Author Topic: Vaal River Update (Read 567678 times)

gavin erwin · « **Reply #1700 on:** September 19, 2016, 07:36:01 PM »

This weather system that hit this weekend was horrendous im surprised you got anything well done Herman

WalkersKiller · « **Reply #1701 on:** September 20, 2016, 06:55:57 AM »

Nice Herman, thanks for the update! Itching to get back out there where when I finally get a gap.

Herman Jooste · « **Reply #1702 on:** September 20, 2016, 07:07:46 AM »

Thanks guys.

Ettienne · « **Reply #1703 on:** September 20, 2016, 12:16:10 PM »

Well done Herman. Pissistance pays off.

WalkersKiller · « **Reply #1704 on:** September 26, 2016, 04:58:59 PM »

Gavin went to Geelvis Paradise for the weekend... Fishing was slow but he managed some fish. The Brassie was working.

Herman Jooste · « **Reply #1705 on:** October 16, 2016, 01:11:07 PM »

Very, very nice indeed.
Well done that man.

bassbug · « **Reply #1706 on:** October 26, 2016, 08:26:29 PM »

saturday 22/10, woke up late for a planed bass session. vinho,an old pal of my was to blame. gathered me fly stuff and spead off to strydoms.
set the rod up with a 45 foot long french leader, normally i use my czech nymph style but need to expand on options. wee wee, casting the was difficult and got the hang of it quickly, actually had too, the need to land a fish was at an all time high. found a nice section in the first channel in front of the car park, giving me some nice fish to play with. biggest was 3.1kg and plenty of 2+kg.

WalkersKiller · « **Reply #1707 on:** October 27, 2016, 07:39:59 AM »

Awesome stuff!!!! Nice fish there bru

bassbug · « **Reply #1708 on:** October 27, 2016, 03:56:40 PM »

thanks WalkersKiller, just sorry i could take decent pics, and always prefer to release asap with less handling as possible. the 3,1 gave me an extended fight and left me on the rocks with a smile from one ear to the other (i should of taken a pic of my face for laughs)

WalkersKiller · « **Reply #1709 on:** October 27, 2016, 04:02:13 PM »

No worries, the quicker the release the better, at least you managed some shots. I need to hook into a 3kg this season.

gavin erwin · « **Reply #1710 on:** October 28, 2016, 07:58:19 AM »

Got some nice yellows and muddies yesterday at Vaal Hackle. 5yellows biggest 2.1kgs and 2 huge muddies. Flys that worked was Mustard Caddis and Hotspot.

WalkersKiller · « **Reply #1711 on:** October 28, 2016, 10:26:50 AM »

YES BOY!

bassbug · « **Reply #1712 on:** April 19, 2017, 02:48:27 PM »

after reading thru this thread, I'M GOING

bassbug · « **Reply #1713 on:** April 23, 2017, 01:23:19 PM »

yesterday, saturday, i gave strydoms a go. after a late arrival (about 9'ish), i walked the shore to see conditions before getting dressed for the occasion. water viz about 30 to 35cm (measured with eye), water temp 20deg, air temp 18deg, the flow guessed around 23 to 25 cubes, clear blue skies with a very light breeze. saw no rises except for a couple of red coloured tails sticking out the water in small tailing water. the only visual insect life i saw was of those tiny adult caddis disturbed on land. i know knew it was gonna be a tuffest day thus far for the year as i got ready. my main aim was to practice the long french leader with a dry fly, mainly the casting side of it so wasnt considering numbers of fish landed but rather perfecting the cast.
So, all ready now, I set off to the bottom pool first. The fly choice as a small #18 cdc & elk in light brown colour. In the tail of the first stream I saw two carp and suspected a yellow from a flash. Positioned myself for a cast and started fishing, no interest in the fly. Changed to emerging pattern and nothing after a few casts, changed to spent mayfly pattern and again no interest from the fish. said to myself while looking into the dry fly box, “put a nymph dude”, i did. #16 black mayfly with 2,5mm gold bead on a jig hook, first cast, fish on. A lekka extended fight from a 2 pounder, landed, thank it and the lord, took a pic, cleaned the stinky net and waded to the main channel. Next cast, was aimed directly behind a big rock, fish on. It bolted into the current, the rod shook like as if I had a gt on the line, you know those head shakes, then I darned on me, aaah tail hooked. With some side pressure I managed to pull it into quite water and not far from me the fish came to surface showing it’s credentials, tail hooked and muddy by id. Netted and released quickly with a word of advice “stay away”.
After that muddy, I decided to go back to the dry fly and this time with a dropper to double my chances. Choice was #16 klink on the dry and #16 pale grhe on the point. With the rig set I waded to the free state side. I searched like a sniper for any signs of fish and only saw carp (carp flyers would be in heaven). The shallows above the main island normally holds a good number muddies and yellows was like desert. A few too many cormorants were spotted, drying the feathers and I whispered,” I see you fat, ate all the fish ”.
After a lengthy wade without a single cast i reached the main run on the far side, hello free state. Noticed two flyers czeching downstream from me but what got I attention was a flash in front of me. Too deep for the dropper and i made mends to extend the dropper. With a good distance upstream my rig landed to allow the light dropper enough time to reach the bottom or somewhere near it. The dry drifted past over the fish, then a few moments later the klink disappeared under and I struck, fish on, my heart pumped fast, I guess from making the right decision before casting. Net landed and released when my eye was caught by the sight of an impala chewing a tree on the far bank, in close to the waters edge, then, from the forest of trees about 15 meters above the impala, this dude appeared like a ghost, obviously the impala was spooked and darted away. This dude made a single cast and was into a good fish, good, at least a knew the fish were in the area I intended to fish with the dry. This piece of water is just below the cascades and conducive for dry flying with some decent fish readily do take a dry. This dude, after releasing his good fish, moved away that area and headed towards the main run of the cascade and without any delay I started to make my way to that spot to hug it for myself. On my way there, this dude, now notably of good age with his all white moustache made a another cast and was on again. Obvious this guy knew what he was doing, until this fish made a proper run upstream into the cascades. Power, pure power and I knew this was no ordinary fish. I saw the dorsal fin from where I was wading and knew this one needed my help landing, so I turned my steering wheel and headed straight towards the white moustache. This toppy handled the fish like a pro, didn’t allow the fish to have an upper hand during this fight. What must of looked like a long fight, the fish was landed in the net in no time, long before I could be in reach to assist, revealed itself to be a good size largemouth yellow. Estimated to be 5 kg +, this guy’s smile reach both banks, free state and Gauteng, I promptly congratulated him on his catch and asked if I could take a pic. He agreed as he didn’t have his cell with. I pulled the camera out and took a pic while this guy positioned the massive fish under his arm to remove the hook for the photo shoot. Yes, I thought so too, don’t do that, you will lose the fish boet, but this guy looked like a seasoned pro in his ways and was managing well until, yes, the fish gave a single swipe from his massive tail, the fish slipped thru the arm grip and landed in the water, gone! Like a pro, this guy was still happy unlike most of us that would scream, cry, rod slap the water or even fold the rod in half, he remained calm and collected. His behaviour remain the same,” cool”, even after me telling a had a pic of him. We exchanged names with a hand shake, “hi my is Colin”. Now up close and in person, my thoughts were of a familiar figure from the movies, Sean Connery, no jokes, Colin looked like Sean. Apparently he is an old salt fisherman and presently fishes or fished the vet team and fishes with the likes of mr Wareham and others. I whatsapp his pic, said the good-byes and headed to my spot for the bit of dry fly.
The dry fly fishing went well with a fish here and there, mainly taking the dropper and not the dry. This one fish, have to mention it, was my fish for the day. Not big in size but rather big in heart. Found this yellow, a tad short of 2 pounds, actively darting around in a small area as if it was looking for a lost treasure. Difficult to cast to because it was there then appeared from another spot. I must of thrown about thirty casts, no jokes, until the klink sunk from being pulled by the dropper. a good fight pursued until it was net landed and noticed the following, both dry and nymph embedded next to each other on the side of the upper lip, the mouth of the fish was deformed, probably from another hook up some time ago, the mouth wouldn’t open much more as seen in the pic provided below. I felt sorry for it but was happy it was doing well from its injury. So guys, please de-barb them hooks and gently handle the fish for release.
I caught several fish for the day compared to previous outings and I can say winter tactics need to be implemented in the coming weeks. I personally think this winter hunt will be difficult if the high’ish flows continue but all worth it.
Good luck tight lines and thanks for reading.

first pic - first yellow on jig : second pic - Colin before loosing the fish : third pic - fish of the day

Visenvryheid · « **Reply #1714 on:** April 23, 2017, 06:45:52 PM »

Awesome write-up, sounds like you had a blast!

colin · « **Reply #1715 on:** April 23, 2017, 08:02:22 PM »

great report

bassbug · « **Reply #1716 on:** April 23, 2017, 09:56:24 PM »

thanks VisenVryheid, did have a blast, any topwater does it for me
hey Colin, tell me, are you another Colin or the Colin i met on the water?

colin · « **Reply #1717 on:** April 24, 2017, 06:35:14 AM »

that guy catches fish . I feed them .

REEFMAN · « **Reply #1718 on:** April 24, 2017, 07:02:26 AM »

Great stuff Bassbug!

WalkersKiller · « **Reply #1719 on:** April 24, 2017, 10:01:21 AM »

Awesome report, wish I could have joined you. I have caught one Mudfish this "season", and a 6/7kg Carp, and thats as far as my Vaal River fishing has gone for a while. No time, too much work and limited budget