Author Topic: Elandskloof report (Read 9101 times)

Lunker · « **on:** March 23, 2011, 11:11:46 AM »

Morning Guys

Not much to report back on other than the weather really made things very difficult this past weekend. Arrived Friday to blistering hot weather and not a trout in sight. Tried 3 dams the entire afternoon and not a nibble! The weather started etting bad and the wind picked up only meant one thing, RAIN!

I thought it would be a good thing but as it would happen it is was one of the worst storms that followed by Saturday afternoon.

Fortunately Saturday morning was just overcast and a bit of wind and conditions were fantastic. Only 1 problem, still no sign of trout!
I targeted a small bay that had plenty water grass and holes inbetween the grass. The sun came out and all was revealed, the trout were sitting in these holes ambushing anything that swam past. After trying 10 different flies with no success I put on old faithful and BANG! Straight away a trout came flying out the grass and smashed the fly as if it was its last meal.
After 20 minutes of what was the best fishing for the entire weeeknd the winds started blowing and in came the clouds. By 1 it started raining and thunder and went on for over 12 hours and that was theend of fishing.

Friday produced quite a few kurper but nothing of substance .

Cheers

WalkersKiller · « **Reply #1 on:** March 23, 2011, 11:14:58 AM »

Nice report Lunker unlucky about the tough conditions nice Rainbow and Kurper though! :sml:

Lunker · « **Reply #2 on:** March 23, 2011, 11:25:20 AM »

Cheers thanks.

It was one of those trips that nothing went right.

icstuff · « **Reply #3 on:** March 23, 2011, 11:45:46 AM »

Lurker we all have those trips but you at-least have that rainbow!

Lunker · « **Reply #4 on:** March 23, 2011, 11:49:14 AM »

Quote from: icstuff on March 23, 2011, 11:45:46 AM

Lurker we all have those trips but you at-least have that rainbow!

Just never had such a bad session there before. Winter is upon us and no more rain

Gerhard · « **Reply #5 on:** March 23, 2011, 11:55:17 AM »

Lunker,

The conditions mad for tough fishing this weekend.

It took me till 11:30 Sunday morning to get my 1st fish.

Looks like you still enjoyed your stay at Elandskloof.

Lunker · « **Reply #6 on:** March 23, 2011, 12:04:23 PM »

the stay was great and any time away from JHB is fantastic.

I was just very surprised that at least 20 different flies did not work. The second I put old faithful (white death) on the trout went mad. I landed the one and lost a couple on the white death.

On a serious note, I did not see 1 trout rise in any of the dams. It was just by chance that I walked past this bay on my way to fish by reeds that I noticed the trout when the sun came out.

Gerhard · « **Reply #7 on:** March 23, 2011, 12:14:06 PM »

I did not see trout rise as I am use to see as well.

Did see them working the grass beds and reeds on Saturday morning but got no interests.

Only on Monday morning things changed. The weather had a big influence on the fish this past weekend

Lunker · « **Reply #8 on:** March 23, 2011, 12:20:31 PM »

The weather played a huge role. I know from previous sessions at Elands when there is a big storm the trout get lock jaw. The temprature was very cool on Saturday morning just before the storm and that was the only window I had to get some active trout.

Spoke to one of my friends on Sunday evening and he said that he got reports from other friends that were fishing Lydenburg area and they smashed the trout. Maybe thats a area I will try in Winter.

Gerhard · « **Reply #9 on:** March 23, 2011, 12:23:54 PM »

I will be back in Dullies and of April...

Maybe go and visit my old friends at Elandskloof...

Lunker · « **Reply #10 on:** March 23, 2011, 12:28:13 PM »

Brilliant people!

Cant wait for the comps there

E.T. · « **Reply #11 on:** March 23, 2011, 05:10:21 PM »

Did you have anything orange on you?
Did you try static against the reeds? By static I mean, bright fly underneath a strike indicator with a nymph tied on NZ Style(two flies in tandem)? When things go dead, this usually works.

Something else that also works is to tie on a Wooly Bugger or Aggrovator and fish a nymph behind it.

On most Mpumalanga still waters static works a treat, but anything orange pulled deep and slow will have fish rip line from your reel like crazy.

If its a stockie dam, anything will work as long as it is an Epol fly.

nico · « **Reply #12 on:** March 23, 2011, 05:28:00 PM »

Quote from: E.T. on March 23, 2011, 05:10:21 PM

Did you try static against the reeds? By static I mean, bright fly underneath a strike indicator with a nymph tied on NZ Style(two flies in tandem)? When things go dead, this usually works.

I know about fishing droppers, but only learned this technique now after googling it - nice one and cred for you!

E.T. · « **Reply #13 on:** March 23, 2011, 05:34:24 PM »

Quote from: nico on March 23, 2011, 05:28:00 PM

I know about fishing droppers, but only learned this technique now after googling it - nice one and cred for you!

The advantage of this technique is that you can determine the depth of the flies by fiddling with the indicator. I have caught fish on this technique within 10 seconds of casting it out. The fish normally takes the flies as they go down naturally below the indicator and to Mr. Trout this looks like one thing.....DINNER!

Please note, that it is crucial to fish the proper breaking strain tippet as takes can be explosive. I would rather go thicker, especially close to structure or weeds...

nico · « **Reply #14 on:** March 23, 2011, 05:43:20 PM »

I wonder if how well it would work for smallmouth yellows at Sterkies.

E.T. · « **Reply #15 on:** March 23, 2011, 05:50:21 PM »

Quote from: nico on March 23, 2011, 05:43:20 PM

I wonder if how well it would work for smallmouth yellows at Sterkies.

Sterkies, you swap the Strike Indicator with a dry and you fish a small nymph about 10cm below it. This works well on Smallstreams and still water for Trout too.

Caught Yellows on the Vaal fishing dry and dropper too.

WalkersKiller · « **Reply #16 on:** March 23, 2011, 07:00:46 PM »

Quote from: E.T. on March 23, 2011, 05:50:21 PM

Sterkies, you swap the Strike Indicator with a dry and you fish a small nymph about 10cm below it. This works well on Smallstreams and still water for Trout too.

Caught Yellows on the Vaal fishing dry and dropper too.

Caught my second largest Rainbow (1.7kgs) on a san juan worm fished as a dropper under a large hopper dry fly :sml: amazing technique also does the trick for me when nothing else is working...

@ E.T. i think im going to try that technique of pulling a nymph behind a woolly bugger sounds like a plan!

Lunker · « **Reply #17 on:** March 24, 2011, 07:20:13 AM »

I tried everything the whole of Friday, from static to fast stripping zonkers to try and get a reaction bite. Nothing. The white deaths was the only thing that worked.

I fish static a lot in winter and dropper style for carp in summer. Very effective!

It was just one of those weekends for everyone I recon. The weather really messed things up.

WalkersKiller · « **Reply #18 on:** March 24, 2011, 08:03:05 AM »

Quote from: Lunker on March 24, 2011, 07:20:13 AM

I tried everything the whole of Friday, from static to fast stripping zonkers to try and get a reaction bite. Nothing. The white deaths was the only thing that worked.

I fish static a lot in winter and dropper style for carp in summer. Very effective!

It was just one of those weekends for everyone I recon. The weather really messed things up.

Still at least you caught a couple of beautiful fish Rod

Lunker · « **Reply #19 on:** March 24, 2011, 08:06:56 AM »

Quote from: WalkersKiller on March 24, 2011, 08:03:05 AM

Still at least you caught a couple of beautiful fish Rod

Cheers thanks. I think as a fly fisherman my biggest reward was the fact that I could enjoy the beautiful surroundings. Its not just always about catching.

Dullstroom will definitely see me again in Winter. Next trip "BETH SHEAN"