Author Topic: The History Of Trout In South Africa & What The Future Holds (Read 21792 times)

WalkersKiller · « **on:** February 06, 2012, 10:01:12 AM »

South African Trout Fishing

The Rainbow Trout was first introduced to South Africa in 1897, but it was only in the 1960's that sport fishing for the Rainbow Trout started to become popular. Then trout farms and hatcheries started to develop in Mpumalanga, the Western Cape and the Eastern Cape provinces. These fish require clear, aerated water preferably less than 21 degrees Celsius. Flowing water is essential for breeding to take place, Rainbow Trout cannot bread in Stillwater dams. Rainbow Trout in South Africa have a life span of only 5 years or less, this is due to the conditions of the fish and the fact they are not in their preferred environment. This is why they do not reach the sizes of the Trout in North America or Europe. Males reach full breeding maturity after 2 years. Breeding season is between June and September and is called spawning season. Spawning still takes place in Stillwater even though breeding is unsuccessful.

The South African trout season starts in September and finishes at the end of May. The best times for fly-fishing are in September and October, and then in April and May. However, many of the country's dams and lakes have no closed season.

Brown Trout were first introduced into South Africa in 1890 from Scotland and a body of water called Loch Lagan. The first successful bred Brown Trout recorded was in 1893. The Brown Trout adapted so well in South Africa that Rainbows were soon introduced as well.

South African trout waters are small by international standards, more streams than rivers, yet the average size of the trout caught is still fairly large. Most of the rivers produce fish of up to 3 kgs, and in the Barkly East area river fish up to 5kgs are not rare. In the upland sections of most rivers the trout proliferate and the waters tend to become overstocked.

Good trout fishing is dependent on good rainfall and a season or two of poor rains sets the sport back. South Africa is dry, but droughts are less common in the eastern highlands than they are in the interior, and often less devastating. Just as bad as droughts is the problem of flash flooding and siltation. Trout Farms and private dams have become very popular in South Africa and the industry is growing steadily.
It is often frowned upon to catch trout using other methods except fly fishing. Trout do occur in areas where there are rare minnow, barb and other fish species, they are believed to be the reason why some of these fish are on the endangered list. Projects are currently underway, mainly in the Western Cape, to see exactly how Rainbow and Brown Trout as well as Bass have affected the indigenous fish populations…

There is concern amongst the fly fishing community as many conservationists want to get rid of the trout that occur “naturally” in rivers, streams and lakes where they are arguable killing off indigenous fish. It is a highly debated topic as a lot of people are either against or for this. Trout have been in our local waters for 120 years now and there are other things to take into consideration such as water quality, water temperature and organisms that the indigenous fish feed on… The Bass species are more likely to blame if predation is causing the indigenous fishes numbers to decrease…

gavin erwin · « **Reply #1 on:** February 06, 2012, 10:05:17 AM »

Some great info Walkers Killer.

WalkersKiller · « **Reply #2 on:** February 06, 2012, 10:07:31 AM »

Quote from: gavin erwin on February 06, 2012, 10:05:17 AM

Some great info Walkers Killer.

Shot Gav!

Rory · « **Reply #3 on:** February 06, 2012, 10:21:23 AM »

Great article Gareth. A while back I read a super article on Dr Tom Sutcliffes website, where the guys caught muddies, yellows and trout all in one day on Kraai river in the Eastern Cape. Let me find the link to it....

WalkersKiller · « **Reply #4 on:** February 06, 2012, 10:22:33 AM »

Thanks Rory!

Wow really??? Please try find it

Rory · « **Reply #5 on:** February 06, 2012, 10:23:59 AM »

Here we go, let me know if the link doesn't work....

http://www.tomsutcliffe.co.za/pete-briggs/229-kraai-river-grand-slam

Rory · « **Reply #6 on:** February 06, 2012, 10:25:17 AM »

Pretty cool, a new type of "McNab"!!!

WalkersKiller · « **Reply #7 on:** February 06, 2012, 10:28:53 AM »

Thanks Rory, what an awesome experience!

krissi · « **Reply #8 on:** February 06, 2012, 10:30:49 AM »

Thanks Gareth - I found it very interesting. I haven't really got too involved in the politics of the industry - I have spoken to a few people but perhaps succumb to the ostrich syndrome. We do not stock rivers, only dams, but as Wolf says, flooding causes "genetically modified/inferior" fish to get into the river systems.

I often wonder how much more of an impact bass have on the indigenous/endemic fish population than trout. Another factor is the revenue provided by the trout fishing industry - although this seems to be ignored by those wanting to eradicate the trout in our ecosystems as it is considered an elitist sport. Also, surely if one wanted to be purist about this matter, then bass should also be eradicated? I would think this will be a major project - it is an ongoing uphill battle to eradicate alien vegetation, how would they eradicate the trout and bass? Where does one draw the line between "naturalised", indigenous and endemic animal and plant life?

You seem to be in the know, so updates on this topic would be much appreciated.

WalkersKiller · « **Reply #9 on:** February 06, 2012, 10:34:31 AM »

Very true Krissi, tough decisions to be made, but also a lot of thinking should be done!

Havent heard anything for a while now regarding the eradication... But IMHO Trout have been naturalised in the rivers and do not feed heavily on minnows, barbs etc. Bass have only been in the rivers for 40 years or so and are more of a "fish" eating species compared to the trout, they would be the first to get blamed, they breed faster than trout as well...

Ziggy · « **Reply #10 on:** February 06, 2012, 02:50:01 PM »

see this from the FOSAF web site:

The short reply to what is happening about the long-awaited revised draft regulations of the NEM:BA Alien and Invasive Species regulations (with special reference to trout), is that unfortunately, in this instance, no news is NOT good news! We, from the Environmental Committee of FOSAF, have grown weary of writing “No Progress” reports to stakeholders. Most would of us who have been involved in the long and arduous process of commenting on official documents are so frustrated and annoyed at the lack of progress from the Department Environmental Affairs (DEA) over the better part of a decade, that it has become difficult in the extreme to retain focus. All that we can report is that the flurry of activity over producing maps for demarcated areas, which showed areas in which trout may be permanently maintained (compared to areas in which trout would not be condoned) seems to have come to naught. This is because the authorities failed to accept the advice provided by FOSAF and possibly other organisations - that there is no provision in the Act for the Minister to grant exemptions for an invasive species (such as trout). Such exemption formed the basis of the provision allowing for demarcated areas and DEA only came to this realisation when they took expert legal advice, recently. Despite a number of e-mails sent by Ilan Lax, our FOSAF Chairman to the relevant official in DEA requesting that we be kept informed of developments, we remain entirely in the dark about their current thinking. We are beyond guessing what will happen next. The only sensible comment that we can make at present is that stakeholders should NOT relax their vigilance. We are firmly of the opinion that this issue has NOT gone away, but until the authorities issue some official statement to which we can respond, there is nothing we can do – except possibly go fishing!

krissi · « **Reply #11 on:** February 06, 2012, 03:00:07 PM »

:shre: Ziggy - makes interesting, if predictable (regarding the gov dept) reading. We discussed this with topic with Ilan a few months ago and nothing has changed so we will just carry on, I suppose.

WalkersKiller · « **Reply #12 on:** February 06, 2012, 03:01:40 PM »

:shre:

Ziggy · « **Reply #13 on:** February 06, 2012, 03:05:09 PM »

Ilan and I discuss it every time we fish! Gets boring. I think that FOSAF should just shut up and leave it alone, then maybe it will go away (because officials keep on changing) and someone will just forget about it - but, I suppose one has to be proactive and force government into a situation where there is certainty.

Krissi - are you a member of the UHTFC?

krissi · « **Reply #14 on:** February 06, 2012, 03:08:03 PM »

Quote from: Ziggy on February 06, 2012, 03:05:09 PM

Krissi - are you a member of the UHTFC?

No - I suppose I should join even though I don't flyfish - but they support our hatchery. Thanks for the prod Ziggy.

You got my conscience going!

Ziggy · « **Reply #15 on:** February 06, 2012, 03:10:20 PM »

I was on last years committee

Herman Jooste · « **Reply #16 on:** February 06, 2012, 10:22:19 PM »

Quote from: Ziggy on February 06, 2012, 03:05:09 PM

Ilan and I discuss it every time we fish! Gets boring. I think that FOSAF should just shut up and leave it alone, then maybe it will go away (because officials keep on changing) and someone will just forget about it - but, I suppose one has to be proactive and force government into a situation where there is certainty.

I don't think that it will just "go away " as long as one of the chief protaganists of trout eradication is a senior member of Cape Nature Conservation ( CNC ) and also happens to be the SOLE liscenced and authorised importer and user of ROTENONE.

Rotenone, kills EVERY aquatic organism in a bodu of water, fish, invertabrae, goggas, everything.

They then leave the water to decomtaminate, and after who knows how long restock it with indigenous fish. That's the plan anyway.

Every serious sewerage spill on the Vaal has killed Moggels, Yellowfish, Carp and Barbel, as has the previous floods. Strangely ( maybe not though ), not a SINGLE dead LM Bass has been found during these catasphrophe's.

Now imagine killing every aquatic thing in a Cape / Rhodes / Mpumulanga stream EXCEPT for the Bass

Wynand13 · « **Reply #17 on:** February 07, 2012, 05:06:16 PM »

I would like to ad my 2c worth here, as we have family farm that is part of Kruger I am involved in these talks often.
I must say that visiting Welkom recently I was shown the horror where the sewerage no raised the pan next to the golf course water level by almost 2 metres as there are no working system so all raw material just gets pumped into the river, same problem in Vaal with Villiers sewerage, and many more. The only streams and rivers I know that is still reasonable are those with trout as it promotes tourism, and bring in the money. I do realise the effect of alien species, Blue gum, Black Wattle, Queen of the night, Prickle pear are doing more damage than trout in South Africa. I think we should first focus time money and effort on fixing the rivers and dams that we pollute to a extend that no live is possible and only after that is sorted we can start looking into the alien species. Carp and Bass is a bigger problem than trout, and I do not hear a lot about getting rid of Carp in South Africa...

WalkersKiller · « **Reply #18 on:** February 07, 2012, 05:10:41 PM »

Good points Wynard...

WRT Carp, they have been in South Africa longer than Bass and Trout, 1863 I think was when Common Carp were introduced. Carp dont really have an affect on Trout or endemic species, there was some sort of study that proved it, Common Carp have also been reported as the favoured fish for Barbel, thus keeping the predation off yellows and muddies. The villan in the Grass Carp, IMO these fish should be killed on site. They compete directly with Muddies and Yellows and other smaller species and win all the time!

Just my 2c

Wynand13 · « **Reply #19 on:** February 07, 2012, 05:23:56 PM »

WK
Local goverment promotes the grass carp..
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT- GRASS CARP IN WEED CONTROL
http://www.kznwildlife.com/index.php?/Grass-Carp-For-Weed-Control.html

They do eat eggs of our beloved yellows and kill them before they are born.. Point I would like to make is, if you remove one alien, you have to remove all, and that is impossible