a stunning witfield mirror

lionelc

New member
just remember it does not help sitting on the same spot i fished,there is alot of finer details i adapt to fishing witfield,baiting up,rigs bait presentation and location,line angels its not a throw ur bait in the dam and catch dam' if these are not perfect u wont catch a carp from there,it took me over 6months to get my first carp from there!just saying fishing on someone elses spot dont always get u a fish!!
 

Maggu

New member
You are missing the whole point here when you are putting information like this out there every Tom, Dick and Harry will pitch up there and you won’t have a chance to put all your fancy tricks to work. What about a certain group of guys that have moved fish out of our local dams to these ponds, because they have decided it will be beter for the fish there!

What about the rest of the guys who are currently feeding and fishing at the venue?

And believe me, you are not the only guy that knows the finer details to this venue.

All it takes is for one guy to get lucky and it will end up in a keep net and sold for 20 bucks.
 

lionelc

New member
i apologise the guys for posting the pic!Manny believed that after the spill and fish theft wich is very sad indeed'that witfield had no more good fish and i just wanted to show it still has a few but its definitly not he same witfield from back in the day if u can handle alot of blanks and wondering thoughts of why the turning fish dont bite then u can give it a go!its realy the toughest lake to fish i do have photos of fish i will never post as i know the dams can get screwed heavily look at rietvlei!!!that fish is only 26lb i dont think their is alot of guys wanting to risk their lives for a fish that size and most guys want to catch on their first cast honestly we all know that wont happen at wf!!!
 

lionelc

New member
no i agee 100% with u im not the only one that knows the fine details by far,im just saying that a person requires some good skill to get lucky there,the post was not amed at u in anyway!
 

lionelc

New member
to the guys who feels sensitve about my thread on witfield my sincere apologies i did not think it would cause such a stirr i will think twice about what i post next time that lake is also my home lake and very close to my hart and dont want to see anyhing bad happen to the couple of good fish still left in there hope fully u will accept my apologie!keep on carping boys!
lionel!
 

MadCarper

Sealiner
What I find even more sad is that we have to argue like this here and on the other post, amongst eachother, accusing eachother of things etc, thanks to poachers, fish thieves and ppl who would harm these big fish for their own gain. To be honest, Witfield is not a secret anymore, and same with the east rand dams. Almost all the dams I knew as "secret" 10 years ago, are all known and exposed now. Many pictures of carp from these places have surfaced all over in some way, and at one time or the other over the last 10 years. Not to mention word of mouth that travels faster than the speed of light when a biggie is caught somewhere. We all know how this works guys.

I had a family friend email me yesterday with photos of some nice sized carp that was caught at one of these east rand dams by specimen carp anglers. He is a newbie at conventional angling, and only really does it now and then with the family. So he does not have that much exposure to the angling community. Yet, he got the photos from the Bank Angler, easy. Then he also sent me a few more photos of good sized carp caught at the same venue by one of my friends, who I'd never have though would send his pics out to just anyone. But who said the family friend got it from him? Could be by a friend, sent to another friend, and eventually ending up with him. I've had ppl send me pics of monster fish caught by other anglers, for interest sake, and I'm sure the anglers themselves dont know their photos are being circulated like this. I think we will be shocked if we really knew where our photos end up, despite us trying to keep it "hush-hush".

So why blame lionelc, when we have all at some point or another had a part in dams being exposed. Be it an email to a friend, who passed it on to someone else, who leaked it to someone else etc.? not to mention word of mouth. The specimen carp angling community is growing fast in SA, and it is becoming impossible to keep venues secret. Just too many mouths communicating to guarantee that your secret stays under wraps.
 

Stiff_Rig

New member
Hi Mad Carper,

What you are saying is absolutely correct. We should not be having these discusions period.

For me it's all about being more responsible with what you share.

My new favourite issue now is having social anglers coming to take pics of your catch on your cell phones while you pose for your own pics...and they have the audacity to get annoyed when you say no and do it anyhow...its utter invasion of privacy....
 

lionelc

New member
yes madcarper,like i said the pics are just to show these lakes still has some fish,i dont think its gonna change anything on how people see these lakes,everyone in the speci world know about these lakes and the monster carp that has been caught there but no one is interested in fishing them anymore due to the bad crime and so forth,i truely believe the pics wont get every tom dick and harry storming to these lakes,even though people know about the good fish in them i still only find a handfull of 'die hards' fishing them regurlary if these were safe dams and crime free and comfortable i would not have posted pics!I realy believe that it wil still be as quiet next to those waters as it has been for the last couple of years!
 

MadCarper

Sealiner
I agree guys, and not just cellphone pics but we also cannot choose who fishes next to us. We might not share our photo with others, but if you catch that 30lb'er, and the guys on the bank 30m to your left sees it, they could easily tell others. As the number of specimen carp anglers grow, the banks will get more full...more eyes. Nothing we can do but to educate ppl and be willing to help newcomers to the sport so that they do things right from early on.

Or what about taking photos in a better way, if you are paranoid about the spot where you fished? Take your photos in such a way that your bivvy is behind you, or a nice big reed bush...
 

Bankstick

Sealiner
Carp Fishing is a cruel Mistress - It treats some guys well some of the time and others bad most of the time....

It happens. I find there are too many "Specimen Anglers" who thrives on Fame...catch a biggie it gets posted immediately..."See what I caught" Nothing Wrong With That"..True our sport attracts the most unsavory people even the general public snapping away on cell phones.

I couldn't care less of posting my pic's - here or in any magazine..My biggies are shared with friends and others I meet. Witfield kicked our asses for 10 consecutive sessions - yet we went back and started hauling fish up to 43lb..THIS WAS BEFORE THE SPILL AND THEFTS...I know there are still some good fish in it ... It's just harder now..much harder than when we fished it then.

we were there when this fish was caught by Lionel - we fished friday night...blanked..sadly enuff !!

Nuff Said - nice fish all the same !!
 

MadCarper

Sealiner
The few times I've fished Witfield I blanked miserably. :doh But I was still fairly new to the game and because I didnt know the dam at all I went with someone who did know it and who guided me a little. Still, as you said, its not a mickey-mouse dam, and a handfull of sessions wouldnt normally crack it... But the guy I went with has had phenomenal success there as he used to live around the corner from the place. But that was also before all the crap there...

Just something I'd like to mention though Bankstick. I dont think we should be too harsh on guys wanting to post their photos. Not all of them are out for "fame". Sometimes its a newby that just wants to share his success or PB and get a little recognition from the big dogs... I dont think there is anything wrong with that, and we should be here to encourage. Or as lionelc was doing, showing that there are still good fish out there and well done in any case that he's caught a nice one from a difficult water. Next week I might catch an unusual looking carp that I'd like to share with the guys here to see what they think. Its a personal choice if you want to post pics online or not. But I do agree, you get guys that post to bragg. Allthough I havent see that happening much on here. Anyway, just an opinion....cchhiilllpiiilll
 

Stiff_Rig

New member
I could not have put that better myself Bankstick, seems we share very similar views.

I fish for myself...and share pics with those who can appreciate the significance of the captures...further than that I have nothing to prove to anyone!

Its a crying shame what happened to Witfield...all is not lost there though...I am fortunate enough to have a collectionof pics of some post spill captures and recaptures that will make most carpers eyes water.
 

Stiff_Rig

New member
I could not have put that better myself Bankstick, seems we share very similar views.

I fish for myself...and share pics with those who can appreciate the significance of the captures...further than that I have nothing to prove to anyone!

Its a crying shame what happened to Witfield...all is not lost there though...I am fortunate enough to have a collectionof pics of some post spill captures and recaptures that will make most carpers eyes water.
 

Bankstick

Sealiner
MC - Point taken well...No Worries. I understand we are here to guide where we can and help out..I might also need some advice and Lionel meant no harm to anyone posting his picture not did he encourage gill netting now on the lake etc.
 

Bambi

Sealiner
Hi guys,

I have to agree and disagree on some stuff being said.

Don't think its the smartest of things posting names of dams where nice fish were caught. Safe or unsafe, you will get more people going there to give it a go.

With regards to photos- I don't feel its about bragging or
Whatever when you post pics!

Myself as an angler love seeing captures of other people! I agree that if its a public place, take the pic with something in the background so it can't be recognized.

There is allot of people out there that appreciate pictures and reports.

Just my 2c worth
 

lionelc

New member
thanks guys for understanding my thought behind the picture as to me it was a very special fish and it took me a while to catch it i meant no harm at all to the lake or i did mot try and boost my reputation cause i have bigger fish from there!
yes bambi i agree and did apologise on posting on the lake and i now will not post anymore captures big or small i have done enough harm!
i coulndt care iff u would like to fish next to me or not i fish inside myself and prefer fishing by myself,but also love meeting other speci okes next to the water with the same passion,i know i always practise carp safety and go out of my way to preserve every inch of nature!
i realy like reading some of your posts its good to see every ones views on this topic!
its just sad that after a decade of specimen fishing in S.A we still cant share pics and info on dams as their is still alot of irresponsible anglers out there its truly hartbreaking as i know there is alot of guys who wants to share that special cacth but just cant!
geuss i over stept the line on this post and now im being degraded its a real shame but ill still be fishing and even harder as this is my life,my passion!!
tight lines boys!!!!
 

Bambi

Sealiner
Chin up lionel!

And please, don't stop posting pics like some anglers- just do it with discretion.

By the way, stunning fish!!:wfish
 

lionelc

New member
Dankie bambi,ek sal nog post in die toekoms ek kan lat dit my onderkry ni sal maar net baie mooi dink oor wat ek post!
 
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