Casting Long, Catching Strong: Evander Dam Session
Arno van der Merwe
On the 2nd of September 2025, I set off to spend the day at Flora Country Ranch Adventures, Evander Dam (Peet Hattingh).
The weather had been hot for three days in a row, so I expected the water to feel warmer. To my surprise, when I tested it that morning, it was still quite cold.
That immediately shaped my plan: I set one short rod at about 50 meters for later in the day when the shallows would warm up, and I sent the other rod long, between 80 and 120 meters, with the spool open.
For my feed, I mixed 50/50 Popcorn Fine Feed and Heavyweight Feed, boosted with three squirts of Cypri Liquid Carp Food Feed Booster.
On my left rod (the short one), I set up with:
Top hook: Double PAW Duo Floaties backed with Caramel X Sweetdough.
Bottom hook: Double Minties Duo Floaties also backed with Caramel X Sweetdough.
Both hooks got dipped in water, rolled in HEP Maca Root, with Traction and Vaal King Boldips on the bomb.
On the right rod (the long one), my setup was:
Top hook: Single FBI Large Bleeding Floatie.
Bottom hook: Single Warrior Large Bleeding Floatie.
On the bomb Moonstone Liquid Gems and Monster Carp Muti.
The action told the story of the water.
Between 09:00 and 14:00, almost all my fish came off the long rod in deeper water.
Then, as I hoped, the sun warmed up the shallows, and between 14:00 and 15:00, the short rod finally delivered with two carp.
By the time I packed up, I had landed 12 carp and 1 barbel.
A proper session and proof again of how much planning and bait choice matter when conditions aren’t what you expect.
A big thanks goes to Michael Eduard Cato for all the advice and the excellent Magic Baits products.
Magic Baits forever!