Wish I could say I got it on a Swimbait, but my current PB of 4,6kg (10.12lb) taken on 2 August 2006 at Lake Mteri, Chiredzi, Zimbabwe bit a Spinnerbait! A chartreuse and white spinnerbait dressed with a black trailer and a No. 6 gold Hildebrandt willowleaf blade cast to a swirl near a stump surrounded by vegetation.

Mteri is great fishery and is managed well - catch and release. Due to the current situation in Zimbabwe (political and economic) and extremely high fuel prices there, fishing pressure is low, which is a blessing in disguise! We caught and released loads of 4 – 6 lb Bass, some 7’s, a few 8’s and 9’s and of course, my 10!

One evening, before calling it a day, we were literally "stuck" in a narrow channel for quite some time - the resident pod of hippos with a small calf did not take too kindly to our presence and we had to wait for them to move which they decided not to do showing us in no uncertain terms with roars and open mouthed displays of teeth asserting their territory! Eventually it all worked out and we got to the loge in darkness! Apart from the hippos we saw several crocodiles (on shore and in the water), giraffe, buffalo, zebra and warthog. Not to mention fish eagles, kingfishers, baboons and giant water monitor lizards ...

The structure at Mteri is amazing - standing timber wherever you look and masses or reeds and aquatic vegetation. For more Mteri info and pics, go here: http://www.bigbass.0catch.com/id5B2.htm

The lodge at the Lake is run by Justin and Collette Booth. Justin is a keen Bass angler and has represented South Africa on several occasions. 2 weeks before our trip Justin boated one of 5.8kg (nearly 13lb) on a Zoom Horny Toad! I saw the photo on his PC and Justin has promised to e-mail me the pic ...

Best bassing time for Zimbabwe is July/ August and for South Africa, August/September.

I was at the local tackle shop yesterday afternoon and the proprietor told me he saw a photo of a near 15lb Bass taken (and released!) about 2 weeks ago at Inanda Dam near Durban. I am trying to get hold of a copy of the photo - this would better the current SA record. There have been many rumours of 15lbers at Inanda in the past and a few 10 - 12lbers are taken each year.

I always imagine what experts like you guys on this forum would haul out at Mteri, Inanda and Midmar! Many spots at Inanda and Midmar would be great for swimbaits and there are sections along and near the dam wall at Mteri that are literally begging for swimbaits! If you ever want to come to SA or Zimbabwe, let me know!

Best regards,
Jacques
South Africa


http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/5269-JW_Mteri_Bass_4.6kg_-_1_-_2_Aug_2006_crS.jpg

Congratulations! That's just an awesome fish! I saw the picture on Trophybassonly and was wondering if that was you. I'd LOVE to get a double-digit on another continent... maybe one of these days. I've traveled to a lot of wonderful places but South Africa isn't on the list, maybe it should be added! I hope you get to keep sticking those awesome bass out there and please keep us updated, its REALLY neat to see those photos.

Yes! Very Nice fish. Now go and get that teen.;-) Keep it up.

Don.

Congrats! and good for you on all the catch and release!!

Thanks, Supermat and the other guys for your comments!

I hope my next Bass is at least "leventeen" (as Dennis Mitchell used to say!) pounds!

All you guys on this Forum are a real inspiration and I have learned a tremendous amount on Rob's www.calfishing.com and "Fish Chris'" www.trophybassonly.com

South Africa (and Zimbabwe) are great tourist destinations and good value for tourists from the USA with the current exchange rates (over 7 to one SA Rand to the US Dollar). A lot to see and do apart from Bassing! If you are into surf fishing there is about 3 000 miles of coastline (excluding Namibia which is also a great surf fishing destination), both Indian and Atlantic Oceans!

Its great to have fishing buddies in far-flung places! I was privileged to visit the USA in 2003 on a legislative drafting internship in Indiana, see: http://CDSLAS.bravepages.com/id8A.htm
and also got to meet and fish with "Fish Chris"!

For some pics of what I caught at San Pablo Dam Reservoir (unfortunately no trophies, though and taken on nightcrawlers!) go to: www.bigbass.0catch.com/BassP.htm and scroll right down. We saw some monster Bass and I had a couple of really big "followers" using Chris' (spinning) tackle and a 9" Allan Cole wooden Swimbait ... It was awesome to have "Fish Chris" as my own "fishing guide"! I just have to get back to the USA someday ...

All the best and keep catching (and releasing!) those Bass!
Jacques

Superb Bass Jacques!!! Still looking for my first DD.

Dan