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January 2014 Report
Venue: Buffelspoort Dam
Date: 18 - 19 January 2014
WINNERS WORDS by John Connolly
Total fish: 8
Total Weight: 4.55 Kg
Average weight: 0.57 Kg
Fishing Conditions:
We had a “late morning start” compared to the dedicated few who were on the water as soon as
possible on the Saturday morning. We headed off directly down into the river section working
weed-lines, weed beds, standing reeds and lily pads with plastics but the morning session started
off slowly and I missed/dropped a couple of small fish. The bite was very subtle and by 11h00 I
only managed one small keeper. By this time the day was blistering hot with mild gusting winds
and very little reward despite toiling very hard. I pushed right up in the river section and picked up
a second keeper of +- 1 Kg off the reeds if 4ft of water. We moved back up to the bay on the right
of the wake zone cables and I managed a third small keeper some off reeds in this area. The heat
was a major issue so we took a welcome lunch break in the shade and had a swim!!!
Recharged we were back on the water and moved back into the bay on the left as you go through
the cables and managed to pick up a fourth fish also off vertical reeds. Worked all the way back
down to the river where I managed my final keeper for the day off reeds in 4ft of water. It was a
tough day at the office and a cold beer at the camp was well justified/earned.
On Sunday morning we were greeted by overcast and cool conditions and I headed straight to
the banks opposite the camp site, the fish were a bit more cooperative and a number of small non
keepers were quickly boated on a weightless black senko. A while later I managed to boat a keeper
that hit the senko in shallow water off some stumps. Back down to the river section and another
two keepers were bullied out of the tight reeds to fill the bag for the session just before the rain
came down.
Hot Spots:
There was no real discernible pattern and you had to work very hard and cover much water/
structure to solicit a bite. The river section was more productive for me with fish holding
tight to vertical reeds and the bite very subtle.
Best Techniques:
All fish were caught on black or green pumpkin purple flake senkos fished weedless or on
a light texas rig flipping/pitching into and around any standing reeds/tules.
Tackle:
GLoomis GLX rod and Shimano Chronarch reel spooled with 14lb Sugoi.
The Numbers:
Total fish: 24
Average weight: 0.69 kg
Total weight: 16.59 kg
Fish/Angler: 3.43
Biggest fish: 2.15 kg - Eric Blacstock
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