Fishing on a High Note: A day on the water with Kurt Darren.

On Bronkhorstspruit Dam, Kurt Darren, the towering icon of Afrikaans music, ambles onto the front casting deck and pitches a perfect shot beneath a rusty brown jetty. He works the bait slowly, rod tip at 11 o’clock, alert for the telltale tic of a subtle bite. Kurt speaks softly and smiles broadly, congratulating himself on a cast that should produce a fish. He is in his happy place. It occurs to me, the process of fishing contrasts sharply with his public presence as the Sokkie Prince. There are neither fawning fans nor thunderous ovations, no ringing phones, tight schedules or maddening decisions, only the solitude of a quiet mid-week lake and the click and whir of steady casting. Perhaps it’s the quietude that feeds his fishing passion? “I have done a lot of fishing, but bass is my favourite . . . I like to hunt the predator,” the renowned entertainer lets on. We drift slowly down the shoreline. Kurt casts, pitches and retrieves rhythmically all the while speaking in a quiet, almost inaudible tone. “It’s like a chess game, figuring out where they are and how to catch them.” It’s evident the tall, imposing star of music is no stranger to a fishing rod. The way he handles a baitcaster and the hidey-holes where he places his lure reveals vast experience. Soon, his skillsets strike a chord. Kurt sweeps his rod with a measured hookset and latches onto a typical 1kg Bronkies bass. He plays the fish slowly, as if to squeeze every drop of excitement from the episode before leisurely lipping the fish and hoisting it above his head. Kurt briefly admires the bass, leans over the port side gunwale and gently releases it. He turns toward me and reveals a secret. “I like slow fishing and I like a Watermelon-Red Glitter fluke,” a hint for me to follow his lead. Success in the music business requires hard work, discipline, passion and determination, the same qualities it takes to be a good angler. The simple revelation draws back the curtain on the true Kurt Darren . . . a quiet, humble, unselfish man who would undoubtedly find joy in seeing me catch a fish. The kind of guy who would be welcome on any boat, anytime. We continue our march down the lake, talking and casting. “Fishing is a team thing for me. I don’t like to do it alone. It’s something to be shared,” Kurt reveals. “It’s sort of like golf - who plays golf alone?” Kurt enjoys fishing with his brother Darryn most of all and speaks unabashedly of their closeness. A well-known personality in southern Africa bassing circles, Darryn has many times expressed the same mutual admiration. The boys from Centurion maintain a deep, abiding, unmistakable brotherly love. “Darryn and I grew up hunting and fishing with our father and family friends,” Kurt reminisces. “Darryn, dad Koot and I were the competitive ones - in a nice, family kind of way. Sadly, dad passed away in 2012, but not before bequeathing the brothers an appreciation for the outdoors. Kurt with his brother, Darryn Van Heerden (left). The brothers maintain a special relationship and fish together as often as possible. The boys were raised in Pretoria and as youngsters fished small, local private dams, including the Pierre Van Ryneveld quarry where they honed their bass fishing skills. They walked to the dams back then, in a period Kurt describes as “safe.” As the brothers grew older, they acquired a bass boat and a yen for tournament fishing. They attended local competitions for fun and travelled afar to pit their skills against others. Kurt recalls fondly winning the Albert Falls Classic in 2006 when partnered with brother Darryn and several top placings at Inanda Classics. “It was an amazing time in our lives. Since then Darryn and I have done a lot of things, but most of all we still enjoy fishing together,” Kurt confesses. Kurt’s musical career blossomed in the early 1990’s leading to the release of his first album in 1995, “For your precious love” and his 2002 release of his mega-hit, “Meisie Meisie” that soared him to stardom. Since then the crooner has been awarded seven South African Music Awards, released 24 CD’s, collected 21 Gold Albums, appeared in five movies and worked as a television presenter. “My run in South Africa has been spectacular,” Kurt humbly admits. But it hasn’t come easy. He describes dispassionately the long hours performing at small venues such as furniture stores, malls and private parties, singing for anyone who would listen. It took years of hard work to climb the charts and he credits many of his achievements to fishing. Success in the music business requires hard work, discipline, passion and determination, the same qualities it takes to be a good angler. “Fishing taught me many valuable lessons,” he states. The downside to his multi-platinum success is that he has less time to fish, especially with his brother. “We don’t get to fish together enough anymore. Between Darryn’s successful business and my schedule, fishing has become a luxury,” he admits, but despite the harried schedule wouldn’t have it any other way. “I love what I do and don’t regret a single moment,” he states firmly. The musical artist remains humbled by the many people who sing his songs and play his melodies and he speaks tenderly of the young fans. Kurt acknowledges a soft spot for the large gathering of youngsters who come to his concerts, not only in South Africa, but around the world. Music has been a vehicle to transport him around the globe. Kurt remains in demand in many countries - New Zealand, Australia, Belgium, Holland, Canada and America. Not only does he perform for diverse audiences but sneaks in fishing trips. Celebrity status has also enabled him to engage in conservation efforts and he was recently named an Honorary Ranger with San Parks. “I try to do my part where I can,” Kurt explains. We pack our rods and steer a course toward the ‘super-secret’ hot spot on the lake known as The Kraal to rejoin Darryn who is fishing with a mutual friend on another boat. We ease close and big brother jumps aboard, pointing to his watch and reminding us of a film crew waiting at the launch ramp. We race across the lake and drop Kurt for his date with the cameras. The crooner has been awarded seven South African Music Awards, released 24 CD’s, collected 21 Gold Albums, appeared in five movies and worked as a television presenter. It’s old hat for Kurt as he listens and complies with the director’s requests. Position, light, props and angles fill the menu. Kurt is asked to pick up a rod, throw a cast down the shoreline and pretend to fish. He follows instructions and surprisingly (or not?) catches a fat bass in ankle deep water. Kurt, the fish magnet! From the sidelines Darryn tells me Kurt will soon release a new CD entitled Laat Die Dansvloer Brand (Burning up the Dance Floor) and has dedicated one song on the CD, Jy’s ‘n Legend (You are a legend) to the memory of his late father, the man who always had time to take him fishing. Another song, Warrelwind Kind (Whirlwind Child) is for daughter, Kyrah. Family certainly holds a prominent place in Kurt’s life. Filming comes to an end and I join the brothers for one last fling with the Bronkies bass. I ask Kurt if he tires of the attention, his life in a fish bowl. He assures me that he has come to terms with the hectic schedule and daily regimen of publicity and has no plans to slow down anytime soon. I ask the obvious question – what’s next for Kurt Darren? “I’d like to act more, maybe write a column again and certainly do more fishing,” is his ready answer. He looks pensively at brother Darryn, wraps an arm around his shoulder and throws in one more future wish – “I’d like to go back to Letsibogo with this guy right here and better my PB of 4,8kg!” I certainly look forward to recording it when it happens -it couldn’t happen to a nicer guy!