THE Mercury Amatola Bass Classic is one of the biggest fishing competitions held in the country and it takes place right on East London’s doorstep at Wriggleswade Dam.
There is also a log cabin as you drive into the dam premises which is available to rent as a self-catering unit. Both are R200 a night for four people.
At the camping and caravan area it costs R40 per adult and R30 per child per night.
Adjoining the caravan belonging to my host family is an enclosed tent area which has two wooden beds, mattresses, a comfy 80s style couch, coffee table, plastic table and chairs. Simple stuff, but I was grateful to have a real bed all to myself and a camping area that didn’t require me to walk around like the Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Just two steps away is their private kitchen and separate bathroom with a shower, basin and flush toilet. There are ablution blocks for the campsite which also have showers and hot water.
Camaraderie was such a big part of the weekend. Anglers could be heard asking friends if they thought they would catch the big one and where the best fishing spots were.
Anglers started launching boats from 3.30am on Saturday morning preparing for the 6am start. The motors cause quite a racket so I got up at 4.30am, dressed warmly, had some tea with Cyril and Barbara and watched the boats being launched.
However, the weather was cold and windy and the fish weren’t biting. Some anglers came in early while others stuck it out till 4.30pm. At the clubhouse weary anglers would slowly make their way to the weigh-in tables with their bags of fish.
Brett Edmunds caught the biggest fish that day when he hooked a 2.8kg bass. He was in line to win the Mercury Crackleback 500 worth R250000. But his euphoria was shortlived as there was still another day’s fishing ahead.
It was freezing cold on Sunday morning so I opted to stay in bed sleeping and reading before making my way down to the clubhouse to watch the anglers return for the last half of the competition. By 10.30am word was already going around the camping area that the biggest fish had been caught by East Londoner Ryan Pickering who is originally from Stutterheim. He netted a 3.415kg bass which won him the snazzy red boat.
Fishermen – and women – all said it was another tough day on the water. Things became jovial again at the prize-giving. Cyril, who is vice-commodore of the Stutterheim Aquatic Club and chairman of the Border Bass Club which organises the Mercury Amatola Bass Classic said it’s one of the biggest fishing competitions in the country and one of the few which has so many prizes for anglers.
The dam is nestled inbetween expansive land. While I enjoyed my time reading and watching the weigh-ins at the clubhouse my host family promised to invite me to Wriggleswade Dam another weekend so I could go out fishing with them. The dam can also be used for skiing, sailing, canoeing and fishing so if you love the outdoors and quiet then it’s the perfect getaway.
• For more information call caretaker Amanda Cohen: (083)752- 4545.
• If you would like your Eastern Cape accommodation establishment featured in the Saturday Dispatch, e-mail:
An ideal fisherman’s haven
There is also a log cabin as you drive into the dam premises which is available to rent as a self-catering unit. Both are R200 a night for four people.
At the camping and caravan area it costs R40 per adult and R30 per child per night.
Adjoining the caravan belonging to my host family is an enclosed tent area which has two wooden beds, mattresses, a comfy 80s style couch, coffee table, plastic table and chairs. Simple stuff, but I was grateful to have a real bed all to myself and a camping area that didn’t require me to walk around like the Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Just two steps away is their private kitchen and separate bathroom with a shower, basin and flush toilet. There are ablution blocks for the campsite which also have showers and hot water.
Camaraderie was such a big part of the weekend. Anglers could be heard asking friends if they thought they would catch the big one and where the best fishing spots were.
Anglers started launching boats from 3.30am on Saturday morning preparing for the 6am start. The motors cause quite a racket so I got up at 4.30am, dressed warmly, had some tea with Cyril and Barbara and watched the boats being launched.
However, the weather was cold and windy and the fish weren’t biting. Some anglers came in early while others stuck it out till 4.30pm. At the clubhouse weary anglers would slowly make their way to the weigh-in tables with their bags of fish.
Brett Edmunds caught the biggest fish that day when he hooked a 2.8kg bass. He was in line to win the Mercury Crackleback 500 worth R250000. But his euphoria was shortlived as there was still another day’s fishing ahead.
It was freezing cold on Sunday morning so I opted to stay in bed sleeping and reading before making my way down to the clubhouse to watch the anglers return for the last half of the competition. By 10.30am word was already going around the camping area that the biggest fish had been caught by East Londoner Ryan Pickering who is originally from Stutterheim. He netted a 3.415kg bass which won him the snazzy red boat.
Fishermen – and women – all said it was another tough day on the water. Things became jovial again at the prize-giving. Cyril, who is vice-commodore of the Stutterheim Aquatic Club and chairman of the Border Bass Club which organises the Mercury Amatola Bass Classic said it’s one of the biggest fishing competitions in the country and one of the few which has so many prizes for anglers.
The dam is nestled inbetween expansive land. While I enjoyed my time reading and watching the weigh-ins at the clubhouse my host family promised to invite me to Wriggleswade Dam another weekend so I could go out fishing with them. The dam can also be used for skiing, sailing, canoeing and fishing so if you love the outdoors and quiet then it’s the perfect getaway.
• For more information call caretaker Amanda Cohen: (083)752- 4545.
• If you would like your Eastern Cape accommodation establishment featured in the Saturday Dispatch, e-mail:
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