Renosterkop madness

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Clint D

New member
We took a trip to Renosterkop this weekend and spent friday night camping at the launch area. The bite wasn't as crazy as 2 weeks ago but the fishing was still great. We caught about 60 fish between 3 of us. Most success was with curly tails and white spinnerbaits.

My only concern is the amount of fish that people are taking out. Why do you need to take 30+ fish ?  We hooked 2 fish (out of about 60) badly that we had to keep and gave it to the guy who was looking after our camp etc.

There needs to be some sort of quota system in place to keep this dam in good condition. Its one of the few good bass angling venues within driving distance from Johannesburg and Pretoria, so its expectantly under lots of pressure. If you see someone taking loads of fish then have a word with them and try get the message across that this will most definitely deplete the bass stocks in Renosterkop.

  
 
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EBEE ALI

New member
well theres the same probelem everywhere you go.too many people thinking with their stomachs.since bass are invasive i dont think there is a quota system or that one will even be implemented.
My advice find yourself a dam thats out of the way or private and keep it a secret.
 
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Jake1

Senior Member
Renosterkop is totally overstocked, If evryone take out all the fish they get for a year the dam will maybe be balanced, and just think how big the bass will become.
 
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AYOBA!

Sealiner
Jake1 wrote:
Renosterkop is totally overstocked, If evryone take out all the fish they get for a year the dam will maybe be balanced, and just think how big the bass will become.
Click to expand...
I agree, only release 2kg plus
 
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Clint D

New member
Say there are about 30 boats a day on the weekend taking 40 fish each (realistic catch between 2 anglers). That's almost 2500 fish over a 2 day period and a staggering 10 000 fish in a month . Plus its over the spawn period so a lot of the big fish are being caught. I hardly think this type of fishing will result in a dam full of big bass.

Take Rust de Winter for example. That used to be an amazing dam for bass angling but now you will be lucky to catch 10 fish in a day. This is partly due to drop in water levels etc. but over fishing is definitely a big contributor.

Taking 2 or 3 fish a day is not a problem but I'm talking about keep nets FULL of fish. This is on top of all the fish being caught in the long illegal gill nets in the dam.
 
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Jake1

Senior Member
Yes what I think will work better if you release all bass above 2kg or 2,5kg and killll/eat/donate the rest!

If everyone can do this we will have our own Lake Mteri.
 
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bassbug

New member
Difficult one, every one has valid points and views, and I couldn't argue but only time could tell. Here is another scenario, less bass means less nest , lots of talapia who hamper the nest, no new stock. Big bass becomes to clever for lure and a short life span, reminds me of harties. Then mr. Takeaways doesn't stop. Eish I need a beer!
 
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Ant01

New member
HI Clint D.

Well done on you weekends fishing!!!Post some pics.:fishn

We are going there this weekend. What depth worked well? Shallows for spawn?

Midday deep 10-15Ft?

 

Regards
 
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Clint D

New member
Hey Ant01,

We got most of our fish midday in 2.5m of water in the grass. Pitching into the channels with curly tails and slow retrieving. There was quite a bit of action with the spinnerbaits and frogs in the morning in the shallows but the fish are somewhat smaller.

Tight lines!
 
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waterdog

New member
Ant u can get fish all over that dam it is full up !! I found for bigger fish go down the main dam past the island and drive on the right until you find a big cove watch up for weed in the deep water that cloges ur prop. About 100m from the bank u will find a lot of trees in about 5 m or water we had good success here with spinnerbait and dead ringers. U can also go around the cove whichs and u will see the shallow weed area of the dam fish the entire edge but look out for the resident hippo. U can also fish the weedbeed at the inlet but its a pain getting out again. Good luck
 
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Clint D

New member
Hey Ant01,

I see you from Witbank. Hows the fishing there these days? We've caught good size fish there in the past in the gorge.
 
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Ant01

New member
Hi,

Fishing i must say has picked up un the last year, if you compare it to 3 years back.

We were in the top 5 in a the cast for cash 2 years ago with a bag limit of 1.7 Kg. I see the winning bag July this year was 5.58 kg and fifth bag was 4.64 kg. And we caught our first 2kg in may this year at Witbank.

Only concern is that the dam did not open the sluice gates last summer, and were forced to let through some water during this winter for the farmers downstream. Hence the dam has dropped considerably- and with no decent flush of the system and raw sewage being pumped in, i think witbank dam is in for a rough time.

Regards

Anthony
 
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waterdog

New member
Howzit - I cant get the damn co ords of my old garmin - I placed markers on a map for you - send me your email address and ill send it over.. Also I see arbie spilts into two at the river section which one do you guys go up??
 
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Ant01

New member
HI,
@waterdog:

abamford0@gmail.com

Up the olifants, if i recall the other river is the elands.

Regards
 
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