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

www.BigBass.co.za