Hi has anyone fished Oppiekoppie just outside

Raggieman

Senior Member
Hi

has anyone fished Oppiekoppie just outside Brits recently

what was it like

size of the fish

 

I am thinking of going there sometime shortly and want to hear if it is worth while

 
 
Raggie

Fished it once, and the water was brown muddy then, but we managed to get fish late the afternoon to the SW of the haaaaasie island, i haven't been there since they apparently dug new dams, also perhaps if you are going, the lures we found most productive was Fat albert grubs in watermelon pepper.........

:f1shy
 

Raggieman

Senior Member
Hi planning on going saterday - doing the family thing - braai picnic basket and the kiddies - I hear there is kurper so that should keep them busy
 
Yeah there's some Kurper too, the bass we caught there also seemed to stick to structure quite a lot so, if you get two dead tree trunks about 1m appart, cast over and drag it in between, sooner than later, you be hooking LGF's, not monsters but good fun....  All the best and enjoy the outing, very hospitible owners and a nice venue in all, just a wee bit far to drive (personaly speaking).

:f1shy
 

Raggieman

Senior Member
Hi Guys
Went on Saturday with the family - very very nice Pieter

Fishing was a bit funny - there were schools of bass just below the surface lazying about - size 15 -20cm threw everything at them excluding the kitchen sink no luck - they would move away and then regroup

got out the fly rod and managed one baby on a popper

the dam has a lot of potential only being two years since they opened and stocked the dams - saw plenty of baby fish

but very puzzling is the schooling behavior of the bass - just like Kurper on hot summer days
 

BigBass

Sealiner
Hi Raggieman

Bass in that size range and up to about 30cm do tend to "school" in groups of about 6 - 12 of similarly sized fish.

Even really big Bass (4kg plus) sometimes move around crusiing in "packs' of 2 - 4 fish, usually at pre- and post spawn times.

Quite amazing when you see a "pack" like this appearing seemingly out of nowhere and following your lure ... When they are in this mode and you see them, they have probably seen you as well and I doubt they will take the lure. Saw this happen as far afield as in a quarry in Mafikeng, North-West to San Pablo Reservoir in California ...

Check out: http://www.BigBass.co.za
 
Raggieman

Now here's my 2bob on that phenomenon, and perhaps you have tried it, but just for the sake of other's I'll still give my take on what could've changed then into striking.

I've been in similar situations before (schooling small bass that are interested but not all that much to strike) and two things worked very well. 

1.  A soft plastic bait (the right colour of course, BTW Klein paradys would be a pumpkin pepper fat albert grub), that can be retrieved through the water very very slowly but still with enough movement and vibration to stupify them lgf's with anger and strike without thinking.

2.  A jerkbait (i.e. Rapala, strike pro, etc) minnow shaped (colour sometimes here aren't all that important) that you move through the water with short but furious little jerks and then let it rest for a second or two and apply another jerk or set of jerks and pause again.  This is such an effective technique for me that I normally use it first and sometimes the longest when fishing (normally) tough waters.

Like I said, perhaps you have tried it and it didn't work still, but I just wanted to shed some light on two possible remedies that I stumbled accross for the other members that might face similar situations in future. 

:f1shy
 
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