LOWRANCE SOUTH AFRICA Issue 24 | Page 47

While several anglers arrived weeks earlier to practise - the dam was closed for 14 days before the competition. Fishing took place in three sectors A – C and each country had two anglers per peg, per sector. They fished for the heaviest weights which were computed, to determine their positions within their sector and against the other sectors for overall positions. Anglers use different types of bait, but a popular choice for the South Africans is a “boilie” – a mixture of crushed maize, hemp seed, Tiger nuts and flour which is mixed into small dough balls. The English team’s bait included fishmeal , but when this attracted Catfish, they had to change their strategy! The minimum Carp weight allowed was 1.5kg and the fish were weighed and released unharmed, every two – three hours, day and night. The biggest fish caught was a Grass Carp of 8.1kg but this was only given a mention – and did not count for points. (It counted towards the total mass of the peg but there was no prize) One of the Organisers Paul Venter said Bloemhof Dam is “a magic place”, as there are so many fish to be caught. “It’s a very tough competition, as our African sun is brutal and you have to be so careful to protect your skin and hydrate extremely well.