In March 2023, the picturesque Roodekoppies Dam in South Africa set the stage for an exhilarating battle of skill, strategy, and endurance as 20 teams from around South Africa gathered to compete in the highly anticipated qualifier of the World Carp Classic. Renowned as the ultimate test of angling prowess, this prestigious carp fishing tournament attracted passionate anglers eager to showcase their expertise on the serene waters of this beautiful location. With the captivating backdrop of South Africa’s natural wonders, the event promised not only fierce competition but also a celebration of the sport’s camaraderie and appreciation for nature’s gifts. Let’s dive into the thrilling world of the World Carp Classic and discover the triumphs and tales that unfolded at Roodekoppies Dam.
After a very exciting peg draw and opening ceremony on the saturday, the teams were allowed to make their way to the swims stretched across the two and a half kilometers of bank space inside the nature reserve. Each team had ninety meters of bank side and were allowed to take lines all the way across the 1000m stretch of water in front of them. The first day kicked off with a number of 10kg plus fish caught across the field and at mid day the first of the bigger fish arrived. This was a stunning 14.5kg Common caught by one of last year’s champion anglers Immanuel Janse van Rensburg on peg 10 fishing for Team Carp Wise. For a venue like Roodekoppies Dam a carp of this size do not come very often and with it being day 1, the rest of the week looked to get very exciting indeed.
On day 2 the heat was on both in the competition and on the weather front. Team Karpioene on Peg 16 moved into the top spot after landing a beautiful 13.6kg common and were soon followed by their neighbours Team FTA on peg 17. Both teams seemed to find themselves amongst the bigger fish. The venue for this year’s WCCSAQ is well known for holding large numbers of wild commons that fall into the same weight class. But the better Specimen Carp Anglers in the field seemed to find ways to single out the bigger Specimens amongst the schools.
After a large storm in the night the fishing picked up considerably and for the next 2 days produced a large number of good size fish ranging between 12kg and 14kg. The top 5 teams fought hard to keep their spots. Team Carp Wise on peg 10 showed good skill from the beginning and took the lead on day 3 but had something really special in store on the morning of Day 4. They fished all through the night bagging one big fish after the other with little to now sleep and at 5am Wynand Van Tonder had a screaming take on his middle rod which was placed at long range. The fish fought much harder than most of the fish caught during the night and as it slipped into the net they realised that this was one of the lake’s bigger residents.
The Media team along with the tournament Director Charles Horlick were called to witness and capture a new Tournament record of 16.7kg common carp. This fish was to be the biggest fish of the competition. For a wild South African lake of this size infested with all kinds of predators including large Nile Crocodiles, this was a once in a lifetime fish to catch.
The weather for the duration of the week stayed above the 27 degree mark making it very hot and challenging. Team FTA on peg 17 landed a very nice 14.25kg common which bumped them into 2nd place just above Karpioene in 3rd place. Both teams weres chasing the leaders Team Carp Wise who were the leading the field with a 4kg margin. As we headed into the final day of angling it was still all to play for. The defending Champions Team Fish who were fishing in the bay suddenly kicked up a gear as the wind picked up and started pumping into their bay. They landed a beautiful 15kg common followed by another 12kg fish and within a few hours climbed into the top 5 spots.
With the sun rising on the final morning, a sense of anticipation hung in the air as the waters stirred. In a remarkable twist of fate, it was the skilled anglers of Team Carp Wise, positioned at peg 10, who emerged as the victors, securing the coveted 1st place in the competition. Right on their heels, Team FTA secured an impressive 2nd place, closely followed by the tenacious Karpioene, who clinched a well-deserved 3rd place. Throughout the tournament, every angler and team showcased unwavering dedication, pushing their limits, and forging strong bonds of camaraderie that illuminated the spirit of this extraordinary event.
