Winter Garrick

[briansflyfishing]

A few weeks ago I went to Gerrickus to target Black tail on fly. I fished a good few hours without any success.
I decided to take a walk to the estuary and try my luck there. I saw some fish moving and after a while saw a grunter moving over a sand bank.
I was casting a small fry fly on a slow retrieve.
After a bout half an hour I hooked into a fish, I thought it would be my first Grunter on fly and my excitement was high. as the fish came into the shallows I saw to my surprise that it was a Garrick and found it to be strange as the water was cold and the tide was low in the middle of winter. I caught a few after that and knew that they did not leave our waters for winter.


With this new found information I went back to Knysna and geared my 8/9 weight and started working my usual spots.
The fish are few and far between, I lost one big fish and after a few days of determined fishing I was rewarded with my first winter Leery on fly.
Now I know that it will be 365 fishing from now on and that I won't have to wait for spring to start fishing again.

[Cam Mundy]

Nicely done bud I envy you guys in the the western cape your estuaries are still in such good shape compared to the natal ones. hit it!

[Ziggy]

Nicely done bud I envy you guys in the the western cape your estuaries are still in such good shape compared to the natal ones. hit it!

Iw as fishing in Durban harbour yesterday and the Ezemvelo guys checked my fishing licence ( I had caught and released 3 undersized grunter). While checking my licence the guy told me that three boats in the harbour had caught a total of 5 good sized garrick, on either side of the central sand bank - So, not all the natal estuaries are in bad shape?


He said that they were using live bait - maasbanker

[Cam Mundy]

I grew up fishing in Durban harbor my dad used to pick us up from boarding school on a Friday and we'd fish the whole weekend sleeping on the boat and get dropped off again Sunday Night loved it, but I don't think it qualifies as a true estuary I'm refering more to places like Amatikulu, Mtunzini ect when you compare these places that used to be spectacular to what they have in the cape it's enough to make you cry.

Nicely done bud I envy you guys in the the western cape your estuaries are still in such good shape compared to the natal ones. hit it!

Iw as fishing in Durban harbour yesterday and the Ezemvelo guys checked my fishing licence ( I had caught and released 3 undersized grunter). While checking my licence the guy told me that three boats in the harbour had caught a total of 5 good sized garrick, on either side of the central sand bank - So, not all the natal estuaries are in bad shape?


He said that they were using live bait - maasbanker

[Ziggy]

I grew up fishing in Durban harbor my dad used to pick us up from boarding school on a Friday and we'd fish the whole weekend sleeping on the boat and get dropped off again Sunday Night loved it, but I don't think it qualifies as a true estuary I'm refering more to places like Amatikulu, Mtunzini ect when you compare these places that used to be spectacular to what they have in the cape it's enough to make you cry.

I agree 100% - just mentioning Durban - about the only remaining "estuary" that still has fish....and is not all silted up or closed to the sea.


I remember fishing Umtwalumi river mouth in the 70's - you couldnt even wade through the mouth - check it now!


i hate the sugar industry for destroying our rivers and estuaries in KZN

[Rory]

Nice! Super fish Brian!! 

[gavin erwin]

Fantastic Garrick Brian, so jealous I still haven't got one on fly!

[WalkersKiller]

Beaut of a Leerie that 

[SAfish]

Great catch, Brian. I have caught them in winter before but it is very hard work. 

[briansflyfishing]

Thanks Guys
Gavin, just work the water, you'll get one.
They are hard work in winter. And this particular one wasn't as big as the one I lost the week prior.
But it still have me a hell of a fight.

[gavin erwin]

Thanks Brian, What flys to you prefer to use?

[briansflyfishing]

Go this link on this site. A self tied pattern that is deadly. But poppers, gurglers and flippers work well if you go for top water fishing and there's no grass floating.




http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/index.php?topic=14112.0

[briansflyfishing]

I have a SBS of the fly I use for Garrick under the fly tying section for those that are interested.

[gavin erwin]

Great Ill check it out thanks Brian!!!