[b]Tournament Winning Structure[/b]   Andre

F

Fishton

Sealiner
Tournament Winning Structure
 
Andre’s Point has probably produced more big fish constantly than any other spot on Inanda Dam.
 
My son Connor got his first 3.9kg on Andre’s Point when he was only 5 years old.
ap01.jpg

 
Then a month later got another one of 3.95kg’s on the same spot … Andre’s Point
ap02.jpg

 
My mate Kevin got his first bass over 5kg’s while pre-fishing with me (22 April 2005) for the Inanda Bass Classic 2005 on Andre’s Point
ap03.jpg

 
Robert Howes also got his PB (4.85kg’s) on Andre’s Point while fishing with me
ap04.jpg

 
Another mate got his first bass ever, and it was just over 4kg’s (I know, it can make you sick) on Andre’s Point while fishing with me.
ap05.jpg

 
‘Smithy’ got this monster just next to Andre’s Point in very deep water while fishing with me.
ap06.jpg

 
Another first time basser got this one on Andre’s while fishing with me.
ap07.jpg

 
I have also managed to get the odd fish (4.85kg’s) off Andre’s Point.
ap08.jpg

 
And at last years Inanda Bass Classic, ‘Mack’ McKenzie got the winning fish of 4.43kg’s on a weightless fluke in the shallows on Andre’s Point (just inside the bay).  Sorry, no photo.
So I guess the point is made, no pun intended, Andre’s Point is home to BIG fish.
 
But what makes Andre’s so special?  Let’s break it down.
 
  1. This is where Andre’s Point is in relation to the camp site.  The good news is that even if your main motor breaks down you could get here on your trolling motor pretty quick.
andre%20000.jpg

 
  1. It is very close to Ken’s Cliffs which means that there is deep water nearby.  These cliffs are 650m long and go down to nearly 130ft at its deepest point.
andre%20001.jpg

 
  1. This is the sediment chart for Andre’s Point.  The four main points of interest (POI), are as follows:-
    1. It has a very deep drop off to the West and SouthThe point seems to bend slightly to the North West as it enters the shorelineThere is an old dirt road coming in from the South East and goes all the way down to deep water.There is a channel running directly into the bay down the middle.
andre%20002.jpg

 
  1. From a visual perspective:- see video
    1. The bay starts on the southern tip of Diana’s Bay with some nice hard bottom, scattered small rocks and some standing timber in the deeper water.All around the bay there is very good weed / grass cover all the way in and around.There is a big tree stump sticking just out the water at the back of the bay in about 6ft of water.And the point itself is a big solid rocky outcrop.The water is relatively clean with a visibility of about 1.5m but has green algae in it at present.



I have sounded this area with Sonar Logging and using DrDepth, I have created accurate depth contours of Andre’s Point.

andre%20003.jpg

 
  1. DrDepth Bathymetry in 3D makes it a lot easier to identify POI’s.   see video
http://www.youtuv/atch?v=CqKAmwtVFqc&hl=en&fs=1">http://www.youtuv/atch?v=CqKAmwtVFqc&hl=en&fs=1" QUALITY="high" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" WIDTH="425" HEIGHT="344" TYPE="application/x-shockwave-flash" PLUGINSPAGE="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer">
 
  1. Using DrDepth I have converted this depth data to a Lowrance Chart Map, or LCM as it is more commonly referred to.  This allows me to follow very accurate contours of this entire area. 
andre%20004.jpg

 
  1. Using DrDepth’s SideScan edition I have created a mosaic overlay to show the finer detail, and then orbit the area in 3D.  Creating waypoints for this area are just as easy.  See video
http://www.youtuv/atch?v=BEfWf6ydfjo&hl=en&fs=1">http://www.youtuv/atch?v=BEfWf6ydfjo&hl=en&fs=1" QUALITY="high" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" WIDTH="425" HEIGHT="344" TYPE="application/x-shockwave-flash" PLUGINSPAGE="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer">
 
  1. And finally taking a screenshot of the DownScan and SideScan views of a pass from the main channel over to Andre’s Point itself shows a more realistic view of what is in this very unique area.  I have placed an outline of your average 6ft man in the DownScan image to show proportions a little better.
andre%20005.jpg
 
F

Fishton

Sealiner
Hi Hennie,

Here is a better shot that you can work with - do your magic!

The green lines are just there to show you what section of the SideScan ties up with the DownScan.

andre%20006.jpg
 
B

Bassassin

New member
Fishton wrote:

My son Connor got his first 3.9kg on Andre’s Point when he was only 5 years old.
 
Robert Howes also got his PB (4.85kg’s) on Andre’s Point while fishing with me

Another mate got his first bass ever, and it was just over 4kg’s (I know, it can make you sick) on Andre’s Point while fishing with me.

Another first time basser got this one on Andre’s while fishing with me.
 
I have also managed to get the odd fish (4.85kg’s) off Andre’s Point.
Click to expand...
Interesting post John, you certainly know your electronics, a question....how did you and your fellow anglers catch most of your fish, was it pitching, slow rolling a spinnerbait, drop shot, wacky rig? I know that I for one would be keen to hear and I'm sure I speak for many others as well.
 
F

Fishton

Sealiner
We target the deep structure and cover by trolling mainly with DD22's and DLN's by Norman Lures. We find that the Lavender Shad, Suicide and Bumble Bee work the best. Usually trolled at a distance of 180ft behind the boat and at speeds between 5 and 7 kph. Did you not see my article I wrote for SA Bass last year discussing the details of this technique?

Targeting these breaklines and points with key cover such as trees, takes a lot of 'underwater knowledge'. And that is where good electronics and many hours of studying recordings on your PC comes in. And that is pretty much how FishTec got started - A True Love for my Electronics.

As everyone knows, I am a terrible angler when it comes to targeting the shallows. The biggest fish I have caught on plastics in the shallows is only 3.1kg's.

While trolling we have caught and landed more than 40 bass over 4kg's, 5 over 5kg's and 1 over 6kg's. I must be SA's only Walleye fisherman, except that we don't have walleye - so bass will have to do. It is VERY exciting to watch a +5kg fish jump out the water 180ft behind the boat and you now have to reel all that line in. Very scary. ;)

I take my hat off to you and all the other bank anglers in respect of your true fishing skills.
 
B

Bassassin

New member
Fishton wrote:
We target the deep structure and cover by trolling mainly with DD22's and DLN's by Norman Lures. We find that the Lavender Shad, Suicide and Bumble Bee work the best. Usually trolled at a distance of 180ft behind the boat and at speeds between 5 and 7 kph. Did you not see my article I wrote for SA Bass last year discussing the details of this technique?

While trolling we have caught and landed more than 40 bass over 4kg's, 5 over 5kg's and 1 over 6kg's. I must be SA's only Walleye fisherman, except that we don't have walleye - so bass will have to do. It is VERY exciting to watch a +5kg fish jump out the water 180ft behind the boat and you now have to reel all that line in. Very scary. ;)
Click to expand...
Sorry, I probably missed the SA Bass article, I must have been looking at the stuff about accurate casting, slow presentation, identifying structure etc (which is probably the context in which I heard that you are an undisputed electronics expert):SSS

So I guess that most  of the US and some SA tournaments like BETT should not be banning this method of catching bass but encouraging it since it's so difficult:? I think maybe I should try it at the next SABAA Classic that I fish. Thanks for the info, it's really most insightful.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top