Author Topic: Vaal River Update (Read 566813 times)

Herman Jooste · « **Reply #1180 on:** March 31, 2014, 07:13:20 PM »

Quote from: Lichia amia on March 31, 2014, 02:05:55 PM

Fish a Arvie session at the Building rubble/low level bridge yesterday . Flows were okay , but fishing slow with Muddies in the 15cm length being the order of the day. Arrived at 11:30 fished up run 1 down run 2 and up run 3 . Then skeef over run 2 back to the start in 3hours landed 4 Minnow muddies and a smallish Cat at the first inlet on the low level bridge .

Well done Kallie.
I have always maintained that fishing on falling flows is the most difficult. My theory being that the fish are nervous about being left " high and dry " in small pools and crevices ( which I have personally witnessed when they closed 3 sluices in 30 minutes at the Vaal Dam ), as they don't know how far the water is going to drop, so they try and head for deeper water and don't really concentrate on feeding.

A Kuk days fishing but still great fun .

The truth Sir, the Truth well spoken.

Herman Jooste · « **Reply #1181 on:** March 31, 2014, 07:28:42 PM »

Quote from: Fishy on March 31, 2014, 01:30:15 PM

Gents,

Where is this "Italians" you are referring to? Is it a private venue?

Hello Fishy,

Both the Italians and Erina are public venues. I do not know the Italians real name, ( have always known it as the Italians ). Erina ( Spa ) is a well known broken down resort below the Barrage.

Neither of these venues can take more than 6 f/f on the water, which is why we try to keep them out of view as such.
A lot of f/f are VERY wary of the Italians, especially in high flows ( over 20 tons ) because the wading is REALLY difficult, even in normal flows.
If you loose it here in the wrong spot in high flows, they will pick up your body in Loch Vaal.

I am always open to take someone to a new venue for them. Drop me a PM with your cell no and we can talk further.

Herman Jooste · « **Reply #1182 on:** April 07, 2014, 07:20:32 PM »

I fished Yellow Fish Paradise ( YFP ) on Saturday . The air temp on arrival at 06:30 was 7 deg. After inflating the boat and getting rigged up I launched at 07:30 ish. Air temp had risen to 12 and the water temp was 19 deg.
Flows were around 55 tons, ( which made rowing upstream and pulling the boat through the first reef fun

), however there was plenty of sediment in the water, it was as brown as the Vaal Dam, if not worse

. Visibilaty was a maximum of 20 cm.

I anchored at the second reef and then fished down on the far bank.
After changing to the trusted black nymph I got lucky and landed a 2kg SM,( in excellent condition and colour ) and then a 1.5 kg muddie.

.
That was it for the day.
I really hope the flows settle quickly and that the clarity starts improving.
The season is changing fast, so we have to change our tactics and approach.

UrbanFF · « **Reply #1183 on:** April 08, 2014, 12:00:43 PM »

Quote from: Herman Jooste on March 31, 2014, 07:28:42 PM

Quote from: Fishy on March 31, 2014, 01:30:15 PM
Gents,

Where is this "Italians" you are referring to? Is it a private venue?

Hello Fishy,

Both the Italians and Erina are public venues. I do not know the Italians real name, ( have always known it as the Italians ). Erina ( Spa ) is a well known broken down resort below the Barrage.

Neither of these venues can take more than 6 f/f on the water, which is why we try to keep them out of view as such.
A lot of f/f are VERY wary of the Italians, especially in high flows ( over 20 tons ) because the wading is REALLY difficult, even in normal flows.
If you loose it here in the wrong spot in high flows, they will pick up your body in Loch Vaal.

I am always open to take someone to a new venue for them. Drop me a PM with your cell no and we can talk further.

ITALIANS AKA Rapids Paradise

Herman Jooste · « **Reply #1184 on:** April 14, 2014, 07:47:58 PM »

I took another trip to YFP on Sunday ( which in hind sight was stupid, considering the cold front that came through on Saturday night.

)
Again air temp was 7 deg and water temp 18.5, which shows the water temp is dropping by the week. Flows were 15 ( according to Reservoir ). This gave me the opportunity to notice a lot of rocks and sub reefs, not normally seen when the flows are over 25 as per normal. Visibility was improved at around 30 cms, compared to last weeks 15 cms.
I threw lots of different flies at lots of different places. Eventually foul hooked a muddie on a black nymph.
There were 2 young bait boys on plastic canoes who sussed out a nice spot. 3 SM caught in 30 minutes all around the 2kg range on crab, then a good Carp of around 8 kg on earthworm. After the carp, even their rods went quiet, causing them to move around as much as I had

Another great learning day on the Vaal.

Herman Jooste · « **Reply #1185 on:** April 21, 2014, 11:35:56 AM »

Martin ( Doc ) and I fished Erina yesterday morning, probably for Oulaas, seeing that we are fast heading into winter. Pieter ( strafdop ) ICStuff was a no show

. (In fact Pieter now has so many strafdops coming his way, that the next time he does go out, he shouldn't even bother with gear, as he will be spending the whole day sitting and dealing with his strafdops

).

According to reservoir, the flows were 30 with water temp 17.8 deg @ 7 o clock.( 18 deg is normally viewed as the turning point for summer/winter tactics.)
Visibily was 20 - 30 cms which was not too bad.

Did not take too long before Doc was into a feisty yellow that ran him around a bit. Guestimate was 1 - 1.5 kg.

All in all the fishing was better than I expected with Doc getting 8 or 9 fish, the majority of which were SM. I managed 2 SM, 3 muddies and a carp ( which I did not land ).

Flies that worked were again anything with red in it, and for Doc a black nymph as well.

Another great morning on the Vaal, with excellent company.

doc · « **Reply #1186 on:** April 22, 2014, 09:54:11 AM »

As Hermann said a very lekker morning on the vaal. Erina has changed a bit since we fished it last before the major floods. The connecting channel between the second run and the first run is much wider and at the top there are a few new gravel islands almost were you are standing ankle deep and the water around is about hip deep.

The flies that worked was small red brassies san juan's and tiny black nymphs. I landed 6 yellows all between 1 and 1.5kg and a tiny bass. Lost 3 descent carp the last one spitting the hook in the jump awesome and sad to see at the same time.

Thanks Hermann enjoyed the day as always.

Lichia amia · « **Reply #1187 on:** April 22, 2014, 10:16:32 AM »

Well done Chaps

icstuff · « **Reply #1188 on:** August 17, 2014, 12:46:35 PM »

Me and Herman fished Erina this morning. Water temp was 13.5 when we entered the water with almost no wind and the sun rising over our backs. I was rewarded with a nice fat muddy on my trusty black nymph. Herman had to land the thing for me as I forgot my net. I hooked two more muddies, I could land one as not falling was more important and the other bigger then the second as herman was too far away.

So as per usual I have opened the vaal summer season for the rest of you chaps, pic of the fish.

Rory · « **Reply #1189 on:** August 18, 2014, 10:20:45 AM »

Nice going Pieter! Eish 13.5....not going to be fun wet wading!

Homie · « **Reply #1190 on:** August 18, 2014, 10:25:15 AM »

Lekker fish !!!

and a nice pic to wake up to yesterday morning !!!!!

Tjop !

icstuff · « **Reply #1191 on:** August 18, 2014, 10:31:35 AM »

Quote from: Rory on August 18, 2014, 10:20:45 AM

Nice going Pieter! Eish 13.5....not going to be fun wet wading!

What the pic is not showing is me in wearing many layers under those waders. But the water was warmer that the air temperature so it was not bad at all.

@holmes the coffee was just brilliant

Dion Gates · « **Reply #1192 on:** August 18, 2014, 10:42:05 AM »

Nice Fish Pieter!!!

At least you've opened your season!

Hope it keeps going like that

Lichia amia · « **Reply #1193 on:** August 18, 2014, 10:48:26 AM »

Nice fish Pietertjie

icstuff · « **Reply #1194 on:** August 18, 2014, 11:03:42 AM »

What we noticed is that all these fish are nice and fat, just waiting for the spawn. And with the rain over the weekend it cant be to far into the future.

gavin erwin · « **Reply #1195 on:** August 19, 2014, 08:23:31 AM »

Next trip is to the vaal for some yellows we should make a plan to hook up guys!!!

Rory · « **Reply #1196 on:** August 19, 2014, 08:37:04 AM »

Quote from: gavin erwin on August 19, 2014, 08:23:31 AM

Next trip is to the vaal for some yellows we should make a plan to hook up guys!!!

Agreed - I'm itching to get fishing!

icstuff · « **Reply #1197 on:** August 19, 2014, 08:58:08 AM »

Rory if you are itching from fishing I recommend that you go and see a doctor...
It is still too cold for mind blowing fishing, but it will be a nice day out.

Rory · « **Reply #1198 on:** August 19, 2014, 09:28:21 AM »

Quote from: icstuff on August 19, 2014, 08:58:08 AM

Rory if you are itching from fishing I recommend that you go and see a doctor...
It is still too cold for mind blowing fishing, but it will be a nice day out.

gavin erwin · « **Reply #1199 on:** August 22, 2014, 08:36:26 AM »

Should we go today

This weather is awesome!!! What is this "trusty black nymph" that you talk about, is it a flash back and what size is recommended?