Bailiff Comments

Week Commencing: Sat 15/01/2022

It was a chilly one, some would even say it was “buzzin”…….

Welcome back to 2022 catch reports and finally we have anglers back on the bank. With very cold nights, bright sunny days and pressure as high as snoop doggy dog the conditions weren’t looking amazing BUT a new moon was coming into phase on the Tuesday. Was the first week with anglers going to be a good one? This time of year you can never expect monster hauls as the fish will definitely feed in spells. Could the guys this week catch them at the right time? We shall see as you read along and get a feeling for week just gone!!.....

Has anybody heard of “The Belgian Sniper” well some say he can name every Korda product in 5 different languages, some even say he can charm fish from the most unfancied spots, we know him as Jason Van Der Merwe one of the bailiff team, at only 19 not only has he bagged a dream job but has also been cuddling some of the biggest residents here at Gigantica for a few years now. Accomplished at fishing to the extreme distances Jason decided to jump into “Alcatraz” which wasn’t fancied in the draw. With fish showing in the middle of the lake he decided to target an area at 33 wraps out to the right of “Big Southerly” at “The Scary Tree”. Now you might be thinking exactly what we were all thinking!! “The Scary Tree”!!! Im afraid only Jason could tell you what’s scary about it but it’s basically a big tree haha. All three rods tram lined out towards it and a mixture of sweetcorn, pellet and Mainline essential cell and Mainline cell 10mm boilies were deposited over the spot all doused in smart liquid. Hook baits of choice were soaked yellow Mainline essential cell popups 12mm in Isotonic Goo. (where did you get that tip from Jason hmmmm) This is a great little edge as when the popups soak up all the goo they actually become wafters and a single 12mm popup on a size 4 Krank with the spinner rig sits perfect, taking the weight off the hook so it flies into the fish’s mouth. The sniper did 4 nights in Traz and landed 3 fish, 2 of which were low 20s but on the final evening something just a little bigger took him for a ride. “Buzzin Fish” at a new top weight of 63lb 12oz gave him the fight of his life and looked absolutely stunning in photos. This fish seems to love the bailiffs here at Gigantica as most of her captures seem to come to us!!. Top angling as always my mate and congrats…….

Imagine doing most of your fishing in the winter!!! One crazy regular by name of Steve French seems to love the cold and yep he is back!!! To those that read the catch reports Steve’s name seems to pop up quite allot and shock horror here he is again!!! Steve decided to go in the big distance swim that is “The Alamo” so what did Steve do?? You guessed it; he went short!! Fishing out at 17 wraps with rods spread Steve adopted his favourite method of solid bag fishing. Spombing out Mainline Cell, Sticky Manilla and CC Moore Live System 10mm boilies washed out in lake water with a few lotions popped in was the freebies of choice. Steve’s track record of fishing this approach here at Gigantica is something quite special. With fish into the 80s under his belt on it who would ever argue against the method? Certainly not me!! It has to be said there wasn’t much to go on sightings wise in “The Alamo” but guess who was first off the mark!! “Moonscale” decided to come for Uncle Steve cuddles weighing in at 24lb on the very first evening!! Those Milky Malt white wafters were far too much for this beast for the future to resist!! The next morning on arrival for breakfast delivery we both saw a fish very close to Steves left hand rod and thought there could be another chance but alas it was not to be. It was Monday evening for the next bite and this one was a bit bigger, tipping the scales to 36lb 8oz was “The Vain” a well-proportioned fish that is destined for big things. That wasn’t all the action in “The Alamo” before Steve made a move, as he gets very itchy feet haha. The last of Steves 3 fish week was an uncaught stocky which is now called “White Spot” at 21lb 12oz. A lovely scaly one this one and again one to watch for the future. As always it’s a pleasure having you come and eat us out of house and home and good luck next week pal, top angling as always. GUESS WHAT??? He has only gone and booked for a second week!!!! Tune in next week to see the adventures of “Solid Bag Steve” :D…………….

Next up is a guy by the name of Phil Swift reputation seems to be he’s a bit of a weirdo but I suppose id better write about him anyway :D. I decided to pitch up in “Pole Position” and initially fish long at 33 wraps. The reason for this was the fish that had been seen were in the middle and I wanted to be as close to them as possible. After 2 nights of nothing I felt I wasn’t close enough. 3 rods were sent 35 wraps to the “W”, this was the new approach. 15 medium spombs of crushed maize, hemp and pellet over the top of 12mm Mainline Pineapple popups soaked for 6 months in Isotonic Goo so they act like wafters on Spinner rigs with size 4 curve shanks, the plan of attack. The first evening at the new distance saw a single beep bite having me running to the rods. A slow plodding fight and then a hook pull. You know when you have lost a good one!! and this truly felt like a good one. The plan was working in my mind so I pressed repeat. 15 spombs on the money and the following evening saw another bite but I landed this one. 28lb 12oz Mirror was my reward named “Pablo” and a very welcome winter fish she was too. The following 3 nights saw another 2 fish grace the net, an upper double and “War Korps” at 26lb 8oz. The move to fish extreme distance paid off and I feel the fish were looking for something to eat in the area every night. Oh and it was my 40^thbirthday this week too so we had a chocolate cake :D haha…….

So with 10 bites and 9 fish landed out of 6 anglers things are starting to look on the up. The fish seem to have acclimatised to the colder temperatures and I think over the next few weeks those big girls at their top weights are going to make our guests very happy indeed. Let’s see what next week brings!!.....

Until next time guys n gals, tight lines, be lucky and bag a chunk!!!!

Phil