Vaal River Update

[Rory]

is that good ???

I'm not sure how much water they usually release for that race, I actually thought it would be more than that? But ja nothing wrong with the river getting a flush 

[UrbanFF]

Just checked the data sheet again, they had the river at over 80 over Saturday night....

is that good ???

Brilliant

[Rory]

Herman, Homes and myself fished a morning session at Eastco yesterday. Weather was fantastic, and being my first fishing session on the Vaal this Spring/summer it was awesome to be out. Herman measured the water temp at 21 degrees, but the flow rate was seriously low at 14 tons. Even the "fast water" sections weren't fast, it was like wading in a swimming pool....but none of blanked and we all got into the yellows. It was quite weird fishing a session and not one muddie was caught! Flies that produced were caddis imitations and of course old reliable, the Humpy's Favourite. My first yellow took a size 18 grey caddis imitation, always nice getting fish on those small flies. Thanks to Homes for treating me to a couple of craft beers at the HogsHead on the way home, luverly stuff!

[Ettienne]

Wel done guys.
 
Wag n Bietjie this weekend...... Cannot wait

[Homie]

As Rory says, perfect day out. Cant believe that we were the only 3 on that huge stretch of water !

My 1st time at Eastco and its a great venue.  I only managed to net one small yellow on a size 16 tan caddis.

Thanks to Rory for the ride and to Herman for the trout flies !

[icstuff]

Wel done guys.
 
Wag n Bietjie this weekend...... Cannot wait

Sounds like fun please give us a report!

[UrbanFF]

We fished Vaal de Sioleh on Sunday , slightly more people around but then again we also had a larger haul too, 4 species:
Moggel
Muddy
SMY
Barbel


Various flies were successful, from blood worms to green rock worms but the most hit upon was the good old hot spot PTN, also any other flies incorporating an orange bead.

[icstuff]

Those moggels put up quite a fight congrats

[Ianzo]

I was at Wag n bietjie the weekend, some nice fish above 3Kg came out, fishing was a bit slow though. Water level was nice and tempr around 22C

[Lichia amia]

We fished Vaal de Sioleh on Sunday , slightly more people around but then again we also had a larger haul too, 4 species:
Moggel
Muddy
SMY
Barbel


Various flies were successful, from blood worms to green rock worms but the most hit upon was the good old hot spot PTN, also any other flies incorporating an orange bead.

Always a   
 
 

[Lichia amia]

Fished Woelwaters on Tuesday had the river to myself  . Wind was pumping and blew my off the water around 12:00 . Managed a couple of Yellows and Muddies . Catch of the day was this Mermaid    of +/- 3kg who put up a solid fight. Flies that worked anything incorporating an orange bead .

[Rory]

Herman, Russ, Luke and myself fished an old favourite venue of ours above the Barrage yesterday morning. Being only a couple of kilometres below the vaal dam wall, the water is very cold year round, Herman measured the temp at 16 dgrees. That temp generally makes this venue a challenge, and not having wet waded there in 3 years made for a cold morning! Luke managed a monster muddie, Russ and Herman kept losing their fish at the net and I managed 2 muddies and a yellow. I carried on fishing the same flies I used last week, Humpys Favourite control fly and a small size 18 grey caddis on the point. Both produced.

[Lichia amia]

Nicely done Uncle Rory and Co 
 
 
Chaps , where is a nice venue with lady friendly ablusions to camp on the Vaal ? ( Woelwaters , Aardnes and Eastco all options ) but are there any other ?

[UrbanFF]

Fished Eendekuil on Sunday , heavy flows and lots of rods made for a challenging time, estimate the flow at +- 35 , coming down from 45 on Saturday. Visibility was surprisingly good, managed to see my feet whilst in thigh deep water, wonder if my Yellow Loikas make it easier 
Managed 14 smallies 400 gram- 2.5 Kgs , 3 muddies and 3 Carp, Carp were all taken at the top of the second run in the deeper water, they took any kind of Orange hot spot (bead , dubbing , didn't care).


Yellows eagerly took a size 16 red buzzer fished as the top fly 2-3 foot above the dropper hanging off a 5 inch tag, the size 22 hot spot PTN fished on point also produced very nicely, all fish came out of either pocket water or at the edge of fast water, guess they also battled a little in the higher than average flows.


Things should be back to +- 15 very soon based on the Barrage outflow this morning, last time I tried to check Goose Bay the web page was still down.

[icstuff]

Nicely done Uncle Rory and Co 
 
 
Chaps , where is a nice venue with lady friendly ablusions to camp on the Vaal ? ( Woelwaters , Aardnes and Eastco all options ) but are there any other ?

Kallie my wife liked Geelvis but the wading might be difficult...

[icstuff]

Herman, Russ, Luke and myself fished an old favourite venue of ours above the Barrage yesterday morning. Being only a couple of kilometres below the vaal dam wall, the water is very cold year round, Herman measured the temp at 16 dgrees. That temp generally makes this venue a challenge, and not having wet waded there in 3 years made for a cold morning! Luke managed a monster muddie, Russ and Herman kept losing their fish at the net and I managed 2 muddies and a yellow. I carried on fishing the same flies I used last week, Humpys Favourite control fly and a small size 18 grey caddis on the point. Both produced.

Rory you should have tried that uv black nymph of mine, your line would never have been slack 
Sorry that I could not join you chaps, but my knee should be better by the 30th

[Lichia amia]

Nicely done Uncle Rory and Co 
 
 
Chaps , where is a nice venue with lady friendly ablusions to camp on the Vaal ? ( Woelwaters , Aardnes and Eastco all options ) but are there any other ?

Kallie my wife liked Geelvis but the wading might be difficult...

Geelvis gave my Mrs the " Grills ". The Booze filled reception/shop/office is scary shyte .
 
Think I might as well do Eastco , Mrs loves it there .
 
 

[Herman Jooste]

Nicely done Uncle Rory and Co 
 
 
Chaps , where is a nice venue with lady friendly ablusions to camp on the Vaal ? ( Woelwaters , Aardnes and Eastco all options ) but are there any other ?

Kallie my wife liked Geelvis but the wading might be difficult...

Geelvis gave my Mrs the " Grills ". The Booze filled reception/shop/office is scary shyte .
 
Think I might as well do Eastco , Mrs loves it there .

Kallie, there is also Oord Nebo and Elgro near Potch.
 Arends Nest, next door to Woelwaters.
Hadeda Creek, Dimalachite, Vaal de Siloh ( Ben Joh ) and the best fishing of all, (with chalets) Vaal Hackle, all near Parys.

[Herman Jooste]

Herman, Russ, Luke and myself fished an old favourite venue of ours above the Barrage yesterday morning. Being only a couple of kilometres below the vaal dam wall, the water is very cold year round, Herman measured the temp at 16 dgrees. That temp generally makes this venue a challenge, and not having wet waded there in 3 years made for a cold morning! Luke managed a monster muddie, Russ and Herman kept losing their fish at the net and I managed 2 muddies and a yellow. I carried on fishing the same flies I used last week, Humpys Favourite control fly and a small size 18 grey caddis on the point. Both produced.

Rory you should have tried that uv black nymph of mine, your line would never have been slack 
Sorry that I could not join you chaps, but my knee should be better by the 30th
[/quot
 
Pieter, for some unknown reason they were not interested in Black UV nymphs  or any nymph for that matter. Small caddis were the order of the day.

[icstuff]

Herman that might be so, but I would have made it work