Record number of entries at start of the year’s bass trail
The 2015 Lowveld Bass Trail kicked off this past weekend at Klipkopje Dam.
A record of 44 boats entered. Catches weren’t expected to be great at this specific venue, and true to form, the majority of teams weighed in bags in the region of one to two kilograms.
Only 20 boats managed to weigh in alimit of five fish, and five boats unfortunately drew a complete blank. They managed to bring a total of 140 bass to the scales with an average weight of 0,343 kilograms. Team Pumba showed everyone else how it’s supposed to be done for the second year in a row.
After the event, Theo Bezuidenhout and Mike Hugo of Team Pumba mentioned that they did particularly well pitching in shallow water with dead ringers and Ol’ Monsters.
Other techniques that produced well were fishing tight along the reed banks with jerk baits like the Big Bite Baits 5″ jerk minnow in dark colours, and covering water quickly in the inflow with Strike King redeye shads or SPRO Aruku shads in colours matching the natural forage.
“We would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of our sponsors. Without their backing and support the Lowveld Bass Trail would not be the success that it is,” said Michael Cronje of Angling & Outdoor World.
Next up on the calendar is Kwena Dam on March 14, which promises to deliver significantly bigger bags than the season opener.
The top five teams
• First prize: Pumba, five fish (2,360 kilograms), 9,360 points – R5 000
• Second: Imbongolo, five fish (2,230 kilograms), 9,230 points – R3 000 courtesy of the LBT and Union Motors
• Third: Baby Bass, five fish (2,045 kilograms), 9,045 points – R2 000 courtesy of Venom Lures and Subaru.
• Fourth: Fast Track, five fish (2,035 kilograms), 9,035 points – R1 000 voucher and R500 bait hamper courtesy of Angling & Outdoor World and Big Bite Baits
• Fifth: Angling & Outdoor World, five fish (2,025 kilograms), 9,025 points – R1 300 Oppiekoppie voucher and R150 Jock and Java voucher.
Biggest fish
First – Louis Nel of Beginners Luck – 1,440 kilograms – R1 000 courtesy of John Dory’s
Second – Team Baby Bass, 0,800 kilograms – hamper courtesy of Sakata Seeds valued at R500.
