Bass.

Walked down to the bigger of the two dams at about 11:30 this morning. Didn't think that I would have much luck due to the fact that a cold front had passed through during the night. But the dogs ands I needed the exercises. Started with a sinking line first, and tied a streamer on a short leader. Thought that with the bad weather the fish would be holding deep.

After about a half hour I noticed bass jumping in the shallows trying to catch dragonflies, changed to floating line and a foam beetle pattern  and fished the open patches of water among the reeds and water weeds, close to the bank, no luck. Put on a no 6 Mrs Simpson which I cast into deep water and let it sink well on the end of a long leader and used a slow retrieve with long pauses in between. Just when I was about to give up I had a heavy strike and a large bass was on, but it managed to shake the fly. Amazing how your enthusiasm returns after having a fish take your fly. My patience was rewarded and ten minutes later I had another strike, this time there was no mistake and I soon had a nice fish on the bank. After a couple of quick photos the fish was returned to the water.

Two photos of the bass I caught today. This fish was only about 14 inches long but it made my day.

Just after I caught this bass I disturbed a small mouse, which plunged in to the water and swam about 50 meters into the dam, made a u turn and swam straight back to arrive at the bank virtually at my feet. I was captivated watching this tiny mouse swim, while the theme music from Jaws played in my head, I forgot to take a photo of it swimming. I kept expecting it to become a meal for a bass.

While walking to the dam I saw this tiny flower growing in the grass, a delicate purple in the centre and no bigger than my thumb nail.

From tiny to big. A large thorn tree in the veld.