Ok Rob, any recent developments in your search for the 300 sized trout plug reel? Check into that new Catala. It's supposed to be kind of in between the corsair and the calcutta. Larry was fishin one when I was out on his boat the other week, and he seemed to like it and said if fishes more like a calcutta. Something to look into.
-Brian

No new developments yet. I got the bass pro spring 2001 catalog and they didn't have the catala. It's on the shimano site and looks like a definite candidate for a sweet 25lb test throwin' trout reel but I have yet to see one or find a place to buy one.
So sad as it is, I am still chucking a corsair on my 800L and a Calcutta 400S on my Sabre. For the 7 inch stuff I am using a curado 200 on a 7' 6" Yamamoto Mod VI Xheavy rod. Its a nice rod and adequate in most situations. Like I mention in my other post though, if I were throwing at docks on clear lake or the trees at San Pablo or whatever, I would be throwing on my 800L or the Sabre just because, if you hook something good you want to have the right setup and not try to enjoy the "thrill" of light tackle. To me the thrill is getting the fish in the boat!! That's why having the right gear is so important when you are after big fish.

Rob,
The 2001 Bass Pro master catalog has the catala. Too bad I'm boycotting bass pro...
-Brian

Oh, I was just looking at the spring 2001 catalog. They must not have all of the shimano reels in there. Guess there's probably lead in the paint anyway so I couldn't get one that way if I wanted to.

Spinning reels ! Sure.......think about it, anglers have been surf casting huge plugs for stripers for many years ! Although my setup is a 7 1/2 ft heavy action, with a Daiwa Regal Z IA 3500 and a 4000 (I have both).
Guys ask me all the time, do I think that is spinning reel is better ? My answer is,"For me it's way better" ! Because I am lousy with a baitcaster ! chuckles
My best advice would be to use whatever works best for you !
Great fishing to all !
Fish Chris

for what it's worth...

baitcasters are better than spinning reels in this case. Not being good at throwing them doesn't make them less suitable. And all the serious surf fisherman throwing lures I've seen use baitcasters (and I know some true die-hards). Spinning reels might be ok for bait fishing, but it doesn't work as well for big heavy lures.

Nico

Hi Guys and greetings from a fellow Bass fisherman in South Africa! The Shimano Catala (both 200 and 300) is available from Inside Sportfishing (Internet mailorder) see www.insidesportfishing.com/lowband/Market/ProdT27M183.asp
for $82-68 if anyone is interested. I do not know if this is a good price or not.

I must thank Rob for his great website where I have learnt a lot about using big baits for Bass - I still have to put the theory into practise as Florida strain Bass are only available about 500 - 800 miles from where I currently live.

Fish Chris' site is also great and he has given me lots of advice as well.

We are heading into winter and are rather envious hearing about all the catches of monster Bass in your part of the world.

Go well and enjoy the fishing!

Hey Jacques, good to hear from you on the site! When you do have a chance to try the big plugs in South Africa you should put a post up and let us all know how it goes. You can bet they have never seen that kind of lure before :-) so I'd think you have a good shot and some good fish.

Hi, "Swimbait"!

In South Africa, Florida strain Largemouths are mainly found in the KwaZulu/Natal and Mpumalanga provinces. The current SA record is just over 13lbs, but just north of South Africa in Zimbabwe (which stocked Floridas about 10 years prior to South Africa) Bass of up to 18lbs have been caught on the usual run of the mill bass lures. Reports are that the recent floods in Zimbabwe and Mozambique washed Florida Bass from farm dams into Lake Kariba, one of the largest freshwater bodies of water in Southern Africa. Kariba also has a healthy population of bream and kapenta (a type of freshwater sardine), not to mention tigerfish. Once the Bass get a foothold in Kariba, they should grow really big. Florida Bass have also recently been stocked in cetrtain dams in Namibia.

What else besides Largemouths do you fish for in Africa. I've read about Tigerfish and Nile Perch but, what are some of the more standard fish.

Tight lines,
Wade

Hi Wade!

The tigerfish and Nile perch are found north of South Africa, the tigerfish from Zimbabwe northwards and the Nile perch in the "Great Lakes" area in east Africa on the borders of Kenya and Tanzania.

In South Africa, Bass fishing is growing in popularity, but the main freshwater angling species are carp, bream (genus: Oreochromis and Tilapia) and catfish. Various species of Yellowfish (genus: Barbus) and mudfish (genus: Labeo) are also found - they are great fighters and readily take artificial lures. Except for the carp, the others mentioned are indigenous species. Apart from various species of Bass (Northern strain Largemouths Florida strain Largemouths, Smallmouths and Spotted Bass) bluegill,trout and the European tench (genus: Tinca) have been stocked in some waters.

When I'm not throwing lures I like to use hand size live bait for big Catfish. My biggest is 32lbs or about 15Kilos as I understand it. How big are the Catfish and other species there, and which fight the best?

Tight lines,
Wade

Tight lines,
Wade

OK, Wade, here goes re South African freshwater fish sizes (approximate poundages) caught on rod and line ...
Our largest Florida strain Bass in South Africa (so far) was just over 13 lbs, largest sharptooth Catfish around 108 lbs, Carp about 60lbs, Bream 6lbs, Yellowfish 40lbs.
In Zimbabwe and further north, Tigerfish can reach 20lb plus, not to mention the Goliath tigerfish of which I once saw a photo of one of about 75lbs! The Vundu (another species of catfish found in Zimbabwe) outdoes even the sharptooth Catfish mentioned above for size.
The best fighters pound for pound are Tigerfish (this must really be experienced to believe it), Yellowfish and Bream. Most Bream pose more of a challenge than Bass of similar size. Catfish make long dogged runs close to bottom and their sheer size makes them a real challenge to land - they also take almost any artificial lure and live baits such as the platanna frog and fish (and deadbaits such as carp or mudfish of up to 3 or 4lb). Carp are generally not regarded as good fighters unless caught in rivers such as the Breede River in the Western Cape where one could almost imagine you are dealing with a different species!
In Zimbabwe and further north one also has to deal with hippos and crocodiles in the water. Crocs have been known to take large lures and baits. There are also rumours of Zambezi Sharks in the Cahora Bassa Dam in Mozambique. Zambezi sharks are known to swim far upstream into fresh water and some may have been trapped when the Dam wall was completed. Some anglers fishing (trolling) for Tigerfish there have reported vicious strikes with large Tigerfish lures and wire traces being bitten clean off. Judging from the marks left on certain of the lure hardware which was retrieved, indications are that sharks could have been responsible!
Hope you find the info interesting!
Tight Lines!