Carp not biting in Vaal River

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BrycePieterse

New member
Hi,
We were at Sunnyside Farm this weekend on the Vaal River need Parys. Between 8 of us, we only caught 1 carp of 3.8kg (we normally catch over 100 fish for the weekend). We gave it everything we had, but they just were not biting. We saw alot of activity in the water, carp were rising and jumping. We measured the depth, and the deepest we found was 1.8 meters (sonar on bait boat) but majority of the water was between 0.8m and 1m. Could it be that the fish have started spawning, or is there an issue with the barometric pressure? Would like to understand why we did not catch. Thanks
 
D

D5

Senior Member
Further down the Vaal river pass Bothaville,  Saturday was a good fishing day with several carp and few good sized barbel ( one fisherman)
Sunday wind was strong and only two barbel while no trace of carp.
It all matters from place to place and if carp is there . Also cow block was dropped on Friday and that maybe brought all the carp that was caught on Sat.

Weekend before was bit worse - less fish . Fish caught only between  13h & 16h .  With similar story on Sunday - no carp  ,  wind changed direction - can only guess that carp is very sensitive on weather change.
 
 
D

D5

Senior Member
Hi Bruce

It is a cow licking block that weighs 20 kg
It is consistent of molasses salt and minerals.
At Midfeeds - Midrand - not far from Centurion  , you ask for one that cost R 138.00
 You have to have kayak to drop it off as it weighs 20 kg
It slowly resales salt and molasses and for sure attracts the fish  - proven.

To cut it in smaller pieces is very hard , I tried :  with hand saw - that did not work as saw get stuck , then with hammer and chisel - got blisters , then with axe did it with lot of sweat.
 
E

Enigma

Moderator
Small cold front with pressure changes coupled with extensive spawning activity of the Carp all over are most certainly the key contributors to all the generally poor fishing this weekend.
 
H

Houtarm

Moderator
Hi guys, I work with animal feeds, I would not suggest chucking cow licks into rivers or dams to attract fish. Depending on the lick it could be very concentrated in certain minerals and also urea. I don't know if it is toxic to fish, but can't think its good for the environment. Some cattle licks are meant to be fed at 250-500 grams a cow per day, so 20kg is a lot of minerals to be dumping in the food chain. Sorry if I don't have my facts straight, just something to think about.
 
F

Fishpaste

Sealiner
Vaalriver can be very temperamental and sunnyside I have fished before...it is not a great venue as the water is just too shallow and riddled with thousands of snags.
 
D

delwynv

Member
with those cow lick blocks --

dont buy the ones with UREA/UREUM in them
those are harmfull and toxic when disolved with water
there are those lick blocks that dont contain UREA
its usually if you ask for the "game block"

haha trying to cut those things is a mission!!!
 
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