NSCL season opens at Klaserie Dam with big catches
The NSCL’s 2026 season launched at Klaserie Dam with 39 anglers, standout 57cm and 56cm fish, and strong support from new sponsors.
HOEDSPRUIT – The Northern Small Craft League (NSCL) officially kicked off its 2026 season on November 8, at Klaserie Dam, and what a start it was.
Excitement ran high among committee members as the event saw a surge of new interest, with several anglers keen to join the league’s growing community. A remarkable 39 anglers registered for the opener, travelling from all over Limpopo, some covering hundreds of kilometres, to take part in the competition.
According to Derick de Bruyn of the NSCL, fishing conditions at Klaserie Dam are currently exceptional, and it showed. Most anglers managed to reach their five-fish limit, with some reporting full bags within the first 30 minutes of competition time.
Catching the bigger fish, however, required real persistence and skill. Early in the morning, Logan van Zyl landed a true Klaserie giant measuring 57cm, securing both an early lead and the overall first place for the day. As the competition progressed, several anglers managed to improve their catches little by little, but it was Du Rand Viljoen who made the most impressive late-day upgrade, a 56cm fish that pushed him into second place overall. Gerhard Oosthuizen had a strong finish, bringing in several quality fish to claim third place.
The women put in an excellent showing, with three women competing. Tanya Nel led the pack, earning the top spot among the female anglers.
By the end of the day, 31 out of 39 anglers landed full five-fish bags, an outstanding result for the league and a promising start to the season.
The committee announced several new sponsorships for the 2026 season. The league expressed sincere gratitude to all sponsors, both new and long-standing, for their continued support.
“Without our sponsors, this wouldn’t be possible. Thank you for helping us grow our league,” said De Bruyn.
