Wednesday 23 May 2012

Early Winter Fishing at Vaal Streams

Early Winter Fishing at Vaal Streams
Early winter or late autumn? I don't really know. All I know is that when you slip on a rock and get water down your waders, it's about ....... this cold! Never the less, I guess it's all part of the game.
This past Saturday I headed out to my favourite spot once again. Vaal Streams has quickly worked its way up to the top of my list. It's quite a challenging venue to fish especially when wading upstream, but in my mind unrivalled to date.  After blanking on my last two outings, I was really keen for some action this time. I headed downstream, nymphing my way to some deeper pools to try some dry fly, but this proved rather uneventful. After reaching the deeper pools I met up with a fellow angling buddy. He had already tried on the dry, but to no avail and suggested we head upstream.
I found some really inviting looking water with slightly deeper, slower moving rapids. At about 13h30 that afternoon I had my first take. It came off quite quickly, but finally some action! I started slowly heading back downstream, meticulously working every viable section of water in a grid pattern.
Success!!


I had a good take at the bottom of slow riffle and after a very nice fight, landed a beautiful yellow of about 40cm. It took on a #14 gold bead olive caddis, which I tied with a lead under body and tungsten bead for extra weight. I had another take in the same spot after that but lost it. By now I was starting to identify where the fish were holding.  I moved on down to the next really nice looking run and on my second cast hooked into something that blew my mind - but unfortunately at the same time, broke my rod! All I can say is that it was big (and I know what all you guys are thinking. It wasn’t a barbel). I caught a quick glance during the short fight and it was definitely a yellow. Anyhow, while trying to keep the monster out of the vegetation I obviously had my rod at the wrong angle and…..snap!!

My broken rod!!!

My nice yellow of about 40cm

Well, needless to say that was my afternoon fishing over. It was still ,however,  one of my best days fishing to date. The challenge of locating fish in colder water and then the success of finally catching them is just indescribable.




Once again, thanks to Isaac at Vaal Streams for his incredible fishing venue.

Sunday 8 April 2012

Yellow fun at Vaal Streams



On saturday two angling buddies and I headed out bright and early to Vaal Streams for day of yellow fun. Soon after ariving we were kitted up and on the water. It was not long before I felt the unmistakeble little tug, and soon afterwards I had my first yellow of the day netted. A beautifull little specimin of about 700g. It took a PTN on the point of my NZ Rig.


We then headed for some deeper pools hoping to have some luck on dry fly. The wind had picked up by then making the job rather challenging. Unfortunately we had no luck there and decided to retire back to the bank for some grub.


After lunch we headed back into the rapids looking for prime areas we had not fished in the morning. It was not long before I found a nice pool at the base of a rapid. I soon had a strike but missed. On the next cast I had another strike and this time he was not getting away. After a decent fight a managed to net my second little yellow for the day. Another beautifull specimin of abot 700g. This one took on the control fly. A size 10 Copper John! Little fish with a big appetite it would seem.


All in all another awesome day spent out on the river Vaal!
Once again thanks to Isaac for an amazing venue, and really making us feel welcome on his property.
It all started like this.................. 




I have been fly fishing on and off for about 15 years now, but never really took it seriously. The feeling I got when I tied my very first fly and caught a fish(bass) on it, could not be put in words.

My first muddy on fly!

From then on I guess I was hooked!!!

Recently I have taken it up seriously again, this time mainly targeting Yellow fish, and I am going to share a few of my stories with you.
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My first little yellow on fly!
 I went on fly fishing clinic at Vaal Streams which was most enjoyable. Wayne from Sundowner Adventures hosted the event.


Me and the guys on the fly fishing clinic
Back: Miguel, Wayne, Mark
Front: Myself and Phillip
http://www.vaalstreams.co.za/