FOSAF FLY FISHING REPORTS
Monthly report on our waters
GUBU & MADEN DAMS.
This year, winter was relatively mild, which meant abundant food was still available for the trout during a usually lean season. Spring has arrived and the trout are consequently all in superb condition. Anglers that have spent some time on the water have been well rewarded for their efforts, with catch returns showing 40+ fish in a day. There have also been a few impressive fish landed, both rainbows and browns, with a high percentage of these being cock fish. A member recently landed and released a magnificent 63cm cock brown. This is very encouraging as Gubu has struggled to produce larger fish over the past few years.
At 9ha, Maden Dam is much smaller than Gubu and one must use very different tactics to be successful. Members are encouraged to visit this under-utilised water as it is producing quality fish and is the perfect sized dam for a one-day outing.
The recent fundraising competition, held at Gubu Dam over the first weekend of September, was a tremendous success. Over 80 people attended the event of which 58 were anglers competing in the team, individual, and junior categories. The organisers always encourage participation by junior anglers, and this year, those that did participate were treated to some exceptional prizes, including Shilton reels Xplorer vouchers and tackle, and Horizon fly rods. The other categories were also spoiled with prizes by our sponsors, with over R140,000 worth shared amongst them. With weather conditions not as kind as last year, the anglers had to work hard to be in the prizes, but they still managed a combined bag length of 107m worth of trout. Sadly though, no one was lucky enough to land one of the three sponsored tagged fish valued at R20,000/R15,000/R10,000. The organisers would like to thank the very generous sponsors, everyone who participated, and those that worked so hard to make the event a success. Visit the club's website (https://www.amatolaflyfishingclub.co.za/ ) and Facebook page for a full report and photos from the event (to be posted soon).
CATA VILLAGE & WOLF RIVER
The AFFC has an agreement with the community to manage the nearby Mnyameni Dam. As is the case of Maden this dam is not as well utilised by members as Gubu and the club plans to encourage increased usage of this attractive stillwater.
This dam contains a good population of smallish rainbows which are all wild bred from the two streams that feed the dam. There are also browns in the dam and one can expect to catch at least one at each fishing session. It is hoped that they will also breed in the streams to set up a self-sustaining population although there are so many rainbows using the limited spawning area at a later time this may nullify the efficacy of the browns breeding attempts. In the meantime, the AFFC will continue to stock brownie fingerlings.
The club is also organising a wattle clearing project on the nearby Wolf River and donations towards this very worthwhile project will be appreciated by the AFFC. Some work has already been done and a new contractor is being sought to carry on with the project. The AFFC is still to arrange fishing access on the Wolf with the community.
LOCH LOCHIE
This fairly large water on the headwaters of the Klipplaat has some good trophy fish and is now actively managed by Kurt Anderson of the Glenara farm hatchery on the Hogsback and is also in the Klipplaat basin. This hatchery supplies the AFFC with rainbow fingerlings and apparently is now including browns in its stock.
Overflowing prize table.
Juniors at prize giving.
Juniors eagerly accepting their Shilton reels.
Lovely sunset at the end of the fishing day.
63cm Gubu brown trout.
