tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-308671112024-03-13T19:42:22.831+02:00YellowsonflyThis blog focusses on flyfishing for yellowfish on the Middle Vaal River in South Africa. Occasionally I will wonder from that topic to discuss fly patterns and fishing in other watersheds... or whatever comes to mind.
Visit our Group in Facebook for more on flyfishing for yellowfish.Keith Wallingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00367952168010608017noreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30867111.post-39197024875931540942012-03-30T12:42:00.002+03:002012-04-02T18:18:51.663+03:00March 2012 Middle Vaal Report<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkniUx5-D5niCN25iZpAtWlqegvD0ZFtUccq45ad8vguJHn4EKFwk_zO7XKywpkN4tCN-dfKhpSlOzdoeicmNbjQQ6dAeOGSVWSYf73P05CkgGc3czRd8WdrlP3emIOW6Uw4x4/s1600/IMG_2765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkniUx5-D5niCN25iZpAtWlqegvD0ZFtUccq45ad8vguJHn4EKFwk_zO7XKywpkN4tCN-dfKhpSlOzdoeicmNbjQQ6dAeOGSVWSYf73P05CkgGc3czRd8WdrlP3emIOW6Uw4x4/s320/IMG_2765.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91J_SHdSMUj0kAIcSIfjOKV5wNavgEhxb9oqQqGdBAZoiCTA3DEKe8GPlBSRN7yAbt3pKir07_wfLqdFXJ-scULA5m3F0nO0-7JIJO6g5LU297sdhBoN05w08BT85wj4vnKQo/s1600/IMG_2739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91J_SHdSMUj0kAIcSIfjOKV5wNavgEhxb9oqQqGdBAZoiCTA3DEKe8GPlBSRN7yAbt3pKir07_wfLqdFXJ-scULA5m3F0nO0-7JIJO6g5LU297sdhBoN05w08BT85wj4vnKQo/s200/IMG_2739.jpg" width="200" /></a><shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"> <stroke joinstyle="miter"><formulas><f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"><f eqn="sum @0 1 0"><f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"><f eqn="prod @2 1 2"><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"><f eqn="sum @0 0 1"><f eqn="prod @6 1 2"><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"><f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"><f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></f></f></f></f></f></f></f></f></f></f></f></f></formulas><path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"><lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></lock></path></stroke></shapetype><shape id="Picture_x0020_5" o:spid="_x0000_s1027" style="height: 189.5pt; left: 0px; margin-left: 313.8pt; margin-top: 52.15pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; text-align: left; visibility: visible; width: 128.1pt; z-index: 2;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:title="IMG_2740" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\cnichols\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"><wrap type="square"></wrap></imagedata></shape><shape id="Picture_x0020_3" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 118.05pt; left: 0px; margin-left: 1.6pt; margin-top: 51.55pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; text-align: left; visibility: visible; width: 177.05pt; z-index: 1;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:title="IMG_2739" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\cnichols\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image002.jpg"><wrap type="square"></wrap></imagedata></shape><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">During the last few weeks the Vaal has been in the news for all the wrong reasons again. The culprit is nothing new but due to lower rainfall, warmer water, higher levels of organic matter the algae bloom is out of control. The Barrage is now starting to resemble Harties (a fishing paradise when I was a kid) and judging from reports is fast becoming irreversibly damaged. And it is not so much about the fishing but more about the quality of strategic water supply and the future use of it – think food for a growing population.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-HmN6JezBiXM6tmPUJP7SAXabINjSWloQQADAUEaOLWIoLISaT_WJE7p7CNnt4Vby0SSpQgzV9CvGTM8bLlNtWN2T0oUSbQMvahut1sGFZdIh7tIdLI3wj5xJIWP9FKzE7gqH/s1600/IMG_2760.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-HmN6JezBiXM6tmPUJP7SAXabINjSWloQQADAUEaOLWIoLISaT_WJE7p7CNnt4Vby0SSpQgzV9CvGTM8bLlNtWN2T0oUSbQMvahut1sGFZdIh7tIdLI3wj5xJIWP9FKzE7gqH/s320/IMG_2760.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">The state of the river has left most fishermen depressed and avoiding the river. I do not foresee an improvement in the quality of Barrage water in the next few weeks so the outlook is bleak. Talks of flushing the Barrage system is short term and will not improve the quality of water in the open system downstream – in fact the opposite will happen. Continued pressure is the only way we will get the required changes. Instead of launching a lone crusade a good idea would be to join up with the guys from SAVE <a href="http://www.save.org.za/"><span lang="EN-ZA">www.<b>save</b>.org.za</span></a></span><cite><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #666666;"> </span></cite></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIhE7XLwlPsSAONPNORpHtvVvJfzV9mIuHiSxvbF6-9LemaqTuf3ETHhDpMVpatgo2pU6YJMwpgx1k5TOMX86lVG90ORKkZr9N0ufEupsSqDIWChW1x79-pfRsL7EDxFJzBJMc/s1600/IMG_2752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIhE7XLwlPsSAONPNORpHtvVvJfzV9mIuHiSxvbF6-9LemaqTuf3ETHhDpMVpatgo2pU6YJMwpgx1k5TOMX86lVG90ORKkZr9N0ufEupsSqDIWChW1x79-pfRsL7EDxFJzBJMc/s200/IMG_2752.jpg" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you need to get the fix my suggestion is to travel or explore the lesser know rivers and tributary streams of the Vaal. I can see and feel the onset of winter, the changes are very subtle but enough for you to have to start making changes to your approach. The fish will be out of the shallow riffles and rapids, only venturing there late afternoon if the food is there. Start a bit later in the morning and search the deeper water below the rapids. It will require better line or fly control to connect to the fish.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguLy-oeP16eN65M2R7I7f9twDL5eS95ocNX8KNURzvXkAjzZDgbaCCL9D6ntoinTw8vQpS-MwhIQnuH9UJLS3Hr8uNg_vcLnl8Li8EGvKlNxwM17bUlJ-7CgnhYEP0JlWHSpj_/s1600/IMG_2756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguLy-oeP16eN65M2R7I7f9twDL5eS95ocNX8KNURzvXkAjzZDgbaCCL9D6ntoinTw8vQpS-MwhIQnuH9UJLS3Hr8uNg_vcLnl8Li8EGvKlNxwM17bUlJ-7CgnhYEP0JlWHSpj_/s200/IMG_2756.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gWjuQFFlcXBOnidqD-geJxS3-cVj85E0s6JBPKhNipEv44ouTe_l4PzJ-G7lW2jdssIvE1bHzHOLajmUSmX8651LFC95oV5RWhMLSfN48za-Oj_muQXrVrYOHOV_Iuo5iPth/s1600/IMG_2740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gWjuQFFlcXBOnidqD-geJxS3-cVj85E0s6JBPKhNipEv44ouTe_l4PzJ-G7lW2jdssIvE1bHzHOLajmUSmX8651LFC95oV5RWhMLSfN48za-Oj_muQXrVrYOHOV_Iuo5iPth/s200/IMG_2740.jpg" width="135" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: center;">Update! Since my post to FOSAF I've received some very positive reports on the river. Photo evidence suggest visibility is cracking - around 1 meter maybe more. That means one thing, get out and onto the river in the following few weeks. Don't forget to pack the dry flies, conditions will be perfect for sight fishing.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: center;">Over the years I've been trying to improve the quality of the photos on the Blog, and I think I'm getting there. But Chris and his mates have upped the bar with this <a href="http://vimeo.com/38555014" target="_blank">video</a> of a day out on the Vaal. Awesome work guys, like the editing</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cheers</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Carl & Keith</span></span></div>Carl Nicholsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09149606005231136555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30867111.post-11440875065327085712012-02-15T16:25:00.000+02:002012-02-15T16:32:52.622+02:00February 2012 Middle Vaal Report<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDPy6jOQPUsLpI79rOVuQxvXGlqSkRnHBnDah6EMnd55LFrTN1v3iQDU3raq93gJrpX9_WKiP_zSwRGDcpzKEkbK2vA3Qww0waV6LzrB6_ZAa2_2ZbHSgT1MQLMNDYKDePAhGW/s1600/B%2526W+2+trees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDPy6jOQPUsLpI79rOVuQxvXGlqSkRnHBnDah6EMnd55LFrTN1v3iQDU3raq93gJrpX9_WKiP_zSwRGDcpzKEkbK2vA3Qww0waV6LzrB6_ZAa2_2ZbHSgT1MQLMNDYKDePAhGW/s320/B%2526W+2+trees.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blanking is not a concept I’m used to in
fishing. Certainly not when the other members of the party are successful – my
son, my wife and my complete novice mate Hennie weighing in with a 1.8kg trout. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Driving to Dullies I was reminiscing about my introductory days to fly fishing. I was the same age as my son - 10 with tons of enthusiasm and a real love for the veldt I got from my dad. Boy how much has changed since then and how much have I learnt over the years. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFjZ-6CQtAvgtGVsEh3Lffs0cR-9-93I6laiUjsQMeakS3w_CbnQGOu-DXqtvwiGd1W8z7aon40Y8F9fcQF2V5p0EsHyVVBLz4QVIwaIZPqR5z9QeWUsRpvVtDF-oo__KCj1M/s1600/Troutvalley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFjZ-6CQtAvgtGVsEh3Lffs0cR-9-93I6laiUjsQMeakS3w_CbnQGOu-DXqtvwiGd1W8z7aon40Y8F9fcQF2V5p0EsHyVVBLz4QVIwaIZPqR5z9QeWUsRpvVtDF-oo__KCj1M/s400/Troutvalley.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I very rarely blanked in the early days because I was relentlessly pursuing the trout knowing that they have to eat at some stage. I think I was better prepared and focused in those days - I only had to pack MY gear, now it's food, wine kids stuff, photographic equipment etc.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5nRwUYQcW5DL5sjyZlqaCAFsQmN8O0wstR0f2txi1l-DTHrUNQwFGN0qGEn3SZn1h9U5yPZmFf8gL38jDUx2rqoTTh4GJoRoLZz-PaeS83JRTMhpTzuL9Kf8rDdwB5Qt2uOK/s1600/IMG_2659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5nRwUYQcW5DL5sjyZlqaCAFsQmN8O0wstR0f2txi1l-DTHrUNQwFGN0qGEn3SZn1h9U5yPZmFf8gL38jDUx2rqoTTh4GJoRoLZz-PaeS83JRTMhpTzuL9Kf8rDdwB5Qt2uOK/s200/IMG_2659.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>No subdued colours <br />yet the fish take the fly?</i></span></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In mitigation I did not use a sinking line and the successful members of the
family held onto the only intermediate. These days I very rarely fish for trout so the
usefulness of a sinker in my tackle bag literally disintegrated and I never
replaced it. If I blanked with free rising trout all around me I would consider it a failure in my fishing ability :-).</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The conditions dictated that I relent and
get down where the fish are. Warm water due to a few weeks of hot weather and
less rain than normal, meant the surface was void of feeding fish. I just hate those
days when the visual aspect of fly fishing is taken out of the equation so I
improvised and spent some of my fishing time taking photos. Reading Peter’s
report on Dullstroom this week I’m not feeling so bad.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxEuhUV501Yvs3aPpjZgNljT4sjuTyiWh14gYZIPcHZ-suITlnpyILJKs_NfUyFgkXcgOzybwv08c5drwoE8vJZaYNQdGugHniquLG1y1f_ATnzuWGDxbI60KZzoL_6k_EdKGW/s1600/Pauline+van+der+Spuy-MF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxEuhUV501Yvs3aPpjZgNljT4sjuTyiWh14gYZIPcHZ-suITlnpyILJKs_NfUyFgkXcgOzybwv08c5drwoE8vJZaYNQdGugHniquLG1y1f_ATnzuWGDxbI60KZzoL_6k_EdKGW/s320/Pauline+van+der+Spuy-MF.jpg" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is a good thing the Vaal is in great
condition compared to the corresponding months the last few years. Flow rates
are within the fishable levels and the spawn is over in most areas. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fishing
reports are sketchy and some guys are battling to get the fish on the hook and
in the net. I think it is a temporary thing as traditionally this is the best
time of the season, leading into the early autumn when the smallies start
moving out of the rapids.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you are blanking, take a step back and
just re-evaluate your tactics. Or take up another hobby until you get your mojo
back and the fish start jumping into your landing net.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBDGIebDPw1hyphenhyphenq6onVNP4y9uKTOKfetbFA3QqViYYcGYbdBkz2pNsJw_b-TLSam9ziRwBzswfVT6wYsbSiRI6zq7FV7WL7u1CisKGqGwg-dnvYuUGBU8M2fMyP1Nzrn0evvMi8/s1600/Dullstroom500-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBDGIebDPw1hyphenhyphenq6onVNP4y9uKTOKfetbFA3QqViYYcGYbdBkz2pNsJw_b-TLSam9ziRwBzswfVT6wYsbSiRI6zq7FV7WL7u1CisKGqGwg-dnvYuUGBU8M2fMyP1Nzrn0evvMi8/s400/Dullstroom500-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sunset in Dullstroom</span></i></span>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cheers</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Carl & Keith</span></span></div>Carl Nicholsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09149606005231136555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30867111.post-36990785756934469722012-01-18T07:50:00.001+02:002012-01-18T07:55:44.228+02:00January 2012 Middle Vaal Report<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Apologies for the hiatus over the December holidays. Work and holiday got in the way of fishing reports, mostly work. I trust you had a good rest and enjoyed fly fishing possibly in some other part of this country covered by the many reports on the FOSAF site.</span> </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Sedgefield late afternoon fly fishing</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had one decent session with the Garrick at Sedgefield, small fish but on light tackle it was exiting. For the rest of the holiday success evaded me due to some obscure reason only saltwater fish know about.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Through some cunning planning and negotiation I managed to convince the family to stay over at Rooipoort near Kimberley on the way back home. It has always been on my bucket list to visit this unspoilt part of our country and to fish for the Yellowfish in the Vaal bordering the reserve. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnFqP3IMVpYGyEcpCFxOLfULj9OBCzQlmMI4dF4kG80-8yeHrLSnx4iFjnOTgnf36UFGHvBvrSy9Dp3eKnDbe7szpG_DN7hlPzBRK-LiKsXqc9cgBOHeKe8B85a5Q8oLobgQd/s1600/Rooipoort-2191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnFqP3IMVpYGyEcpCFxOLfULj9OBCzQlmMI4dF4kG80-8yeHrLSnx4iFjnOTgnf36UFGHvBvrSy9Dp3eKnDbe7szpG_DN7hlPzBRK-LiKsXqc9cgBOHeKe8B85a5Q8oLobgQd/s320/Rooipoort-2191.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A magnificent Red Hartebeest bull, Rooipoort</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We arrived late afternoon on New Year ’s Eve, not enough time to fish but I did get to drive down to the river. This place is big, it’s 7km on a good dirt road to get to the river! I inspected the water in the last rays of 2011 sunlight. It looked promising but I did not see a rapid at this spot.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlz4vNtv1CBeKPFm1lucYG9C1ns8qPfbg3mDxQ9b2toPDQmvKZrq7RuvRMiDCZgitTBUgp8RMDDF1_K2w3lrEOAbeWjN1lcrGEwEvcS6FcsJ0opnbNZFwuuzu9rypkbabAFf1/s1600/Rooipoort-2233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlz4vNtv1CBeKPFm1lucYG9C1ns8qPfbg3mDxQ9b2toPDQmvKZrq7RuvRMiDCZgitTBUgp8RMDDF1_K2w3lrEOAbeWjN1lcrGEwEvcS6FcsJ0opnbNZFwuuzu9rypkbabAFf1/s320/Rooipoort-2233.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Petroglyphs, Rooipoort. Glad they're not in the Vaal anymore.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next day I was back at the spot closest to the house. There were some fishy activity but as far as the eye can see it was flat open water. I walked the banks trying to spot feeding fish, while my efforts was unsuccessful I spotted a new species for me, some very big. Grass carp with their yellowish bodies almost confused with our beloved yellow – a flat head and black markings on the tail showed them up. They also refused the fly. I continued downstream stopping whenever the riverine bush allowed but a walk along the banks proved futile. The only fish I saw were the grass carp cruising and the occasional catfish. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The long flat piece of water continued for at least 5km maybe even longer. Eventually I could spot a change in features downstream – islands with channels and reeds. As I walked out of the bush I could hear the murmur of the river and then the full force of destruction hit me. This whole area was being mined by the “community” bordering the reserve. Full on earth works right in the middle of the stream bed, damming up and channelling the flow and a big 3X2m oil spill left right there. Some very large and powerful machinery was used here. I walked to the spot where I could hear the water, it was gushing through 2 or 3 storm water pipes. I got one yellow there.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZmHdMH6Qs18uQzdwU-DzswpXSV_SvgOJfhxNlYQ-yHwqBe2w5s3f9njjbyyErsGKOjQU8BIlRGJ8mQaoYt49gnDXb8WuJcQ24dl5vMHNGd-1gO6HcwJviFTqRWTvw1NyqFVr/s1600/Rooipoort-2223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZmHdMH6Qs18uQzdwU-DzswpXSV_SvgOJfhxNlYQ-yHwqBe2w5s3f9njjbyyErsGKOjQU8BIlRGJ8mQaoYt49gnDXb8WuJcQ24dl5vMHNGd-1gO6HcwJviFTqRWTvw1NyqFVr/s320/Rooipoort-2223.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I drove further downstream looking for a place that resembled a natural stream bed, something like the middle Vaal. The next drift (shallow section) looked better at least the mining was done on the banks clearly by a large contract mining operation. Being 1 January all looked quiet only a few people moving about and the tell-tale string of 2 litre bottles across the river. Obviously holding up a gill net supplying someone with protein or income. I wish it could selectively catch the hundreds of grass carp that I saw during the day. I got a few consolation yellows from the deeper channels. The river at this place was nice and clear affording me an opportunity to search for feeding yellows but the only fish visible in the shallow water was grass carp. After a disappointing day I called it quits and started the long trip back. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The reports I get to see from the middle Vaal are positive. Beginning December the water was still clear, with the moderate rainfall it should remain like that. If you time your trip with decent flows you will fish one of the best pieces of fly fishing water in the world.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj127nY7vsjsZS6YMXxuZY2Jm9u5h_25G4nl8cit4hFk30XoVwrSdm4TBlRLinU0r0M9p6E6cZBfU59QmaGAjVxD161aYHwvcVU00ibc5mtss1HD5GxMxYLJimRrHoFulxlItEe/s1600/Rooipoort-2203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj127nY7vsjsZS6YMXxuZY2Jm9u5h_25G4nl8cit4hFk30XoVwrSdm4TBlRLinU0r0M9p6E6cZBfU59QmaGAjVxD161aYHwvcVU00ibc5mtss1HD5GxMxYLJimRrHoFulxlItEe/s400/Rooipoort-2203.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Year Milkyway</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cheers from</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Carl & Keith </span>Carl Nicholsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09149606005231136555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30867111.post-25460536654757677802011-11-28T10:19:00.001+02:002011-11-28T10:28:17.074+02:00December 2011 Middle Vaal Report<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iQOHsCSYIwQ/TsoWkqjqpWI/AAAAAAAACiU/9K-gH9-cv_E/s1600/Sterkies-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iQOHsCSYIwQ/TsoWkqjqpWI/AAAAAAAACiU/9K-gH9-cv_E/s320/Sterkies-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roadtripping</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That is it, it is a month before Christmas and the irritating jingles are playing in the shops so another year is gone. The fishing season since the end of winter is one of the best we’ve experienced in a few years. The fish were eager to take the fly and the water clarity was great. I hope you made the effort to get onto the water.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panning for gold</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’m so thankful the summer rains has started - in moderation I believe it is good for the fishing. It is a lovely relief from the heat wave and the farmers in the middle Vaal must’ve sighed a sigh of relief. We are still getting reports of trophy kudu bulls dying on the farm in Alldays, the last decent rain was in Febuary this year and therefore I never complain when it rains. The weather forecasters are predicting a wet summer with La Nina conditions, so fishing trips will require good planning, a bit of luck and some weekday sneaking out! Also just remember grass will grow faster if you mow it frequently skipping a Saturday is good for the root system to develop.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nmIym_DLQ8g/TsoZHYgHTwI/AAAAAAAACxA/jLSmCvbAjmQ/s1600/Sterkies-130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nmIym_DLQ8g/TsoZHYgHTwI/AAAAAAAACxA/jLSmCvbAjmQ/s320/Sterkies-130.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Doctor's medicine</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’m off to the coast in a few weeks, hopefully the Garden Route will heat up and the leeries or skipjack will show themselves. Last year I didn’t even bother to pick up a rod. But knowing the fickle nature of the weather and sea I hedged my bets. I booked a sleepover on the return trip on the Rooipoort Nature Reserve bordering the Vaal near Kimberley.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We wish you and your family a blessed Christmas and a happy new year. Enjoy your break, drive safely, don’t drink and drive, watch out for the lightning and just relax :-)! Seriously just enjoy the fishing!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cheers</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Carl and Keith</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Carl Nicholsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09149606005231136555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30867111.post-87630202792691593792011-10-25T09:27:00.000+03:002011-10-25T09:27:59.249+03:00November 2011 Middle Vaal Report<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXlTrUuYLw9cUmEl0KLGmn_CCwDcDhFkbhqdyzd7Q-DYtEhZshwAe8mDvD1i6b9YFv-bMcKMtTgIHndR5g8XFRpT2swBo6VWpZtc5rfmEP4x-7dFQTZyZjcXciBdAY6XRgQ5J/s1600/Vaalreport.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXlTrUuYLw9cUmEl0KLGmn_CCwDcDhFkbhqdyzd7Q-DYtEhZshwAe8mDvD1i6b9YFv-bMcKMtTgIHndR5g8XFRpT2swBo6VWpZtc5rfmEP4x-7dFQTZyZjcXciBdAY6XRgQ5J/s400/Vaalreport.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sunrise on the way to the Vaal</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The red-chested cuckoo calling was a sign that the summer rains were on the way. This is the call for all fly fisherman to get to the Vaal and enjoy some of the best fishing we've had in. Kobus and I headed the call, took a Friday off to fish the Vaal far from the maddening crowds, only to run into a Bells festival in full swing at Elgro River Lodge. I was glad for a river and not a dam, we would’ve been stumped, next venue was perfect not another fisherman in sight. Since my previous trip on 1 October clarity improved to a meter, perfect for a bit of sight fishing and I think the limit when it comes to close in fishing. I could cast to feeding fish and watch them react to the fly coming into sight. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3S7gcMPhcvnfC9PUXP2ilZCX5VyjtqnIqhrUnW_3XMgnIzcegYHyWncXiGkYG2zawidW2uBiPL9VDIvZnqQVMF77QTTUMV7AAGYoNTAihiiWuOo2hyphenhyphen0ZlO2pKkJn9Z4r1NjKU/s1600/Vaalreport-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3S7gcMPhcvnfC9PUXP2ilZCX5VyjtqnIqhrUnW_3XMgnIzcegYHyWncXiGkYG2zawidW2uBiPL9VDIvZnqQVMF77QTTUMV7AAGYoNTAihiiWuOo2hyphenhyphen0ZlO2pKkJn9Z4r1NjKU/s320/Vaalreport-2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-EhHHQb1wxQDSJaT1cFBuUxFM-tfGycpu3IJiGMhjeY5rL5u3R27u4rPi4gHpkcHpyQfEjSVw7UHffGgCIG5oRe4nISZKv6qnXInhjh3OMSQ8mstftu4c4aJ7kLDgOIYO7Xc/s1600/Vaalreport-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-EhHHQb1wxQDSJaT1cFBuUxFM-tfGycpu3IJiGMhjeY5rL5u3R27u4rPi4gHpkcHpyQfEjSVw7UHffGgCIG5oRe4nISZKv6qnXInhjh3OMSQ8mstftu4c4aJ7kLDgOIYO7Xc/s320/Vaalreport-3.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The fish get excited and one can clearly see the eager head movement of the take, while there is no sign of movement on the indicator. A timely lift of the rod connects to a very surprised fish shooting off to deeper water. This particular section has one of the prettiest runs on the Vaal and when clear reminds me of famous rivers in Montana. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The channel cuts between 2 islands, long strands of water grass gently undulating in the reduced flow, occasionally opening up to reveal the gold of a yellow. I wish the Vaal could always look like this. This is the 3rd week of October and it certainly feels like summer is here. I’m hearing all the summer migrant birds in the garden – paradise flycatcher, cuckoo and purple-backed starling. We are experiencing a heat wave in Gauteng at the moment, not great for fishing and fisherman. From our previous trip we had one younger member with some serious sunburn, my advice always cover up as much as possible, long-sleeved and legged trousers are the best option. I try to avoid adding sun cream while fishing – some foreign oily substances get onto your flies – opting instead to cover up early in the morning. Baseball caps although they look cool is another thing to avoid, rather get a wide brimmed hat with a dark under brim fabric, makes spotting fish a lot easier. A Buff is a handy sun protection garment, although fairly expensive. I was standing in the queue at Woolies and noticed a similar piece of material at R30, unfortunately in feminine colours. I have a feeling of being ripped off when I paid 5 times that. Next time you see a guy with a mauve buff it might be me☺. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhpbyJStnU5UDOm4GDQInltPWX6L456T_xhkRH4PYk1906AhSaHi0D0zVFA4EEJ2CV_Gbp3kCcUAHBrE5NAvuxcqz82F0DBnXSrvYy7S30l-WNaD5wVkFon3y3uTDEh1tooiN/s1600/Vaalreport-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhpbyJStnU5UDOm4GDQInltPWX6L456T_xhkRH4PYk1906AhSaHi0D0zVFA4EEJ2CV_Gbp3kCcUAHBrE5NAvuxcqz82F0DBnXSrvYy7S30l-WNaD5wVkFon3y3uTDEh1tooiN/s400/Vaalreport-7.jpg" width="400" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">During these hot spells the fish are also at risk. Oxygen levels drop in the warmer water impacting their recovery time after a fight. Make sure you spend more than enough time to revive the fish in the flowing water. If you struggle in finding fish in the regular spots, realise that they do not like the direct harsh sunlight. Find shaded areas under the willows or against the bank undercuts shaded by vegetation. Try fishing in the cooler times of the day, spend the hottest times resting up for the afternoon session. I’m noticing the small black ants are becoming very active, moving nests and collecting food. Although I do not have this down to a science, my experience from previous years is that this indicates the big rain is about 10-14 days away. Get yourself onto the river! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Cheers Carl </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphenWeCBVMpSnbHzDaAolj3b-9Qn29MOkqqxCBfZtBltknH6ayPFQN2IHfHtSd4PgQC9HBhYC340UsXnnjDUZ1_t_v_FnsuFPLVDTw4OnlTCB3Gx6o0qE4tFm35Mq7mxzVkvnjn/s1600/Vaalreport-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphenWeCBVMpSnbHzDaAolj3b-9Qn29MOkqqxCBfZtBltknH6ayPFQN2IHfHtSd4PgQC9HBhYC340UsXnnjDUZ1_t_v_FnsuFPLVDTw4OnlTCB3Gx6o0qE4tFm35Mq7mxzVkvnjn/s400/Vaalreport-4.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">There is still plenty of beauty on the Vaal</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Carl Nicholsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09149606005231136555noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30867111.post-30611159363866815322011-10-07T13:41:00.000+03:002011-10-07T13:46:28.593+03:00October 2011 Middle Vaal Report<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbWog5hR6fCaaK2mIrJMNXt521z3my5_ErM4iSRITcjxCJlsty_Uaap1Dt3kWlRVeS1wzKQibJ_jpszPhqq0GhuN2T9XfZGpZTpMD_Kp9pRiqAY9LzyzxeY1PqCrGfvLbwfo2h/s1600/Elgro+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 184px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660699010733717042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbWog5hR6fCaaK2mIrJMNXt521z3my5_ErM4iSRITcjxCJlsty_Uaap1Dt3kWlRVeS1wzKQibJ_jpszPhqq0GhuN2T9XfZGpZTpMD_Kp9pRiqAY9LzyzxeY1PqCrGfvLbwfo2h/s400/Elgro+2011.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio2rgPaO0uxbokMf4CPzXHDycJOGCwgnuU9CAvJBeQAgyhIL1t-72-sg05lAGEwPKNPrJlzx3FMocoStrlmYYT2zuggznH5xwod6s3j-hnwHCp1QJfvw9f8WF49PMce4OLB7YY/s1600/Elgro+2011.jpg"></a><br /><div>After an almost 12 month absence it was absolute bliss getting into the Vaal on Saturday. The weather wasn’t particularly great with a strong upstream wind and with a grumbling cloud cover overhead. The wind was “predicted” to die down towards the afternoon prompting me to swing the boat’s nose upstream. Flows were very low and with the wind in my back I travelled like a Frans Steyn penalty kick, effortlessly with the wind.<br /><br />The floods have certainly “cleaned” up the river. The substrate is cleared of debris and mud, a few spots even had nice pebble beds. Visibility is not great, I would say 50cm but it is good enough to spot the odd flash of feeding fish when the sun is right. After such a long absence from the river I find it very difficult to fish blind. The mojo of just knowing where a fish lies in any given stretch of water is gone. That is when I spend a few minutes at every rapid or run to scan for fish activity - a head breaking the surface, a tail wagging up in the air or the telltale flash of gold. This also helps to identify any spawning activity, in most cases spawning will be a very visible splashing and trashing.<br /><br />It took a while before I found the fish. Paddling through the glides normally spook fish and it’s easy to spot the bow wave of a departing fish, but I saw nothing. So the fish were somewhere else, very difficult to see anything in the deeper pools, due to the strong wind there was no surface activity. My gut feel was that they were in the faster rapids, aerated water, with lots of food. I kept on going until I reached the first big rapid above Elgro lodge. Even with the flows around 15 cumecs my unpractised hand could not get the fly into the zone. In the slower water I got strikes on the NZ-rig so I knew the fish were there and active. I removed the strike indicator and with a good mend and control a feisty male grabbed the fly in a pocket. It does help to know the fish are there but when you’re not getting takes the most likely problem is your flies are not in the feeding zone.<br /><br />The fly that worked for me was this caddis, tungsten bead, but you can use lead in the body.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7h_cZVET_UywtshyphenhyphenxK86Qp153A5TVSIMCSvZlJvCaedkJsKH0eaiGC1F1WtR7OZFRCwY2zOJADQMP1qLiYF2LoqmMJnDib2KeRsxrMpUQDWpDUDu8WixScMtNC0SU5C2QfYFY/s1600/IMG_2322.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660697249345984146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7h_cZVET_UywtshyphenhyphenxK86Qp153A5TVSIMCSvZlJvCaedkJsKH0eaiGC1F1WtR7OZFRCwY2zOJADQMP1qLiYF2LoqmMJnDib2KeRsxrMpUQDWpDUDu8WixScMtNC0SU5C2QfYFY/s400/IMG_2322.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I recently bought a macro lens and was trying to have a closer look at the naturals in the Vaal’s larder. The photos are not great, I battled without a tripod☺. But the pupa shows nicely what the key triggers would be to include in an imitation-black wing buds, long legs and antennae bright green abdomen.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VSKtB43M0jxY7jpexJNyQhs97W9T3Izn3SJD90_EQXkY1PDUq0jp9EaKV9lJCu2QUSB6Q6bwPHVe5g43Q0UIHJUZ_1R2IQOkHPufWbMIK6tW_ubOQUGSBt2aUMmPwLyxs-ty/s1600/Elgro+2011-4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660697242107456338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VSKtB43M0jxY7jpexJNyQhs97W9T3Izn3SJD90_EQXkY1PDUq0jp9EaKV9lJCu2QUSB6Q6bwPHVe5g43Q0UIHJUZ_1R2IQOkHPufWbMIK6tW_ubOQUGSBt2aUMmPwLyxs-ty/s400/Elgro+2011-4.jpg" /></a><br />A great top fly to swing down and across when the big Vaal caddis are emerging. There were plenty mayfly nymphs and these smaller caddis larvae on the rocks.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvPvDDY4qEccACGThwIRuPPDdrutGgFJ3PNHuvUha9TWwZy9hTtJdyhrfVUCG59L-SZXeZ-NygBkRMYR9eggBpylO1sXngi3GVhvmOKeyduFfBWM8kvVFmeu5xF0AW-vnckTGi/s1600/Elgro+2011-3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660697237965147330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvPvDDY4qEccACGThwIRuPPDdrutGgFJ3PNHuvUha9TWwZy9hTtJdyhrfVUCG59L-SZXeZ-NygBkRMYR9eggBpylO1sXngi3GVhvmOKeyduFfBWM8kvVFmeu5xF0AW-vnckTGi/s400/Elgro+2011-3.jpg" /></a><br />Earlier in the season a friend reported a buddy and he fished together – he blanked. He made one comment that got me thinking, every time his friend switched to another fly he would get a few fish. My theory is that the fish were feeding higher up in the water column and a new fly sunk slower due to air bubbles trapped in the dry body, this put the fly in the zone for longer. Until it got completely water logged, and sunk out of sight too quickly.<br /><br />On a sadder note we’ve received reports of some venues along the Vaal allowing jig fisherman to target spawning fish and also killing fish. Unfortunately this is a battle not easily won. Most venues along the Vaal have certainly been approached by us, Yellowfish Working Group and various other conservation bodies. How do we go about solving this? Education does work, there are still people who do not realise the threat faced by yellows in the Vaal some will listen and change their ways. Unfortunately the moral fibre of SA society is shot, on a daily basis I rage against people in Rustenburg driving over stop streets with impunity, but nothing changes. So there will always be people who will ignore your plea to change their ways. Try having a good chat with the venue owner if that fails I would suggest vote with your feet. Just keep in mind money keeps the person in business, their income is not solely from fly fisherman especially in winter!<br /><br />This is the reason I support Elgro Lodge because they walk the talk when it comes to yellowfish conservation.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRAzMTsVlnFNYiqOzqZjqeiiHb8g4uPKf2SpZVBLIbHOo0n5rUQ-fzCn9rJvkngvD5uvywZF1i9TAADr_hIV_oT4CDaMCX8geDqWqkI8cruU22VF7vxhkfNPxq1_jSUOYgLhy/s1600/Elgro+2011-5.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660697244682611602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRAzMTsVlnFNYiqOzqZjqeiiHb8g4uPKf2SpZVBLIbHOo0n5rUQ-fzCn9rJvkngvD5uvywZF1i9TAADr_hIV_oT4CDaMCX8geDqWqkI8cruU22VF7vxhkfNPxq1_jSUOYgLhy/s400/Elgro+2011-5.jpg" /></a></div></div>Carl Nicholsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09149606005231136555noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30867111.post-42803720560008435442011-10-03T11:53:00.000+03:002011-10-03T11:53:18.287+03:00The Wylye MonsterI know this blog is about yellows but if you feel like seeing what I am getting up to on the chalkstreams of Southern England have a read about the <a href="http://fliesandstuff.blogspot.com/2011/10/wylye-monster.html">28" brown I got last week</a><br />
what a day!<br />
KeithKeith Wallingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00367952168010608017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30867111.post-52008521505641184552011-08-30T12:42:00.000+03:002011-08-30T13:38:15.513+03:00September 2011 Middle Vaal Report<p align="center"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/juAQ_Xj-A8KsoOHhBu8XO3f0y7IepuDN5GNhDQSB44I?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-NMy2J5WPYLE/TltL-7LfM7I/AAAAAAAACPk/hsliM_clu00/s640/Welgevonden-26.jpg" width="427" height="640" /></a></p>
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<br />After a seemingly endless winter, spring has finally arrived and that is all I’m saying for now. There will be a few cold fronts, mostly coinciding with our planned weekend fishing trips until the regular summer rainfall sets in and ….! No I’ll be positive, but if I go by the two preceding years you better be booking time off with the wife, boss or lovers the window may be small to enjoy good fishing. I’ve had one of the most memorable days of fishing on the 24th of September in 2001, 2 weeks before my son was born.
<br />While writing this report I got this question via email “The problem is I have not fished the Vaal nearly enough, I was hoping you could give me some pointers on fly selection and were to find early season fish.” I can admit to not fishing the Vaal often enough, especially this winter. Conditions have just been very tough and travelling 300km when the odds are against you is for the young and foolhardy.
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<br />Although the smallies never stop feeding in winter, they do go into a feeding festival in anticipation of the first spawning run. The larval stages of the big Vaal caddis are almost at their biggest, think size 8-10 hook, these will be one of the prime targets of the yellows. Prospect the waters you are about to fish in search of these, especially in the deeper channels the fish will not be in the very shallow riffles yet. Expect to fish water up to your waist in depth and remember to make the required technical adjustments to your approach. Your flies will have to get down to the feeding zone. Correct casting – slack, parachute, upstream mend, tuck cast anything to get slack in the line. And good mending technique to keep your flies at the right depth for as long as possible.
<br />To hedge your bets add a good mayfly imitation to the point, black or GRHE. My preferred method would be a NZ style rig, but you can use whatever you are comfortable with. If the algae becomes too much of a hassle I would switch to dry & dropper approach. Vary the depth of the dropper and work the clearings in between the vegetation. Accurate casting will be the game breaker.
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<br /><div align="justify">Watch the weather reports for frontal systems, my view is never fish the 1-2 days before the system hits. But you could prove me wrong.
<br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/xb8yTn_HHAHIfAKSvuna03f0y7IepuDN5GNhDQSB44I?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-SOJgOboq5ls/TltMdsR7YKI/AAAAAAAACSA/zw6r8qjgswg/s640/Welgevonden-66.jpg" width="640" height="255" /></a></div>Carl Nicholsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09149606005231136555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30867111.post-45484327605376948082011-08-30T12:41:00.000+03:002011-08-30T13:37:03.720+03:00July 2011 Middle Vaal ReportThe few fishing reports I’m seeing on fishing along the middle Vaal, or should I say lack thereof does not make for great reading. Blanking is the common thread and an absolute lack of any surface activity is another. I visited friends at their house next to the Vaal near Bothaville. It is a great spot for largies, big deep pool, a tributary and some large rocky outcrops. Unfortunately I lost inspiration due to the very low visibility. It seems from the Barrage downstream the visibility is around 40cm, good for summer but nothing compared to winters past.
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<br />Well with all the doom and gloom I still believe the fish are there and we can catch them. The Vaal experienced severe flooding during the first few months of 2011. I think it will require a “normal” rainfall season to settle things in the river. Some good news is the sun has reached its apex in the northern hemisphere the subtle changes of the season is happening and it may just bring on something on the river. When you do venture out it is vitally important to first find the fish before wasting time flogging a dead beat. I’ve found on multiple trips down the Vaal even in winter the fish do move around the pools. Fishing last Saturday’s productive throat of the pool produced nothing, until I float downstream. Finding a flat rocky section with very little flow in the bend of the river, it seems the water might be a tad warmer here. Standing on the Arc I could just make out the subsurface shapes of fish, moving and feeding. A few minutes later the first yellow was in the net.
<br />When the fish are not on the surface experiment with a team of nymphs fished progressively deeper. Or use longer droppers with your dries, if you battle to cast the set-up just reduce the leader.
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<br />I’m off to try the Palala river this weekend, hope I can find a fish or two willing to take a well presented fly.
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<br />Carl Nicholsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09149606005231136555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30867111.post-81235926497548466312011-08-30T12:37:00.000+03:002011-08-30T13:36:04.716+03:00June 2011 Middle Vaal ReportI had a look at the 2010 report for June, looking for inspiration. That was the time of the World Cup and we had a massive cold front hitting around mid month. Pretty much the same happened last week but we had a few millimetres of rain. Enough to upset the flows! Added to this there was a mishap at the Barrage, opening of the gates letting out 200 cumecs.
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<br />Winter is the time of dry fly and visible fishing on the Vaal. The above sequence of events has put paid to it for a few more weeks. I’m not saying you will not catch on a well presented rig – best a dry and dropper – but when one ventures out in this cold it has to be worth it. The same applies to the largemouth, visibility just make your chances of success so much better.
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<br />My suggestion would be to hold out for a few more weeks until you see the DWAF chart flat lining at about 20 cumecs. Tie up some flies, clean the tackle and score some points around the house.
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<br /><div align="center">Lucky hunter.
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<br />Carl Nicholsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09149606005231136555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30867111.post-56326476366395940152011-03-13T16:51:00.000+02:002011-03-13T17:02:29.051+02:00March Middle Vaal Report<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_yxCG40mRtR4/TW0nihbx6wI/AAAAAAAAB_k/oo19lxMnAHg/s400/IMG_2121.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_yxCG40mRtR4/TW0nihbx6wI/AAAAAAAAB_k/oo19lxMnAHg/s400/IMG_2121.JPG" /></a>The Vaal is back to safe wadeable and easy fishable flow rates. I’m glad the fish and fisherman got some respite from the severe floods before winter sets in.<br />Autumn is a great time on the Vaal, the fish will be feeding well to bulk up for winter. Please note they do not hibernate but continue feeding throughout the<br />cold months – finding them and presenting the right fly is the key to success. With the constant flows clarity should improve during the next few weeks.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_yxCG40mRtR4/TW0oM4PrHiI/AAAAAAAACA0/wbE1fO0Bm8c/s288/IMG_2137.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 192px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 288px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_yxCG40mRtR4/TW0oM4PrHiI/AAAAAAAACA0/wbE1fO0Bm8c/s288/IMG_2137.JPG" /></a>The fish will continue feeding in the rapids depending on the water temperatures and time of day. Be prepared to move around if you<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_yxCG40mRtR4/TW0njyQTsRI/AAAAAAAAB_w/tYY5s9Uc3sM/s400/IMG_2210.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 205px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 357px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_yxCG40mRtR4/TW0njyQTsRI/AAAAAAAAB_w/tYY5s9Uc3sM/s400/IMG_2210.JPG" /></a> don’t find them there or see consistent feeding in other areas. You should also make allowance for the time of day. We are all eager to get to the water as early as possible, but I think you’ll have a more enjoyable day if you give your wife breakfast in bed and then head out. The extra brownie points will give you more time on the water in the late afternoon and early evening. This is a special time, the fish get more relaxed as the sun dips below the horizon with the threat of predators diminishing.<br /><br />They become aggressive feeders moving into the shallow rapids, glides and tail-outs eager to take a well presented dry or hedge your bets with a dropper added.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_yxCG40mRtR4/TW0noY04hQI/AAAAAAAACAc/7uqC_KntoJ0/s400/IMG_2249.JPG" /><br />My suggestion would be to limit casting and rather wait for the right moment, the fish will move closer to you, offering an easier opportunity.<br /><br />Good luck and enjoy<br />Carl & Keith<br /><br /><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_yxCG40mRtR4/TW0nkL-ZYXI/AAAAAAAAB_0/9beW1vAaiS0/s400/IMG_2215.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_yxCG40mRtR4/TW0nkL-ZYXI/AAAAAAAAB_0/9beW1vAaiS0/s400/IMG_2215.JPG" /></a>Carl Nicholsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09149606005231136555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30867111.post-30763906573362324332010-12-11T06:45:00.000+02:002010-12-11T07:15:00.332+02:00December 2010 Middle Vaal Report<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNt2j6nh-syGZ1_cNpHvlioOZTM3zkRYoOru50oM3FNiNRTWd4fHFG3Z30HLijckdCyLWZ7rifgRIOJlDTNncHDsYERS7zx-LmgFFeQL_cepI_qBZypkDtTCSUTIULeB0Jw0sa/s400/Sterkies%20Nov%202010-9.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNt2j6nh-syGZ1_cNpHvlioOZTM3zkRYoOru50oM3FNiNRTWd4fHFG3Z30HLijckdCyLWZ7rifgRIOJlDTNncHDsYERS7zx-LmgFFeQL_cepI_qBZypkDtTCSUTIULeB0Jw0sa/s400/Sterkies%20Nov%202010-9.jpg" border="0" /></a>Another year has flown by at a rapid pace. As a kid I wished away the days between fishing trips, now I never do as the days are too precious, but still the years rush by like the Vaal in flood – classic I know.I was lucky enough to spend some time on the hallowed waters of Sterkfontein. Although the fishing was extremely tough I was rewarded with some great photo opportunities.<br /><br /><div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 256px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MtpRd3Ki3McJlqiUmphAyStLcpLkdJ6cZqEe1i1z7ChjfIyPQ8qKo7Q4CL0eZETeUEQLYN1M1rK5-FGA2EIKODPu89WTFZMH2IzJTzs418hfGDeBozZgLDCL8bhY36FJ-y5k/s400/Sterkies%20Nov%202010-50.jpg" border="0" />The dam has been fishing like a temperamental lady, with a certain amount of tender loving attention something was forthcoming. But the great dry fly action of years gone by has disappeared.<br /><br />Time has not permitted another foray to the Vaal before our annual seaside holiday, so I will have to let her rest until sometime in 2011. I’ll be crossing over the Vaal a few times this holiday – always casting an eye over to spot a fisherman or the ripples of a rise. If you do get to fish the river this December Herman’s report is as comprehensive a guide as you will find anywhere.<br /><strong>The Actual Vaal Report by Herman Botes<br /></strong>My experience on the Vaal so far this season has been an on-off affair. The unusual weather <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz52_TLu0YQvCFWkBU4co0C3MKC5lFRsdaNQXP5wD6UsOmMcE0q2VNIDojkhJABMzdrqQ8-7WsxVv8a4C7s0tdD7dF7fTQK1GeIa2LvPzaSuMM-YMdM5YJt3FVKkewejbhngJU/s400/Sterkies%20Nov%202010-16.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz52_TLu0YQvCFWkBU4co0C3MKC5lFRsdaNQXP5wD6UsOmMcE0q2VNIDojkhJABMzdrqQ8-7WsxVv8a4C7s0tdD7dF7fTQK1GeIa2LvPzaSuMM-YMdM5YJt3FVKkewejbhngJU/s400/Sterkies%20Nov%202010-16.jpg" border="0" /></a>patterns seems to play a bit of havoc with my fishing outings , or I’m just picking bad days to step onto the water.<br />Very disappointing for me was the lack of surface activity at dusk (the time of day I look forward to all afternoon) - the fish do move into the thin water at dusk though. When you see fish activity in the thin water at dusk a dry-and dropper approach can be a lot of fun and you do not hang up as you would if you persisted with a standard nymph rig. Also try this same set up smack bang in the middle of the afternoon if the fishing is slow and concentrate on the smoother glides & runs just below some broken water.<br />Nov / Dec is mostly a caddis affair with the fish concentrating on grubbing on the rocks in the fast aerated riffle& pocket water , especially in low light and overcast weather. The rest of the day the fish hang out below overhanging trees / vegetation and deeper glides. It’s purposeful fishing, but if you get them in hard feeding mode , you will get pockets of full blown action along your beat . Imitations of Macrostemum Capense (green rockworm) & mustard caddis are good bets for control flies and Garth Wellman’s Green Machine as a dropper can be deadly. I also noted a very high percentage of ginger caddis (brown head/thorax ) in # 14 on the rocks at most venues. The interesting thing is that their appearance coincides with the disappearance of the forest green caddis(black head & thorax) # 14 Go figure ….<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrs3lAFTnP7gDGuVRQ6T3eolHy_IqBTP9rJAJ3IEFKoiM08oCpicaUOYoKpM53ZwJc852vIM79sNuzrjpeH_9eZ_YqaClszqmvn8ig1VeplZhi72n9FqvhAdMaPXuuzp7osN4F/s400/Sterkies%20Nov%202010-66.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrs3lAFTnP7gDGuVRQ6T3eolHy_IqBTP9rJAJ3IEFKoiM08oCpicaUOYoKpM53ZwJc852vIM79sNuzrjpeH_9eZ_YqaClszqmvn8ig1VeplZhi72n9FqvhAdMaPXuuzp7osN4F/s400/Sterkies%20Nov%202010-66.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />My pet challenge in summer is also to bump into a Trico mayfly migration which bring its own challenge and variation to the game. Trico Mays are big….. #14 for adult with football humped wing cases. The nymphs are STOUT with olive/brown dorsal side and yellow/cream ventral side -do not confuse them with the black Leptophlioebeadae? Mays of the same size.When these mays are ready to hatch the mature nymphs migrate to the slack water on the sides of the runs and shallow slacks behind big boulders from where they hatch. They do this by simply walking over & under the rocks. Needless to say the fish follow. To establish if a migration is happening or has happened - turn over a couple of the loser rocks on the side of the river. If one of the rocks is crawling with trico’s (looks like a cattle farm) , you could be in for some good fishing by concentrating on the thin water on the sides and using a stealthy approach. In good water clarity and light you can even sight fish to individual fish using a dry-and-dropper setup. Anglers mostly use a brown Mayfly imitation to imitate the nymphs and I had on occasion achieved good results with a brown gold bead may with a golden flashback. However this is not always effective , especially if you are simply covering water. Lately I found the yellow/cream/mustard ventral colour of the nymph to be more of an attraction and definite trigger - combine that with a brown thorax and a gold / copper or orange bead for an effective imitation. And of course a scruffy picked out GRHE will also account for fish. </div><br /><div>Late Nov/early Dec is also the time of the second spawn for the fish (depending on flows) so be aware and tread carefully. This is a windfall for those married to the hotspot PTN as this little<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnM7dvOhIDEfU188Ma4pbPS6MkAza9c3735D2IX8Mat5yNkFI-1sbOEhjP5vRfBg-seQupN_WKcWFQr0LqWnwuhO68zl1Gxqi8jR501-8jqlc0Hm6lFT-CP2Gk5HUr3E1L-0JY/s400/Sterkies%20Nov%202010-11.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnM7dvOhIDEfU188Ma4pbPS6MkAza9c3735D2IX8Mat5yNkFI-1sbOEhjP5vRfBg-seQupN_WKcWFQr0LqWnwuhO68zl1Gxqi8jR501-8jqlc0Hm6lFT-CP2Gk5HUr3E1L-0JY/s400/Sterkies%20Nov%202010-11.jpg" border="0" /></a> pattern will once again pull in good numbers of fish together with its fellow orange hotspot cronies. There simply is no denying the effectiveness of orange triggers especially around the time of spawn runs. Herman.<br /><br /><div>If you are going on holiday, travel safely, switch on those head lights and be more visible. Enjoy the fishing at your destination and spend some time with the significant other unless you’ve already fished yourself single. Have a blessed Christmas and I hope your 2011 will be a great fishing year!<br /></div><br /><br /><div>Cheers<br /><div></div><br /><div>Carl and Keith.</div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZnE4kcr067Z-nLvgDJINlemNtfPLy7xnAxKdKueQzI-JYvDnPzK5EeBDqAUr7ApY9fEAdq_tLNWddWBlBoZr-nkY5hl5rYi1tX7JhnIGJO_bdupGcky8h2bh0q2A9g2XmXgR/s400/Sterkies%20Nov%202010-59.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Carl Nicholsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09149606005231136555noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30867111.post-32524348318704586132010-11-10T20:31:00.000+02:002010-11-10T20:35:15.854+02:00October 2010 Middel Vaal Report<div>I did get out in September, my first day fishing the Vaal since the river levels got too high in 2009, it wasn't great. I suppose to some extent I was to blame being in a bit of a masochistic dry fly mood. I focused on searching for fish moving on the surface, paddled almost 1km upstream. On some days this works – one will eventually find consistent feeders but on the particular day I blanked. Even in the late afternoon session fish were picky. I tried nymphing the rapids but hooking up with the algae got the better of me. </div><div><br />One bonus for the day was getting close to this juvenile Black Winged Stilt.<br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537990910057991042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 227px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrGuIC-T8vVNTt4HmPv8gRHhWeLykD3LU4quuT6sKYz94UOL7gFeaWecjUt_SM-NVdR9IHd9glagHvLupLGZpOhRDUaLO3Gq6b5P-qneAIdsGl9XHsxa0EXQdaYMYITAV2r0To/s400/Rooipoot+elsie+jnr.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><br /><strong><u>The Actual Vaal Report by Herman Botes<br /></u></strong>The caddis took their good time to do their thing, but boy , when they started the main hatches… it was worth the wait. Strangely this year the daily hatches hit their peaks quite late at dusk. Normally in spring the caddis species are full force anytime after 3 pm in early spring.<br />Needless to say, dusk is the magic hour, when you would swear you’re in fishing heaven with caddis popping off like popcorn and the yellows rising mad. The low light and drifting buffet results in the fishing pushing right up into the thin water at the pool heads and current breaks(ridges) as well as sitting right back in the tail-outs.<br />For success only 2 things are required … ultra stealth (don’t move around too much) and a HERMAN-HAMER. This Klinkhamer variant is so effective that if your targeted fish does not eat it , it means you cocked up on your presentation. Sometimes ,out of nowhere a fish would it eat drag-and- all. The pattern is published in Favorite Flies Vol. 4 - named klinkhamer variant. Don’t leave home without it.<br />On the nymphing front : - the green hydroshycidae larva # 10 are prolific as well as the smaller cream specie #14. The small cream specie is responsible for the current mass hatching. I was lucky last week to capture an actual pupa – at night with my headlamp & seine net. Description ; # 16 / abdomen – bright yellow ! / wing buds – black / thorax & head – ginger brown / antennae & legs – body length and tan. Now I understood why my Plaza Pupa is always a hit.<br /></div><div>Cheers</div><div>Carl and Keith.</div>Carl Nicholsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09149606005231136555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30867111.post-6780758834277528722010-09-16T15:13:00.000+03:002010-09-16T15:19:07.883+03:00September 2010 Middle Vaal Report<div align="left">I got an email from my good mate Dave Weaver - there on the banks of the Wilge river. It was a few photo’s and a brief report back on a fishing trip to Tanzania. I managed to track down the author via the email addresses. It was none other than Ed Truter one of the regular FOSAF Favourite Flies contributors and a well respected fisherman. I particularly liked the photos – clearly an artist at work – and this image of a yellow made my heart jump.<br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517483434552232834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0SjM-u0PJrFYLp7t6k1zQc40pcKjcfHuvFgBdKnkxOCFsRkkMUpAu00zQl99E-vk6q55VkOggNPkF-c9soeVZhU_Ux1x1dz3-uyGHGhsLWUHGP2XlRVCv9w7noeXeyY3KhY_/s400/Yellow.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Photo: Leonard Fleming (Tourette Fishing)</span></em></div><br /><div align="left">Ed shares some more info on it:“The fish, as far as we can ascertain is Labeobarbus mariae, the "Rhino fish", said to grow to at least 58lbs in Kenya with mentions of fish up to 100lb! I have been looking into the yellowfish I caught in the Mnyera Rapids above the 'falls'. As I said, there is a description of a "rhino fish" (Barbus mariae) in an old book, The Game Fishes of Africa, that I have, which matches the fish we caught. Most interesting is that the biggest fish on record at the time of writing was 58 1/2 lb from the Athi River in Kenya on rod and line, and a fish of 100 lb caught on a night line in the Tana River in Kenya!”<br />I’m off to the river on Saturday for some much needed fishing. Herman’s report looks bullish enough for me to cancel a few appointments and meet up with Zoran.<br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517484380268531666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH-RgsK_DMvUIBy_u47vOwfmc9pdhRd6z0QqEdOMTWNBNygG2mp_kHrZv541jtCcJMEH5g_arrMnXiMHpTgWfsQwKdUfcDc6zKuO0RtPhxBuDh5N1RD0MJmURkszyveuR2k11t/s400/IMG_4900.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Photo: Leonard Fleming (Tourette Fishing</span>)<br /></p><strong><u></u></strong><br /><strong><u>The Actual Vaal Report by Herman Botes<br /></u></strong>The fronts do cause a hit or miss situation but I’m trying to stay on top of the weather to avoid those “dead” days. The fishing is slow and deliberate, to quote Keith “Tough but rewarding”.<br />The bigger of the 2 BWO species are now hatching between 2- 3 pm and again at dusk. Nymphs can be imitated up to #14.I like to refer to the adults as PMD’s as they are similar in appearance. The fish love this hatch and you can bet a few would move into the pool heads to feed. If you’re in luck and there’s no wind (hardly ever on the Vaal) they will be feeding on top. Otherwise it’s dry & dropper.<br />At dusk the wind drops and the low light draws a lot of fish to the surface. There are a lot of cruisers in the slack water sipping cripples & casualties from the day’s hatches and spinner falls or feeding on the sub-surface midge. You can push yourself to the max and fish #20 midge emergers on 7X in very bad light .Pick a particular fish and dual it out until it eventually eats(very rewarding / very stressful) or opt for a dry ( spent/cripple adult) with # 18/20 midge 5 cm below it . This setup can turn an evening rise into a fun affair.<br />Saw the first early bird caddis fluttering at dusk. Still too few around to capture the fish’s attention. Caught my first bat on fly ---- luckily the little oke didn’t get hooked but ended up in the water. Did you know that bats can swim very well?<br />Cheers<br />Carl and Keith.Carl Nicholsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09149606005231136555noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30867111.post-81838053316227029882010-08-05T22:10:00.000+03:002010-08-09T14:48:56.046+03:00August Middle Vaal report<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFfRoj78UDnWSuLYMoR5AxFBkv0UziZ70zzGV7gmgOG2B8nKnhGJU_9iMDwXb30ibLFMgLSsDQb7uo6URtcnLWz9bn2fU2xHAUrmPMWB_pfsyiIEK7CkEOOmpzD4gHoDv_OwaJ/s400/Giant%20KF.JPG"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 389px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFfRoj78UDnWSuLYMoR5AxFBkv0UziZ70zzGV7gmgOG2B8nKnhGJU_9iMDwXb30ibLFMgLSsDQb7uo6URtcnLWz9bn2fU2xHAUrmPMWB_pfsyiIEK7CkEOOmpzD4gHoDv_OwaJ/s400/Giant%20KF.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><br /><p>I cannot believe the months are flying by as fast as they are at the moment. I’m turning 40 next month and I think life is picking up speed as we get older. I’m glad to say it’s still cool I’m still enjoying the ride. I still haven’t managed a trip to the Vaal and winter is almost over, it’s certainly shorts & t-shirts weather on the northern side of the Magalies. We spent a weekend in the Pilanesberg, lots of photos again no fishing except for the lady at the top. While out in the bush I could see the signs are there that nature is slowly getting ready for spring.<br /></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>We got a question on the blog “I just found your blog, awesome stuff, any new stuff happening regarding the vaal system, I am wanting to do a trip there in about a month time, what would you suggest I start tying up?”<br />I can recommend an old favourite The Adams, one which should always be in your box. Whether fishing for trout or yellows just about anything that would take a fly, I’ve taken a tilapia on it.<br /><a href="http://www.midcurrent.com/video/clips/tying/tightline_adams.aspx">http://www.midcurrent.com/video/clips/tying/tightline_adams.aspx</a><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><strong>Some fishing news from Herman Botes, one of the best out there!<br /></strong>“Fished yesterday afternoon (landed 6 smallies ).Nymphed the whole water column. Picked fish up close to the bottom , mid water and 2 feet below surface.<br /><br />Sparse mid afternoon hatch of BWO . Wind pumped so no surface activity.<br />Midges #20 -22 trickling of during afternoon. No hatch activity at dusk.<br />Big mature caddis larva( on rocks)-macrostemum capense- First hatches should start in 1 month."<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Cheers Carl & Keith</div></div>Carl Nicholsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09149606005231136555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30867111.post-69898780668336721252010-06-24T20:10:00.000+03:002010-06-25T07:53:46.942+03:00June 2010 Middle Vaal Report<div align="center"><em>In proving foresight may be vain:</em></div><br /><div align="center"><em>The best laid schemes of mice and men</em></div><br /><div align="center"><em>Go often askew,</em></div><br /><div align="center"><em>And leave us nothing but grief and pain,</em></div><br /><div align="center"><em>For promised joy! </em></div><em><br /><div align="justify"></em></div><div align="justify">I had it all planned for the 16th, perfect day in mid week to catch the fish & weather off guard. They are forever watching the weekends conspiring to defeat us in our pursuit. A post on the Blog mustered up some fellow fly fishers with the urge to prospect for winter gold. The weekend before the weather was balmy and we riled the English fans staying at the farm lodge, even our winter weather was better than anything the UK summer could offer.<br /></div><br /><div align="justify">Well by Tuesday the predicted cold front struck, fierce biting cold, ripping through flesh and bone – why do the SA Weather guys get it right when we go fishing but wrong when we can’t?!? And so I was reminded of the lines from the Robert Burns poem written in 1785. I’m sure he missed out on a Salmon fishing trip due to dodgy weather when he wrote this poem.<br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486390664565825650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNTxBoQnpXityqQD2iPNVCrUel9aezozUlYtDuwY4DQkjGG0MXlLZDd4ULm43XrtcyMCrrgv7vxveJpYcyJOtITsUbNRqpqkLZ8LtOvoRtnDZxOnsR8qTrBBoX-yT451sNr2v0/s400/RTGraph.png" border="0" /><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><div align="justify">The flow rate at the Goose Bay Canyon site has been relatively constant for more than a month now, which bodes well for clarity. Keep an eye on the weather report and if you’re not watching the soccer, get down to the Vaal for some dry fly action. I cannot vouch for the reports personally, but rumours of good largemouth catches are doing the rounds.<br /></div><br /><div align="justify">The upside of the cancelled fishing trip was that we headed out to Pilanesberg for the day, one of my favourite Game Reserves. We were very lucky to witness a Caracal catching a Natal Francolin and I got a few photo’s to prove it. </div><br /><div align="justify"></div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 294px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_yxCG40mRtR4/TBtpiPqa2lI/AAAAAAAAB3E/IOunQENjPbQ/s400/Rooikat05.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p></p><br /><p>The sequence is here - <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/carl.yellowfever/CaracalHunt?feat=directlink">http://picasaweb.google.com/carl.yellowfever/CaracalHunt?feat=directlink</a></p><br /><p><br />This weekend (26th June 2010) will be our last weekend of hosting visitors at the lodge. The USA vs Ghana match is going to be massive! Hopefully I will then be able to put together another trip for the Vaal.<br /></p><br /><p>Cheers</p><br /><p>Carl and Keith</p>Carl Nicholsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09149606005231136555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30867111.post-41573100433196309542010-06-01T20:16:00.000+03:002010-06-02T12:32:17.940+03:00ELGRO Y-O-F TRIP<span style="font-family:arial;">I'm busy organising a winter trip to Elgro lodge. No guiding just a bit of help, fishing together and photo's. Send me an email if you are interested </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">carl.yellowfever<strong>at</strong>gmail.com</span> (due to spammers just replace the at with @)<br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Regards</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Carl</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span>Carl Nicholsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09149606005231136555noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30867111.post-12746707252492132822010-05-24T11:28:00.000+03:002010-05-24T11:34:43.695+03:00May 2010 Middle Vaal Report<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdjdHOqvCNBdx1VNGtJy4BhNPJOZcPH3Fdlo4SQEPCva8oWT9o7NPsgrQfqedcpNCWCbhD2ElUTunIV3y4Jtd1kB94yfpRGfKc3xgAB_LRdIyW0mIIX9sRhZeCO3yALYXeBI9Q/s1600/Diamond+sunset.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474751544274644082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 270px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdjdHOqvCNBdx1VNGtJy4BhNPJOZcPH3Fdlo4SQEPCva8oWT9o7NPsgrQfqedcpNCWCbhD2ElUTunIV3y4Jtd1kB94yfpRGfKc3xgAB_LRdIyW0mIIX9sRhZeCO3yALYXeBI9Q/s400/Diamond+sunset.JPG" border="0" /></a><em>Kimberley sunset</em><br /><strong><u></u></strong><br /></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"><strong><u>BOATS</u></strong></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">I received a question on fishing the Vaal in mid winter and thought I would share some of my views for this month’s report.<br /></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">“Also, do you have to have waders or a boat?”</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><ul><p align="justify"><br /> </p><li><div align="justify">Boats are great in the sense that they compensate for dodgy casting abilities and the natural movement of feeding fish. When the fish are feeding in a spot, the water level is an inch away from the top of the waders and your cast is dropping 1 meter short it’s not fun. Sometimes fish move around the pool, could be due to sensing the angler or to follow the food. I see this on stillwaters as well as the Vaal and being mobile gives you more options.<br /></div></li><li><div align="justify">At the moment the water temperature is bearable, later in winter the temps get down to the low teens and your legs and feet go numb even with neoprene waders. Standing in cold water for prolonged periods can expose you to hyperthermia especially if you take a dip J.<br /><br /></div></li><li><div align="justify">Fishing pressure is low in winter but a boat can get you to the secluded spots, sometimes just a short paddle away from other fisherman.<br /></div></li><li><div align="justify">There are very few spots along the middle Vaal (especially in the Dome) with clear banks, most of it is tree lined which makes casting difficult. The upper Vaal flows through highveld with clear grass banks, but this area takes longer to clear. A boat will get you away from these obstructions.<br /></div></li><li><div align="justify">Fishing exclusively for smallies is an option on foot. They get onto the surface to feed in the hatches so it’s visible and you can spot them from afar.<br /></div></li><li><div align="justify">I would not consider targeting largemouth without a boat. You need to move around to locate them and also be very flexible in reaching the spots they hold out in. A typical pool they hold in can be 1km by 500m.<br /><br /></div></li><li><div align="justify">Winter fishing for smallmouth is mostly visual. A boat can provide the required elevation in a flat pool to spot fish. Sometimes the smallies hold just below the surface – where they are very visible – but a dimple rise to mayflies can be easily missed on a large pool. </div></li><li><div align="justify">I like getting the sun at the right angle to assist in spotting fish, again mobility makes this possible. Canoes are not stable enough to use as a platform, I use them to get to a rock or island from which I do have a vantage point within casting distance.<br /></div></li></ul><p align="justify"><br /></p><p align="justify">The river flow seems to settle, still high for the winter reserve flow but if it remains constant, clarity will improve to good fishable conditions. Let’s hope it does so quickly I need a fix of good dry fly fishing!</p>Carl Nicholsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09149606005231136555noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30867111.post-14025780709839614222010-04-22T22:18:00.001+03:002010-04-22T22:18:34.712+03:00April 2010 Middle Vaal ReportMy prediction is for foul weather and flood like conditions to continue for the Vaal. Seems the last few months every time I predicted conditions to change for the better, the reverse happened! We are now yet again seeing reasonable flow levels around Goose Bay Canyon (Schoemansdrift data unavailable). I say reasonable as I’ve heard of people fishing 60 cumecs. To me that is still too high and I’m waiting for the clarity to improve.<br /><br />The signs of autumn are all round and with it come changes in tactics and approach. The good news is until the spring-summer transition we don’t have to get up as early as we used to. Fish will start to move out of the rapids into the deeper glides and heads of the pools. They will hold here, foraging in the shallower water as day time temperatures increase coinciding with movement of insects. Keep an eye out for activity and target those areas first, with various set-ups. My first choice would be:<br /><br />· a dry and dropper set-up floated in those glides or flat water<br />· a team of soft hackle/emerger, nymph and beaded nymph floated across and down stream.<br /> Enjoy this special time on the Vaal and lets hope things clear up before the dead of winter.Carl Nicholsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09149606005231136555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30867111.post-23133866218871969742010-04-07T08:53:00.000+03:002010-04-07T09:03:42.883+03:00Dullstroom - Millstream<div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgs31VYbY_NXxtobCTdd8nyO7AxAiuVi51fqw4tGR6AkOkYRh8Zr40GVc5H_y10hwDu5mH1fvsm1voP2jwl8cAiTbgTo8ECHPZ5y_h6EISp3vw5tgB2C7AMVuMOMfjNxnNFTt/s1600/Millstream005.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457270246635657938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgs31VYbY_NXxtobCTdd8nyO7AxAiuVi51fqw4tGR6AkOkYRh8Zr40GVc5H_y10hwDu5mH1fvsm1voP2jwl8cAiTbgTo8ECHPZ5y_h6EISp3vw5tgB2C7AMVuMOMfjNxnNFTt/s400/Millstream005.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><div>Fly fishing for trout is not my first choice fly fishing, apart from some great venues in the North Eastern Cape, when time permits my preferential target is yellowfish. But I learned the ropes fishing for trout in the Eastern Transvaal, now Mpumalanga and I have the utmost respect for the pioneers who brought trout to this country and with it laid the ground for a fly fishing culture. I will always cherish an opportunity to pursue them in that area.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457272061903592418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 234px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhliii6fQzy-bWoDjLRfQKsFoEsngaseS80VcouBRAZxs8iJyIxxa_4Yab4UB8gl_pXEu1oLS5Pw4Ce2oRQLzOOIKaNAfEvdK_hA5aLkPcV5yOEq37nvTfcEYE2s-Bg77SEW8ik/s320/Millstream004.JPG" border="0" /><br />Autumn should be one of the better times to fish for trout before they get otherwise occupied. That is if the weather plays along, we had 4 days of constant change – never a good thing. But I take the cards I’m dealt even if it sees me hiding underneath an upturned boat to escape the deluge of rain. The weekend started well with sunny skies on Saturday, but the fish had a premonition of the impending changes in weather and developed selective lock jaw.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVpaI1n-tpp5y8X1GkXo3kJOMTjFT3FtRNI0GGfZ1fJgPaMcvIGg5QABK0NHiRzOHWEn39cdT8W9xGAfFUGVtVcbtJuO6V6lAay5hQ_7STlKJ8w_yBU3etMig6LFLD9vdm7B-A/s1600/Millstream001.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457269982967465922" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 121px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 362px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVpaI1n-tpp5y8X1GkXo3kJOMTjFT3FtRNI0GGfZ1fJgPaMcvIGg5QABK0NHiRzOHWEn39cdT8W9xGAfFUGVtVcbtJuO6V6lAay5hQ_7STlKJ8w_yBU3etMig6LFLD9vdm7B-A/s400/Millstream001.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I say selective as the odd fish still came out but I couldn’t attribute my success to one specific fly or technique. On previous visits to Millstream, I would find a fly that worked and when ever experimenting with other flies got boring I would switch and BANG into a fish! On this occasion I was like an out of form batsmen whenever I got into the 30’s I would lose my wicket. I tried most of the flies in my box (no Walkers Killer, although they always work) and got the most takes on GRHE, Black Woolly Bugger and Zak nymph.<br /><br />Sometimes it’s not the fly, but rather the technique. To me the most important aspect is retrieve rate and how one applies variations to achieve success. I would go slower rather than faster, for this reason I use floating or intermediate lines, preventing snags on the bottom. Most of the dams can be effectively covered with these lines. Yes there are times during the dog days of a hot summer that a sinker will dredge them out of the deep. There is obviously a case in terms of quantity of fish caught for the faithful strip a big fat fly as fast as possible – it’s ugly.<br /><br />Although I’m not a dry fly purist it is an aspect of fly fishing that has a very special place and stand separate from other approaches due to the visual experience. So to say I was miffed when the fish never really got onto the surface is an understatement. Due to the high rainfall I’m missing out one the autumn dry fly action on the Vaal and now this. The clearing skies brought on the prospect hatching termites and there was a brief period when they took to the air (small #16 body). A #14/16 F-fly produced one fish. These termites land with their wings similar to a caddis, I think the f-fly tied with slightly longer wings and a foam body would be a good imitation. Other patterns like foam and deer hair hoppers failed to produced, I think they just work better on warm windy days, when trout expect them to be active and blown onto the water. I would never go there without them, in fact anywhere in South Africa for that matter.<br /><br />At least the intermittent fishing gave me opportunity to focus on photography, the two hobbies share the same optimal time of day – early light and afternoon light. </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457270789126174690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 210px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikPLJ7NuI5U-rk0-2k6F8wMAMfCZPh0JW-zQlHe6vPrMgcCihNi3ucK-PPlIGk2fGLO0yp8BYbVxDUE2pglf2LI3CeCoPzBYQk-dTPHmpF6Wd38PxE06N93CTPc_mu0XqOKzsi/s400/Millstream002.JPG" border="0" />On the last afternoon the rest of the family took up the rods which gave me an opportunity to capture them in action. My dad just gave up on the fish when the kids arrived. I was fishing a realistic brown nymph, another throw of the dice which proved unsuccessful. I <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDxeaG8GtyoFS7ePIo0nF04ednrnOH5T46eb9UGptD2o-UDwTS_9dxiGNjvRkHGimUNuMPcF2PMZ2flFPTQOOrDTcyY665HxYjsJ6gDKKRJAFoau0e7naPJIoonzYSpYseVx7o/s1600/Millstream003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457271042091719506" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 133px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDxeaG8GtyoFS7ePIo0nF04ednrnOH5T46eb9UGptD2o-UDwTS_9dxiGNjvRkHGimUNuMPcF2PMZ2flFPTQOOrDTcyY665HxYjsJ6gDKKRJAFoau0e7naPJIoonzYSpYseVx7o/s200/Millstream003.JPG" border="0" /></a>gave my rod to my wife but swapped the nymph for something with Bling – an olive tri-phonics. Now picture this – the jetties were loaded mostly guys, all was quite, no screaming reels or woops, then the only lady gets a hook-up. And it’s a big one! Biggest fish in our party for the weekend. I promptly removed the rod from her grasp and proceeded to hook 2 more fish for each of the kids, they landed them with a lot of fanfare!<br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Apart from the great fishing and the good selection of quality water at Millstream the fact that it is such a great family venue makes this an excellent option now that the Vaal is above 300 cumecs again!! Damn I will never make any predictions again – see my previous report.</div></div></div></div>Carl Nicholsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09149606005231136555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30867111.post-23318249625697646202010-03-25T22:05:00.000+02:002010-03-25T22:11:23.101+02:00March 2010 Middle Vaal Report<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1h3_8iJ37Ll3vRSwkw2ez1CtEjYGyK933TzJXYW6GVvKorHEo4kfU5EuXmDYV7CppYW9Kg3v5V0a6fKac58yRmetjCcfiqrL4x2dji68pSoiFl_90iCzwD7UCTEG6KeBTM_VK/s1600/Website0031.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452665902322176834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1h3_8iJ37Ll3vRSwkw2ez1CtEjYGyK933TzJXYW6GVvKorHEo4kfU5EuXmDYV7CppYW9Kg3v5V0a6fKac58yRmetjCcfiqrL4x2dji68pSoiFl_90iCzwD7UCTEG6KeBTM_VK/s400/Website0031.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em>What does this beautiful lady have to do with fishing? Took the photo after sunset, it’s just amazing what can be painted with digital cameras these days.</em><br /><br /><div align="left"><br />I have to apologise for the hiatus in reporting but with sub optimal fishing conditions on the Vaal I have just not focussed enough on fishing. I think I may have lost my mojo so I’m off to Dullstroom to get my mojo right. Not my ideal type of fly fishing, rather it is a return to my roots and spend time with my ageing father. I started off fly fishing with my dad in the Machadodorp area about 30 years ago and now it’s the turn of 3 generations to share the pursuit. It also gives my wife the opportunity to practice her casting and out fish me!<br /><br />Seems the flows are settling on the Vaal, so in the next few weeks we may be in for some typical autumn dry fly action. It is one of my favourite times on the river, before the extreme cold of winter sets in and the fish fattening up on the last of the summer insects.<br /><br /><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimtv6TxwZjDUqfkmegHBjxq7yjo688VvZtXTC5vaizH-x6teDa5uilw2u9guQn4NdRaN9lhJ4Mct63N75F_Uu_ohuiPJWXXJGsmAa8t5MnnQkrlKgayOe_w1kqskwngjzA4QTJ/s1600/Website0018.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452666450014205954" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimtv6TxwZjDUqfkmegHBjxq7yjo688VvZtXTC5vaizH-x6teDa5uilw2u9guQn4NdRaN9lhJ4Mct63N75F_Uu_ohuiPJWXXJGsmAa8t5MnnQkrlKgayOe_w1kqskwngjzA4QTJ/s400/Website0018.JPG" border="0" /></a>Catch and Release<br /></strong><br />Twice in the past week this piece of research was discussed on two different radio stations. The species does not relate to the yellowfish of this report, but I think we can learn a lot from this. In the Vaal the largemouth is one of only 2 apex predators.<br /><br />Catch and release fishing in the Okavango under the spotlight by Prof Nico Smit<br /><br />Have you ever wondered why you do not see as many tigerfish in our river systems today as you did in the past and where they have gone?<br /><br />Have you ever wondered what the possible reasons are for the slow disappearance of tigerfish from our rivers and if we will ever see their numbers restored? Is ‘catch and release’ angling placing undue stress on the tigerfish pollution?<br /><br />The Centre of Aquatic Research (CAR) of the Department of Zoology at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) has researched the decline in numbers of the tigerfish (Hydrocynus vittatus), which to many anglers is the epitome of Africa’s freshwater game fish species.<br /><br />“As one of the most important predatory fishes in Africa, tigerfish are found in areas throughout the continent. However, in recent years its numbers have declined in many rivers due to water abstraction, pollution, obstructions such as dams and weirs and fishing pressure,” says Prof Nico Smit, head of the UJ’s CAR. “This has been recognised specifically in South Africa. The tigerfish is now included on the protected species list, together with such marine icons such as the great white shark and the coelacanth, which was once thought to be extinct.”<br /><br />You can read the rest of the article here.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.uj.ac.za/EN/Newsroom/News/Pages/CatchandreleasefishingintheOkavangounderthespotlight.aspx">http://www.uj.ac.za/EN/Newsroom/News/Pages/CatchandreleasefishingintheOkavangounderthespotlight.aspx</a><br /><br />Cheers<br />Carl & Keith</div></div>Carl Nicholsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09149606005231136555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30867111.post-60303491404356923812010-02-09T07:40:00.000+02:002010-02-09T07:46:32.586+02:00February 2010 Middle Vaal Report<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBSQcKI6k2pobI6qEq1S2QY-C4iXusu_V2wVFU42zuC5mj_R_gplmpQ-RFrclHaH2eZHuzzPQ39sZJqKTWPkxHI7hp3osGx_jZQnW-XqeuZWAatI3xF8veX0XWaFyoiTcg8Lqv/s1600-h/Vaal-Dam-overflow.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436114954504978898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 280px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBSQcKI6k2pobI6qEq1S2QY-C4iXusu_V2wVFU42zuC5mj_R_gplmpQ-RFrclHaH2eZHuzzPQ39sZJqKTWPkxHI7hp3osGx_jZQnW-XqeuZWAatI3xF8veX0XWaFyoiTcg8Lqv/s400/Vaal-Dam-overflow.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div align="center"><a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Cnichols/My%20Documents/Personal/Reports/[url=http:/www.outdoorphoto.co.za/forum/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=213533][img]http:/www.outdoorphoto.co.za/forum/photopost/data/518/thumbs/Vaal-Dam-overflow.jpg[/img][/url]"><em>Vaaldam overflow</em></a><em> thanks to Henia for sharing her work. </em></div><br /><br />So what do I tell you about fishing conditions on our favourite section of the river? Not a lot – there is no fishing as the river is in absolute turmoil! Unless you are innovative like these guys.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436114958932285058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 289px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FVFAOcO0o4OOP8fAog90XnNS3Usj9m-9TtJQjZHsKdPReuBmU6tNCrkGSB3wzKZha5IX0ryMHhUrizCsGUY7HSBZn3gI-pZo5k6ZuYMHl3Mm8tY7nuzbrQy3z9BMEvq5n4MM/s400/Gone-fishing-on-the-street.jpg" border="0" /> </div><div align="left">I’m not making any predictions or forecasts on when you can go out again but we will be extremely lucky to get the river back in fishable condition by April. I’m sure there are some who will not be able to hold out until then, my suggestions would rank:<br />1. Sterkfontein dam.<br />2. Vaal tributaries, they clear up quicker and the flow rate is lower. Google Earth can assist you, but access is one of the biggest issues. Keep your own safety in mind.<br />3. Vaal margins. I’m seeing reports of people fishing in the “new” parts of the river. A very challenging prospect which require you to find the new holding spots and deep holes! Keep in mind that the fish feed differently in these zones as the rocks will be void of any aquatic insects.<br />4. Start another hobby.<br /><br />I’m not too keen on 2 & 3 – it is a personal bias don’t discard it. I just prefer clean water or at least a chance to fish to sighted fish close to the surface. The Vaal despite it’s name does offer enough of it to make a worthwhile option.<br /><br />My other hobby photography is coming in very handy at the moment, it helps me burn the excess cash I’m not spending on fishing equipment and I get to do something over the weekends. Photography forms a great symbiotic relationship with fly fishing – we fish in some of the most scenic places on this planet and what better way to capture it all.<br /><br />I also enjoy birding when out fishing and now it keeps me busy when the fishing is slow – or non existent. A few years back I decided to progress from just knowing it is a kingfisher to identify it as a half-collard kingfisher. It adds more to the whole purpose of getting out and being in nature.<br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436114959628171554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 237px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYt4tbtxdcqzUu8c7KMId8cM1mgw1aGkeuezMlaG_4oPJQUsaGBMRDQfKPdRiJXerpyS0fnW601hZKkoCIBdo0WnEGz3s1Z4OgtZvprEHbfY81ay9nSbs6yES1MvOQbUOQ7_U/s400/WFWD0006.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">White-faced duck</p><div align="left">Carl & Keith<br /><a href="http://yellowsonfly.blogspot.com/">http://yellowsonfly.blogspot.com/</a></div>Carl Nicholsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09149606005231136555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30867111.post-64013659102175636482010-01-28T10:48:00.000+02:002010-01-28T10:50:16.462+02:00Vaal Flood situation updatefrom Francois van wyk, water quality specialist at Rand Water:<br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal">For updated info on the Flood situation, please visit <a href="http://www.reservoir.co.za/" target="_blank">www.reservoir.co.za</a> – Marc has added a lot of info and links to the “home page” . We will update regularly and also add some pictures over the next few hours.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Situation currently: Yesterday (28/01) vaal Dam had 8 sluice gates open by 14:00 (outflow 12 cumec)</p> <p class="MsoNormal">This morning (29/01) 2 more gates were opened at 10:00 – 2 more will be opened at 12:00 and another 2 at 14:00 – total 14 gates by this afternoon.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>Keith Wallingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00367952168010608017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30867111.post-4398514715760641692009-12-07T15:41:00.000+02:002009-12-07T15:46:28.556+02:00December 2009 Middle Vaal Report<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWKVATje_sFzfLMOFpAOWE7Wp2ObRe53yxg8dVDKKkCuY6tCqcEdOV-3Zad_mbjbkoZD2oDql4r53PmM72Mcr2JhdjCtq_e54-AcxKnI-WWQuBW4yQyvYIJUCIiGFdMdxPIBl/s1600-h/Parys0007.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412489911747862178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 256px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWKVATje_sFzfLMOFpAOWE7Wp2ObRe53yxg8dVDKKkCuY6tCqcEdOV-3Zad_mbjbkoZD2oDql4r53PmM72Mcr2JhdjCtq_e54-AcxKnI-WWQuBW4yQyvYIJUCIiGFdMdxPIBl/s400/Parys0007.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><div><div>I do not have a lot to report other than the fish are eating and we are at the mercy of summer rains for good water conditions. Flows have been manageable with a few spikes and the resultant drop in water clarity. In the absence of major frontal systems, like the one we had 2 weeks ago, <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_-lVbtWW5Q1ILRMUW1clQ4EpTCoWuUS1hKhfDXt70FAIv4mfk013FI5jg3d4KLrdHzVLYyzGzzq9ny2KW9gu8dldFRLecGnjMGfOKapUMjsONpo4AdJegbRYjSGicQL6rcCZo/s1600-h/Dec0005.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412489499803126050" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 202px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 310px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_-lVbtWW5Q1ILRMUW1clQ4EpTCoWuUS1hKhfDXt70FAIv4mfk013FI5jg3d4KLrdHzVLYyzGzzq9ny2KW9gu8dldFRLecGnjMGfOKapUMjsONpo4AdJegbRYjSGicQL6rcCZo/s400/Dec0005.JPG" border="0" /></a>you will experience Highveld thunderstorms on most afternoons. Not much you can do about that but hunker down and make sure you do not become lightning fodder. Most of these are over within 30 minutes affording you excellent fishing for the rest of the afternoon.<br />As the daytime and water temperatures increase go look for the fish in the shade. Overhanging trees and undercut banks should be worked thoroughly – do not take no for an answer. At times you have to go in tight against the bank and do a few drifts in the good spots. You will be amazed how a fish will only take after the 4th or 5th drift. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRvM096A_UesqHmQ7DkTCwWiHwI6UuOopJtBo6MS4lzK0YQIVlJgGeY8cC9Esj3hBkE8GUlqkVBvrAvRDI05FlfIkjmbgA8f6DqapJK7VSTpyl8riDPATjIzFnxo4uKLfPTAVf/s1600-h/Dec0006.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412489734794705570" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 170px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 335px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRvM096A_UesqHmQ7DkTCwWiHwI6UuOopJtBo6MS4lzK0YQIVlJgGeY8cC9Esj3hBkE8GUlqkVBvrAvRDI05FlfIkjmbgA8f6DqapJK7VSTpyl8riDPATjIzFnxo4uKLfPTAVf/s400/Dec0006.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Me? I’m of to Sterkfontein dam to satisfy my insatiable lust for dry fly fishing. If you are on the roads this festive season travel safely.<br /><br /><br /><br />Blessed Christmas to you and your family. Happy New Year. </div><div> </div><div>Carl & Keith</div></div></div>Carl Nicholsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09149606005231136555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30867111.post-24281738505157367242009-11-02T17:46:00.000+02:002009-11-02T18:14:34.470+02:00November Middle Vaal Report<em></em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399534060878897794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGA0RPWE41B2Z2gMqXgtV1VUqI-Mb-yJpX0e7Hlr0iIXyAwUoOjothh3FbYY4aPxepCSd8ew9SjZY5DjqjREMDm2Z0U19wlxI4q1alvIbZ4aQo_0geqGVsCjYH7fHN_WCVB9Mh/s400/IMG_6254.JPG" border="0" /> <div align="center"><em>Road trips I love them (at least till we get to the water)</em><br /></div><br />Can you teach an old dog new tricks? Some you can some you can’t. I discovered this on my previous fishing trip, to Sterkfontein dam. Not the middle Vaal I know but fishing for smallmouth none the less. On the Friday we arrived we had to fish on foot – with very strong winds we were forced to fish the accessible sheltered areas. The first spot produced my first largemouth in this dam on a small Zak nymph. It gave me a lovely fight and certainly got our tails up.<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399534064023364274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQlFHhKbHjJ61y8Yai5cMsH9f_nTHaoHa_blYumDBNSRRzNoU0A9OCyKUmhUAwEc-LrzmCwYLTvq_ZxyObenbGdptjtKUDzMxH7d4z7fL5-eXnQFfCkMahsRJJvv4-q6vBfpxJ/s400/IMG_6282.JPG" border="0" /><br />A fruitless 30 minutes followed and I moved to higher ground, which revealed very little in terms of fish, we moved on. Another shore access spot was completely blown out, with no fish showing!?!<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399534067843956322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLSYIi58XuWB-G3qo0kCglRuqlSt49SCrDl1rCz1bfLekr-Kgy97J72DrFiaF1Ne7C7OexgVT5gutEiOzoZhhBLdp5poKgnu9nKlHMxjTzaVcfPqBtlxQM4O2fmwXGobkI17KO/s400/IMG_6297.JPG" border="0" /><br />One last trick up our sleeves; we had a choice of rocky shoreline and open bay with sandy/muddy bottom. The bay was wind swept but a small ridge gave enough protection to make a cast. My mates headed to the rocky shoreline, as this was completely protected, and the in the Manual of Sterkies chapter 4 states this is one of the spots.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmiRp2_oqYUHjoRq_CMxvRpCSSmKB9ffJIvPJymFL_xKlV_5m1pqdoEkEqCgei23gfF2rHFMUCXq6wLLRuMfQ5OpZk08hGWzQy310ncn9hbKQmH-jU0vMhRHFANR43hI4hjyeR/s1600-h/IMG_6316.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399534719616392722" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmiRp2_oqYUHjoRq_CMxvRpCSSmKB9ffJIvPJymFL_xKlV_5m1pqdoEkEqCgei23gfF2rHFMUCXq6wLLRuMfQ5OpZk08hGWzQy310ncn9hbKQmH-jU0vMhRHFANR43hI4hjyeR/s400/IMG_6316.JPG" border="0" /></a>The Zak did duty again, the high sun afforded enough visibility in the choppy conditions for me to spot 2 fish following but refusing the fly. I immediately switched to a hopper as the water was shallow about 1-1.5m. A short cast into the wind was all I required, the hopper drifted for 2metres before a big mouth engulfed the fly. WOW! She left the shallow flats like a Tokyo bullet train, trying with all her guile to rid her of the 5X tippet holding her back. I landed and released her taking a few minutes to savour the moment – and decide on continuing fishing or go call my friends – I’m such a good person.<br /><br /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>The area they were fishing, a top spot in high summer, was void of fish.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399534071323936962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7MfXciKLCro956Hl48hHeJWK1Ju6UB6BynaVGeCQqYyQ53OmcVeIHHXxzrQmgmYnqJaeGb6lXiX48D6qnV4EZ6F64ugZFDNSH3yuEw_zctPu0h3YAEjICIvlGxCgxuQKU2HP/s400/IMG_6333.JPG" border="0" /><br />They joined me in the bay and Jaco promptly got his first smallie in Sterkies.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpL2foRhl8e4rjzx2lnrGBRPAJvI9QgShV579WGiD5Py_ddxrSn7ruip9TfpM9BDLvKB9DggSya8UebSDSm3pCd8Vo2pni9VlZv2MbWqCqYHEGiGKgBxBGd8TOVnPos4aI20Kv/s1600-h/IMG_6361.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399534727022336610" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 271px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpL2foRhl8e4rjzx2lnrGBRPAJvI9QgShV579WGiD5Py_ddxrSn7ruip9TfpM9BDLvKB9DggSya8UebSDSm3pCd8Vo2pni9VlZv2MbWqCqYHEGiGKgBxBGd8TOVnPos4aI20Kv/s400/IMG_6361.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The following 2 hours I experienced some of the most amazing fly fishing for smallies I’ve had in my life. The fish were big and fat, they engulfed the hopper (no missed takes) and they all ran like a bat towards deeper water. </p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399534379314285298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmQHiWhoiF_mml2-izd_NwoxaVZWfwGlKCg4qlpywC-FU0esi2cFbybmY3rVwB_L4Ifo9lc9G9Qv4VxznB5KFZQr8O7kfX5mScQajjh5AV9YmgOUFQQM6nhWX4u2FABNADkBO/s400/IMG_6469.JPG" border="0" /><em>Kobus did not have permission from the wife to go, he wasn’t there.</em></p><p>The one lesson I got ingrained again was to find the fish – the usual spots or some completely new place. At Sterkfontein the clear water makes this easy – if the weather co-operate. The Vaal in summer can become so predictable that our cerebral development in the fly fishing lobe takes a serious knock.<br /><br />This is further aggravated by fishing the same venue! There are various methods to identify the holding places of the fish on the Vaal.<br /><br /><br /><br />· Find a bit of high ground and use it to spot the fish flashing as they feed. Even in discoloured water the tell tale flashes are visible.<br />· Pause to survey the river at water level, you may just notice a tail doing the “overhere” wave. This accounted for my first largemouth, a fish of 4.5kg.<br />· In the pools and glides, keep an eye open for dark torpedo shapes just sub-surface or the dorsal-tail fins of feeding yellows.<br />· If you see nothing give the fly in water technique a go, but take a break every so often to check for activity. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1STEhlFAEpwMOfkvTxM7xDMb5-l8fwpzf_lfpAFEhuAuyY7HOC0oATxlffcMe4EGm-m8nE8HlYbnxjBzLqvfdT9ZubwUDiUfqT-uor-dCpQ-a0YTbt6-leUUzqeSv8IPmdZt/s1600-h/IMG_6435.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399534731522313506" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 317px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1STEhlFAEpwMOfkvTxM7xDMb5-l8fwpzf_lfpAFEhuAuyY7HOC0oATxlffcMe4EGm-m8nE8HlYbnxjBzLqvfdT9ZubwUDiUfqT-uor-dCpQ-a0YTbt6-leUUzqeSv8IPmdZt/s400/IMG_6435.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></p><p></p><p><em></em></p><p align="centre"><em></em></p><p align="centre"><em></em></p><p align="left"><em></em></p><p align="centre"><em></em></p><p align="left"><em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1STEhlFAEpwMOfkvTxM7xDMb5-l8fwpzf_lfpAFEhuAuyY7HOC0oATxlffcMe4EGm-m8nE8HlYbnxjBzLqvfdT9ZubwUDiUfqT-uor-dCpQ-a0YTbt6-leUUzqeSv8IPmdZt/s1600-h/IMG_6435.JPG"></a></em></p><p align="centre"><em></em></p><p align="centre"><em></em></p><p align="left"><em></em></p><p align="left"><em></em></p><p align="centre"><em></em></p><p align="centre"><br /></p><p align="centre"></p><p align="centre"></p><p align="centre"></p><p align="centre"></p><p align="centre"></p><p align="centre"></p><p align="centre"></p><p align="centre"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"> </p><p align="left"> </p><p align="left"> </p><p align="left"> </p><p align="left"> </p><p align="left"> </p><p align="left"> </p><p align="left"> </p><p align="left"> </p><p align="left"> </p><p align="left"><em>Only the clever survive, the stupid catch nothing. </em></p><p align="centre">The longer term weather predictions are for this year to be an El Nino year, which translates into low rainfall, especially early season. To date this holds true and has afforded us fairly constant flows over October. The only spike due to a canoe race held over the last weekend.<br />Good luck tread lightly and avoid the spawning fish!<br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399534378282592770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8L6Xna4OIJVMFNAb9a8UmbtekhKlINWrVaUA45Q5UXierpe2AVIdqtpAb_5jRN-4beUr5T2wFexV-DfW6wDB-w0ah2NJj1HtsI8R5PakxotdPNLKsAflq0n8WZ1pa11s7wODy/s400/IMG_6515.JPG" border="0" /><br />Carl & Keith<br /><a href="http://yellowsonfly.blogspot.com/">http://yellowsonfly.blogspot.com/</a>Carl Nicholsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09149606005231136555noreply@blogger.com1