Kickboat Bass Classic

Bass fishing competitions for inflatable and non motorised bass boats. The first official “Kickboat Bass Classic” and for the competitors and organizers it was a day full excitement and anticipation.

Friday the 27th February 2009 was no ordinary day, it was the day before the first official “Kickboat Bass Classic” and for the competitors and organizers it was a day full excitement and anticipation. Competitors getting in some last minute shopping at their favourite tackle store, looking for the key to getting some big fish, organisers (Sean and Hugo) with phones glued to their ears making last minute arrangements with sponsors and competitors alike. Most anglers had been online at www.bassing.co.za discussing the event and tactics needed on the day, however for a lot of people this was the first exposure they were having to competitive fishing. Even for the experienced anglers the format was fresh, innovative and exciting. For those that were not lucky enough to take the day off work for last minute preparations or to meet up at the dam the day before, must of experienced all time lows in productivity as everyone involved had a one track mind about catching the winning bag.

The chosen venue for this first epic competition was Murray Park, also know as Presidents Dam in Springs on the East Rand of Gauteng. This was the perfect sized venue for the expected 20 – 40 anglers who were expected to take part. A number of people arrived at the Dam on Friday and had a few short hours of practice before setting up for the following day. Murray Park is renowned for either being on fire as far as fishing is concerned or being total what would seem void of any signs of bass. The few hours of practice proved that although the fish were active the conditions the following day were going to be tough. Especially as the grass in the dam had grown to such proportions that certain areas were totally inaccessible and many parts of the dam were on the verge of being choked.

5AM Saturday morning 28th Feb. and the registration gazebo and table was set up and ready for business. Not a moment to soon, as people were already scurrying around, filling in registration forms as more and more cars arrived. By 6:30AM 29 anglers had registered and were ready to take their plans and ideas to the water. However as with all competitions the anglers now anxious to start had to listen to the competition briefing explaining the rules and format for the day.

All craft was in the water waiting for 7AM and much like a boat competition most people had sneaked as far as they legally could within the rules to try and gain a few meters advantage. 7AM arrived and spot on time everyone started paddling in every direction. Obviously everyone had there own ideas on what was going to work on the day and exactly where it was going to work. There were tubes traveling North, South, East and West. Some stopped and fished the closest bit of grass line whilst others paddled on to the furthest corners of the dam.

The weather report was very ominous for the day and the light shower and overcast skies proved that the weather man might have it right this time. However the weather seemed to behave for most of the fishing day with mostly overcast conditions with a few patches of sun and a few scattered light showers.

From the beginning it was apparent that the fish were on the bite, although there was a distinct lack of the large and medium sized keepers everyone sought after and many fish were returned without being introduced to the scale or posing for a camera. It seemed that that most fish were between the 150g – 600g mark. Now not only was this a game of skill and knowledge but one had to be a tactician and strategically plan what fish to weigh and what ones to release without having the weight recorded. The rules were quite clear and you were only allowed to weigh 5 fish. Which 5 do you weigh? The first 5 and run the risk of not being able to weigh bigger fish later in the day or do you weigh 2 or 3 fish and leave space on your score card for the bigger fish that may come later. The vast majority of people I spoke to on the water were planning on weighing their first 3 fish and leaving 2 spaces open for, hopefully bigger fish. The fish however had plans of their own and although for the first 2 hours it would seem everyone would catch their bag limits. As things so often do when on the water circumstances changed very quickly and the bites started to come few and far between. The bites that did happen were either way under sized fish or it had been so long since you had felt a bite you ended up missing the fish.

This seemed to be the pattern for most anglers and every conceivable method was tried to allure our little green friends onto our hooks, from finesse, spinner baits, drop shot, cranking, dead sticking and top water but the off switch had well and truly been turned off.

Just before the fishing went deadly quite a fellow angler next to me hooked into a beauty and his reel started screaming and before long a monster of a fish easily 2.5kg probably closer to 3kg propelled itself clean out the water and with the grace of an Olympic gymnast spat the lure back at him. I still think that mamma fish swam away and warned all the others that she had been topside and saw float tubes all over the water and everyone must hide.

As the day grew longer the clouds grew darker, some headed for shore and some stayed changing the colours of their lures to see if the afternoon bite would come back on, but alas cast after cast produced nothing more than a few undersized fish. Many fish were seen swimming in the reeds and in the clear pockets between all the grass but very few people managed to persuade them to take there lure and pop out for a quick photo. 4pm came and sadly the fishing had come to an end.

No body really knowing what anyone else had managed to weigh as a bag, people congregated around the registration area in great anticipation for the results and prize giving. Just as prize giving got underway the dark clouds that had been brewing decided it was time to empty them selves in the form of a rain storm that few have seen the intensity off. People ran for cover under trees and into cars. How ever it was futile as just a few seconds was enough to drench you from head to foot, people still with waders on were getting filled up and with in minutes the roads had turned to rivers.

It was decided to relocate the prize giving, drenched to the bone everyone headed to the entrance gate as there was a certain amount of under roof shelter there and proceedings could take place in relative dryness.

There was a total of x amount of fish caught by 29 anglers. The average weight of the fish was x and the total weight of recorded fish was 18kg. Proving that fishing was tough however the day was totally enjoyed by beginners and experienced anglers a like. The winner of the competition was Abdullah Ebrahim with a 3 fish bag of 2.5kg. Second place went to Danny Greigh-Smith with a 3 fish bag of 1.83kg. Third place went to Richard De Sousa with a 3 fish bag of 1.74k

Sadly, as with all good things the day came to an end but not before the mention of another competition on the near horizon. An event like this can not be arranged without the generous support of the sponsors involved, on behalf of tour organisers; Shawn Willmant and Hugo van der Walt as well as all participants I would like to whole heartedly thank all the sponsors.

The sponsors

www.bassing.co.za; www.bass.co.za; Culprit Lures; Catch It Designs; Bunny Pants Graphic Design; Mako Sunglasses and Flure.

I was fortunate enough to attend the first Kickboat Bass Classic and will certainly be back for the next one, which is already being planned. If you would like to attend either as a participant, or as a sponsor please contact tour organisers, Shawn or Hugo. They can be found on www.kickboatclassic.co.cc

Robert Howes aka pomerob

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