\u201cIt was a beautiful overcast summer morning and the RPA anglers gathered to start the new year on a good note and hoped for tight lines and heavy bags,\u201d said Richards.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe started fishing at 7am in virgin waters with no feed.<\/p>
\u201cEveryone was given the opportunity to choose where they wanted to fish.\u201d<\/p>\n
Richards said the day was very daunting for her as with no feed in the water it took her some time and effort to figure out what works.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt about noon, with only five fish in the net, I baited with my favourite Awesome Baits feed, and opted to present with a long diery, coupled with a Leeu dip, from Awesome Baits.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince the fish were not forthcoming, I had to send my cast in deep enough to try find them,\u201d said Richards.<\/p>\n
After a short 15 minute wait, her line started moving slowly and stayed up tight, which meant there was a fish on it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI waited a few seconds to make sure that it really was a fish tightening my line and not the waves on the surface of the water.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the hope that this was a catch, I pulled my rod and hooked whatever was on my line.<\/p>\n
\u201cI slowly reeled in, trying not to frighten or stress the fish,\u201d said Richards.<\/p>\n
\u201cI gave it line when it wanted to run, and, therefore, tired it a little.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter a few minutes, the fish got closer to me in the shallows and that is when it started fighting back.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
ALSO READ:<\/span><\/p>\n Sylvie makes 2020 national SAFBAF angling team<\/a><\/p>\n Baiting her hook for a future in angling<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI had to apply all the techniques I had learned throughout the years not to scare it and not to risk it pulling itself off the hook or snapping my line.<\/p>\n \u201cI had to keep calm and not panic.\u201d<\/p>\n Calm and composed, Richards slowly brought the fish closer to her un-hooking station and keep nets.<\/p>\n \u201cBeing a few metres away from me, we saw it was a big one and my father, Phillip, grabbed the landing net to assist me with netting this giant,\u201d Richards said.<\/p>\n \u201cWith the water being murky, visibility of the fish was not the best and it took several attempts to net this Graskarp.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were all holding our breath while this was happening.\u201d<\/p>\n The scale at the weigh-in confirmed a 6.67kg Graskarp.<\/p>\n This brought Richards another club record and a new personal best as it was her biggest Graskarp so far.<\/p>\n \u201cI ensured my net was well underwater the entire time to ensure this beauty stayed alive, and I was very grateful for this awesome catch.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter the weigh-in, I walked hip-deep into the water and released this beautiful animal back to nature, safe, sound, well and alive; adhering to the catch and release and nature conservation regulations of competitive angling,\u201d said Richards.<\/p>\n \u201cI am thrilled and feel blessed with my achievement.<\/p>\n \u201cI always try to remain positive no matter how hard the fishing day is, as you never know what will come out of the waters.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hav<\/strong>e a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za,<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>or Ashley Kiley (Journalist)\u00a0ashleyk@caxton.co.za.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Also follow us on:<\/p>\n
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