Planning was short, about a week in advance, on my first official specimen angling session. Jacques (Carassius) did our bookings for us at Donaldson Dam just outside of Randfontein. With it being the Rugby World Cup final, the banks of Donaldson was quite and we knew a good session was to be had.

I arrived at the venue first @ 12H05 and started getting the "Camp" ready as the clouds forming above was getting darker and heavier. Rather concerned about the heavy lightning I decided to take cover under the Gazebo, as if that will stop the lightning. The clouds opened up and water poured down from the heavens.



One could not move as it started looking like the dam has been moved, and that I was stuck on a island as water pools started forming all over the shore. Then as if the pouring rains were not enough it started to hail. After about an hour and a half the weather calmed down a bit and I started baiting up. Boilies, Tigernuts and Supercast Mielies were the bait of choice. Jacques made up a particle mix bought from Henkor and added some maples. Additionally when taking the lines in with the bait boat we added some more maples and Carp pellets to the particle mix.

The first lines were in at 14H00, so all that was left now was the long wait. Kevin joined me at around 15H30. He was a man on a mission and was mindset to shatter his PB this weekend. Jacques joined us around 20H00 Friday evening and by 21H00 we had 11 rods in the water. One noticed a lot of activity on the water in front of us but no fish was planning on being caught before 1am Saturday morning when Kevin landed the first carp of 6.8Kg.



The next to land some nice ones weighing in at 6.4 an 10.98Kg was Jacques just before 3am. Till 6H00 nothing felt like being caught an all calmed down. Jacques landed another 2 carp within a few minute from each other Saturday morning around 7H00 and Kevin missed one in this same period. By 11am Saturday morning Kevin decided that he was not staying till Sunday with Jacques and me, and headed home. The rest of the day was uneventful and only 30 minutes after the WC final started and I caught my first and only carp for the weekend of 5.64Kg.



Jacques landed a few more nice ones during the game and just after 23H00 he shattered his PB with a carp pulling the scale at 12.70Kg.



What a great specimen this proved to be, giving Jacques a run for his money, refusing to come close enough to be netted safely. After about 15min, that I am sure must have felt like an hour to him, the carp gave in and was landed safely. All fish caught over the weekend was treated with utmost care, using only carp friendly knotless landing nets, a unhooking mat and weighing was done with the aid of a weighing sling after which all fish was released again.



Jumbo Tigernuts was the bait of choice for the bigger specimens caught during the weekend and Kevin had his success on boilies. Mielies and maples on the hair rig also proved to be rather popular. Rigs used were safety inline bolting rigs.