Author Topic: Vaal River Update (Read 566870 times)

doc · « **Reply #460 on:** December 23, 2011, 07:21:35 PM »

Fished Silwer strome today with Rory, Mario and Andrew. The muddies were thick and some monsters were caught in the morning with a few yellows in between. In the afternoon session the muddies were still there and a lot of little silvers.
I want to thank the guys for an awsome day on the vaal. I forgot how stubborn a Muddie can be and had a great time.
Thanks again for all the help and knowledge sharing.
Here are a few pictures of the fish we caught. Firstly my only yellow, ok maybe silver, for the day. Then a bus of a muddie Rory got in the morning session measuring 1.6kg on my net scale. And lastly my biggest muddie to date measure 2kg on the net scale.

schloshd1 · « **Reply #461 on:** December 23, 2011, 07:59:12 PM »

Thanks for a great day on the water! Martin, that muddie of yours is a proper bus, well done!

MIKE PIKE · « **Reply #462 on:** December 23, 2011, 08:25:05 PM »

... great stuff chasps , looks like u had fun and some great fish as well.

wernerm · « **Reply #463 on:** December 24, 2011, 01:28:32 PM »

I feel left out

Herman Jooste · « **Reply #464 on:** December 24, 2011, 02:04:15 PM »

Quote from: wernerm on December 24, 2011, 01:28:32 PM

I feel left out

Then go fishing boet.

You have a phone neh

wernerm · « **Reply #465 on:** December 24, 2011, 02:12:59 PM »

Wanna come fish with me next Friday? I'll use the phone, promise

Want to fish next to you so I can show you how

Toppie · « **Reply #466 on:** December 24, 2011, 05:04:16 PM »

Nice one schlosd1, and beautiful net! One day you must take me along and teach me this Vaal River fly fishing thing - looks like fun!

schloshd1 · « **Reply #467 on:** December 24, 2011, 07:16:49 PM »

Thanks! Just say when and I would be more than happy take you!

diamonddogs · « **Reply #468 on:** December 24, 2011, 10:23:34 PM »

Thanks guys, really appreciated the day out. I think between the four of us we landed over 60 fish - not to bad me thinks.
Weather was perfect, viz was great, fish were on, and the company unsurpassed.

Was expecting the worst trying out the pool noodle stick but it turned out OK.
Thanks for the company, appreciated.

Herman Jooste · « **Reply #469 on:** December 25, 2011, 02:13:26 PM »

Hello All. I see the flows today at Goosebay are around 50 odd tons. Must be the strorm we had in the Vuildriehoek on Friday.

A bunch of us are going to Silwerstrome on Friday ( 30th ) for the "last cast" of 2011. This is an open invitation to everyone.

Even if you don't have a flyrod, but would like to try it out, then come along. Most of us have spare tackle, ( tackle sluts that all fishermen tend to be

).

Come on guys and gals, lets leave the old year with screaming reels.

Rory · « **Reply #470 on:** December 27, 2011, 10:59:40 AM »

Quote from: Herman Jooste on December 25, 2011, 02:13:26 PM

......A bunch of us are going to Silwerstrome on Friday ( 30th ) for the "last cast" of 2011. This is an open invitation to everyone.

Sounds good. Flows are on 84 at the moment

lets hope they drop!!

icstuff · « **Reply #471 on:** December 27, 2011, 03:26:49 PM »

I will join you as well depending on the water!

Herman Jooste · « **Reply #472 on:** December 27, 2011, 05:20:59 PM »

Fished GVP todaywith Mike and Jaco. The Goosebay measurement seems to be way out

Yesterday Goosebay was showing 80+ and the Barrage 55.

Anyway we fished in flows starting at 50,and probably ending ataround 40.

Mike was the Cormorant of the day.

At least 9 yellows and 4 muddies.

None of us blanked, although Jaco got the catch of the day.

A veritable stomp, landed and posed for.

Except I just lost all my pics by not pushing the SAVE button.

Lichia amia · « **Reply #473 on:** December 29, 2011, 10:38:23 PM »

Done the Elgro drift on Tuesday. For those who are not familiar with the drift you are dropped off +/- 12km from the Elgro River Lodge and fish your way back to the lodge.

After a lot of rain on Monday we were hoping for the best as once you are on the water there is no turning back. The morning started a little wet but we were all hyped and ready to go. Little did we know what awaited us!

We got dropped off just after 7am with our Ark (inflatable 2 man canoe), Cooler box and 12km of river to conquer. The paddle started with a giggle and jokes, started to flow for the first 800m or so when it became apparent that all energy had to be reserved for the long row ahead.

The first stop was about a kilometer from the start with a healthy rapid on the far end of the river. Lines were in in a flash and within minutes I heard a hell of a racket. Thinking my mate Conrad was on with a fish , I looked up to see the back of his head 30m down the rapid. Luckily he managed to swim to safety. Just to remind us that any body of water should never be under estimated.

After a fair amount of success at the first stop we moved on to a very densely over grown part of the river and anchored against the brush. Wade out in 50m radius from the Ark fishing under over hanging trees. The stop produced some sizer Muddies and a first Largie of +/- 3kg.

Time was ticking as it normally happens when you are having fun and we moved on with a lot of river to cover before dark. The sky opened with a force and the rest of the day would be fished in pouring rain. Not for the faint hearted but amazing how one can adapt if you have no choice.

The rest of the day we fished from hole to hole soaked to the bone landing some of the best fish if seen in my short Yellow career. Water damaging 2 smart phones and a camera in the process but a day I will remember for a long long time.

Due to the heavy showers taking pic’s was not easy and all the pic’s look a little steamed up. Here are the best of the …….

Lichia amia · « **Reply #474 on:** December 29, 2011, 10:53:21 PM »

Herman Jooste · « **Reply #475 on:** December 30, 2011, 04:08:30 PM »

Great report Craig. :shre:
Great news on the Largie as well.

Sounds like apart from the rain and the drowned appliances that you guys had a jol.

Lichia amia · « **Reply #476 on:** December 30, 2011, 04:23:53 PM »

Thanks Herman

Heard the flows were unfishable this am , hard luck there is always a next time !

Herman Jooste · « **Reply #477 on:** December 30, 2011, 04:28:56 PM »

So some of us went to Strome today.
The water was pumping ( guestimate around 100 tons ). Fishing was to put it mildly difficult.
Pieter (ICStuff ) had 2 hook ups, which in those flows was excellent.
Ben landed 2 yellows and lost another bus.
Me ????? Nada, except for a wake up call when I ventured to far into the main stream to release a trapped fly

Again, if you feel just a little uncomfortable with the flows, move back to where you wre comfortable. 2 flies are just not worth being washed away downstream

wernerm · « **Reply #478 on:** December 30, 2011, 10:18:59 PM »

I also almost saw my behind following you over to the island, i just had to fish that willow. Like you said, nothing is worth your life.

Herman Jooste · « **Reply #479 on:** December 31, 2011, 04:19:36 PM »

I checked Reservoir today. The flows at 07:00 yesterday wre 106 tons

No wonder we struggled,

Minimum flow was 75 odd with the average 85.

Hats off to Rory for even throwing a line. Well done Boet, you can now say you have fished Strome at 100+ and the Italians at 800.

Becoming a high flow fisherman, whether you like it or not.