Vaal Sep 20-21

[Riem]

The first Northern Division fish-offs of the new season was held at the Vaal river on 20-21/09/08. We arrived at Emerald Casino on Friday afternoon, we were booked into one of their 2 sleeper chalets for the weekend. The weather was fine, 22 degc and a fair NW wind blowing.

Day 1: We were on the water at 05h15, it was cool but luckily no wind. I was hoping that the weather forecasters got it wrong this time. The compo was held on the Eligwa Boat Club grounds. I was planning to go to Riviera Aquatic club, but heard at the captain’s meeting that most other anglers had the same plan. I changed my mind and went to a spot on the middle section of the river.

I concentrated on Jetties and Boathouses, pitching weightless senko and texas rigged stretch 40’s at the walls. I was soon rewarded with a fooshie of 750gr. I kept on with this pattern and soon got another nibble, in fact two. I broke my line with the strike on both occasions. This would proof very costly as I could not boat another fish the whole day.

The wind started pumping from a NW direction at about 10h00. It was the worst wind I have ever experienced on a fishing trip. The wind cooled the water and air temperature down drastically and made boat handling on the main river a nightmare!

As I said, most anglers went to the Riviera Aquatic club where they fished the jetties and walls. I think this area produced because it’s a sandy (spawn) bank with a deep channel close by. Under the prevailing weather conditions the fish could retreat into deeper water easily.

Day 2: By now it was thoroughly COLD! The wind pumped the whole evening and the boats and vehicles were covered with a layer of frost on Sunday morning! I figured that the main river and other fishy looking spots had too much pressure the day before and weeks leading up to the event. I decided to go all the way up the Suikerbos tributary. It was a good decision as I managed to catch 3 keepers while working the walls and jetties. They were very small but helped to get a respectable score none the less.

What have I learned?
1) Do not avoid crowded areas! Even though the Aquatic club looked like a parking lot at the end of the month, many anglers still managed to catch good fish there. Be prepared for the odd aggressive encounter, but stick it out and catch fish!
2) The Vaal river can handle more pressure than your average body of water. Spots that I thought was depleted still produced on Sunday and that includes the Aquatic club…
3) The area directly in front of Riviera Hotel is now out of bounds. Security is quick to tell you that it is a No Fishing zone!
4) Although a senko has NO action at all...it WORKS on the Vaal river!

[Hawkeye]

Tuff fishing Ruffy......... Especially when having to contend with strong winds. Why no fishing in front of the club?? and can they enforce this . The jetties etc belong to them but NOT the River Damm cheek. Were the Bassboats interfereing with their boat traffic??
Better fishing NEXT time boet :blue-razz:

[robfisher]

I broke my line with the strike on both occasions. This would proof very costly as I could not boat another fish the whole day.

Thanks for the report Ruffy... I still want to fish that stretch of water because it looks awesome on TV... how come your line snapped? What line are you using and don’t you check your line often and re-tie?

[Riem]

The line that snapped was Sufix braid. I'm not sure but I think the breaking strain was 17lbs (I had it on my reel since last season, but have replaced it now! :blue-evil: )

It is very difficult to retie after every few casts if the wind is pumping you past your spots at 10m/s! :blue-doubt: I tried to utilise my time on a spot to the max and paid the price...

Alwyn,

I guess the bass anglers have become a nuisance to the Hotel guests? :blue-razz:

[Justy]

Sounds like it was a tough tourney. But not a bad result considering the weather you had to put up with. :blue-smile:

You guys have a very strange division. Hows your minds chatting about where you are fishing in the morning. This is a no no in Central division. Our division is so competitive no one even opens their mouths during the captains meeting for fears of letting something out the bag. I am amazed that this occured. :blue-question:

[robfisher]

The line that snapped was Sufix braid. I'm not sure but I think the breaking strain was 17lbs (I had it on my reel since last season, but have replaced it now! :blue-evil: )

Sheeezzz if I snapped off on two fish in a compo I would have to kill myself... braid sucks and fluorocarbon rocks... I hope you replaced it with 13lb Siglon.

[robfisher]

It is very difficult to retie after every few casts if the wind is pumping you past your spots at 10m/s!

As a matter of interest Ruffy have you ever used a drag sock? I bought a Minn Kota drag sock a few months ago but have never tried it...

[Riem]

Well well, provisional results have me in 8th position. :blue-cool: Under the circumstances I'm happy with that!

Justy, there are no less than 12 anglers from Witbank fishing the Northern Div. After a few toots they start talking about strategies... you know how it goes, this guy talked to that guy in the week and this spot is hot and that one not. I soon realised that my secret was no secret!

I made a decision to check what the first 10 boats before me would do. Soon as 7 out of 10 went up, my mind was made up to go down! It didn't take much to figure out where they were going!

[antonb]

Nice meeting you Ruffy,

The Wind was houling and the fishing was not easy. We packed up and went home at 15h00

[Riem]

As a matter of interest Ruffy have you ever used a drag sock? I bought a Minn Kota drag sock a few months ago but have never tried it...[/color]

Nope, I think it is a schlep and takes up space in the boat... and on top of that, what will you do when the big mamma decides to swim past the front of the boat? :blue-doubt:

[robfisher]

Nope, I think it is a schlep and takes up space in the boat... and on top of that, what will you do when the big mamma decides to swim past the front of the boat? :blue-doubt:

Yip no argument there... I have since taken mine out the boat and stored it with the other eight million rands worth of crap I have bought! :blue-sad:

[Justy]

Ruffy wrote:

After a few toots they start talking about strategies... you know how it goes, this guy talked to that guy in the week and this spot is hot and that one not. I soon realised that my secret was no secret!



MMMM. That seems to be the way of the world these days. :blue-evil:

[Hawkeye]

It is very difficult to retie after every few casts if the wind is pumping you past your spots at 10m/s!

As a matter of interest Ruffy have you ever used a drag sock? I bought a Minn Kota drag sock a few months ago but have never tried it...

The wind was absolutely pumping on Witbank this weekend. Not even my small anchor would hook up properly. This drag sock, is it also called a drogue,, ie funnel shaped that you throw into the water and it reduces your wind speed drift ?? Guess Im gonna have to invest in a heavier chain + anchor

[Hawkeye]

Nice meeting you Ruffy,

The Wind was houling and the fishing was not easy. We packed up and went home at 15h00

So did you go round the bend to Boschenvaal. :blue-idea: Did you find any spawning fish there :blue-razz: Guess the weather must have chased the fish deep .

[BassAddict]

Why no fishing in front of the club?? and can they enforce this . The jetties etc belong to them but NOT the River Damm cheek. Were the Bassboats interfereing with their boat traffic??

:blue-mad: :blue-mad: :blue-mad: :blue-mad: :blue-mad: Is this starting to happen more often ????? It seems that more and more places are getting "exclusive". I'm sure that this is not legal. Property owners do not own the waters or do they???

I agree that you have to consider and respect their privacy :blue-smile: but again so do they when it comes to my right to practise my fishing! I hate it if you found guilty before being proven to be guilty!!!!! :blue-evil: :blue-evil: If this is true ....I will out of princepal not support Riviera Hotel again (eats & drinks).

PS. I was out on my boat this weekend and was a bit down :blue-sad: :blue-sad: as I thought that I will never be able to manage the boat (trolling) and at the same time try and fish. Listening to this topic I was relieved to realised that the wind was not NORMAL and that my battle was not all due to my lack of experience. :blue-redface: :blue-redface: ...this is why I really appreciate BFSA & my fellow subscribers.