The second leg of the 2020 Lowveld Bass Trail will see anglers head to Nooitgedacht Dam.

They will face multiple challenges, with new water, cooler weather and different bass behaviour than in the Lowveld.
Theoretically, fish will be going into the autumn feeding frenzy, but with the province’s sudden switch in climate, they may already be relocating to their winter hideouts.

Being a Highveld dam and scheduled annually in other bass trails, reports indicate that Nooitgedacht does have an abundant population of bass, prompting anglers to look forward to the event.

The dam has not seen water levels as low as some of the other LBT venues, offering the fish a more stable environment. Water levels rose during the last quarter of 2019, from 85 per cent to the current level of 100,7 per cent.

Launching, weigh-in and prize-giving will be held at the Komati Yacht Club from 06:00 to 15:00. Registration will open at 05:00.

The captains’ meeting will be at 05:45 at the registration tent. All anglers must ensure that they are present at the captains’ meeting, so that everyone is familiar with the LBT rules.

All boats are required to have a boating permit, obtainable from building D26 at the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency, located next to the Halls Farm Stall on the N4 outside Mbombela, or any other MPTA office. The cost of the permit is R50 per boat.

They will also be available at the venue, but to avoid delays, teams are asked to please obtain a boat permit beforehand to speed up entry to the launching facilities.

These will be valid for one year and will also be required for the two Driekoppies Dam events later this year.

Restricted areas
Please take note that certain sections of the dam are restricted, and no fishing activities shall take place there.
The sections are clearly marked with buoys and will be specified and discussed during the skippers’ briefing on the morning of the event. Any team found entering these areas will be disqualified on the day of the competition.

Entry fees
The entry fees to Komati Yacht Club will be R40 per person and R150 per boat. These are compulsory for all anglers. The entry fee for the Nooitgedacht LBT event will be R500 per team.

Overnight accommodation
Please note that the R40 counts as a day fee for the yacht club. This includes one night free camping at the waterfront campsite. Contact André for further information on
082-893-0636

Skipper’s licences
The skipper of the vessel will be required to have a skipper’s licence, which may be requested by the nature conservation officials.

Launching process
Aglers must make sure their boats are ready to launch before entering the launch queue. This includes boat plugs in, boat straps off, covers off, and so on.
LBT committee members will instigate the launching process and direct all traffic accordingly. With the high water levels, launching is relatively easy.

Pre-fishing
Please take note that the LBT rules state that no pre-fishing is allowed five days in advance of any regular scheduled event. Pre-fishing is not only limited to lines in the water, but also includes scouting fishing locations and graphing lake contours. Any team found contravening this rule will be disqualified from the event.