Targeting Bloemhof Grass Carp

R

Runner

New member
Hi All

So I will be making my way out to Bloemhof soon for a fishing weekend & knowing that there aren't really any large Commons there I am considering targeting the Grassies & large Cats. ((r(e(ling

I am yet to see any record account of a large Grassie being caught at the dam however.
Does anyone have any info on this? :)

Also, I will be using some large natural boils I found & fishing specimen style for the carp.
Any advice or info on this from anyone that knows anything about the Grass carp in these waters?

Thanks!!! ::slr::
 
S

Slimy Salamander

New member
I don't target grass carp, but I've never seen any particularly large grass carp there before. They probably are there, but it's not something I'll visit Bloemhof dam for, perhaps below the dam.

There are some monster grass carp at Wolwespruit Nature Reserve between Leeudoringstad and Bothaville though if you are looking for 15kg+ specimens.
 
R

Runner

New member
Hi SS

Thanks for the info _seal1_. I'm not visiting specifically for grass carp, it's more of a family trip & my primary focus will be the cats. Just thought I may as well try for another large species that may live in those waters.

I've been reading up on how the grass carp are growing at such a rapid pace in our local waters. This is definitely evident with the number of small ones that can be caught at Bloemhof dam. With all those small fry I figured there must be some large specimens around.

Nevertheless I shall try, seeing that I will already be there. :)
 
F

Fishpaste

Sealiner
Im sure there will be loads of large grassies but unfortunately there are a much higher percentage of small grassies that will 99% get to the bait before a bigger specimen.
I hope you prove me wrong and upload a pic of a monster! ;)
 
R

Runner

New member
Thanks Fishpaste

I will be using 30mm boilies to try & keep them away so that I have a better chance of hooking a decent size. Just not sure about fishing for grass carp with boilies but I have bought ones specifically made for them so for now thats my best bet! :)
 
F

Fishpaste

Sealiner
Lekker mate but I still suspect you going to get nailed by the smaller carp even on 30mm...but if you dont try you wont know...and if you try you will know ;)
Keep us posted on your session!
 
H

HennieB

Sealiner
Runner wrote:
Thanks Fishpaste

I will be using 30mm boilies to try & keep them away so that I have a better chance of hooking a decent size. Just not sure about fishing for grass carp with boilies but I have bought ones specifically made for them so for now thats my best bet! :)
Click to expand...

You might end up catching babers on the boilies. From what I've heard mielies are the best bait for grassies.
 
R

Runner

New member
HennieB wrote:

You might end up catching babers on the boilies. From what I've heard mielies are the best bait for grassies.
Click to expand...

Hmmm so the boilies I got are made from all natural ingredients (grass etc) & Spirulina (A type of algae if I understand it correctly). Do you think the cats will still pick this up??
The problem with the mielies is that just about any other fish will pick it up which will drastically reduce my chances of a grassy coming along. Well that's what I think, I could be wrong! :shock:
 
E

Enigma

Moderator
Plenty of 10-15kg Grassies around, especially at Sandveld. Getting them on is a challenge. Chances are better in the shallower Vet River side.

We've caught a number of 10-12kg in Comp and normally with a 14mm Popup over a bed of slurry of Popcorn and Hemp seed.

Carp, there are actually a lot of 10kg+ Carp in the dam but getting to them through the small fish is an issue and getting access to the Vaal river bed is a problem as the NW side is very shallow and the river bed is up to 3km away in some places.

With the dame very low in 2007 we managed to fish off the sandbars into the Vaal bed and we got a number of 30lb's fish and biggest was just shy of 40lbs

Below the wall in the river section I've seen 3 40lbs fish and landed one myself and my biggest cat there is 37.4kg and my Son's is 27.8kg
 
S

Slimy Salamander

New member
Enigma wrote:
Below the wall in the river section I've seen 3 40lbs fish and landed one myself and my biggest cat there is 37.4kg and my Son's is 27.8kg
Click to expand...

Do you have a photo of the 37.4kg cat, would love to see what a cat of that size looks like?
 
E

Enigma

Moderator
Not anymore went missing with my phone and laptop that was stolen. Might be floating around here on sealine or somewhere on Social Media.

Tackle used - Torium 50, 0.60mm nylon, 14/0 Circle, 1mm hookline and leader. Bait half of 5kg Grassie, flapped bait


You need to see the 50kg+ fish in the Blaauwputz area....:shock:
 
S

Slimy Salamander

New member
Too bad you lost that photo, hope you learned to make backups... lol

Impressive fish your laaitie caught, well done.

Edit: will search for those pics of the monsters. Hopefully I can catch one one day.
 
H

HennieB

Sealiner
Runner wrote:
HennieB wrote:

You might end up catching babers on the boilies. From what I've heard mielies are the best bait for grassies.
Click to expand...

Hmmm so the boilies I got are made from all natural ingredients (grass etc) & Spirulina (A type of algae if I understand it correctly). Do you think the cats will still pick this up??
The problem with the mielies is that just about any other fish will pick it up which will drastically reduce my chances of a grassy coming along. Well that's what I think, I could be wrong! :shock:
Click to expand...

Babers will pick up just about anything.
 
R

Runner

New member
Enigma wrote:
Plenty of 10-15kg Grassies around, especially at Sandveld. Getting them on is a challenge. Chances are better in the shallower Vet River side.

We've caught a number of 10-12kg in Comp and normally with a 14mm Popup over a bed of slurry of Popcorn and Hemp seed.

Carp, there are actually a lot of 10kg+ Carp in the dam but getting to them through the small fish is an issue and getting access to the Vaal river bed is a problem as the NW side is very shallow and the river bed is up to 3km away in some places.

With the dame very low in 2007 we managed to fish off the sandbars into the Vaal bed and we got a number of 30lb's fish and biggest was just shy of 40lbs

Below the wall in the river section I've seen 3 40lbs fish and landed one myself and my biggest cat there is 37.4kg and my Son's is 27.8kg
Click to expand...

Oh wow so the big boys do live there, can only imagine that 2007 session you had!:wfish

Those cats are monstrous! I hope those sizes are in the dam too. I've read an article about targeting just the huge cats and how they normally don't tend to move around bur rather just sit in places that are known to have food washing up. Is there any truth to that?

@Hennie, yeah they will pick up just about anything, will need to hold thumbs

_seal1_
 
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