The bitou and keurbooms

[David Taylor]

Hi All
I am going on plett rage in a couple of months and seeing as I am not the drinking sort I am planning on spending the time fishing. Basically I am a designated driver for some friends and so have got free accomadation on a private farm and will be camping literally on the banks of the bitou estuary. I am taking my fishing kayak up. My only problam is that I don't know the area at all. I would be very greatful for some info on tides and spots if at all possible and maybe join up with someone living in the area if anyone is keen. I will be mostly fly fishing but I do everything. I fish Hermanus lagoon mostly but its usually closed and so I really don't understand tides and what they do to the fishing. Maybe someone could give me pointers on how to go about approaching a new open estuary. I would be most happy to pay for info by taking guys fly fishing on hermanus lagoon or on a cape stream if anyone is looking forsomeone in the area to go fishing with :)

[icstuff]

If it is over december you might as well forget the keurbooms and bitou. Try knysna and swartvlei

[David Taylor]

Ok. I will definitely make a trip there but any reasons for avoiding the bitou and keurbooms?

[David Taylor]

Where and when (tides) should I be fishing for leeries, cob, elf, springer in knysna and swartvlei (although I would guess swartvlei is too far south for springer. Any help really will be appreciated.

[David Taylor]

I will be there before the crouds arrive to waterski and fish and that. Plett rage is pre december holidays.

[Poenskop]

    The confluence of the bitou and the Kearbooms is one of the  better places to fish. I have caught some leervis on a white flipper on my  Honeymoon a couple years back. I found it better to fish the last half of the  falling tide. The mullet will be forced off the sandbanks into the channels  where the leervis hunt. Try to avoid the busy times of day. The leervis there  do not like the boat traffic. Last light was the best for me. There is a lot of  grunter there but I have not been successful.
   

[Poenskop]

Where and when (tides) should I be fishing for leeries, cob, elf, springer in knysna and swartvlei (although I would guess swartvlei is too far south for springer. Any help really will be appreciated.

There used to be a healthy population of springer in Swartvlei.

[SAfish]

It is always difficult to predict where the fish are going to be in a tidal river because they are constantly on the move. I would suggest you move around and try and locate the fish and then observe their movements. Take note of the tidal flow as well as water temperature etc. Following the fish as they move with the tide is a lot less work than casting a fly in one spot and wait for them to swim by. Using your ski to reach areas where the bank fishermen can't reach will also be more productive.   

[David Taylor]

Ya I fly fish competitively so I'm used to looking for fish and moving but I thought there might be a general rule about upper sections vs lower sections at which tide.

[David Taylor]

Where and when (tides) should I be fishing for leeries, cob, elf, springer in knysna and swartvlei (although I would guess swartvlei is too far south for springer. Any help really will be appreciated.

There used to be a healthy population of springer in Swartvlei.

That sounds cool! Does anyone have any idea on how to target them? I have only caught leeries on fly and I suspect the fishing for springer will vary somewhat. Am I right in saying that they venture far up river? Skipjack bunny or olive clouser? What kind of speed do they like? My guess would be generally slower than for leeries. Obviously there are no rules but maybe a general trend? Sorry if I am being a bit of a pain with the sheer number of questions.

[David Taylor]

Sorry what I meant is will skipjack bunnies and olive clouse type things work for them not one or the other.

[Lofty]

Ya I fly fish competitively so I'm used to looking for fish and moving but I thought there might be a general rule about upper sections vs lower sections at which tide.

I'd say upper reaches at high tide and lower river when the tide starts to drop...look for gullies/channels/sandbanks where baitfish will hold at high and grunters will feed at high too because they might not be able to reach those prawn banks at lowtide...that's why the dropoffs/gullies are good to fish as predators ambush baitfish as they are washed/forced off the shallower sandbanks...I don't flyfish so can't help there... hope this helps...

[David Taylor]

Ya I fly fish competitively so I'm used to looking for fish and moving but I thought there might be a general rule about upper sections vs lower sections at which tide.

I'd say upper reaches at high tide and lower river when the tide starts to drop...look for gullies/channels/sandbanks where baitfish will hold at high and grunters will feed at high too because they might not be able to reach those prawn banks at lowtide...that's why the dropoffs/gullies are good to fish as predators ambush baitfish as they are washed/forced off the shallower sandbanks...I don't flyfish so can't help there... hope this helps...

Yes that helps. Thanks. It doesn't matter if you fish fly, spoon, bait, dropshot the fish are always in the same places.

[icstuff]

Ok. I will definitely make a trip there but any reasons for avoiding the bitou and keurbooms?

every vaalie with a boat will cruise the river and the fishing will deteriorate

[Lenny]

I dont know the spots too well and often confuse , the two rivers . The one without the campsite ,  take the dirt road , that runs on the Eastern side Parralel to the river , if youre into stalking Grunters on Flies or Artificials , I have take a number of fish ther over the  years , Grunters and Leeries . Small white plugs , small spoons / FLies , I will not go there without a Flipper , and a woolhead mullet , and small Olive and gold flies .


The next river with the Campsite and boathire , go up there far , you will be surprised what large Kob do come out there , not so long aog I saw a clip , on Youtube , of guys have some serious fun there with plastics , think if you search you will find it .


Being in a Kayak , I would just drift around .
I have even taken some Leeries in the small river in PLett , not very big 55cm tops .


Enjoy and report back ! Think lofty might be able to tell you more .

[Lofty]

I don't know that area either but I think if you follow a few basic rules when fishing any estuary or tidal system/river that you should find fish,just please release fish caught in any closed/blind river system,as that is all the fish there is and if removed will spoil the fishing for the next person and destroy the systems' fish stocks...what I meant by not fly fishing is that you mentioned...and unfortunately no idea what those are...  

Sorry what I meant is will skipjack bunnies and olive clouse type things work for them not one or the other.

[RobinF]

Here comes my 2 cents....

Both Keurbooms and Knysna will be very busy and the worst thing is that most of the boaters just don't understand what a line in the water actually means. I swear that I have had guys come so close to me before that they could look into my boat and see if i cut my toenails last night. I always fish outside of the channels, but I never understand why people think my boat is the biggest buoy on the lagoon...! Occasionally I have a giggle because they beach themselves so badly, then to get off the sand bank, they use POWERRRR! all I see is mud flying for 20-30 meters behind them in the air. 

To get to the point, fish 04h00 (Yes, that is morning) and after 19h00 (depending on tides ofcourse). Anything else is almost a waste. unless you find a very quiet spot away from the traffic. The boats on these two waterways at that time of year is baaaad! I always find that apart from moving around (Which is essential), if you fish really early in the morning and very late evening, you will catch and you will get a small bit of tranquility.

Just be warned that when fishing at night, some of these guys will see your nightlight on and assume that you are in the channel. If you are like me, fishing outside the channel or fishing shallows like I do sometimes, then sit back, sip the coffee and enjoy the show as they come roaring toward you.  Then clap and cheer  . Give credit where credit is due.

Hey David, I know both waterways quite well, so let me know if I can help you with info.

[Lofty]

he mentioned that he was going to these places before the holiday rush and boaters on the rivers...

[RobinF]

Sorry guys, missed that.

[Lenny]

Its Rage WEekend guys , its 1 December , not much holidaymakers around by then ... Pretty safe to assume you will not have the heavy boat traffic on the water . Last year , on rage weekend , a buddy got Hitched in Vassedelotte , we Slep in Mosselbay die Friday night , me and tree Buddies , besides the Pub crawling with MAtrics [ and gettin pretty annoyed at getting called 'Oom ' ]We lunched the Saterday noon in PLett , not much happeing , holiday maker wise ...