Flyfishing report: Trout - Mpumalanga

DULLSTROOM.

The early summer period has started well with rain in August and well over 100 ml recorded since then, so all the dams are full and looking promising.

John Hunter of the Village Angler reports that their Dullstroom Village Flyfishing Festival of 11-12 September was a huge success. He is reasonably certain that they beat their previous record of R135 000 being raised for local charities. Prime waters such as Millstream, Walkersons and Verlorenkloof were made available for the contestants and the winning fish netted was over 60 cm.

Jansons Dam which is managed by the DFFA has provided consistent returns with several fish over 52 cm. Because of the early rains they have been able to stock what they call the Skinny Stream which is the upper Crocodile thus giving club members the opportunity of a bit of stream fishing.

Mavungana’s Laverpa day ticket dams near Dullstroom have also fished well but their trophy dam at Birds of Prey will probably be closed this month until the weather cools again in April next year.

At the Transvaal Fly Fishers Middelpunt waters (www.tffc.co.za.) all 7 dams totalling 20 hectares are full and have been comprehensively stocked. Renovations have been completed on the clubhouse to cope with the popularity of the venue as a great family fishing destination.

SABIE.

 Johann van Vuuren, chairman of the Sabie Trout Club at sabietrout@gmail.com. reports that they recently hosted their Maggsleigh Junior Honorary rangers’ event which was attended by 39 juniors and seniors. Werner Wessels gave them info about the origin of trout in SA and an entomology lesson on food sources and preferences. They had the opportunity to test their hand at some flyfishing to land their first trout on fly.

The club’s dam event at Maggsleigh last weekend drew 20 members. The dam had been well stocked two weeks earlier, and several good fish have since been landed. The river was stocked last week and is flowing strongly after the recent rains, although visibility remains about 30 cm. Water temperatures are cool as summer begins.

Visitors wishing to fish the river may buy day tickets at Merry Pebbles and Uvavi in Sabie or Angling & Outdoors in Mombela.

Millstream near Dullstroom.

Sabie River.