Flyfishing report: Trout - Winterberg & Stormberg

Winterberg.

Martin states that although Thrift had dropped by 1,5 metres water was starting to flow into this 77ha dam and with recent snow and rain it may well fill in the next couple of weeks. He stresses that fishing can be adversely affected by the regular cold fronts so those travelling from far afield should study long term weather forecasts and give him a call before they leave. Otherwise, between the recent cold fronts the fishing has been excellent. The water is clear and the cold weather has kept water temperatures well down.  In fact conditions are right for an excellent summer season and this also applies to the Redcliffe dams on the other side of the Winterberg where the Ventnor Dam has performed particularly well. Accommodation is also available close to this dam.

Stormberg (Queenstown area).

The Queenstown Fly Fishing Club waters had its first stocking of the season last month and the 15000 MTD fingerlings booked from Martin’s Grahamstown hatchery were collected by Reg Morgan recently and stocked by his team in most of their dams. Then another batch of large fingerlings are due in December from Hogsback hatchery and some of these will be placed in the the new Molteno dams and the large Steynsberg dam. These are fish from the eggs that the Hogsback hatchery harvested from the QFFC waters. Test fishing of the new Molteno and Steynsberg waters will be carried out later in the year  These dams could make an exciting addition to QFFC waters where membership has increased appreciably and also to cater for the growing number of visitors fishing club waters. Generally fishing has been good, dams are full and the recent snow and rain has been very welcome.

The Club AGM will be held on 21^st November.

More information may be gleaned from the club’s website at www.qffclub.com.

The Highland Lodge waters. Vicky Bell states that the last group for the year arrives on Saturday and then they close for the year and re-open in March when the water cools after mid-summer. Like most of the high ground in the Eastern Cape they had some snow followed by rain which has kept the dams full and the water temperatures down and they are ending off the season with some excellent catches of good sized fish.

.Somerset East.

Alan Hobson at the Angler & Antelope Guest House says that the weather has been very strange with snow on the mountains between Somerset East and Cradock and Graaf Reinet. This together with good rains has secured the trout waters for the coming mid-summer and with full dams the trout have responded well. In addition, the few hot days have brought on the bass and yellowfish. So, all round the fishing has been good.

Note that the Bankberg Club will be holding their festival this coming weekend and screening the International Fly-Fishing Film will take place during this weekend. The festival is being held to coincide with the Bedford Garden Festival so if the gents bring their ladies they can see the magnificent Karoo gardens.

Spurwing Dam, Highland Lodge.