| Date of Report: Friday, 12th June 2026 |
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Name: Dave Walker Email: dave@wildtrout.co.za Phone: 082 475 5775 Maclear. The rivers are now closed for fishing until Sept 1 and will reopen providing the threat of Foot & Mouth has passed and the cattle have been vaccinated and hopefully had booster vaccinations. Because of the threat of FMD the dams which have been stocked with trout are closed at present but may be reopened once the cattle have been vaccinated at least once. The PG Bison forestry waters are also closed and will remain closed until after the fire season. It is hoped that the threat of FMD will be over for the popular Ladies Festival scheduled for 8 to 11 October. Refer http://www.fosaf.org.za/calendar.php General information on the fishing in the Maclear area can be accessed by going to the Maclear Fly Fishing Club’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/p/Maclear-Fly-Fishing-Club-100057624511870/?_rdr. or website at https://www.maclear.co.za/activities/fly-fishing. Rhodes Dave Walker reports that is normal the streams remain open throughout winter and fortunately after soft soaking rains in autumn they are looking excellent. However, strict precautions apply to anyone visiting the area and wishing to fish the local WTA waters. These may be read on our site at https://www.fosaf.org.za/read-Current-491.php. Loch Ness has provided some good fishing for those hardy souls who are prepared to brave the cold conditions of this high elevation dam. It should be noted that the rainbows in the dam are all wild bred in the feeder stream. Barkly East Andrew Clark reports as is normal the streams are closed between end-April and September 1, but the dams have provided some good sport as may be seen from the photos below. For anglers visiting farms all vehicles need to be sprayed with disinfectant at the Matla Energy fuel station which renders this service in town. Tickets for club waters at R150,00 are available from Andrew Clark at 084 5166471 or andrew.clark@bkb.co.za. Lady Grey Lupela Lodge state that as no FMD has yet been reported in the district their 7km stretch of the Karringmelk remains open for fishing but all vehicles coming onto the property will have to be sprayed with disinfectant while fishing equipment such as boots etc will also have to be disinfected. The stream is flowing well at present and although the fish population is lower than normal with fewer small fish around the average size caught has improved significantly. This section of the river remains open throughout winter.
Loch Ness after the first winter snowfall.
A Loch Ness rainbow.
A rainbow from Barkly East dam.
And another Barkly East fish. |
