We would like to rectify our initial post on Facebook relating to Bass fishing at Lake Umuzi as it wasn’t thought through well enough.
In 2008 when we added one thousand Bass, to increase the recreational value (with tilaphia as diet), to our dam the water was still murky, which prevented the sun rays from penetrating the water. A year later, in 2009, we noticed the water becoming clearer. By 2011, when we planned a Jetski show, we noticed the watergrass and by the time the show was due, we had to move the event to Unicor Dam, as the grass took over the entire dam. Since then it got progressively worse.
Of course, we are well aware that the inflow of sewer upstream is feeding the grass and algae, but it is out of our control. We do plan to mechanically clean the dam shortly. The idea is also to reduce the large number of small bass (between 200 & 300mm long) and allow Bass over 300mm to grow even larger for future fun of the Bass enthusiast. We also plan to introduce new Carp,under permit from Mpumalanga Fisheries, to control the new algae growth.
We hope that in future, Lake Umuzi will not only be known for the giant Carp but also to be a fun place for the Bass enthusiasts.
It is important to note that the bass reduction program is only for the Lake Umuzi (upper) Dam and not for Kamp Oase (lower) Dam, as it is reserved for campers only.
Permits, at No Charge, may be obtained during office hours (Mon to Fri, 8h00 to 16h00) from Roos & Rosslee’s office at Lake Umuzi South Bank. No one will be allowed to fish without the relevant, valid permits. This is simply a measure to control access and fisherman behaviour on our premises.
We hope that this will go a long way in clearing the matter. Any interested person is very welcome to visit our office during office hours to discuss any related issues.
Op die 9de September 2019 plaas Lake Umuzi ‘n berig op Facebook waar Swart Baar hengelaars genooi was om Swart Baars te kom hengel en verwyder aangesien ons die vis populasie in die dam wil herbalanseer.
Die reaksie was, om die minste te sê, heel interessant. Alhoewel heelwat hengelaars dadelik kom lyn nat maak het, het dit op sosiale media gegons. Gegewe die frustrasie wat Suid-Afrikaners oor die algemeen ervaar, of dit nou polities of ekonomies is, is dit heel verstaanbaar dat sommige Swartbaar hengelaars hulself heeltemal te buite gaan as iemand hul gunsteling “frustrasie onslae raak” tyd verdryf durf aan tas.
Dit is egter nodig om eers so ‘n bietjie agtergrond te gee.
In 2008 besluit ons by Lake Umuzi om die rekreasie waarde van ons dam te verhoog deur ‘n duisend Swart Baars by te voeg. Op daardie stadium was die water nog troebel sonder enige gras. Op aanbeveling van Hartebeespoort Visserye het ons Swart baars, groot hoeveelheid dwerg-, blou en vlei kurpers sowel as gillemientjies toegevoeg, as voedsel vir die Baars. Ongelukkig het die reiers dadelik toegesak op die kurpers, wat as gevolg van die koue water, naby die oppervlakte geswem het. Die voëls het korte mette met die kurpers gemaak, wat bedoel was vir die Swart Baars. Uit die aard van die saak was die klein karpies al wat oor was vir die Baars.
Teen 2009 het ons agter gekom dat die troebel water, al hoe helderder word, soos wat die karp populasie verminder het.
In 2011 wou ons ‘n Jetski toernooi op die dam hou. Aan die begin van díe jaar, was die dam nog skoon, maar teen Oktober 2011 moes dit afgestel word as gevolg van die watergras wat die dam oortrek het.
Van 2011 tot 2019 het die dam algaande verswak. Die munisipale rioollyne in die dorp loop gereeld oor en beland in die damme, wat die gras en alge voed. Alhoewel vele mense gou die skuld op die plaaslike regering wil pak, is baie self skuldig deur reën water in hul erwe na die riool te kanaliseer. Wanneer dit dan reën, kan die sisteem dit nie hanteer nie en loop die riool oor in die strome, wat later by ons beland.
Ons het aansoek gedoen by die Departement van Omgewingsake om die dam skoon te maak, en al is die reën seisoen op ons behoort ons binnekort te begin.
Sodra die dam meganies skoongemaak is, sal ons die vis populasie wil balanseer sodat die karp weer kans kry om die water natuurlik te vertroebel en sodoende te verhoed dat die sonlig by die bodem uit kom.
Uit ons gesprek met Philip Kemp van SA Bass Magazine, blyk dat dit ‘n goeie idee sal wees om Baars van tussen 200- en 300mm uit te haal en sodoende ander Baars ‘n kans te gee om groter te word, wat dan later vir groot plesier kan sorg vir Swart Baar entoesiaste.