May Middle Vaal Report

“By 2035 SA will need 65-billion cubic kilometres of water and our current national stock stands at 33-billion. Our problem is that we are managing our water resources so badly, and are putting pressure on available fresh water,”. Dr Anthony Turton
*Source: http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/topstories.aspx?ID=BD4A994604
Alarmist some might say but after the Energy crisis of early 2008 I would prefer to err on the side of panic. It is a fact that we, those in Gauteng in close proximity to the Middle Vaal have been blessed with average to above average rainfall in the last 3 seasons. A fact lost on us City slickers used to bottled water and water on tap. We complain about the rising cost and dropping quality of our potable water, but until recently it wasn’t frowned upon for Rand Water to provide strategic water supplies to a mining company. Water was that cheap.
It may also be that we are protected from a severe water shortage experienced by the rest of our arid country because we have large upstream strategic reserves. Unfortunately it will be difficult to avoid the massive influx of refugees fleeing a desolate country side.
We really need to switch on and approach this challenge as a national threat. Do your bit to conserve water – bath with a friend, join an action campaign, make sure the company you work for don’t pollute and get your parents to switch on it’s your future.

Approach and technique

The plethora of April public holidays gave me enough free minutes and I eventually got onto the river. The mornings are crisp with a thick layer of mist drifting off the relatively warm river water. Winter in all her glory is here. There is no need to be on the water at first light, it is certainly a lot more pleasurable to reset the alarm and crawl deeper under the duvet. Unless if you’re into photography, that is the time to get out and experience the light fantastic.
The hatches will only start around 10 am, with sufficient numbers to get the fish onto the surface and feeding. My first day out started at 2 pm and the fish were already locked into a thick hatch of Mayfly. The clarity was around 50 cm but the yellows were able to pick size 16 naturals off with a few obliging to take a well presented dry. When I feel confident I switch flies after every fish, experimenting with different patterns. The naturals (nymphal shucks) were dun to almost black in the water. The flies producing were the f-fly, loopwing emerger, dark klinkhammers and even a CDC ant in size 16-18. The fish refused bigger patterns I used as an indicator.

The next morning the action was slow but it was great to be on the river for the first time with my son. He thoroughly enjoyed it and I was astonished that he persisted and did not head back to his PSP at the lodge. He even paddled me around the pool while I stood up spotting fish.

Again as mentioned in previous reports, first thing is to find the fish. Move around until you see the activity or spot the dark shapes just below the surface. You cannot fish blind in those large pools of the Vaal. On that morning I found the fish in a large pool, just where the water was smoothing out from the turmoil of the rapids. The hatches were sporadic so I reverted to the double burger with extra fries approach. A big hopper cast about 1 metre upstream of the fish was enough to entice my first fish of the morning. Once the hatch started they ignored the large fly again. I switched to small #16 offerings and had some great fun with decent size fish up to 5 pounds.
Insect Activity
The flies are small and sometimes it takes a lot of guts to stick such a small fly out there especially if you are used to lobbing #10 caddis boms in summer.
Believe me it does work. If you tie your own flies and battle to get the mayflies picture perfect don’t despair! I watched and collected a lot of the naturals and they were a sorry bunch.The cripples and emergers are scraggly bits none of the pure lines of the duns floating on the surface. The fish didn’t mind in fact they were the easy pickings.

This little fellow joined me, but mom was close by and she was a monster

Cheers until next month, enjoy the dry fly fishing.

Carl & Keith
http://yellowsonfly.blogspot.com/

April 2009 Middle Vaal Report

Just got back from a family holiday in the south of Mozambique. First time there and although I saw but a small part of the country what an eye opener. Shocking how war can put a country back and how difficult it is to make a comeback without natural resources. Tourism is great but it’s a fickle business based on seasons and school holidays. The rest of the year there are mouths to feed and it seems the sea as a natural resource is taking the brunt of the demand. Shore fishing was limited especially on fly. It may be seasonal it may be due to my inexperience, but snorkelling the pools did not reveal much more for the fly to entice.
I wish I could make a stop at Horst Filter on the way back. Although the rivers are not optimal it certainly beats sitting in the Easter traffic. Anyway, fishing the Luneburg area during winter is still on my to-do list.
Water and Weather
Joy when I got back and noted that the Vaal is getting back to fishable levels. I know for a fact there will be plenty of people out on the river before winter sets in. Autumn is a very productive time on the river, the fish are still to be found in the faster shallower water for those enjoying wading. There is also the opportunity to fish from a boat in the pools-as the clarity improves you’ll get great dry fly action.
Insect Activity
The archive of reports covers this subject well. If you do fish dry flies it will be mostly mayfly imitations.
A report just in from Gary la Grange is that the fish are certainly on the bite and there a big ones eager to take the fly. The smallies were hesitant to take a dry but obliged to take unweighted sub-surface patterns. Herman Botes reports that the yellows were very eager to take a dry on election day, pale morning duns (Adams) and Blue Winged Olives were hatching.
Largemouth
This is the start of the optimal fishing season for largemouth. Visibility will improve with the absence of rain and flash floods. The very big barbel move into winter mode (bottom of the river) and the largies take up their position as the prime predator in the river. When it comes to flies for the largies you have two choices:
1. Pick an all round fly e.g. MSP or Woolly Bugger in black. Tie it on and stick to it for a full day working all likely spots at all depths.
2. Pick 100 different great attractor patterns for fresh-& saltwater predators. Tie one on and stick to it for a full day working all likely spots at all depths.
You need dedication and perseverance to succeed with largies. It’s not the fish a minute stuff you get with the smallies in a hatch. You can spend a full 10km drift improving your casting and watching smallmouth feeding on #16 MF on the surface. Or you can hook into a 5kg largie at 10am and the day (year) is made.

This is not about fishing. I'm getting more into my photography. Upgraded to DSLR and a new Canon lense.

Carl & Keith

February Middle Vaal Report

One of my 2009 resolutions is to fish more often at least once a month. January had a trip to kick off the month which was a good start. February 28 I’ll be on the water, seems things are heading in the wrong direction with the gap widening. The increased flows are partly to blame, workflows and water flows. I remember when the urge to fish and get out there into the water got one down to the river at 40 even 60 cumecs with visibility below 20cm. Dangerous but fishable, never really memorable. The days I remember were those when the water looked alive (certainly not muddy and vaal) or the fish were on top and feeding.
Whenever we travel and pass a body of water I will always look at it. A dull suspension of silt doesn’t warrant a second glance. But that lively emerald or blue water immediately switches the mind into evaluating the fly fishing potential. Reminds me of travelling into the North Eastern Cape for the first time, you just want to stop and fish every river you cross. I cannot imagine flying to Auckland New Zealand and then driving to the South Island, with no stopping on the way!!!
If you are lucky enough to have sufficient time to fish the great and the less than perfect days, go for it and enjoy. At some stage in your life you may not be able to.
As I’m writing this we are about to leave for a trip to Sterkfontein dam. I’m taking two friends for their first trip to the real Eldorado of yellowfish, the purest of gold to be found. It is magnificent to experience the youthful enthusiasm it brings to men. Kobus has been tying and tying the last few weeks. I think there is enough flies to feed one to every fish in the dam. Passion and zeal I love it.

Water and Weather / Insect Activity
The change of the season is upon us, I can sense it in the early morning air. The sun is lazy in getting up and has lost some of its intensity. If you turn over rocks or watch the hatching insects closely you’ll note the mayflies becoming the dominate food source.
When the rain tapers of the river will settle down, late showers will rejuvenate flows but won’t turn the river on its head. The clarity will return and yellowfish will be visible and feeding close to the surface. They will start moving out of the rapids, the real shallow sections; into glides and deeper channels just of above the big pools. Don’t forget the tail-outs they get there in numbers towards late afternoon and seem to abandon fear in the gathering dusk.
As always I cannot predict when the flows will settle but we are still thankful for the rains.

Sterkfontein dam trip report
As with all fly fishing adventures we left with the best intentions, a sack full of enthusiasm and some trepidation on the accuracy of the weather forecasters. They got it close to spot on - damn! We had a tough weekend with changing weather patterns, keeping us in raingear and waders or giving us serious sunburn. That is Sterkies for you, always changing never predictable.
The fishing was tough but rewarding. At times “the only thing you heard was the opening and closing of fly boxes” to quote Dave Weaver. The doom and gloom of the weather was lifted on Saturday when nature brought on a smorgasbord of ants and termites. I was prepared for flying ants (size 16 and 18 – see slideshow) as they do occur in numbers and the yellows lock onto the immobile insects on the surface. First up was a natural size 14 ant. The fish got into a feeding frenzy and a big fish turned to take a hopper and head straight down into the depths, popping the tippet after a short battle. Next on was a #16 ant and the fish nailed it. The wind changed direction and the hatch petered out.
We moved to another spot affectionately named Beetle bush and obliged with some large beetle patterns – current theory is that 6 legs are better than 4. The odd fish rolled on the beetle and some got hold of them. Then suddenly the air was filled with small termites. They look exactly the same as the large ones we see on the Highveld but these were size 16. Which was not really covered as I came prepared for the larger insect. These insects land on the water with their wings in different formations, allowing the flytier to tie them with wings facing back. Tying them with spent wings at 90 degrees is going to wreak your tippet into a twisted mess.
I had a fair replica albeit with slightly larger foam body – klipspringer hair wings completed a general profile – by no means an exact replica. Then followed a magic session of 3 fish landed all around 5 lbs and many more dropped or just not connecting on the take. Still exiting stuff just watching the explosive takes.
IF you do venture onto Sterkfontein in the late half of the season, make sure your box is well stocked with ant and termite patterns. I‘ll be adding some of my own efforts to the slide show. You can view photo’s of the ants on Jason’s site
http://www.troutnut.com/hatch/76/Insect-Hymenoptera-Ants-Bees-and-Wasps
or here to see the difference between ants and termites. There are a couple of great triggers to incorporate into your flies.
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/johnston/homehort2/termite_v_ant.jpg

Largemouth
Now is the time to prepare for winter!! Tie up the flies and get some special leaders tied with a Bimini knot to join sections. The knot does offer some shock absorption for the fierce take and first run of a largemouth.

Carl & Keith
http://yellowsonfly.blogspot.com/

Flies for Yellowfish

I have added a few flies to the slideshow on the blog- these are flies that work for me. None of the flies are new inventions, just my way of tying some favourites. Let me know if it works for you! If you require a step-by-step I will add some later, time permitting. If you want more details on materials send me an email or leave a comment.

Ps. Most of the flies are tied for Sterkfontein dam as this is now the prime season, Autumn and winter is around the corner. That is when the Vaal can (weather and water behaving) turn into one of the best dry fly rivers in South Africa. If it was in a pristine wilderness area without pollution, this would be one of the best in the world!!

Knots

I've been fishing for almost 30 years (EEEK!) and one thing that still fascinates me and which I still try to improve is KNOTS.

I've been using the Eugene Bend knot for a few years and I'm very happy with the strength. But when I fish 5X at Sterkies I find it puts curls in the tippet, even on fluorocarbon. So I'm always on the lookout for new and better knots.

Midcurrent published this article today. Have a read, it is thought provoking.

http://www.midcurrent.com/articles/knots/scheck_lastlink_1.aspx

Middle Vaal Report

Pristine drinkable and fishable

According to The Blacksmith Institute the World’s Ten Worst pollutants are:
1. Artisanal Gold Mining
2. Contaminated Surface Water
3. Indoor Air Pollution
4. Industrial Mining Activities
5. Groundwater Contamination
6. Metals Smelting and Processing
7. Radioactive Waste and Uranium Mining
8. Untreated Sewage
9. Urban Air Quality
10. Used Lead Acid Battery Recycling

Six of which pose a direct threat to the Vaal and number 8 stands out as the current media reporting focuses again on the troubles of municipalities on the south of the Witwatersrand watershed. Don’t be misled this is not the only problem and may not be the one that tips the scale. Some of the others are remnants of a previous generation who took what they could and left. Reading more on sewage takes you back in history through the serious problems Londoners suffered including a few cholera epidemics – back in 1860’s! It seems history repeats itself, it is so sad that we cannot or do not want to learn from it.
Sewerage is front of mind in summer, it’s the peak of the fishing season and reading about spills leaves one with trepidation every time you plan a trip to the Vaal, in winter we forget it exist. What can one do about it? We cannot get involved in cleaning up, no seriously you don’t want to get involved it is specialised business. It’s not like the Cubs outing picking up paper and plastic around the local park. But as with most things in life we can actually do our bit.
• Report sightings of spillages. FOSAF produced a brochure, which is posted to our Blog with contact details for reporting pollution. Reporting to the press helps in creating awareness but does not solve the problem.
• Join an action group like SAVE.
• Don’t dump non-biodegradable waste down the sewer system. Report companies who do.
• Reduce you consumption of water and production of waste water.

• Take appropriate measures when you answer the call of nature! During our rafting trip through the Richtersveld, I was shocked by the visible signs of human excreta and toilet paper at the popular camping sites. The visitors are mostly affluent people who can afford a 4x4 and fuel to get there- boggles the mind. But I suppose the “Not In My BackYard” principle apply.
o Dig a deep hole 60cm plus.
o Burn the toilet paper.
o Cover up the hole.
Enough of this and back to the fishing.

Water and Weather
December was incredibly hot north of the Magalies, no complaints the rain is here and we are glad for the life giving blessing. It does interfere with the fishing though but you just have to learn to live with it and plan around it. Option one is to fish on Wednesdays, the flows seem to remain constant until then. By Thursday the thunderstorms move in and the heavens dump cubic tons of water onto the paved and tarred wetlands, sending most of it down to the Vaal. Weekend is stuffed!
But there are opportunities when flows remain at fishable levels and the reports I’m seeing are very good. Keep an eye on the weather reports and check the flows! Best to keep all equipment ready and packed for a quick getaway at short notice (make sure you have blanket amnesty with the significant other)!
Weather wise you’ll have regular afternoon thunderstorms to contend with, sometimes worth sitting out as the period afterwards can bring on some of the best fishing of the day.

Insect Activity
It is mostly still caddis patterns bringing home the bacon, with hotspot and flashback nymphs the other favourites. I’m a big advocate for alternative methods, which may not produce the large numbers of fish, but add a new dimension to your fishing. OK you get tough days when the only dimension you want to add is a curved arch into a rod with screeming reel - clearly not conducive to testing new flies or fancy techniques. But one of the followers of the blog Barend sent in this photo of a fish caught in January on a dry. What more do you want????

Klinkhammer from Europe to Africa what a great fly.

Approach and Technique
There is nothing new I can add, I have described every technique I know in the previous reports. I have to confess that I haven’t been to the Vaal in weeks!!! If only I fished more often maybe then I can finally piece together the puzzle of catching 50 5kg smallmouth in a day.
I mentioned earlier about being packed and ready to go fish. Get into the habit of sorting through all the stuff after every trip. Clean the tackle bag, remember to trash the salami sandwich you did not eat, dispose of tippet and recycle all the rubbish you took in. Why leave it there to create a headache for the resort owner! Clean and dry wading boots somewhere out of the sun. Put all the things together and check and check again. On a recent Sterkfontein trip I left my favourite rod and brought an empty rod tube. Fix broken equipment – which reminds me I have to attach a heel on one of my wading boots.
Largemouth
Fish are being caught in good size and quantities, downstream from Orkney area towards Christiana.
News
The FOSAF sustainable yellowfish pamphlets should be out there at shops and regular venues. If you don’t see it there get into contact with FOSAF or me to request some.

Remember to revive fish before releasing

I have added a slideshow of my popular flies. Most of the current ones are for Sterkfontein dam, but some like the F-fly does work on the Vaal. I will add more when time permit. You can also link to Keith’s site for more advanced stuff, but he is becoming very Eurocentric and I’m not sure his flies will stand up to African conditions ;-)
Our family started recycling most of our household waste. We are going through a learning curve, and there is extra effort involved but at least we are doing something for the planet which our kids will inherit. Are you doing it?

Cheers
Carl & Keith

SUSTAINABLE YELLOWFISHING

Keith and I made a contribution for the new FOSAF pamphlet on ethical fly fishing. These will be distributed to venues on the Vaal and major tackles shops. There were other people involved, especially Trevor Babich (http://www.fishingowl.co.za/) sponsored the printing of 10,000 copies. This is an online version, so has a much smaller carbon footprint. Which is one of my 2009 and beyond resolutions.

BASIC FLYFISHING ETIQUETTE ON THE VAAL

1. Do not enter the river immediately upstream of other anglers; this is extremely rude. Most flyfishers will be wading slowly upstream and therefore climbing into the river immediately upstream is very bad manners. If you have to enter upstream of people do so at least 60 metres ahead and first request permission either by hand signal or your voice if shouting is not required.
   
2. Give fellow anglers space. Allow at least 2 line lengths (60 metres) between you and a fellow angler. If there are few anglers at the venue stay even further away. This will allow everyone the opportunity to target fish that have not been spooked or affected by fellow anglers. Do not crowd anglers who appear to be in a “hot spot” catching lots of fish. Most anglers will respond kindly to polite requests to understand what tactics they are employing so successfully. Ask what they are doing, do not wade over and start casting into the area the angler is fishing. Best to do this when the angler takes a break or makes eye contact.
   
3. Boats: If you do access the river with a boat please note that shore based anglers take preference over you. They cannot cover the same amount of water and are
   limited in their movement by deep, unwadeable water. Please float past them giving
   them a wide berth.
   
4. All anglers are equal: Respect and learn from fellow anglers, regardless of their chosen techniques and tackle. If they are behaving poorly towards fish, the environment or fellow anglers politely point this out to them. Do not assume an arrogant attitude because you are a flyfisher. Flyfishers probably impact the river ecosystem morethan other anglers, especially during spawning periods.
   

CATCH AND RELEASE OF YELLOWFISH
Catch and release of yellows has become an accepted practice amongst the flyfishing fraternity. This has ensured that despite heavy fishing pressure sufficient adult fish of breeding age are released to maintain a healthy population.
However, a few basic rules apply to Catch & Release.

1. Use only barbless or de-barbed hooks.
2. Do not play fish to exhaustion. Use side strain to get the fish out of the flowing water to bring it in as quickly as possible. This also lessens the chance of losing it.
3. Try and unhook the fish without removing it from the water. If you use a net do not remove it to weigh and measure it. Rather use a net with a scale on the handle and place a tape or measurements on your rod to record the length.
4. ever hold it with dry hands.
5. Hold it firmly but gently and do not squeeze it.
6. If the fish is exhausted hold it upright in well-oxygenated water pointing upstream until it has recovered. If necessary push it forwards but not backwards and forwards.
7. If you use a net make sure the netting is a soft, knotless and not abrasive, synthetic material, which removes the protective slime.
8. All fish stress during capture and this is particularly marked in polluted, warm water with low levels of dissolved oxygen. Limit the number of fish you catch especially when they are prone to stress.
   

POLLUTION OF THE VAAL: A HUGE PROBLEM
Pollution is a major problem in South Africa and the Vaal itself has been particularly badly affected. In fact pollution is by far the most important threat to what is still a world-class fly fishing resource. Unfortunately, with each year that passes this threat increases with the main culprits being malfunctioning and overflowing sewage plants. These are mainly in the Gauteng area but many other municipal water treatment plants in the catchment area contribute
to this scourge. Other major pollution threats come from the heavy metals and acid mine drainage from the mining industry while many other industries and farming operations must take a share of the blame.
If you have evidence of this please contact the following Department of Water Affairs offices:
• Above the Barrage: Gauteng office at 012-3921306 & 392-1300
• Barrage to Bloemhof Dam: Bloemfontein office at 051-4059000
• Downstream of Bloemhof Dam: Kimberley office at 053-8308800
You should also contact your local conservation office or conservancy if you see fish with cuts, abrasions or sores.

Lastly, kindly develop a sense of responsibility towards the river. If there is the litter which is
washed into the river or which irresponsible anglers and picnickers leave on the riverbank, pick it up on the way back to your car.