VEREENIGING. – The Big Bass Challenge, a tournament level of Major League Fishing (MLF) South Africa, held a big fish tournament on the Vaal River from 10 to 12 September.

Unlike traditional bass fishing tournaments where anglers weigh in five bass at the end of the day, the Big Bass Challenge provides amateur anglers from all skill levels the opportunity to win big cash prizes.

Fishing was from boats only and each team may consist of maximum two people on a boat. Each team was allowed to weigh up to three fish individually although only the heaviest fish for the day would count. The winning bag was determined by the team who had the combined heaviest weight over two days.

Anglers came from all over to enter the tournament hosted by Riviera on Vaal, who delivered excellent service, treating the anglers and their families with bed, breakfast and dinner. On top of that, the contents of the boat packs provided by the hotel were of extraordinary good quality.

The weather over the two days was great! Anglers experienced clear skies with a light wind and little water traffic on the river making it ideal to fish a tournament. However, day break on day two was surprisingly cold with some frost on the golf course next to the water.

The Big Bass Challenge was won by Team DST Megabass; Barry & Kyle Grove whose total bag weight over two days was 4.045kg. On day one they managed to land a fish of 1.560kg and followed it up on day with a fish of 2.485kg. Their winning pattern was fishing white Megabass jerkbaits in 10 to 15ft water. They went down to the Barrage area and also focused on rocky areas and walls. The afternoon byte proofed to be better for them.

Their first prize winnings included R26 000 cash plus an accommodation voucher from Riviera on Vaal, valued at R5 000, plus customised fishing shirts and soft plastic lures from Culprit Lures South Africa.

The leaders of day one, Team ShaunJohnFishing.com were only 60 gram behind the first place winners with a total bag weight of 3.985kg. Their bag on day one was 2.775kg and on day two their heaviest fish weighed 1.210kg. They also targeted rocky areas and were casting Green Pumpkin coloured soft plastic Speed Craws on a Texas rig. They found their winning fish between 10 to 12 ft of water, also in the afternoon.

The top five places were:

1st: 4.045kg – Team DST Megabass; Barry & Kyle Grove won R26 000.

2nd: 3.985kg – ShaunJohnFishing.com; Shaun John & Reinhardt Vermaak won R7 000.

3rd: 3.430kg – Team DST; Peet van der Schyff & Christian Caliosiz won R5 000.

4th: 3.425kg – Team Siyabusa; Norval Feuth & Damon Nell.

5th: 2.415kg – Team MegaBite; Lourens Joubert.

The Big Bass Challenge tournament was sponsored by Riviera on Vaal, Culprit Lures South Africa, Big Fish Gear, Vibez Live online radio and SA Bass magazine.

***************************************************************************************************************************