World Carp Classic - Official Global Website
Lake Bolsena 2nd - 8th September 2012

The inaugural Daiwa Tzaneen Carp Classic, was held from the 28th June to the 2nd July on Tzaneen Dam, Limpopo.

The TCC is the Official South African Qualifier for the World Carp Classic, held annually and which now sees no less than 30 countries participating in it annually.

With a minimum weight for the Carp at 7kg, tactics were very different to any other angling tournament held in South Africa.

The high minimum weight combined with the rules being very close to how specimen anglers fish naturally, the event attracted the cream of SA’s specimen Carp anglers.

Fanie Botha Dam is not an easy water and it was chosen for the quality of the fish it holds, but also due to the tough conditions, the winning peg will have had to work really hard to get their fish out. Qualities which will be invaluable in France in September.

Angling was predictably slow, with Day 1producing just two fish over the minimum weight.

By close of Day 1 Peg 12 in the Tzaneen Specimen Camp Zone leading the way.

Day 2 was equally difficult, with a few more fish coming out, but the Field of anglers now new they were fishing a very different water to their local dam back home.

Day 3 is the usual day when anglers get their heads around Fanie and start to catch a few. Conditions were very tough, with locals telling it was the coldest winter they could remember.

But as expected the fish began to come and a pattern of which pegs could be in contention, emerged.

Day 3 was also the day which any anglers who wanted, could redraw, and stand a chance to pick some of the swims not in use. As it turned out nobody wanted to move, but by day 5, some would regret the decision.

Day 4 - and we had a fewer pegs in contention, with Loukie &Hans fishing peg 3 in the BFA zone leading the way.

By the end of the competition, it was clear they had out fished the rest of the Field, skilfully extracting hooked fish from the tough underwater structure.

What wasn't clear who would win the tussle for 2nd and 3rd place.

Another tussle was also on for the team trophy. Only three teams entered, but the quality of the field showed just how tough the event was. Team BFA led the field until the last 24hrs. Udo & Schelton from team BigCarpSA, stormed off hauling in fish, not only passing Team BFA, but individually jumped into 2nd place.

The final big prize of the evening was the Wild Card selection to accompany Hennie du Preez and Andries Maree to this years World Carp Championships in France.

After much deliberation and visiting every peg on the water, they finally decided upon Bruce McKinley.

Bruce a long standing specimen angler was very excited about joining the team, and will make a worthy companion to the overseas campaign.

The Daiwa Tzaneen Carp Classic 2011 is an annual event, and the gateway for all South African’s to fish the World Carp Classic. Next year we’ll be holding qualifying events in various provinces, with the final again to be held in Tzaneen.

The event was filmed for Super Sport, so expect it to be broadcast around end June, early August.