Hi Guys
My son and I went fishing at UJ/Island shores on Friday and Saturday for his 8th birthday (mom and sis would arrive on saturday)
The fishing off the boat was very slow on friday afternoon but from the bank early evening the tempo was crazy around every ten minutes you either had a muddy,carp or small barbel from 500 grams to about a kilo on the line until 8 pm when we went to bed , had a hectic week
We launched from island shores on Saturday at around 5.15 and went across to the island and anchored up near the shore line. I had bought Jayden some new boat rods and he wanted desperately to catch his first barbel.
We put out platties, day old chicks and worms on circle hooks on a simple sliding sinker trace and we waited. One bite on the "chick" and fish on result one barbel of around four kilos.
We the started seeing as it started warming up the the fish started to feed and turn in the shallows literally in knee deep water so we moved in closer.
The barbel were definatelly spawning as well and just about climbing out the water but the carp were using the newly flooded grass areas to feed.
I jumped off the boat and was able to actually scoop some carp and the smaller barbel with a net (Fun for the first couple of fish then decided it not sporting)
We put out platties closer to the edge and then all hell broke loose, we had three rods out and averaged around six barbel per platty before it was lost and had to put a new one. Day old chicks were untouched wether you put them out skinned, whole , pieces not one bite
The barbel size guesstimates (left scale at home)was from 3kg to around 10kg's and we caught around 25 , only had six platties
Carp we caught on FX floaties a small sweet dough backing on a sliding baby shoes trace with plain mielie bomb that helped to avoid snagging in the grass all were around the three kilo mark probably about 20 fish
Total fishing time at that spot about 4 hours , I think that saturday the fish came on the feed due to the weather being better and also new areas to feed
My son's best birthday yet confirmed by him and the best was seeing him burning with a barbel of around eight kilos and him waking up yesterday with sore muscles from the fishing. I will post photos tonight once downloaded
