Author Topic: Vaal River Update (Read 566964 times)

WalkersKiller · « **Reply #1540 on:** March 26, 2015, 07:49:27 AM »

Anyone have any predictions on the flow rates this weekend? See it was at 55 yesterday, 28 most of the week and 15 this morning

icstuff · « **Reply #1541 on:** March 26, 2015, 07:54:16 AM »

Quote from: WalkersKiller on March 26, 2015, 07:49:27 AM

Anyone have any predictions on the flow rates this weekend? See it was at 55 yesterday, 28 most of the week and 15 this morning

was 55 yesterday so I say ~70

WalkersKiller · « **Reply #1542 on:** March 26, 2015, 08:25:09 AM »

Damn, thats hectic.

icstuff · « **Reply #1543 on:** March 26, 2015, 01:42:17 PM »

No it is not. There are some venues that fish very well in flows of 70-90. The problem is landing fish when they get into the main flow.

Rory · « **Reply #1544 on:** March 26, 2015, 05:25:54 PM »

Quote from: icstuff on March 26, 2015, 01:42:17 PM

No it is not. There are some venues that fish very well in flows of 70-90. The problem is landing fish when they get into the main flow.

Gareth its easy, if you unsure, just don't take a chance. Safety first.

Personally I don't advocate fishing the Vaal in flows over 40.

WalkersKiller · « **Reply #1545 on:** March 26, 2015, 06:07:27 PM »

Thanks bru, will watch the flows closely... Its back up to 55 this afternoon

WalkersKiller · « **Reply #1546 on:** March 27, 2015, 08:11:44 AM »

No gates open, flows at 15.95

water temp at 20.2

gavin erwin · « **Reply #1547 on:** March 27, 2015, 10:04:24 AM »

Lets do it!!!

Rory · « **Reply #1548 on:** March 30, 2015, 09:00:01 AM »

Martin/Doc and myself fished a venue outside Parys yesterday. The season has definitely changed, its dark early in the morning and the water in the river is starting to get a chill to it. The fishing was frustratingly slow, myself I only managed 2 fish in the net, with hooks pulling on plenty. Flies that produced were Humpy's Favourite and slim profile mustard caddis. The fish seemed to be holding in the deeper medium fast water.

I did a gogga recce in the slow and faster sections of the river and was completely amazed at the prolific insect life. The underside of the rocks were literally crawling with life. The caddis ranged from a light grey colour to mustard to a dark green, from tiny sizes up to papa bears that would match a size 10 hook easy. There were both swimming and crawling mayflies nymphs in their hundreds, brown to dark brown and of course the blackflies were present in their seemingly thousands. Its no wonder the fish have been in superb condition this season with a menu like that!

doc · « **Reply #1549 on:** March 30, 2015, 09:05:33 AM »

As Rory said it was slow but rewarding with the fish being hooked giving a very good account of themselves. I also only landed 2 fish and pulled the hooks on several decent fish. The flies that produced for me was mustard caddis and green rockworm. Here are some pictures of the fish

doc · « **Reply #1550 on:** March 30, 2015, 09:07:50 AM »

Some more pictures of the bigger one

gavin erwin · « **Reply #1551 on:** March 30, 2015, 09:29:57 AM »

Well done chaps

Myself and Sean hit a late afternoon sesh on Saturday, we managed 5 yellows between us and 1 Muddy. Hotspot and green caddis did the damage. Changed it up for an hour or so and did some calling and casting for barbel in a deeper pool, managed 1 on calling and one on casting.

doc · « **Reply #1552 on:** March 30, 2015, 09:33:23 AM »

Well done

Ettienne · « **Reply #1553 on:** March 30, 2015, 12:37:47 PM »

Thanks Doc and Rory. Pity I slipped up. Again>

WalkersKiller · « **Reply #1554 on:** March 30, 2015, 12:50:42 PM »

Nice one guys!

CLS · « **Reply #1555 on:** March 30, 2015, 03:21:48 PM »

Quote from: gavin erwin on March 30, 2015, 09:29:57 AM

Well done chaps Myself and Sean hit a late afternoon sesh on Saturday, we managed 5 yellows between us and 1 Muddy. Hotspot and green caddis did the damage. Changed it up for an hour or so and did some calling and casting for barbel in a deeper pool, managed 1 on calling and one on casting.

great fish. Please excuse my ignorance, what is calling ?? is that when you let the fly drift in the current ??

gavin erwin · « **Reply #1556 on:** March 30, 2015, 04:29:54 PM »

Quote from: CLS on March 30, 2015, 03:21:48 PM

Quote from: gavin erwin on March 30, 2015, 09:29:57 AM
Well done chaps Myself and Sean hit a late afternoon sesh on Saturday, we managed 5 yellows between us and 1 Muddy. Hotspot and green caddis did the damage. Changed it up for an hour or so and did some calling and casting for barbel in a deeper pool, managed 1 on calling and one on casting.
great fish. Please excuse my ignorance, what is calling ?? is that when you let the fly drift in the current ??

Its not to do with fly fishing, we use lures to attract the barbel, very fun way too catch barbel.

Homie · « **Reply #1557 on:** March 30, 2015, 07:33:31 PM »

Also called klopping, and often done with a "roepstock" similar to the sabiki rod where the line runs inside the blank CLS

The lure often used is a leadhead with hackle and a curly tail attached. This is splashed / slapped on the water to attract old whiskers. Imitates an baby bird that fell from a nest i believe.

gavin erwin · « **Reply #1558 on:** March 31, 2015, 08:00:46 AM »

Quote from: Homie on March 30, 2015, 07:33:31 PM

Also called klopping, and often done with a "roepstock" similar to the sabiki rod where the line runs inside the blank CLS

The lure often used is a leadhead with hackle and a curly tail attached. This is splashed / slapped on the water to attract old whiskers. Imitates an baby bird that fell from a nest i believe.

Yip thats the one but we just use normal light spinning rods and thrash the surface of the water with rod tip.

Homie · « **Reply #1559 on:** March 31, 2015, 10:59:11 AM »

Quote from: gavin erwin on March 31, 2015, 08:00:46 AM

Quote from: Homie on March 30, 2015, 07:33:31 PM
Also called klopping, and often done with a "roepstock" similar to the sabiki rod where the line runs inside the blank CLS

The lure often used is a leadhead with hackle and a curly tail attached. This is splashed / slapped on the water to attract old whiskers. Imitates an baby bird that fell from a nest i believe.
Yip thats the one but we just use normal light spinning rods and thrash the surface of the water with rod tip.

At a fly fishing venue ! youve just disgraced us all !

I'm gonna carry my spinning setup the next time Gav, maybe start a thread showing what lures would work best please ?