#LockDownChallenge – #ChallengeAccepted

Attention all Anglers, colleagues, friends, family & neighbours!

As per Government instruction, here we all are into a nation-wide Lockdown as from midnight last night for the next 21 days. This is not a vacation. Sadly, we cannot go fishing for three weeks.  How nice would that not have been for all of us? Wow imagine …. 3 weeks fishing!

For us, this week would have been our final preparations for the South African World Carp Classic Qualifiers event. This event has been postponed 2 weeks prior to the Lockdown date. Needless to say, we are not just disappointed, but our home is packed with everything carpy, fishing & camping.

Now that life has given us lemons, we will not just make lemonade. We will grab the Tequila and salt and make the best of the 3 weeks ahead! After all, there is always something to do before a session. Not to mention that familiar saying; “Yes dear, I’ll do it when I have time.” Well, now you have the time to do all those things!

LockDown list: Make a to do list! Yes! Check!

We got those last minute necessities before the LockDown started. Be budget wise.

Be safe when you go to shops. Wear masks and gloves if you have. Avoid crowded areas and shops. Keep a safe 1,5m distance from fellow shoppers. *Remember: If you forgot the dog food or ran out of milk …. don’t stress! You are allowed to go fill up on food & medical needs during the lockdown if it is necessary. But do not abuse this opportunity given. Only go out if absolutely necessary!

Know what is going on! Know what the exact rules are for the LockDown. What are you allowed to do, and what not? Know who to contact in your area in the event of an emergency. Have a plan ready for the worst-case scenario. Keep your phones charged and preloaded with minutes and data, not just to know what is going on outside your locked area, but also to keep in touch with friends and family.

Make a list of all the things you would like to do for the next 3 weeks. Watch movies, catch up on series, change that lightbulb at the back of the house, clean out the garage spend quality time with your family …. the list is endless! Make sure you do it all!

Silver lining. Do not forget to see the silver lining of the situation. You get to spend time with your loved ones. Make the most of your time together. Make every second count and stay healthy!

We as a married couple, welcome the LockDown and will adhere to the rules. Out of pure respect for our fellow anglers, neighbours, friends and family. We will do our small part to help our country. We will stay home!

I for one, have a lot of things I have been wanting to do for months and even years, not just for fishing but also for our home sweet home! Wors has a lot he would like to experiment with …. all are fishing related … obviously!

Day 1 of the Lockdown has arrived.

Nothing out of the ordinary so far. The normally quiet neighbour is now building something. Grinding and sawing away. Besides the building project next door, there is a distinct silence. We hope our fellow South Africans are staying home too.

The day does not seem much different than any normal day off of work feels like. We start with some coffee and rusks. Then we have some big decisions to make!

What to do today, tomorrow and the day after, and the day after that ……

Well today will mostly be spend planning our 21 days of captive freedom, however Wors has already jumped into the mess of a dining room table and started sorting out old and used rigs.

Let us call it Rig Recycle Day!

Many of the components of the rigs can be used again. Anti-Tangle Sleeves, ring swivels, kickers, even hooks and some rigs are still barely used and can be put away for next time when the locks unlock, and we can once again enjoy the art and passion of angling. What we are doing today will be to recycle all the rigs. Discard what needs to be discarded and re-use everything possible. When the recycle process is done…. naturally we built some rigs.

Off course we will not be completely submerged in the angling gear and tackle…. we have major fishing gear clean up and sorting out to do and will spread it out over the 21 days. In-between we will enjoy the occasional movie or series, make some yummy foods and do the all daily routine tasks in the household. We will also do some maintenance tasks for the home and keep in touch with friends and family.

This clean-up & sorting process includes washing the car, trailer, rubber duck & rod pods. Our baits need sorting …  my poor freezer is packed with more baits than actual food… that needs a major clean and sorting too! These are just some of what we will be doing during lockdown. Remember, all these tasks can be done as a fun activity with kids. Involve them now (if they are not already involved) and they will grow to love the sport just as much as you do.

We will try to keep the readers updated on how we keep ourselves busy and occupied during the LockDown. How we keep ourselves sane and manage our fishing withdrawal symptoms!

Keep your eyes peeled for more and let us know what you have been up to!

Email us on: stywelyne@stywelyne.net