OLIFANTSNEK PRO MANIA ON 07 MAY 2017

Hi Everybody.......

Long time since I posted.  Well with all the things going on in my life I battle to fish all the Pro Manias I really want to.  My wife are transferred to Cape Town and is staying in Paarl, Western Cape.  I am still in Pretoria, but this distance relationship is really getting to me......but let's talk about the fishing!!!

On Sunday 07 My 2017, I joined my 7th Pro Mania for the year.  The Pro Mania was at Olifantsnek, in North West Provide.  It is really a beautiful dam.  See photos below.

 

I draw peg 10 for the day.  So again I look at the anglers in my zone.  Again all good anglers and it will be stiff competition.  Danie Roux, Franco Kalp, Trevor Vorster, George King.  And at Olifantsnek you need to make use of all your changes.

I started the morning at 80m and 120m.  Danie on my left quickly caught two Carps.  I was really start worrying as the fish were really slow.  I bait again and use the some distances.  Franco was fishing his one rod at 25m to see if the muddies don't want to bite.  At 09H15 my 80m rod start up.  At last.....but I lost the fish about 20m from the side.  Olifantsnek 1 - Markus 0.  Eish - not a good feeling.  5 Minutes later my 120m rod was in the game.  Just after a few rolls.....stuck.  I left the rod for about 5 min to see if the fish don't want to swim him/herself out of the obstacle.  No luck.....break off.  Olifantsnek 2 - Markus 0.   Now I am really worried.

Stay on the 80M and change the 120m to 100m.  Waiting game, BMT, patience all of that started to play a role.  80M - bite again.  I landed the fish.  What a relief.  Back on the 80M

At about 12 - Danie decided to go for Barbell.   Paid off - he caught a 5,2kg barbell.  He is totally walking the zone as we all are struggling.  Franco - also in the game with a few Carps.

At about 1 - my 100m rod started to run.  Landed a Carp of about 1,6kg.  Olifantsnek 2 - Markus 2.  Now I hope for another 2 or 3 fish.  Didn't happen  I ended with 2 Fish of the day of 2,080kg.  I ended 3rd in the zone.  Danie 1st in the zone with Franco second in the zone.   Well I manage a 57% BMT for the day.  Will have to work hard on the next Pro Mania's.

Again thank you to Berkley/Mitchell for the outstanding equipment.  It is a real privileged to be part of the Berkley/Mitchell team.

Slingshots 13ft and Slingshot 10ft (3.5lb) - what an outstanding rod to fish up to 90M.
FS6000 reels
Trilene Maxx- 5pd line (0.16).  All my spools have Trilene 5pd line on.  Can't go wrong
Trilene Maxx - 9pd hook links (0.21).  Can't go wrong
Trilene Maxx - 23pd leader line (0.35).  Can't go wrong!!

GAUTENG PRO MANIA LEEUPLAAS VAALDAM 2 APRIL 2017

Hi there anglers......

My sixth Pro Mania!!!  Almost on 8 then it will reflect my real points!!!

The sixth Pro Mania I decided to fish was at Leeuplaas Vaaldam on the 2nd April 2017.  The evening of the 1st April I slept over at Herberg Hotel.  There I had a few beers and the famous Herberg Hotel pizza.  Loukie van der Merwe with his family slept over as well.

The morning of 2nd April I got up at 04H45.  What a pleasure - it is not 02H00 as usual!!!  Nice warm shower - nice cup of coffee (Loukie actually made it and bring it to me)

I arrived at Leeuplaas at 05H30.  There were a lot of the top anglers there.  This will be a hard contest.  We started with the draws.  One of my lucky days - PEG 1.  An outside peg 'normally' give a person an advantage.  I hope this was the case today.

As I drove to my peg I looked at the anglers that will be in my zone.  Whow!!!  What a competitive zone this will be today.  Richard Bekker, Morne Zaayman, Pieter Greyling, Thys Greyevenstein and Loukie van der Merwe.  This is going to be tuff!!!

I decided to start the morning on the following 2 distances.  80m with my favoured 10ft 3.5lb Slingshot and on 115m with my favourite 13ft Slingshot.  I hit my distances easily when the day started. 

At 07H30 my 80M already produced 2 nice Carps.  My 115M was still very quite.  In the next 15 minutes I caught another 3 yellow fishes which was all to small.  Yellow fish must be 450mm to count as a fish.  I decided to change the 80M to 125M.  I rigged up the 125M when my 115M rod started up.  Nice Carp of about 2kg.  S my two distances for the day 115M and 125M.

At the end of the day I caught 17 Fish 22,930kg.  Till 14H00 I had a change in winning my zone.  But then Loukie van der Merwe (Barbell King) decided to catch a Barbell of 10,90kg en 30 minutes later caught a Barbell of 18kg. can't compete against that two monsters.  Well deserved Loukie!!  I went for the Barbells and it paid of.  It could have gone the other way and then I was in the pound seat.  well done Loukie!!  I ended 2nd in my zone with Loukie winning the zone.  Give me an BMT of 87,1 for the day.  I am happy with that!!

Again many thanks to my sponsor Pure Fishing for the amazing equipment.  Pure Fishing is really going out of there way to assist us and ensure that we produce as anglers.

I used the following equipment on the day :
1) 10ft Slingshot 3.5lb.  I am so impress with this rod!!!
2) 13fit Slingshot - this is to hit my mark on 115M en 125M easily.
3) Trilene Maxx- 5pd line (0.16).  All my spools have Trilene 5pd line on.  can't go wrong
4) Trilene Maxx - 9pd hook links (0.21).  Can't go wrong
5) Trilene Maxx - 23pd leader line (0.35).  Can't go wrong!!
6) FS6000 reels.  Smooth running!!!

MORNING AT LEEUPLAAS - VAALDAM

17 FISH 22,930KG FOR THE DAY

NICE CARPS FOR THE DAY

TOP 5 FOR THE DAY

CG PRO MANIA AT KOSTER DAM 19 March 2017

Hi there all anglers.......

Well this is my fifth Pro Mania for 2017.  The venue is scheduled at Koster Dam in North West.  It was a chilly morning with a cold wind blowing.  But it changed very quickly as the day progress and become warm during the day.

The morning I draw Peg 17.  When I come to the peg I could see that this is going to be a difficult day.  Pegs 14 - 19 was in a dinghy (sloep).  The anglers already discussion how we going to cast over each other.  It was also a difficult zone as I had Piet Grobler, Charles Gates, JD Steyn, Raymond Cloete in my zone.  The pegs 20 -23 was very much favourable as they where pegged where the bank makes a nice point.

Well I saw the fish playing at a distance of about 50m.  I clipped my one rod at 50m and the other at 65m.  The 65m quickly gave me a fish, but the 55m wasn't working at all.  I changed the 55m to 75m.  That paid off.  I fished the entire day at 65m and 75m.   I tried at rod at 110m but immediately changes as there was to much grass in the water and you got stuck.

With the dam sitting at over 100% you had to walk in and make sure to avoid the grass below otherwise I loose the fish.  I caught 12 fish for the day 3.73kg.  It was just not enough.  The guys on pegs 20-23 where killing us.  Danie Roux win the zone and the day with 30 fish 9.93kg.  Well done to my team mate from Pure Fishing, Raymond Cloete - he ended up on a 4th position for the day.  Also 30 fish 9,2kg.  I finished 13th for the day with a BMT of 42,86%.  Not good and I have to work hard on the following Pro Mania's.

Thanks again to Pure Fishing for the awesome equipment.  I fished the first time with the 10ft Slingshot 3,5lb.  I really enjoyed the rod as it is a bitter stiffer than my previous 10ft which was a 2,5lb.  I really hit my mark every time with the rods.

I fished with the following for the day :
10ft Slingshots 2,5lb and 3,5 lb
FS4000 reels
Trilene 9pd line and 30lb leader line
Trilene hook links 7pd.

Thank you so much for the awesome sponsor and the awesome equipment. 

KOSTERDAM

RAYMOND CLOETE - 4TH OVERALL FOR THR DAY

MARKUS SWART AND RAYMOND CLOETE

SL PRO MANIA 04 MARCH 2017 KLIPDRIFT DAM

The 4th PRO MANIA I decided to fish was at Klipdrift Dam in Potchefstroom.  What a beautiful dam.  Normally i have good success rate at Klipdrift Dam.  But every day is a different day when it comes to fishing.

The dam was also full after the rains in the area.  It was a beautiful sunshine day with almost no breeze.  That was a bit concerning as I like the wind to be active.  I draw peg 9 for the day.  We where only 12 anglers so it was only one zone for the day.  Normally this is extremely difficult as you compete with both outside pegs.  well i though I was finished with all the small fish.   Again my first 3 fish all non-weighers.  I thought maybe I will use the same tactics as at roodekopjes with a 'BOER TRACE" with a P5 and as far as possible.  after 3 hours I decided this is not working.  I need to get something going.  The fish wasn't feeding at all.  at 13h30 a got a reel run and landed a 2,1kg carp.  My only fish for the day.  I got a 8th place with a BMT of 41,67%.  I will have to work hard to get rid of this bad BMT.  But lucky still a long year ahead.

Again thanks for PURE FISHING for the sponsored equipment.
10ft Slingshots
12ft Slingshots
Trilene Line
Avocast Reels

 

CG PRO MANIA - 26 FEBRUARY 2017 ROODEKOPJES

So I decided to tackle my 3rd PRO MANIA for the year.  This was CG PRO MANIA at Roodekopjes dam.  The dam was extremely full after the rains we received in the Gauteng area.

It was a misty day.  I draw peg 20 for the day which put me in the 3rd zone for the day as well.  Always difficult to compete with the end pegs on any particular day.  So in my zone good anglers.  Raymond Cloete, JD Steyn, Pieter Walker, Kobus Du Preez. 

So from the start the distances was important.  A lot of small fish under 150grams.  I clipped on 70m with my 10ft Slingshot with the hope that I can fish through the small fish and land a weighed fish every know and then.  But it seems nit the case.  The 13ft slingshot in 125m doesn't produce any results.  So I decided to take a 'BOER TRACE" with a P5 and a lot of worms and cast as far as possible.  Well a small barbell - at least above 150grams.  I did it again and another barbell - about 1kg.  So I decided it will be the game plan for the day.  Fish the small fish on 70M and fish at the back for barbells.  I caught 3 barbells and 4 carps that were weighted fish.  I also caught 15 non-weighed fish.

Well it was a tough day but I ended up 4th in the zone.  The end peg won the zone which is normally the case.  With a BMT of 66,66% I was happy and know that I can through this one away going forward.

Thanks again to my sponsor Pure Fishing for the reliable equipment.  It is just awesome equipment and the best on the market.

I fished with the following :
10ft Slingshots
13ft Slingshots
Trilene 5pd and 7pd line
Trilene 25pd leader line
6000 Avocast reels
4000 Avocast reels

Until next time......

JH PRO MANIA 29 JANUARY 2017

HI All

Hope all the readers had a great weekend of fishing. 

My second Pro Mania was on the 29th of January.  Again at Vaaldam - Wilgedraai.  Well with the good position I achieved on the previous PM, I thought I had a good change to do even better.  But as we all know, everyday is a different day in the angling world.

The morning I draw Peg 12.  When I started unpacking I look at the people in my zone.  Again a difficult zone with good anglers.  Franco Kalp, SJ Koster, Henco vd Westhuizen (A Junior but a damn good angler).

So the day started at 07H00.  I started the same way on 65M and 125M.  The tempo was extremely slow.  The 65M quickly gave me 2 small carps.  But then the yellows started on the 65M.

My 125M also started up and I can feel this is a nice fish.  But about halfway the fish was off.  Not a nice feeling.  Only at 10H30 my 125M started up again and the Avocast 6000 start to sing.  Nice carp of about 3kg.

On the 65M I tried to fish through the yellows, but it was difficult.  Between them I manage to catch a few small carps.

I ended up with 9 fish 9,880kg.  That gave me a 3rd position in the zone.  Franco Kalp ended 1st in the zone with Henco vd Westhuizen 2nd in the zone.  Well done to the gents.  Henco also manage to catch a barbell of about 10kg.

I fish with my reliable Pure Fishing equipment.

1) 13ft Slingshots and 10ft Slingshots
2) Avocast 6000 reels
3) Avocast 4000 reels
4) 5pd Trilene line
5) Trilene Leader line of 20pd
6) Trilene 7pd Hook lines

Until next time.....

WILGEDRAAI - WHAT A BEAUTIFUL VIEW

MORNE SAAYMAN - WINNER FOR THE DAY......PURE FISHING!!!!

PRO MANIA CLASSIC SATURDAY 21 JANUARY 2017

Hi All

My first Pro Mania for 2017 at Wilgedraai Vaaldam. 

Well the first Pro Mania at Wilgedraai Vaaldam took place on 21 January 2017.  Wilgedraai received a lot of water with the Vaaldam water level increased to above 60%.  We are all very thankfull for all the rain and the increase in water levels.

The morning we did the normal per draws.  I draw peg 6 for the day.  Total of 45 anglers.  When I look at my zone competitors for the day (Peg 1 -9) I could see this is going to be an extremely hard day.  Christo Conradie (Peg 1 again!!!), Raymond Cloete (Peg 2), Johan Pretorius (Peg 8) and Allan Groves (Peg 9).  So to be in the Top 5 in the zone will be hard.

I started on distances of 90m and 125m.  After half an hour I realized the 90m is not a good distance as the fish are jumping at 50 - 60m.  I decided to change my strategy and fish on 60m and 125m.  I caught two nice Carps on the 125m and considered changing both rods.  But then suddenly the 60m start to pick up.  Smaller fish, but all weigh fish.  I kept my rods on the two distances which paid of.  I caught 18 fish with a weight of 18,720kg.  Gave my a second place in the zone.  Christo Conradie on Peg 1 won the zone.  With my second place in the zone I also ended 6th overall on the day.  For the first Pro Mania I was happy with the results and can just build on my BMT for the season.

I again fished with my sponsor PURE FISHING tackle :

1) Slingshot 13ft Rods
2) Avocast Reels
3) Trendline 5 and 7lb line
4) Trilene leader line

Many thanks again to Pure Fishing for a great sponsorship and quality equipment.

See attached photos.

PURE FISHING - AVOCAST REELS WITH 5LB LINE

SLINGSHOT RODS

 

MORNING PEG 6

 SOME BEAUTIFULL FISH - MYSELF AND RAMOND CLOETE

PRO MANIA 2016 MASTERS FINAL

PRO MANIA 2016 MASTERS FINAL.

BLOEMHOF DAM - SANDVELD

The Pro Mania Masters final was a tough one.  With the Top 11 anglers competing against each other.  The morning I draw peg 11 - not really an outside peg as the Seniors division started just next to me.

The previous day my friend Gert Strydom fished on the same peg and had a really tough day.  But I had to get my mind right and fish the peg to my best abilities.

Then we also started at 07H30 due to water hyacinths all over the dam.  With that it also put a doubt in my mind regarding my distances.  As the 100m I planned was difficult to achieve due to the water hyacinths.  I changed my strategy and started fishing at 60m and 75m.  That was actually two great distances for the day.  So - the mornings late start with the hyacinths help me to get my distances right.

I finished 2nd overall for the day.

Many thanks to my sponsor - PURE FISHING for all my tackle.  It was really a privilege presenting PURE FISHING in the final.

The tackle I used from PURE FISHING was as follows :
1) Rods - Slingshots 10ft
2) Reels - FS4000
3) Trilene - 9pd line
4) Trilene - 20pd Leader line
5) Trilene - 7pd hook lines.

2017 WITH PURE FISHING AS MY SPONSOR

To all my fishing friends out there.

I decided to start a BLOG to capture all my memories for 2017 and the coming years.   I also decided to keep this in English as there are a lot of people outside South Africa that are also reading the BLOGS.

I will capture all my competitions that I will fish with PURE FISHING as my official sponsor for the 5 year in a row.  Many thanks to PURE FISHING for an awesome sponsorship.

I will upload all the different tackle that we use from PURE FISHING as well.

I really hope that the BLOG will be successful in the coming years.

Greetings

Markus Swart