From there we continued fishing the BETT, and then I started getting interested in fishing the Juniors. In my first season I got into the KZN side and went to Nationals at Clanwilliam. I didn’t make the Protea team then. This season I worked hard and was 1st in KZN Division, and then I went to Nationals at the Vaal and I won the Nationals.
Bass Digest : The Junior Nationals were at the Vaal River. Being a venue you don’t really know can be quite intimidating. How did you prepare for it? What did you do?
Eugene Potgieter : Well, I must say a huge thank you to Justy Varkevisser though. He and my Dad go a long way back. When we were told the Nationals were at the Vaal River, my Dad called Justy and asked whether he would be able to help me. I’d never fished the Vaal before and my Dad knew it was going to be a tough venue. We didn’t know what structure was there or what the conditions would be like, so Justy really helped me to get to know the venue a little bit better. He showed me what structure was available and where and how the conditions can change on the river.
Bass Digest : Eugene, how do you know Justy?
Eugene Potgieter : I met Justy through the Albert Falls Classic and Nationals. He used to come down to the AFC with his Dad and his brother, Wayne. Justy and I made the National squad together a number of times. Sometimes he would make it and I wouldn’t and vice-versa. Then we fished a few Internationals in Zimbabwe together. When we went to Zim, we would jump in his car and go up to the venue together. We’ve kept in contact ever since.
Article & Images by Paul "Madporra" Pereira
Bass Digest/June, 2014