Author Topic: Vaal River Update (Read 566835 times)

Rory · « **Reply #180 on:** January 18, 2011, 04:10:01 PM »

Quote from: Herman Jooste on January 17, 2011, 10:22:43 PM

Hi Guys,
Last Sunday I put a small theory to the test and fished the Vaal at flows of in excess of 500 tons. I was well pleased, got 3 yellows and 2 muddies.
All of the fish except 1 yellow ( a rubberlips of around 2kg ) were under 500g.
This proved 3 things.
Firstly fish feed whatever, secondly the babies are streetwise ito floods, thirdly look for a venue, that when flooded, ( or high water ) has a gently sloping terrain that you would normally walk over to get to the water in normal flows.

Super stuff Herman. What flies were producing?
PS: Sorry I couldn't join you Sunday, I was a litlle delicate after the "fly tying" on Saturday.......

Herman Jooste · « **Reply #181 on:** January 19, 2011, 09:51:02 PM »

Quote from: Rory on January 18, 2011, 04:10:01 PM

Super stuff Herman. What flies were producing?
PS: Sorry I couldn't join you Sunday, I was a litlle delicate after the "fly tying" on Saturday.......

All fish were caught on a yellow/lime flexi floss control fly # 10, TIED ALA Rory "red Humpy special " but with a slimish body ( only 12 or so wraps of 0.20 lead ) and a 3.5 mm tungsten bead.
I had to add a fairly split at the dropper connection to get the whole rig down though.
What was interesting that I changed point flies a about 10 times, with absolutely no takes . ?????

schloshd1 · « **Reply #182 on:** January 20, 2011, 06:16:07 AM »

Quote from: Herman Jooste on January 19, 2011, 09:51:02 PM

All fish were caught on a yellow/lime flexi floss control fly # 10, TIED ALA Rory "red Humpy special " but with a slimish body ( only 12 or so wraps of 0.20 lead ) and a 3.5 mm tungsten bead.
I had to add a fairly split at the dropper connection to get the whole rig down though.
What was interesting that I changed point flies a about 10 times, with absolutely no takes . ?????

did you try adding another one of the control flies that was working as a point fly?

Rory · « **Reply #183 on:** January 21, 2011, 11:15:50 AM »

A quick update on the Vaal flows. The Vaal dam is down to 97% full and the flows have dropped big time, but at over 200 cubes, still way to high to fish most spots. If anyone is heading to the Vaal remember to please check the flows on the dwaf website:

http://www.dwaf.gov.za/Hydrology/rtmain.aspx

"Outflow from Vaal" dam will tell you how much water is being released, "Vaal at Lethabo" is the flow past the power station outside Vanderbijl and "Vaal at Goose Bay Canyon" is the flow between the Barrage and Parys. Please use these figures as an indicator to wading. Generally speaking, flows of 40 and less are prefered!

icstuff · « **Reply #184 on:** January 21, 2011, 11:45:16 AM »

Thank you Rory!
Will have to give you

next time I see you

Rory · « **Reply #185 on:** January 21, 2011, 02:38:19 PM »

No problemo Pieter!
Those flows can change pretty rapidly (no pun intended) and we don't want anybody ending up with an unplanned drift to Upington!

icstuff · « **Reply #186 on:** January 21, 2011, 02:40:36 PM »

Saw a boat come loose from its mooring during the flood, not a pretty at all

Herman Jooste · « **Reply #187 on:** January 23, 2011, 08:56:26 PM »

OMR, Rory, Schlossie, Bryan, Jan & I visited location X today. The flows were half of last week which made the fishing a bit od a search issue.

Jan was fishing pap from the bank, into waist deep water, and cleaned up.

He got 7 juvie yellows and one very respectable carp.

Between us 5 f/f we had a few "on offs" as well as 5 fish landed. 4 out of the 5 were sm yellows.

High water levels se moer.

G!enn · « **Reply #188 on:** January 23, 2011, 09:11:13 PM »

Quote from: Herman Jooste on January 23, 2011, 08:56:26 PM

OMR, Rory, Schlossie, Bryan, Jan & I visited location X today. The flows were half of last week which made the fishing a bit od a search issue.

Jan was fishing pap from the bank, into waist deep water, and cleaned up. He got 7 juvie yellows and one very respectable carp.

Between us 5 f/f we had a few "on offs" as well as 5 fish landed. 4 out of the 5 were sm yellows.

High water levels se ** .

Great stuff, Herman :sml:

Herman Jooste · « **Reply #189 on:** January 25, 2011, 10:06:23 PM »

Thanks Glenn, it's a theory that I ahve been testing for about a month or so. :sml:

As I said in one of your earlier diaries posts, KNOW YOUR VENUE. This applies specifically to the terrain above the normal water line. i.e. If the water pushes up 5 - 10 metres, where , if anywhere, will there be water that the fish wil "retreat" to, but still be able to feed. Fish have to eat after all,other than die.

Would like to try my theory on a few other venues, flows permitting.

G!enn · « **Reply #190 on:** January 25, 2011, 10:08:49 PM »

Quote from: Herman Jooste on January 25, 2011, 10:06:23 PM

Thanks Glenn, it's a theory that I ahve been testing for about a month or so. :sml:

As I said in one of your earlier diaries posts, KNOW YOUR VENUE. This applies specifically to the terrain above the normal water line. i.e. If the water pushes up 5 - 10 metres, where , if anywhere, will there be water that the fish wil "retreat" to, but still be able to feed. Fish have to eat after all,other than die.

Would like to try my theory on a few other venues, flows permitting.

You obviously know what your doing.. follow your own heart!

+1 credit for you!

Herman Jooste · « **Reply #191 on:** January 25, 2011, 10:15:06 PM »

Thanks Glenn. Hopefully the flows below the Barrage will drop to around 200 tons for this weekend . If so I have a venue in my sights.

Gerhard · « **Reply #192 on:** January 26, 2011, 06:37:42 AM »

Quote from: Herman Jooste on January 25, 2011, 10:15:06 PM

Thanks Glenn. Hopefully the flows below the Barrage will drop to around 200 tons for this weekend . If so I have a venue in my sights.

Its still way over 500 cumex and with the rain falling this morning it may stay that way for a while

http://www.dwaf.gov.za/Hydrology/rtmain.aspx

But it look like the next week no rain has been predicted...

icstuff · « **Reply #193 on:** January 26, 2011, 12:41:17 PM »

Flow is at 1000 tons per second, heard about two chaps braving lesser flow that came out 2km later

Rory · « **Reply #194 on:** January 27, 2011, 09:33:58 AM »

Quote from: Herman Jooste on January 25, 2011, 10:06:23 PM

.....As I said in one of your earlier diaries posts, KNOW YOUR VENUE. This applies specifically to the terrain above the normal water line....

What Herman says cannot be stressed enough! If you've never fished a venue don't even try to go fish in these big flows. Even having fished said venue numerous times before, I was as nervous as hell with that water raging past - I never went past "ball"depth!!! Scary stuff!! Personally I don't think I'll fish in big flows again, this water gives the term "The Vaal Shuffle" a completely new meaning!

Herman Jooste · « **Reply #195 on:** January 27, 2011, 08:49:22 PM »

Quote from: Rory on January 27, 2011, 09:33:58 AM

.- I never went past "ball"depth!!! Scary stuff!! Personally I don't think I'll fish in big flows again, this water gives the term "The Vaal Shuffle" a completely new meaning!

Rory is quite right here. I'm fairly used to wading strong water, and the GOLDEN RULE is, if you feel uncomfortable or uncertain about your footing,or the water is lifting your back leg whilst wading "crab wise" across or up, then back off and get back.

Herman Jooste · « **Reply #196 on:** February 06, 2011, 06:20:54 PM »

I got the opportunity to sneak out to location X this morning with Jan and Bryan.

It seems that more blokes are riding around looking for venues, as by 11:00 there were 7 ohter f/f onthe water

.

Everyone got fish, as far as I could see.

My first 2 were on the control ( # 10 olive flexi flos with a pink thorax, aka Rory's Red Humpy. The rest were caught on a #16 V olive rib caddis with peacock herl as the thorax.

How the hell those fish saw that fly in very muddy water beats me?

But hey, a fish landed is a blessing

G!enn · « **Reply #197 on:** February 06, 2011, 06:38:25 PM »

Fab stuff, Herman .. Good to see @ least you caught.

Rory · « **Reply #198 on:** February 07, 2011, 08:36:12 AM »

Quote from: Herman Jooste on February 06, 2011, 06:20:54 PM

I got the opportunity to sneak out to location X this morning with Jan and Bryan.

It seems that more blokes are riding around looking for venues, as by 11:00 there were 7 ohter f/f onthe water .

Everyone got fish, as far as I could see.

My first 2 were on the control ( # 10 olive flexi flos with a pink thorax, aka Rory's Red Humpy. The rest were caught on a #16 V olive rib caddis with peacock herl as the thorax.

How the hell those fish saw that fly in very muddy water beats me?

But hey, a fish landed is a blessing

Nice going Herman! It is amazing how the fish pick up the flies in dirty water! Now you see why I like size 18's in clean water!!

what were the flows at? 600??

schloshd1 · « **Reply #199 on:** February 07, 2011, 09:16:02 AM »

Quote from: Rory on February 07, 2011, 08:36:12 AM

Nice going Herman! It is amazing how the fish pick up the flies in dirty water! Now you see why I like size 18's in clean water!! what were the flows at? 600??

If you like #18s in "clean" Vaal water then you have to give Sterkies a visit, you will be raiding my size 32s. I was blown away by the water clarity there.