Sterkfontein Report

BigMatt

Sealiner
Hi folks..

went off to sterkies on friday the 3rd for a week. got back yesterday evening and sadly i have nothing to report. The weather touched the below zero mark a couple of times and was generally extremely cold for the week i was there. we had two days of sunshine where the wind managed to die down long enough to get out on my ski for a paddle and a looksy on the fishfinder. didn't get a single bump bite strike nibble jibble tinkle NOTHING!

i tried for yellows, carp, bass, barbel muddies all sorts and needless to say all was to no avail...

i threw spinners, spinner baits, chicken livers, dough baits, mielies, rapalas, worms, creature baits, poppers, crazy crawlers, bread, braai meat, minnows just about every lure i had there.

thats not to say i didnt enjoy the trip. being back in the free state was nice and cold weather is definately my preference. The dam itself is spectacular. we stayed at qwantani and only saw the bottom half of the dam which is still bigger than anything iv ever seen, let alone the fact that the water is crystal clear.

i got up in the pitch black most mornings to have a look and saw quite a few fish turning, barbel i would think, in the shallower water. i also saw quite a few fish break the surface quite violently, throwing water whilst out on my ski. the finder at one point went mad with a showing that looked as though we were bottom fishing. most of the fish were very small and seemed to school. every now and then i would notice a bigger lone ranger lurking around on the screen which i can only imagine to be a barbel.

i definately plan on going back in the warmer months to obtain a sense of closure on the blanking issue..

-on the road to qwantani-
 

Attachments

  • DSC00040_001.JPG
    DSC00040_001.JPG
    21.5 KB · Views: 222

BigMatt

Sealiner
9

the area had heavy heavy winds recently that did all sorts of damage, blowing trucks off van reenens pass and what not.

this jetty was destroyed. i dont know how considering its stainless steel
 

Attachments

  • DSC00058_001.JPG
    DSC00058_001.JPG
    43 KB · Views: 220

BigMatt

Sealiner
11

one of my last ditch efforts at trying to catch a carp or yellow....i ended up lying in a bush to get away from the wind waiting for something to take the bait...
 

Attachments

  • DSC00061_001.JPG
    DSC00061_001.JPG
    104.8 KB · Views: 219

BigMatt

Sealiner
i would love to have a picture of me holding a chunky yellowfish but that will have to wait...

next stop - Jozini!
 

MadCarper

Sealiner
bigmatt, sorry to hear you blanked man... but dont feel too bad about it. Winter is generally a mission and July is probably the worst/coldest month ! I doubt that it was barbel that you saw moving around as to my knowledge they stay pretty inactive during winter... especially with cold conditions like Sterkfontein... it was probably some big carp you saw on the finder, or a pocket of smaller fish (these sometimes turn up as a big fish on the finder...)

I'm sure you'll have better luck at Jozini though, as it does get as cold as Freestate there... Good luck!
 

OFC

Sealiner
sorry about your blanky Matt! next time bud !! :wfish

p.s - i liked your NinjaMatt pic with the catface on the "show your face" thread! :lol:1
 

Naruto

Sealiner
Great report. At least you got to stay at an amazing venue. I am sure you are going to nail them next time!
 
Top