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