Tactics fishing the Berg on the fly this Winter

[Lichia amia]

Going into my second season of fly fishing and thinking I know it all  . I would like to hear what your tactics would be fishing the Berg this winter. Planning a trip to the Oliviershoek Pass area shortly . Now if you have more than half an idea please share.

[Homie]

sorry... Only have half...

[icstuff]

Tips:

1. Hot soup and a nice wine with a freshly baked baguette helps when it will not stop raining.
2. Stay clear of mean looking swans - they can kill you

And that is all I know - Rumor has it that there are no big fish left in the berg?

[Lichia amia]

  for your input Pietertjie have some 

[icstuff]

I did browse some other sites but did not get any useful info

[Herman Jooste]

Craig, stay away from Sterkies ! Those yellows do not fish on top in winter.
 
Have a search on Flytalk, there are quite a few posts on TROOOOT fishing in that area.

[Lichia amia]

Thanks Herman . Will be targeting Troooot . The Oliviershoek trip will be more of a bottle of wine and carpet burns from a rug in front of the fire place trip than a serious fishing trip . Will go have a look on our friendly neighbour site . 

[super_daav]

If fishing streams, water will be clear and lower meaning fish generally more skittish. Thus accuracy of casting as bigger fish will generally hold in the better but harder lies (bush, undecut banks etc.). I love nymphs (Zaks!) so would have a good range of sizes plus some lighter tippet material for that finesse fishing.
If fishing bigger dams with good food source, bigger flies (wolly buggers black  & orange / dragonfly nymphs filoplume) would do the trick. Heavier tippet material as some good fish around generally. Quick retrieves if fish are in spawning stage as they are agressive.

[Lichia amia]

If fishing streams, water will be clear and lower meaning fish generally more skittish. Thus accuracy of casting as bigger fish will generally hold in the better but harder lies (bush, undecut banks etc.). I love nymphs (Zaks!) so would have a good range of sizes plus some lighter tippet material for that finesse fishing.
If fishing bigger dams with good food source, bigger flies (wolly buggers black  & orange / dragonfly nymphs filoplume) would do the trick. Heavier tippet material as some good fish around generally. Quick retrieves if fish are in spawning stage as they are agressive.

   super_daav

[WalkersKiller]

OBS and perseverance Lichia 

[Capt. Hook]

River or stillwater

[Rory mundy]

when fishing the underburg region I found a small Mepps works wonders

[Ziggy]

when fishing the underburg region I found a small Mepps works wonders

Pasop!

[Lichia amia]

@ FA – both still and sparkling .
 
@Rory – sure you made some tight @ssed purist oomie choke on his G.T. !!! “Now a Mepps in Trout water is a hell of a thing my boy , rather refrain from such irresponsible behaviour old chap “    Wha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

[Rory mundy]

its frowned upon in SA but not so much in the rest of the world

[Capt. Hook]

Mepps    Love it. Little Rappies also do the trick.
 
It is coming into winter so for your still water brown red eyed damsels, walkers and hamils killer always do the trick. The rivers will start getting low and fish very skittish
 
As for the rivers dry fly, cdc, zacks and I also like to rip a sunset fast over the rapids if water is high enough

[dizzy]

Most of us fly fishers who fish rivers, fish way to far away from ourselves - best is to approach water low and slow.
Stay out of sight, fish light tippet and small flies. Try only to make one false cast if you can, if not false cast over a bank or try and do a roll cast.
I would fish small un-weighted black nymphs, so a lightly weighted ZAK could also work.
I find Parachute Adams always work well too if you need to fish a dry. Small EHK and Klinkhammers in drab colours will find favour with skittish browns if presented without disturbance.
Dont forget to fish right up close to the bank, get your flies to drift in under the undercuts - the bigger fish live there 
Let us know how you go 

[Ziggy]

As far as I know, there is very little river fishing in the area

  - and bear on mind that the rivers are closed for fishing from   [/size]

15 May to 31 August every year (well,certainly in Underberg waters controlled by the UHTFC).

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