Hi guys! I need a bit of help/advice/insight. We

[Spik01]

Hi guys!
I need a bit of help/advice/insight.
Went with two friends to Potch dam on Saturday, from 5am to 6pm, packed up because it started raining heavily, or else I would've stayed longer.

Between 7 rods we didn't get one single bite during the whole day! There was about 20 guys on the bank and none of them got anything.

Tried between 15 and twenty dips in all combinations, floaties, sweet white dough, brown bread, flavoured bread and dough, all flavours of mielies, snails, earthworms but nothing.

It was a clear, sunny, warm morning with a bit of wind, afternoon was overcast, with strong wind every now and then.
Water is very, very clear, you can see the bottom 1.5m deep. There is a lot of grass, but no other structures. Angling depth was about 2.5m.

Talk to a few Potch guys about it yesterday,everybody tells me you only catch fish in the evening and night.

So yesterday after work I went for a quickie, sat there from 5:30, not one single bite.
Decided to pack up at eight, at 7:50pm, just when it was completely dark, my reel went screaming, caught a 6.5kg Carp on earth worms dipped in Duiwelsdrek. Couldn't continue because it started raining again.

Now what I would like to know is why don't the fish bite during the day? Were we (and the 20 other guys) just unlucky?  Is it because of the clear water? Or something else? And what rigs/bait/dips etc. can I use to catch something during the day?

Thank you in advance!

 

[ignatius]

Night fishing is the best. Why? I Dont know.
The guys also use a lot of feed.
There are good anglers in Potch, maybe you must talk to the local tackle shops.
Hopefully one of the regulars will see your post tomorrow morning.
Good luck

 

[Spik01]

Thank you!
It was the guys at both tackle shops in Potch that told me you only catch at night.

 

[LeonK]

If I may add my 2c

the dam is known for heavy parties and noise during the day. not only that, there is a lot of movement during the day with people playing and walking up and down on the bank. along with the clear water, this is a good enough reason for the fish to go deeper. hence why they bite better at night. less movement, less noise so they will come closer to search for food.

 

[Brakkanjan]

Artikels wat ek in die verlede gelees het, het meeste van die tyd perdeby, fx en swwetcorn gebruik by die dam. Dit was ook Karphengel en nie konvensionele hengel soos ons manne nie. Miskien werk daardie geure.....

 

[Spik01]

Dankie almal vir julle insette. Rampokker, by die visvang oewer(inloop van die dam) is daar nie regtig mense of geraas nie, dis meer aan die kamp-,dagbesoeker-,en boot oewer se kant.

Dink jy dit kan invloed he op die visse by die visvang oewer ook, sal dit nie juis al die visse na die inloop toe verdryf nie, waar ek vir hulle wag en kan vang nie.

 

[ASG]

Spik01,

We used to murder the carp & muddies in Potch dam off that little island on the picnic side during the day. Used SWD dipped in condensed milk with lots of red floro.
My best ever fishing rod is still lying at the bottom of that dam. Big fish... Slow angler!

Haven't been there for a long time though so maybe things have changed.

Seeing as you live in Potch... How's the fishing at Boskop and your side of the Vaal river these days?

 

[Spik01]

Hi ASG, thanx for the input!

Caught my PB Carp(6.5kg) at the Vaal River, a week before the floods. And about 13 other fish, one of which was a nice muddie, from Saturday morning till Sunday morning.

Haven't been there since, but planning to go this weekend, will let you know. Luckily the floods washed most of the hiacinth away!

My friend was there this past weekend,they caught about 8 barbels (4-6kg) and decent sized muddies.

Boskopdam is heaven for the bass guys, the water is unbelievably clear, there is A LOT of grass and structures, which make it a bit of a nightmare for us bankanglers. At the 'inloop' there is a stretch of bank that most guys use. I've been in Potch for 5 years now, but with the Vaal just 20km away,and Potch dam just 2km away I've never fished there.

If you want more information, I can ask around at the tackle shops?

Cheers!

 

[ASG]

Pity about all the grass in Boskop. There are BIG carp and yellowfish in that dam.

I'll certainly make a plan to fish the Vaal down that way. Any suggestions on nice little resorts we can look at?

 

[Spik01]

Limeriek Lodge and Raaswater Lodge. If you drive from Potch to Viljoenskroon, its about 20km to the river. Raaswater is 3km on the right hand side, just before the bridge, Limeriek is 200m on the left hand side, just after the bridge. Both have chalets and nice facilities.
Just find out how their banks look like at the moment, the place that I always go to,(friends river house near Limeriek) had nice kikijoe grass, its all been washed away.

 

[ASG]

There's been a lot of damage to riverside properties with the recent rains. We booked a few days at Goose Bay Canyon at the end of Feb. but due to flood damage, we've had to find another fishing venue. So, we're off to fish in the Olifants river near Loskop next weekend.

 

[LeonK]

Spik sorry for the late reply.

My logic tells me that when you fish a noisy dam, all fish will behave the same. In this case the fish are very very shy during the day.
I would still fish Potch Dam during the night.

 

[Spik01]

yes, that make sense, thank you Rampokker, I'm going there again this afternoon from five. Will keep you updated.