WINTERBERG

Thrift is still 4 - 5 metres down but the fishing remains very good with at least 35 trout taken this year in the 4,5 kg class.

The 20 hectare Lemietskloof was restocked with 7 000 large fingerlings in December and as these fish are already 500g or more the fishing expected to be outstanding next year. In addition Lemietskloof can also offer accommodation.

Highland Home is also looking very good and is certainly worth a try, although no trophy fish are coming out. However there is no accommodation there and most anglers now stay at Thrift, Knowsley or Redcliffe.

Apart from excellent accommodation at Redcliffe 2 of the dams are fishing well and most of the dams are fairly full.

New waters will open in Post Retief shortly. This destination will comprise 4 dams and accommodation and should prove to be a popular venue.

STORMBERG (Queenstown & districts)

There has not been much fishing as the weather has been very cold and windy at times. Very little rain has fallen recently and the snowfalls have been quite light.

Most of the club dams are reasonably full with the exception of Birds River which is very low and Tennants Dam which is 40 %. Surprisingly, Tennants has been producing well with members taking 3 - 6 fish per rod over the last 2 weekends. Most of these fish are 2 to 2,5 kg but a 3 kg rainbow came out recently. The club is now planning its stocking programme which will be carried out within the next month or so.

To access the club newsletter go to their website at http://www.qffc.co.za/ and for other information call Carl at 082 5622548

The famous Highland Lodge trophy dams are filling up now and have been re-stocked so we expect them to be open to the public fairly soon.

SOMERSET EAST

Although there has been over 50 mm rain and several snowfalls in the last month in this droughyt-hit area there has been little run off. Fortunately the Municipality has not yet started to take water from the Mountain Dam, a really productive water and this still remains at 20% and is still yielding trout as are the pools in the upper Little Fish at Buffelshoek. These fish are often over 2,5 kg so they are much sought after.

Yellowfish are coming out of the Little Fish above the town which has now cleared quite a bit. The Angler & Antelope has access to 30 km on private land while the lodge also does trips to two very good yellowfish streams in the Cradock area.

Note that the Angler & Antelope will be holding its popular Hobson's Choice Festival on 22/23 October where the challenge is to catch a trout and a bass and yellowfish on the same day, all on private water.

For more information contact Alan at 082 4422884.