Words by: Daantjie Botha
From 5 to 10 October 2025, Vanderkloof Dam in the Northern Cape welcomed South Africa’s elite artificial lure anglers for the annual South African Artificial Lure Angling Association (SAALAA) National Championships. Sixty anglers from North Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Central Gauteng, and Cape Winelands descended on the picturesque dam to test their skill, strategy, and endurance against both the water and one another.
The Championships featured divisions catering to a wide range of competitors: A Team, B Team, Juniors (U/18), Ladies, Managers, Veterans, and Development. Teams arrived on Saturday, 4 October, checked into accommodations across Vanderkloof, and attended the official captains’ meeting at Monte Crous Hotel at 18:00. The session covered safety protocols, competition rules, and scoring procedures, ensuring all participants were well-prepared. A welcoming dinner followed, giving seasoned anglers and first-time provincial representatives a chance to connect, exchange stories, and soak in the anticipation of the week ahead.
Sunday and Monday served as practice days, allowing competitors to study the dam, scout fish-holding areas, and fine-tune their strategies. For many, this was their first experience on Vanderkloof Dam, and the sheer expanse of water, along with the long distances required to navigate effectively, presented a steep learning curve. Cool, windy conditions marked the early days, but forecasts promised steadily improving weather as the week progressed, which helped the anglers adapt and plan their approaches for competition.
Artificial lure fishing is a discipline unlike any other, requiring precision, patience, and creativity. Competitors must rely solely on artificial lures—soft plastics, flies, artificial baitfish, and jig heads—with bait fishing strictly prohibited. The National Championships are scored using a points system based on species diversity and fish size, and only catches meeting minimum length requirements are eligible. SAALAA recently adopted a photo-measure-and-release system: each fish is measured on a dedicated board and photographed with the angler’s competition number before being returned to the water. This approach promotes sustainable fishing, safeguards native species, and aligns with international best practices established by FIPSED (The International Federation of Sport Freshwater Fishing). Membership in FIPSED also allows top South African anglers to represent the country at world championships, keeping the door open for international glory.
Vanderkloof Dam offers a rich and varied fishing experience. Target species for the week included Barbel, Carp, Largemouth and Smallmouth Yellowfish, Largemouth Bass, Orange River Mudfish, Moggel, Dwarf Kurper, Vlei Kurper, and Blue Kurper. Each species required a different approach and lure choice, showcasing the skill and versatility of the competitors. Barbel were primarily caught on slow-sinking pumpkin seed lures, either pitched at cruising fish or worked along the banks where they were basking. Carp were targeted with small Sada leadheads rigged with curly-tail trailers, pitched or dipped in areas where feeding activity was observed. The Yellowfish proved more challenging, taken on a variety of hard baits, including Salmo 3.5–5.5 Hornets, Rapala DT8s, and Strike King 3XD lures. Largemouth Bass were fooled by small jerkbaits such as the Sensation Ghieliemientjie, Junior Flukes, and small Senkos, demonstrating the need for subtle presentations and precise retrievals.
Cooler water temperatures slowed the usually aggressive Yellowfish, requiring anglers to fish more deliberately, while Barbel remained active and offered plenty of action. Carp in pre-spawning mode provided exciting opportunities, and the abundance of healthy Largemouth Bass—including a monster 3.4 kg specimen—added an extra thrill to the week. Largemouth Bass and invasive Carp were removed after capture, while all native species were released.
After two demanding days of competition, the team results were revealed:
- A Team: North Gauteng
- B Team: Limpopo
- Juniors: Limpopo
- Ladies: Limpopo
- Masters: North Gauteng
- Managers: Limpopo
- Development: North Gauteng
Overall Winners: Limpopo
Following the Nationals, 22 anglers advanced to the National Protea Trials, a two-day individual competition designed to select anglers for South Africa’s 2026 Protea team. Senior anglers fish completely alone on their boats, with every decision and action their own, while Junior anglers are accompanied only by a skipper to drive the boat; aside from this, they fish entirely on their own, relying solely on their skill and judgment. Anglers were limited to a maximum of five fish per species over the two days, introducing a strategic challenge in deciding which species to target, when, and how, while factoring in weather and water conditions.
After two intense days of solitary competition, the Trials concluded with a prize-giving ceremony at Monte Crous Hotel. The results were as follows:
Seniors Top 3: Francois Joubert – 100.000 | Rudolph Venter – 46.459 | Daantjie Botha – 45.756
Juniors Top 3: Tiano Alberts – 100.000 | Josh Stobbart – 68.533 | Christiaan Visagie – 65.935
These anglers now form the pool from which South Africa’s next Protea team will be selected, representing the country internationally in 2026.
The Championships and Trials wrapped up with a celebratory dinner at Monte Crous Hotel, where competitors shared stories of hard-fought battles, memorable catches, and the camaraderie that defines SAALAA events. Organisers expressed their gratitude to the Vanderkloof community, local accommodations, and the Vanderkloof Boat Club for their support, with special thanks to Monte Crous Hotel for expertly hosting all formal functions.
Looking ahead, the 2026 SAALAA National Championships will be held at Loskop Dam. With the sport continuing to grow across South Africa, organisers anticipate an even larger turnout and another week of thrilling competition, where strategy, endurance, and precision lure fishing will once again define the nation’s top anglers.
View Gallery
