Flyfishing report: Trout - East Free State & Lesotho

Date of Report: Tuesday, 27th May 2025
Name: Andre Burger
Email: pafly@netactive.co.za
Web: http://www.presentafly.com
Phone: 083 632 8729

Eastern Free State.

After a long delay the Ash River is flowing again as the servicing of the tunnel from Katse Dam has at last been completed. It was originally meant to be finished in March but only reopened a few days ago. Hopefully a good number of rainbows survived in the deeper pools. We have still to be informed by Mavungana whether they will continue to lease a length of the Ash and also whether their lease on the Mountain Dam which is also in the Clarens area continues.

Andre has told us that there is good fishing again in the Klein Caledon where anglers may purchase tickets from De Molen for their stretch of river.

There are a number of well-stocked stillwaters in the Clarens area which are normally only open to anglers who have also booked accommodation at the venue. Andre also recommends the Welgevonden fishery in the Fouriesburg area for dependable trout fishing.

Lesotho

Over the late autumn and winter months there is self-catering accommodation at the Makhangoa Community Camp. This venue is primarily for yellowfishing in the Bokong River during summer when the yellows migrate up the Bokong River from Katse to spawn. It is now the turn of Katse rainbows to assemble in the river inlet or to journey upstream for their winter spawn.

Alternatively, one can head up to the top end of the Bokong to try for the elusive large browns which tend to dominate the headwaters.

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The Klein Caledon, Clarens district.