Author Topic: WK's Vaal Dam Diaries... (Read 60444 times)

WalkersKiller · « **Reply #40 on:** January 21, 2015, 01:48:33 PM »

Quote from: Wynand13 on January 21, 2015, 01:39:49 PM

When you catch some Silver Carp them......

Of course! Even Grass Carp

Wynand13 · « **Reply #41 on:** January 21, 2015, 01:52:07 PM »

We have to get the word out that grass and silver carp have better healing capabilities than rhino horn and lion bones combined..

WalkersKiller · « **Reply #42 on:** January 21, 2015, 01:56:33 PM »

Quote from: Wynand13 on January 21, 2015, 01:52:07 PM

We have to get the word out that grass and silver carp have better healing capabilities than rhino horn and lion bones combined..

Now that would be a plan!

Zetti · « **Reply #43 on:** January 21, 2015, 02:01:31 PM »

Since when are there silver carp in the Vaaldam? Are these the ones that multiply by the minute?

WalkersKiller · « **Reply #44 on:** January 21, 2015, 02:03:37 PM »

Quote from: Zetti on January 21, 2015, 02:01:31 PM

Since when are there silver carp in the Vaaldam? Are these the ones that multiply by the minute?

Yip, those Asian Carp.

Wynand knows a lot about them...

Zetti · « **Reply #45 on:** January 21, 2015, 02:08:31 PM »

Eish, have seen some shows on TV about these buggers, once they get going nothing stops their numbers from exploding.

Wynand13 · « **Reply #46 on:** January 23, 2015, 10:43:45 AM »

The sad reality is that a lot of alien species have invaded our waters, trout is the only one that is not a real problem as most of our rivers is just to hot and they cant survive, carp and bass however is causing serious issues with our yellows.

WalkersKiller · « **Reply #47 on:** January 27, 2015, 10:12:16 AM »

January 2015

Lines in 9:10

Stand 61 - Tago

We were back at Tago, first time in nearly 2 years, and we were keen to get some fish.We unpacked the tent, set up everything and then it was fishing time. The Grass Carp were the first fish to show up, all good sizes, between 2 and 4kgs and all were caught on Vanilla mealies with Vaal Dam supercast mixed with mealies and large floaties to give it some flavour and extra particles. We were getting a Grass Carp every 5 minutes or so, bite tempo was crazy!

The first Common Carp came out at 11.30, and after about 4 hours our feeding spot was full up with fish and it stayed that way the entire trip.

Later that night there was a Barbel frenzy and the guys managed 10 Barbel in 4 hours, all on chicken heart and all Barbel between 2 and 12 kilograms.

I tried various baits and dips because the fish were so thick, and my comments can be seen below on what worked.
I also managed my personal best Barbel of 11 kilograms, a fish I have searching for, for as long as I can remember! All in all it was an amazing trip, and I cannot wait to go back...

Trip Summary

Grass Carp x24 (Biggest 4kgs)
Common Carp x27 (Biggest 3.3kgs)
Mirror Carp x7 (Biggest 1kg)
Barbel x38 (Biggest 12kgs)
Mudfish x2 (10cms)

5 Species, 98 fish...

Barbel Baits That Worked: Full carp, grass carp head, chicken heart, ox heart.

Carp Baits That Worked: Vanilla Mealies, Plain Dough, Banana Dough, Plain Floaties, Honey Floaties, Earthworms.
Carp Dips That Worked: Tjop Tjop, Banana Spec, Honey Glow, Banjo.

gavin erwin · « **Reply #48 on:** January 27, 2015, 12:25:29 PM »

An awesome weekend was had by all

Wynand13 · « **Reply #49 on:** January 27, 2015, 05:41:54 PM »

Where is the release pics of the grass carp.

WalkersKiller · « **Reply #50 on:** January 27, 2015, 06:45:02 PM »

Quote from: Wynand13 on January 27, 2015, 05:41:54 PM

Where is the release pics of the grass carp.

none of that happened!

Weedeater · « **Reply #51 on:** January 28, 2015, 08:12:15 AM »

Well done lads!
Has anyone tried a live grass carp/muddie etc for big barbel? Do you guys use circle hooks to catch barbel?

gavin erwin · « **Reply #52 on:** January 28, 2015, 08:20:29 AM »

We use whole carp and carp heads for the big boys but sometimes the big boys are nailing the ox heart, just need to put a few different baits out to see whats working. We use 500g-1kg carp so the circle hook is placed in the tip of the lip followed by another big hook further down the body.

Shaun17 · « **Reply #53 on:** January 28, 2015, 08:24:28 AM »

Magic stuff chaps, some awesome catches there!!

WalkersKiller · « **Reply #54 on:** January 28, 2015, 08:31:28 AM »

Never tried anything live so far...

Weedeater · « **Reply #55 on:** January 28, 2015, 08:32:39 AM »

Quote from: gavin erwin on January 28, 2015, 08:20:29 AM

We use whole carp and carp heads for the big boys but sometimes the big boys are nailing the ox heart, just need to put a few different baits out to see whats working. We use 500g-1kg carp so the circle hook is placed in the tip of the lip followed by another big hook further down the body.

Ah ha! Thanks Gavin. So no live bait yet? I've used heads from dead yellows (died in keep net) as well as muddies and that worked very well for big barbel. My biggest was in the 16kg region at Tago.

gavin erwin · « **Reply #56 on:** January 28, 2015, 08:37:50 AM »

Quote from: Weedeater on January 28, 2015, 08:32:39 AM

Quote from: gavin erwin on January 28, 2015, 08:20:29 AM
We use whole carp and carp heads for the big boys but sometimes the big boys are nailing the ox heart, just need to put a few different baits out to see whats working. We use 500g-1kg carp so the circle hook is placed in the tip of the lip followed by another big hook further down the body.

Ah ha! Thanks Gavin. So no live bait yet? I've used heads from dead yellows (died in keep net) as well as muddies and that worked very well for big barbel. My biggest was in the 16kg region at Tago.

There are some monsters in the vaal that's why I keep going back

I've used live bait before but it doesn't seem to be as effective. We did however go out on the canoes and did a bit of calling, we managed 4 barbel in an hour...awesome fun!!!

Weedeater · « **Reply #57 on:** January 28, 2015, 08:45:25 AM »

Quote from: gavin erwin on January 28, 2015, 08:37:50 AM

Quote from: Weedeater on January 28, 2015, 08:32:39 AM
Quote from: gavin erwin on January 28, 2015, 08:20:29 AM
We use whole carp and carp heads for the big boys but sometimes the big boys are nailing the ox heart, just need to put a few different baits out to see whats working. We use 500g-1kg carp so the circle hook is placed in the tip of the lip followed by another big hook further down the body.

Ah ha! Thanks Gavin. So no live bait yet? I've used heads from dead yellows (died in keep net) as well as muddies and that worked very well for big barbel. My biggest was in the 16kg region at Tago.
There are some monsters in the vaal that's why I keep going back I've used live bait before but it doesn't seem to be as effective. We did however go out on the canoes and did a bit of calling, we managed 4 barbel in an hour...awesome fun!!!

That's kinda what I thought. Never heard of anyone catching barbel in the Vaal dam on live bait. dead, big, fleshy baits seem to work well. Have heard stories of guys nailing barbel in Vaal river neat Parys on sards... Apparently the oil from the sards attracts barbel from all over... tried it in the dam and it didn't work. Maybe worth a try again?

gavin erwin · « **Reply #58 on:** January 28, 2015, 09:15:48 AM »

WK has tried everything in the book ask him about sards

Weedeater · « **Reply #59 on:** January 28, 2015, 09:17:01 AM »

Quote from: gavin erwin on January 28, 2015, 09:15:48 AM

WK has tried everything in the book ask him about sards

Will do! Snake worms (those massive earth worms) used to work VERY well for large mirror carp in that area. Have you tried them?