Flyfishing report: Trout - Kwa-Zulu Natal Midlands

The stillwater temperatures are finally dropping quickly, after what feels like a warmer than usual early to mid-April. So, while the plane trees and liquid ambers in Nottingham Road and surrounds have been slow to yellow, they are now well on their way, and that could be construed quite a useful sign that one should be starting to look at the stillwaters.

I have not been looking much at the stillwaters, but that's because I'm a river nut.  Also, about a fortnight back, some rivers, like the Bushmans, were still flowing rather strongly, and then early last week, all the rivers were suddenly perfect. And in two weeks’ time (Mid-May), the Browns really are in breeding mode, and if the truth be told, our season should end then as it once did. So, add up these autumnal weeks and you will see there are about 3 of them, not much more. And as you read this, we are kinda in the middle of that 3-week purple patch.

If you missed the first half: my condolences. At the risk of being a bit smug, let me say that I did not.

The uMngeni was in fine fettle and although we didn't encounter any of the bigger fish. Those that we did find were looking up and taking dries. I don't often get to say that about the uMngeni. Those that were not looking up were panicking:  Yes, we put down our fair share of fish....it wasn't easy.  The rivers south of that were much lower in flow than we expected, and my friend Ray and I were surprised, but not totally unhappy, since it allowed us to toss dry flies all day on a cool blustery hopper-accident type of day which we enjoyed together. The fish were a tad unco-operative though, and we got just a handful of them. 

My oldest fishing pal "PD" and I tried a river north of the uMngeni a few days prior to that. That river was definitely flowing more strongly, but I would say it was perfect. I had a 14-inch fish sip a hopper like it was a mayfly, and PD had a bundle of action in the first pool, and then we really struggled for the rest of the day. 

I put it down to Browns being Browns, and I am going back there tomorrow to try to prove that.

Of course, we have had the first fire in the hearth since then, and as I write, a fresh wild wind is buffeting the windows and making things feel decidedly wintery. I wonder what water temps we will see tomorrow. Last week we saw 14, 17 and 16, heating up to maximums of 17, and 19 degrees C.

The weather and scenery and sort of autumnal feel at this time of year is just glorious, so you really should get out there before it's all over.  Mind you, if life deals you a bad hand and you can't get out in the next ten days, I don't believe you will be punished by the Gods, because the stillwaters SHOULD be coming into their own now.

Tight lines

Brownie from the Furth a uMngeni tributary.