| Date of Report: Monday, 5th May 2025 |
|
Name: Dave Walker Email: dave@wildtrout.co.za Phone: 082 475 5775 Rhodes. The streams look great at present and the Wild Trout waters remain open throughout winter. These will be icy from now and mainly for the hardy anglers who are prepared to wade them. There is also good fishing up at Loch Ness at the old Tiffendell site which has a self-sustaining rainbow population at very high altitude where the margins are often iced over in the early morning. Just make sure you have a good 4x4 for the challenging road up to the dam. Maclear & Ugie. Colin Moolman says that unfortunately they had to cancel their Rapture of the River Festival which was scheduled for 1 to 3 May due to the lack of interest. This was probably due to the numerous festivals held in autumn/winter available to flyfishers. It was also probably just as well because the streams were only fishable in the upper reaches but with drier weather setting in it will be worth heading for the little fished lower sections which are at their best from now until the streams close on May 30. Also note that all the forestry waters are closed until the first good Spring rains put an end to the fire season. After May 30 the Maclear Fly Fishing Club has access to a number of stocked dams on farm properties. The fact that the district has had good late rains, and the streams are running high augers well for the Maclear Ladies Fly Fishing Festival to be held 9 to 11 October. Refer also to https://www.fosaf.org.za/calendar.php. More information on the fishing in the Maclear area can be accessed by going to the Maclear Fly Fishing Club’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/p/Maclear-Fly-Fishing-Club-100057624511870/?_rdr. or website at https://www.maclear.co.za/activities/fly-fishing. Barkly East Andrew Clark reports that all the rivers to which the club has access are closed from May 1 until Sept 1. These are running well so it should result in a good spawning season over winter. For winter fishing the club has access to at least 6 dams which have been stocked, some with brown trout. Tickets for club waters at R150,00 are available from Andrew Clark at 084 5166471 or andrew.clark@bkb.co.za. Note that their popular Barkly East River Festival will be held Oct 31 to November 1. For further information please go to http://www.fosaf.org.za/calendar.php. Lady Grey Denise Ross of Lupela Lodge confirms that the river is running well but that there appear to be few fish around although a few months ago it appeared to be over-populated. This phenomenon has happened before and might be associated with the early onset of the spawning season and normally by Spring the fish are back. This section of the river remains open over winter.
Ice on the Naude’s Neck pass.
A Maclear river. |
