that I was using in the preparation of constructive activity three. I lift the rod and can immediately feel it’s rather big, surely this must be my PB! The fish at the end of the line is going wild and I must carefully give it some line to work with. The adrenaline is pumping and Willem is coming with the ‘skep net’, Joe is on the bank filming this glorious event. All that’s going through my mind is : “Don’t lose this one Andre, the fish is coming slowly but surely”.  As the fish is coming closer it finally breaks the surface and my heart stops for a second or two. Willem  take the words out of my mouth : “Dis ‘n LEKKER vis man!”

Pamela breaking the water for the first time

As a tradition we name the fish at first sight. As she is big and busty, she must be a Pamela! Pamela DOESN’T like the shallow water and I get a bit of resistance as she breaks the water surface for a second time.

Pamela breaking the surface for the second time

We move in a bit deeper, it’s always better to land a big carp in deeper water. The fish is tired now and Willem is moving closer with the landing net. This is a TENSE time, but Willem is an expert at this and finally after about 15 minutes PAMELA HAS LANDED.

Pamela has landed

Joe is just as exited on the bank as the two of us in the water. I don’t know if there is a better feeling than the one when you land that big fish! Pamela must be close to my PB Betty, a 7,2kg common carp. While I’m unhooking Pamela, Willem is getting the scale and… YES… she is a beauty at a weight of 8kg! I take back my previous statement, there is one better feeling than the one mentioned above and that is when you land that big fish and it is your personal best!

Pamela

Pamela

Pamela

With the excitement gone, we were waiting again, Willem always being his cool and collective self…

Willem being cool and collective

Unfortunately the rest of the day didn’t deliver any fish and Willem got his second blank at Rietvlei. So the myth might be true, if you do not have a blank you might just catch your personal best! Sorry Willem, hopefully it will be third time lucky as they say.

The days summary:

Fishing period: +- 7am to 4pm

Fish: 1 common carp of 8kg

Bait used: A Tutti Frutti Mielie on a hair rig

Distance the fish was caught at: +- 60m

Fishing spot: On the far left of the dam (left of the dam wall).

Conditions: Overcast