Inanda producing bass action

Carp

Another week of reports flying in. This week we have seen mixed emotions at Shongweni, regarding the amount of algae and possibly sewerage in the water. For most there is no issue, as fishing continues to go on as normal, if not better than before, with some beautiful fat specimens being taken on Tiger nuts and on smaller boilies. The average size of fish has been smaller. This could be down to the water conditions causing the bigger fish to get lock jaw. Midmar seems to be the most consistent of all the bigger dams, having shown off a variety of sizes throughout the week and over the weekend. Conventional anglers have done well over the last week, landing some very nice fish around the 7 and 8kg mark. These bigger fish were landed on Supercast Kaboom Mielies on Mustad Carp hooks. Most of the sweet flavours such as Almond or FX have produced the goods. Nagle Dam has been quiet over the last week and months, with little to no reports whatsoever from local anglers. A recent trip to Nagle, however, produced several fish ranging between 5-12kg and all caught on specimen tackle close to the river section. Boilies were used as bait and the trip took place over three days. This is a good example of how no water should be underestimated. Albert Falls did not see the same quality of fish from the day-camping areas and slipways, however anglers fishing from boats around the river inlet had great fun with larger carp and even some huge barbel, all on large 18mm boilies. The secret to success when fishing for carp off a boat is to be completely motionless once anchored. Two or even three anchors are spread out evenly in a triangle formation around the boat, which ensures very little or no movement is possible even in a wind. Long casts are not necessarily more productive as the carp swim around the river section in search of fresh foraging material. Absolute maximum of 10ft rods are required for best performance. Due to the fact that the boat will be permanently anchored, be prepared for a big fish with a strong line such as Daiwa Sensor 15lb, which will allow the angler to put more pressure on a fish if fishing in areas which hold more structure.

Bass

Many kick-boaters found themselves having loads of fun at Inanda Dam on the weekend, using smaller Strike Pro crank baits such as the Cranky X50 which have been one of the most popular shallow running crankbaits for the last few months. These square bill shallow running crank baits are available in a variety of mind blowing colours that have outperformed many other competitors, and comes in at a fraction of the price. Smaller Spinnerbaits have also been a go-to bait for anglers struggling to boat a few fish, slow rolled around the grassy edges with a brief pause every two metres or so to allow the shirt to flare up and entice a bite. Albert Falls has fished well and has definitely taken a few steps forward since last week, with numerous catches of fish over 2kg, some reaching close to 3kg, and some lost fish due to inadequate tackle. Once again, a reminder to make sure there is a hook sharpener on the boat at all times. Even the best quality hooks on the market such as Mustad Big Mouth or KVD Grip pin hooks will become blunt over time, due to the heavy cover it will be dragged through on every cast. After each fish, and at intervals of about 20 casts, it is suggested that anglers take half a minute to check the sharpness of their hooks. This little trick will ensure the elimination of an anglers worst nightmare - the hook being thrown due to insufficient penetration. Another method of improving your hook-up rate is to practice your striking techniques to see which style suits you better. The most effective for most anglers is usually to drop the tip of the rod once the bite has been detected, point the tip at the fish and wind up the slack line. Once the tension has been regained, lean into the strike and set the hook hard by striking straight up from 0 degrees to 90 degrees. This should ensure a hook-up in the top lip most of the time.

(File Photo: Gallo Images)

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