| Date of Report: Friday, 26th June 2026 |
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Name: Andre Burger Email: pafly@netactive.co.za Web: http://www.presentafly.com Phone: 083 632 8729 Eastern Free State. According to Andre, the Klein Caledon at De Molen is open for fishing throughout the year, which is surprising as it is well into the spawning season now, but they also have a stocked dam available. There are several other stillwaters in the Clarens district which offer fishing, but preference is usually given to anglers who have booked accommodation A report received from Josh Wampach of the Ash River Outfitters in Clarens (josh@ashriveroutfitters.co.za) which manages a 7km upper stretch of the river states that they will remain open through winter as all the fishing is by drift boat and therefore there is no wading to disturb spawning fish which when caught are carefully handled. Apparently flows have remained stable and clear as this is water drawn from Katse Dam in Lesotho which boosts the Vaal system and thus supplies water for Gauteng and further downstream. Midge hatches still occur on warm afternoons so dry fly has been quite productive, but some surprisingly large rainbows and the occasional brown have been caught sub surface on lure patterns. Lesotho. Keith Clover reports that conditions have changed little since May. Makhangoa’s main camp is closed for the winter, but Rosehip Cottage remains open for anglers targeting trout in the nearby Bokong River estuary, where it enters Katse Dam, now at 92% capacity. The Bokong River itself is closed while trout migrate upstream to spawn. Anglers should be prepared for very cold weather and possible snowstorms.
A lovely well conditioned Ash rainbow taken from the drift boat. |
