Posts Tagged ‘South African Dams’
Revisiting Rietvlei – 3rd Time Lucky
January 19, 2010 | 
Author At first I wanted to do a separate post on the second time I blanked at Rietvlei, but I then decided that it wouldn’t be very exciting so instead I will tell you a bit about the second time I blanked at Rietvlei in this post and then I will tell you how I managed to catch something on our third trip.
Where I finally caught something
Following some exciting conversation about camping and the outdoors, I (being the influential person I am 
) convinced my friends that a fishing trip would be the ideal thing for the coming weekend.
We decided to give Bon Accord another try so I visited the dam the day before just to make sure they have the necessary facilities our group required and to see that the dam is okay for fishing. Everything looked fine. In fact it looked much better than the previous time I visited Bon Accord. The water was clear and I saw keep nets everywhere. A good sign!
So the next day we got there. All ready to go! But as we entered the gate we were simultaneously shocked and amazed. My words to Wilhan became ironic. I told him that the dam looks great, in fact so great, he’ll be amazed.
The picture below says everything.
Hyacinth in Bon Accord
We had to make other plans so we went to Rietvlei where we stayed over because the dam was so full that we almost had to wait our turn to fish
Our camping spot at the beautiful Rietvlei Dam
The dam really is beautiful, and although we didn’t catch anything, probably partially because we had to take the spot we camped (we were late and beggars can’t be choosers), I enjoyed the peace out there in nature. Thanks to my buddies who joined me! We’ll do it again.
Roasted by the sun (always wear sun block!) we ended our trip to be followed by another trip with Andre about a week later.
This time, for a change, it was Andre who blanked while I caught two small Kurpertjies. The first one was so small it didn’t even shake my line.
Me holding the small Kanarie. Carefull or it'll sting!
This all happened after we were excited by a good pull on one of my rods, but it seemed that it was spit out by the fish which left the line hanging silent. Then after I fixed my bait and cast in again there was another pull. I took the rod, released the brake and fastened the reel. It was huge! It was strong! But it wasn’t a fish…it was the guy fishing on the spot next to us. This was really disappointing but at least it made me happy for a few moments.
My huge fish
Even though we only caught the two small Kupers I can still happily say that I braked the long silence at Rietvlei… What do they say? Third time lucky!
The days summary:
Fishing period: +- 7am to 4pm
Fish: 2 small Kurpers
Bait used: Oorlog dipped worms
Distance the fish was caught at: +- 50m
Fishing spot: About in the middel GPS: 25 degrees 52’13.02″S, 28 degrees 16’11.05″E
Conditions: Overcast
I need to warn you that the water in Rietvlei may not be as clean as it looks due to chemical pollution. I was however unable to find any recent proof of this (it is probably fixed then) so all I say is be careful and responsible.
Posted in Rietvlei Dam | 
Tags: biggest, centurion, Groot, grootste, karp, pretoria, Rietvlei Dam, South African Dams, Specimen Angler, Specimen Carp | 
2 Comments »
Rietvlei dam – Our first trip
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…
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
Posted in Gauteng Dams, Rietvlei Dam | Tags: Baber, Bait, Barbel, Canary Kurper, carp, Catfish, Gauteng Dams, Irene Dams, karp, Kurper, Pretoria Dams, Rietvlei Dam, Rigs, South African Dams, Specimen | 4 Comments »
