THE BLOEMHOF DAM
1. LOCALITY OF BLOEMHOF
1.1. The town of Bloemhof is
located on the N12 national road from Johannesburg to Cape
Town via Kimberley and is 350 km from the OR Tambo
International Airport. The Kimberley airport is 152
kilometres from Bloemhof. The N12 is a tarred road which is
in a reasonably good condition. Roads in the reserve where
the dam is situated are generally suitable for all vehicles
except when exceptionally wet conditions exist.
1.2. The town was established on the farm Klipfontein 1864.
The town has a colourful history, even experiencing a brief
diamond rush before it developed its current economic
activities. Bloemhof currently is a maize centre dominated
by tall storage silos. Other product7s are dairy, salt and
malt. The town’s position on the banks of the Vaal River
makes it and ideal tourism destination.
2. BLOEMHOF DAM:
2.1. Bloemhof Dam is situated on the Vaal River,
approximately 2km upstream of the town of Bloemhof. The dam,
originally known as Oppermansdrif Dam was built in the late
1960's. The dam is situated on the border of the North West
and Free State Provinces.
2.2. The Bloemhof Dam has a spectacular wall of 4,5Km long
across the Vaal River. It has 20 crests and is probably the
most visited tourist attraction in the area. Directions to
the dam wall can be found in the town itself. The Bloemhof
Dam is one of the largest dams in South Africa, covering an
area of some 25 000 ha and reaching over 100 km upstream
from the dam wall.
2.3. The dam is fed by the Vaal River. At full supply the
capacity of Bloemhof Dam is 1 269 million m3 with a surface
area of 223km2. It is therefore a very large and shallow
reservoir in an area with relatively low rainfall (474mm/a)
and high potential evaporation (~1800mm/a).
3. BLOEMHOF DAM NATURE RESERVE
3.1. The Bloemhof Dam Nature Reserve lies on the shores of
the Bloemhof Dam and is home to a rich array of game and
bird life. The reserve is a 12000 ha conservancy in open
Kalahari scrub, thornveld country offering the visitor a
rare combination of game viewing on the reserve while
fishing at one of the most popular angling sites in South
Africa.
3.2. The reserve hosts a wide variety of plains game with
particularly large herds of springbok, black wildebeest,
eland and gemsbok. Over 250 species of birds have been
recorded at the reserve including a number of rare
waterfowl.
3.3. The Sandveld Nature Reserve lies on the river’s
southern bank, while west of the town you will find the SA
Lombard Game Reserve.
4. THE BAMBOESSPRUIT ANGLING VENUE
4.1. World Carp Angling Championships Venue :
4.1.1. The Championships will take place at the Bloemhof Dam
which is the most favoured carp fishing destination in South
Africa. Although the 2008 World Carp Angling Championships
take place in October, at which time a lot of fish will be
caught, the best time for freshwater fishing is actually
from November to February.
4.1.2. Bloemhof Dam hosts a number of major local and
international angling competitions mostly between South
Africa, Namibia & Zimbabwe and other Southern African
Countries.
4.1.3. Some of the most popular sport and recreational
angling venues are situated within the Bloemhof Nature
Reserve and the Sandveld Nature reserve. Within both the
nature reserves there are certain venues specifically
allocated to competition angling. The general public are not
allowed the fish on these areas. The most popular organized
angling venues are the Sloep, Sandveld, Verlatenkraal,
Volstruisbaai and Bamboesspruit. Bamboesspruit is the chosen
venue for the 2008 World Carp Angling Championships.
4.2. Location:
The venue is situated at Kingswood, 320 km from the OR Tambo
airport on the N12 highway to Cape Town. From the
Bloemfontein airport the distance is 230 km.
4.3. Climate:
The climate is typical highveld climate. Summers are warm to
hot with 610mm annual rainfall. Winters are dry, cold and
frosty.
The temperature in Bloemhof during the 2008 championships is
expected to be between 10 and 28 degrees Celsius with the
chances of rain less than 15%.
4.4. Angling at Bamboesspruit:
Bamboesspruit is one of the best venues for carp angling in
the world. In recent competitions all teams managed to land
fish, some even registering over 800 kg in a 72 hour
session. Species found in Bloemhof Dam are the following:
4.4.1. Common Carp / Mirror Carp
Carp is the most targeted species at Bloemhof Dam. They
range in size from 1, 5 kg to 8 kg. Although carp of over 20
kg have been netted in this dam they are rarely caught by
anglers.
Your casting distance will vary from time to time. In the
summer you can fish between 40 meter and 110 meter, where in
the winter you will have to fish a bit deeper, namely 70
meter to 150 meter.
4.4.2. Grass Carp:
The dam has recently started producing catches of Grass
Carp. A very small number of grass carp could be excepted to
be caught during the championships. The average size for
this fish currently is about 2kg. It is bound to improve in
the years to come. South Africa already has a number of
destinations producing grass carp of well over 20 kilograms.
4.4.3. Sharp Tooth Catfish:
Catfish forms a very big part of Bloemhof Dam's fish
population. Good catches have been reported at Bloemhof Dam
in recent years. Catfish of well over 20 kilograms are
caught regularly and they are not that difficult to catch.
Depending on the weight of your tackle, a catfish of over 20
kilograms can keep you busy for more than an hour.
4.4.4. Mudfish:
Mudfish are found in the dam, but are rarely targeted or
caught.
4.4.5. Yellow fish:
Although Yellows Fish are found throughout the Vaal river
system, they are rarely targeted or caught by bank anglers
in the Bloemhof Dam.
4.5. Compliance of the Venue with FIPS-ed Rules:
4.5.1. Although the Bloemhof dam is situated in the Vaal
River system the water at the competition venue in not
directly in the river and therefore no stream will affect
the anglers.
4.5.2. The width of the water at the angling venue differs
from 500-1500 meter. All participants will be angling form
the same shore (bank). The banks are reasonable flat and
easy to access.
4.5.3. A stretch of 3.5 km waterfront is available at this
venue that makes it suitable for the hosting of this event.
4.5.4. The dept of the water over the entire competition
area exceeds the require 1.5 meter dept. The average dept at
40-60 meters is between 4-7 meters.
4.5.5. At the angling venue there is no interruptions caused
by power lines, bridges, etc.
4.5.6. The selected angling area has equal angling
opportunities for all competitors.
4.5.7. The fish density is very good with catches of ranging
from 15-45 fish per peg per day. About 70% of all fish weigh
between 2kg & 5kg.
4.5.8. The venue does not present any danger to anglers or
spectators:
(a) The competition venue is situated in a nature reserve
with entrance restricted to organize angling. The criminal
element is therefore eliminated. In addition to the entrance
being restricted their will be visible policing on the
terrain.
(b) There are no land or water predators in the Bloemhof
Nature Reserve that could be harmful to participants.
(c) The dam water is of good quality and not polluted. There
is therefore no danger or risk of infection to participants.
Drinking water straight from rivers and streams could put
participants at risk of waterborne diseases. Borehole or
bottled mineral water should rather be used.
(d) The angling venue is in a malaria-free area and
therefore do not pose malaria risk. We however recommend the
use mosquito repellent at night time. There are no other
dangerous insects that participants should be aware of.
Honey bees could however be attracted if sweet ingredient is
used. In such cases bee traps is recommended.
(e) Bloemhof Dam is bilharzias free. Bilharzias can be a
problem in some of the east-flowing rivers. In die Vaal
River being a west-flowing river this is no problem.
(f) Although the water is clean of Hepatitis B it could in
rare instances be a problem in which participants must then
be inoculated. Water test are done regularly to ensure that
there is no risk for participants.
(g) Although the competition is taking place in mid summer
the sun can be very harmful regardless of whether there is
cloud cover or not. Sun block and protective clothing like
hats, long sleeve shirts and sunglasses are recommended
between 10:00 and 16:00.
5. INFRA STRUCTURE AND SERVICES:
5.1. Hospitality Tent:
A 9 meter x 21 meter tent will be erected at the competition
site as a dining room, beer garden, community hall, media
centre and for the purpose of conducting meetings. The tent
will be fully equipped with lighting, tables, chairs
crockery, cutlery and dinner-ware. Coffee and some other
beverages will be available at the tent on a 24 hour basis
Meals will be delivered to participants in cooler bags fully
equipped with knives, forks, glasses and soft drinks. Meals
will be serves to officials and dignitaries on a formal
sit-down basis in the hospitality tent.
5.2. Field Kitchen
A fully equipped field kitchen and sleeping quarters for ten
hotel personnel will be erected on the angling site. The
infra-structure to be erected will have no disturbing effect
on anglers.
5.3. Technical Officials Tent
A separate tent will be erected for the Angling Officials.
The updated scoreboards will be displayed at the Technical
Officials Tent as well as the Hospitality Tent.
5.4. Flagpoles
Flagpoles will be erected at the angling venue.
Participating countries are requested to bring their
National Flags to be mounted to the flag poles.
5.5. Chemical toilets
Sufficient chemical toilets will be erected at the
competition area. The toilets will be service daily to
ensure that toilets are in a good working order right
through the championships. Toilets will be inconspicuous and
ecologically acceptable.
5.6. Refuse:
Black plastic bags will be supplied to each pen for rubbish
disposal. Refuse will be removed from the terrain on a daily
basis. Littering of any kind is strictly prohibited. Refuse
may not be burnt or buried.
5.7. Medical facilities:
Medical facilities in cities and larger towns are
world-class, but in rural areas the clinics and hospitals
deal with primary health needs, and therefore do not offer
the range of medical care that the large metropolitan
hospitals do. Medical ordinance services will be available
on the Bamboesspruit terrain. A doctor, pharmacist,
paramedical team and ambulance services will be on standby.
5.8. Security and Safety:
Law Enforcement and visible policing will be done at the
competition venue.
5.9. Freshwater:
Fresh drinkable water derived from a borehole will be
available at the competition venue.
Click here for a
map of Bloemhof Dam.
|
