Author Topic: DRAKENSBERG ROUNDTRIP ON FLY AND TENKARA (Read 12086 times)

E.T. · « **on:** March 23, 2012, 09:07:53 AM »

I would like to share some details of our trip with you.
Friday morning at about 9:00am I picked up my good mate Daryl Human at O.R. Tambo and we headed out to the Bushmans in the Giants Castle area. We took our time getting there and I don't think there was an Engen or Shell Ultra City that we didn't miss. Well at Engen Tugela South Daryl wanted a take away while is was filling up with fuel. When he got back into the bakkie I told him that whatever he bought doesn't smell right. He already took a bite, I told him to give me a piece of the chicken fillet from the Burger and I would tell him immediately. Well I didn't get to tell him it's off......I showed him. I nearly rolled my bakkie trying to get rid of the thing in my mouth. Tears ran down my face as I was busy throwing up in my own mouth. Daryl laughed his behind off. Well in short, he got rid of the Burger.
We arrived just after 3PM and spent some time at the Hatchery and eventually got back to the Cottage where we stayed. We unpacked and got onto the water just before 5pm. By this time Andrew Schlösser arrived and he was busy rigging up to get onto the water. I was fishing the fly rod and I missed one on the dry. I got out and walked over to Andrew and then went up to start the fire. The next minute I hear a shout from Daryl and I ran down back to the water to see him hold the first decent Brown in his hand.

Not long after that Andrew was also into a fish and both of them returned to the Cottage. We had a super Dinner and then we spent some time around the fireplace in the Cottage. The Saturday we were up early and we went through the Gate at Giants Castle before 6AM.

Here is a Panoramic View of the Section I fished.

I decided to start of with the Tenkara and a CDC & Elk. What a waste. In that whole section I fished I only managed to raise one fish to the CDC & Elk. I blanked on Saturday but Andrew and Daryl both caught their fair share of Browns on Stimulators and Elk Hair Caddis. We fished much of the day in the Reserve and the afternoon we spent on the water around our Cottage outside the reserve.

The Sunday morning Andrew decided to head on back early and we had a proper breakfast before he left. Daryl and I decided to explore the water outside the Reserve a bit more and when we reached this one pool there were a feeding frenzy going on and I just knew that we were going to get lucky. I fished the 3wt and this time I had an Elk Hair Caddis at the end of the line and it wasn't long before I too got into some action.

A Close Up of this fish....

Ready to be released....

I ended up with 8 good fish from this pool. Later the Sunday I managed two more good fish.

FCLoretz · « **Reply #1 on:** March 23, 2012, 09:12:02 AM »

Awesome report Koos, Well done.

super_daav · « **Reply #2 on:** March 23, 2012, 09:13:49 AM »

Great stuff E.T.! So rewarding!!

E.T. · « **Reply #3 on:** March 23, 2012, 09:15:11 AM »

Monday morning we left early for Kamberg Reserve as we wanted to fish the Upper Mooi.

Here is Daryl on the water.....

I hooked a proper Brown but it broke me off on 6X, still don't know why but it did.
The rest of the day we just saw small fish scatter as we moved from pool to pool. The going in this Reserve is tough. There are no clear paths and the river into the mountains have a lot of trees that fell over onto the water making getting in and out of the water impossible. We decided to Bundu Bash a bit, but the thorns and stuff between the tall grass ripped our legs to shreds. We ended up going back through the water. Yet again we spooked small fish. Whats small??? 4cm Browns in a river that is known for it's large Browns. Well we left disappointed and I don't think any of us would go back there again soon.

We returned to the Cottage and I hauled out the Tenkara. Wasn't long before I hooked into this little Bow......

Another view....

After this one I landed a fat brown and I went in as it was dark out.

E.T. · « **Reply #4 on:** March 23, 2012, 09:31:54 AM »

Tuesday morning we headed out to Injusuthi. The last 6km of this road is terrible. But when we got there I almost had the feeling that I was in one of those Parks in the States. This place had the worst road of all, but it had the most people in it. There is this big green lawn with these massive acorn trees providing shade for most of the day. I just fell in love with this place as it has that timeless feel to it.

We weren't sure what to expect. We got onto the water......

And within 10 minutes Daryl was into his first. I fished the Tenkara and I used an Elk Hair Caddis again. Well it wasn't long before I was also into some fish. This water holds the prettiest little Bows I have ever seen.....

After 2 hours I was on about 9 fish, Daryl was already on 17 and I told him that I am leaving him with a long section and that I am going to press on. I did so and I started catching fish like crazy. I would hook one, land it and cast to that same lie and pull another 1 or 2 fish from it.

I covered a large piece of water and when Daryl got to me he asked how on earth did I manage to cover all that water, cause he was walking for 15 minutes to get to me. Well the answer was simple really....I caught one or two fish in a run and I moved on. At some stage I could not see the fly on the water, this did not put me off at all as I registered takes on the tip. Daryl was tired and hungry. I told him I needed 3 fish to make up 30. He stood there on the banks and could not believe his eyes as I caught those 3 fish in less than 5 minutes. All came to hand by takes registered on the tip of the rod. He was amazed as he could see the takes standing on the bank. We headed back to the bakkie and in 3 hours we managed 50 fish between the 2 of us. We could have caught way more if all the fish we hooked stayed on.

A close up with the fly that did the damage....

This is the view out.....

View to the right.....

We headed back to our Cottage close to Giants and took a breather.

E.T. · « **Reply #5 on:** March 23, 2012, 09:42:11 AM »

Just before it got too dark, I took the Tenkara and headed down to a pool Daryl suggested I have a look at. I was in shorts and takkies and when I got to this pool I saw fish everywhere.

Now this pool bends from left to right almost like the leg of a dog. Right at the top there is another trib that joins in to the right and on the opposite bank it is a cliff face that plummets into the depths. Now this pool has a turquoise glow to it and right at the start of the pool there is a tree that hangs over the water. Well this is where I started casting. First cast and I was into a decent Bow. Second cast I slammed into a solid Brown. I knew I was in trouble when I connected with it as I was fishing 5X. I ran downstream after it. It would dive deep and every time I turned it, it would jump clear out the water, sometimes even twice at the same time. This fish probably jumped out 3-4 times and eventually I brought it to hand. I just sighed a sigh of relieve.......

I hooked this one proper, right in the scissors. All that was left of the fly, was the hook and a little thread.....That was it!!!

After this Brown I hooked and landed another 8 Bows. At some stage I couldn't see the fly anymore. This didn't put me off. I just stayed in contact with the fly and let the takes register on the tip and I hooked fish way into darkness. Well this was a classic end to a fantastic trip. 10 fish in 20 minutes.....what a treat.

A special thanks goes out to Andrew for coming down on his own and to Daryl that flew up from Cape Town. Thank you guys for a fantastic trip.

Rory · « **Reply #6 on:** March 23, 2012, 09:47:29 AM »

Excellent report Koos! And as always some super photos

Those fish look amazing.

E.T. · « **Reply #7 on:** March 23, 2012, 09:49:05 AM »

The Elk Hair Caddis was a winner. They would take this fly deep every time they took it and pulling out the forceps was not unusual....

Any fly with flash or bright colours was refused. They wanted nautural, finish and klaar.

I ended my trip with 52 fish and Daryl with 56.

Homie · « **Reply #8 on:** March 23, 2012, 09:52:18 AM »

AWESOME Report and

WalkersKiller · « **Reply #9 on:** March 23, 2012, 09:56:16 AM »

Absolutely superb Koos! Man I need to get on a wild river soon!

E.T. · « **Reply #10 on:** March 23, 2012, 10:05:17 AM »

This Brown came to the net on Monday evening. As you can see it's dark out already.
Was a pleasant treat on the Tenkara. How did I pick this one out??? On the tip of the rod, thats how.....

E.T. · « **Reply #11 on:** March 23, 2012, 10:08:12 AM »

for the kind words gents

woerman · « **Reply #12 on:** March 23, 2012, 10:50:34 AM »

Great report and even better pics!!!

Willie · « **Reply #13 on:** March 23, 2012, 10:58:20 AM »

E.T great fishing

and a great report

REEFMAN · « **Reply #14 on:** March 23, 2012, 10:58:33 AM »

Wow great photography ET... nice report!

L Hooker · « **Reply #15 on:** March 23, 2012, 11:30:58 AM »

excellent report and well done on some awesome fishing

E.T. · « **Reply #16 on:** March 23, 2012, 03:32:22 PM »

Quote from: REEFMAN on March 23, 2012, 10:58:33 AM

Wow great photography ET... nice report!

So does this mean I am automatically entered in as Angler of the Month?

schloshd1 · « **Reply #17 on:** March 24, 2012, 11:25:27 AM »

great report back Koos. My time there was way too short. I'm glad that the fishing got better for you guys after I left. It must have your lucky hat

E.T. · « **Reply #18 on:** March 26, 2012, 08:19:52 AM »

Quote from: schloshd1 on March 24, 2012, 11:25:27 AM

great report back Koos. My time there was way too short. I'm glad that the fishing got better for you guys after I left. It must have your lucky hat

Yes the Lesotho Rondavel Roof did it's magic

Kumz · « **Reply #19 on:** March 26, 2012, 08:22:32 AM »

:shre: ......

.......