South African Special Creatures and Craws
During our 2016 trip to Southern Africa, we transited through Johannesburg both coming and going, but we did not manage to fish in South Africa. We chased tigerfish in Zambia, and met with some influential bass folks for dinner, but we didn’t have time to chase the big Florida strain largemouths that live down there.
That was a mistake, one that we hope to rectify in the next few years. After talking to friends including George Robey and Duncan Murfin, and watching videos from Chris Zaldain, I’m itching to get down there to tangle with some comparatively unpressured brutes.
When we get there, I’d love to catch ‘em flipping into heavy cover, likely with a creature bait or craw – so I’ll pack some in the colors known variously as “South Africa Special,” “South African Special or “SA Special.” They’re not the same from one manufacturer to the next, but most often they consist of a black or dark purplish base with a variety of flake, often some combination of red and silver.
Here are some of the heavy cover options that could very easily make the intercontinental, cross-hemisphere roster:
