Fishing in the middle of nowhere

[robfisher]

Fishing in the middle of nowhere.

One thing I noticed at the Inanda Classic and fishing at Albert Falls yesterday is that there are spots in the middle of the dam that has no apparent structure but there are drop offs and flats that the Pro?s fish? the one that particularly interests me is Dusi Point? there were a LOT of boats quite far off from the shore and it?s where the flats drop off to never never land. I never see fisherman fish that spot normally and then at a competition there are all of a sudden boats there? I guess it?s the Pro?s that fish there and the weekend angler tends to stick to the shallows?

I have found a confidence spot like that at Inanda? the area on the left as you come out of Taxi Bay?

Then at Albert Falls there is the area directly opposite the launch spots with the 3 bunches of trees? and fisherman fish that entire region? again no apparent structure other than the trees.

I guess the answer is to study the spots fished during competitions? any other spots like this that anyone would like to highlight or comment on?

[basstid]

Thats very true Rob. You hardly ever see people fishing the open water,even when structure is shown on the fishfinder.

Seems that most of us keep to the banks and shallows and structure that is visible.Not that this is a bad thing at all, but maybe fishing the open waters every now and again(deep structures) would be a good thing.

[Shannon]

Rob that area at Albert Falls you are talking about is known as "The Ridge", it's actually a huge area of underwater hills, valleys and river channels. When the dam was down at 17% a few years ago, local anglers placed lots of trees and brush all over this area.
I would estimate that more than 50% of all tournaments there are won off of this area.

In Inanda and Albert falls generally speaking your larger fish don't live on the side, they make feeding trips into the shallows but there homes are areas like the ones you are talking about

[robfisher]

Thanks Shannon? I?m going to be spending a little more time at Albert?s and will do some underwater reconnaissance of that area? I must say it was really lekker to get a few decent sized fish onto the boat this weekend for a change? it?s been a hard few months on the water. I must keep remembering that fat drop offs is where Mr Lincoln travels?

[pomerob]

Rob we spent some time there, didnt study it to much but there seemed to be and old river channel running down there (old channels = bass highways)

[robfisher]

I must dig out the maps of Albert?s and do a bit of studying... maybe it?s time I did a BFSA Map of Albert?s! Anyone got any maps of Albert?s with spot marked?

[pomerob]

Rob I left an 8page A1 topo map with Drew.

[robfisher]

Excellent! Thanks Rob... Yo Drew... can I borrow it please?

[pomerob]

It was the most recent silt survey done by the waterboard, there will always be slight changes due to the silt forever changing but the signaficant drop off's and channels will always remain.

[robfisher]

Vonderbar!

[pomerob]

You can also get them for Inanda Just find out where your local waterboard office is.

[tolla]

those middle of nowhere spots always have good fish, kwaggaskloof has a old road comming into it ,not a lot of people know of it , but it produces good smallies on carolina and mojo rigs

[pomerob]

We had the same at RDW, a little place that VX70 used to like to fish and often used to get fish when eveyone else was struggling. When we saw a topo for the first time we knew exactly why and more or less where to start and I must admit without the topo it is hard to pick it up on your electronics.

[robfisher]

Who says fishing is just luck... it?s a scientific art... coupled with experience and a dash of luck... I guess that?s why we keep going back for more... the more we learn the less we realise we know.

[pomerob]

Back to the old saying "the more you practice the luckier you become". Oh so true.