Months of hard work and anticipation, culminated in the biggest fishing competition ever to hit Driekoppies Dam this past weekend.

With Driekoppies R100K Bonanza that hung in the balance up until very recently, there was a sense of relief overshadowed by an overwhelming sense of excitement as the anglers approached their boats. With the sounds from a marimba band echoing over the dam, one could not help but feel as if a crowd of thousands cheered the anglers on as they were about to start.

It was always going to be challenging with R100 000 up for grabs and 30 teams having the same goal in mind. But with the Lowveld sometimes boasting four seasons in one day, the week prior to the event produced a frontal system passing over the dam. It lifted on the Friday and presented the teams with post-frontal conditions on both days of competition.

ALSO READ: Leopard Creek’s ‘Big 5’ champions return

Accompanying the less favourable weather, extreme heat and abundant cover, the teams were in for a rough two days on the water trying to put together that winning bag. Recent rain led to the dam water levels rising to 68,8 per cent. Compared to the 2019 water level of 63,9 per cent the dam presented the anglers with new challenges in the abundance of grass and aquatic vegetation. Bait fish populations are flourishing and the extreme heat during practice sessions a week earlier proved that it would be extremely difficult to find the fish in the abundant vegetation. Water temperatures ranged in between 26 and 30 degrees with ambient temperatures reaching well above the 40 mark during pre-fishing expeditions.

Day one proved the predictions correct with only two teams weighing in fish and the bag weights were vastly distributed as the day ended. Day one leaders, Justy Varkevisser and Reed Eastman, managed a very impressive bag of 8,965 kilograms followed closely by Lowveld angling legends, Charl Carey and Hannes van Wyk of DST Lowveld with 8,63.

The weights dropped off quickly with 10th overall only weighing in 3,87 kilograms. The teams were still in high hopes as everyone knew big jumps on the leader board were possible on the second day in such tough conditions.

ALSO READ: Covid-19 uncertainty clouds Phakisa Pumas/Vodacom Bulls clash

It, however, turned out to be one of the more difficult days of fishing that the teams have had with even higher temperatures and having to work hard covering all the available cover. Although many teams managed to find a limit of fish, the size was lacking, and many of them struggled to break the two-kilogram mark for their day-two bags.

All three leading teams struggled with DST team Barry Grove and Hennie du Preez managing a respectable 5,065 kilograms that jumped them to second overall. Kyle Grove and Frans Swanepoel had a day of redemption after their 2,905-kilogram day-one bag by producing a stunning 8,03 kilogram bag on day two that jumped them all the way up into fourth overall.

The biggest fish of the tournament belonged to Mohammed Patel which was caught early on day one – a true Driekoppies Dam 3,5-kilogram special.

What makes this even more impressive is that Patel and his partner, Steven Quinn, did not have the opportunity to pre-fish.
Although with a wealth of experience and knowledge on marine electronics, they had a game plan, eyeing a few locations with one catching their attention – a huge anthill in the eSwatini section.

Stopping on this spot first proved to be the right call. Both Patel and Quinn missed a bite on the same spot and paying closer attention to the third attempt and setting the hook as soon as possible resulted in an exhilarating two-minute battle.
Patel used a 3/16oz Texas-rigged Green Pumpkin Zoom Speed Craw that clinched him the day one and overall biggest fish and a total prize pool of R20 000.