Flyfishing report: Trout - Winterberg & Stormberg

Winterberg.

Thrift

This large dam of 87ha and 2^nd largest trout dam in the country after Gubu remains full and even when it ceases to overflow there is always compensation water released to keep the upper Swart Kei stream flowing below the dam. The fishing has been excellent this year but the main news for July is that the annual catching and ova harvesting event of mid winter event went off well last week with 135 000 MTD ova harvested from fish caught mainly in fyke nets but some on fly. Martin expects this to result in about 65 000 fry hatching for stocking as mainly fingerlings in the many trophy dams of the Eastern Cape.

Martin had help from 10 young post graduate  Rhodes university students plus as usual, Alan Hobson. 123 mature hen and cock fish ranging from 3lb to 9lb were caught as well as 30 recently stocked fish from the January stocking.

Photos from the event are shown below.

Remember that  everyone entering the property must carry out a comprehensive spray of vehicle wheels, hubbs and buckets plus footwear and tubes or flotation devices using F10 disinfectant to combat FMD. Boots, waders etc must also be disinfected.

The Redcliffe dams which include the popular Ventnor are open on a limited basis because of the threat of foot & mouth with large numbers of both cattle and sheep at risk. This is the wetter side of the Winterberg and is thus more favourable for the spread of FMD. There are fewer anglers than normal booking in but the dams are well stocked.

Stormberg (Queenstown area).

Reg Morgan, chairman of the QFFC says that the annual Xplorer/QFFC Gathering held on 3 to 5 July was a success with the weather being relativlely mild compared with some of the previous years. A more detailed report on the Gathering will be posted on this site next week. As is the case for the whole area the dams are full and well stocked with access to Welgevonden (Uncle George’s) much improved after the introduction of grass carp. Also exciting is that several new dams will be available for fishing soon to cater for the QFFC where the membership and number of visitors to the club waters is growing steadily.

Also check the QFFC’s new website at queenstownflyfishing.co.za. Very impressive.

The Highland Lodge waters.

Vicky Bell at Highland Lodge reports that they are having another good season with plenty of trophy fish being netted. A visitor from Kimberley, Noel Wewege commented that although he was happy with the size of fsh that he caught he still lamented on losing what he termed a “massive rainbow”, considerably larger than the trophies he landed succesfully.

Somerset East.

Alan Hobson at the Angler & Antelope is very satified with the winter fishing so far. He states that June and July are usually the toughest months with many fish in spawning mode and minimal insect activity. The very popular Mountain Dam is not rated a ‘trophy dam’ but has still produced three fish over 2kg recently while his trophy dams in the Cradock area are looking good. Egg patterns  work well at this time of year but Alan prefers to stick with flies based on other fish prey. This year the Little Fish is flowing well as all the springs are well primed after the copious rains and there is lttle irrigation carried out in the coild months.

Apologies for the error in the June report which stated that the Bankberg Club festival will be in September. The correct dates are 21 to 23 August. Refer also to https://www.fosaf.org.za/calendar.php.

Thrift havesting -Some of the team with Alan Hobson on the left.

Typical MTD rainbow with big shoulders & tail

Harvesting team in a Thrift cottage.

Selecting a MTD rainbow - note the tail

Martin at work.

Fertilising the ova.

Ova in trays at Martin’s Makanda hatchery.