FOSAF FLYFISHING REPORTS - Trout - North Eastern Cape Highlands

Rhodes.

Dave Walker reports that after a very good autumn with good flows the rivers are starting to drop back to winter levels. It has been relatively mild up until now, but it is hoped that there will be good snowfalls later in winter to boost flows. The rivers will remain open for fishing this winter.

A very good rainbow was taken up at the lake at Tiffendell together with a number of smaller fish which indicates that this is one of the very few dams in the country with a self-sustaining population.

Maclear & Ugie

Colin Moolman reports that 20 fly fishers entered the Rapture of the River festival which was held 10 to 11 May. Apparently, everyone fished the streams and some good catches were recorded, with most of the larger fish coming out of the Mooi. Because of the fire danger all the PG Bison waters were closed, and the lower stretches were still too discoloured after the heavy autumn rains. Despite this there was plenty of river available on the upper stretches of the Pot tributaries and the Mooi and Wildebees on privately owned farmland.

The rivers have now closed until Sept 1 and in the PG Bison forestry areas until the first rains, but there are about 20 well stocked dams in the area which anglers can fish in winter.

Barkly East

On the last weekend of the season 4 members of the local club fished the Vaalhoek, one of the many streams available to the club, and caught 86 rainbows most of which were between 20cm and 25cm but a 50cm fish was also taken. The streams are now closed until Sept 1.

For winter fishing there are two dams in the Happy Valley area, both of which have been well stocked.

Day tickets at R150,00 are available from Andrew Clark at 084 5166471 or andrew.clark@bkb.co.za.

Lady Grey

The Karringmelkspruit in the Lupela Lodge section, as in the case of all the other streams in the NE Cape Highlands is flowing well, but after the recent drought the population has been thinned out with the result that there are plenty of fish over 40cm in good condition

A 14lb rainbow from a Barkly East Dam