Amatola Wild Trout Flyfishing - Flyloops Review

Please have a look at my recent review of Amatola at: Amatola Flyloops.net Review

Amatola Mountain Lodge

Friday, 6 April 2012

On Easter weekend my girlfriend and I headed down to the Eastern Cape to review Amatola Mountain Lodge for www.flyloops.net. Please keep a look-out for the review that will appear on the website soon, for more information on the venue visit www.amatolaflyfishing.co.za. We left Johannesburg at the ungodly hour of one in the morning and started the 1000km drive down to Amatola that is situated close to Hogsback in the Eastern Cape. The route to Amatola is quite an easy drive from Joburg, first heading towards Bloemfontein on the N1 then getting on the N7 that heads to East London. We passed through several towns that included Aliwal-North, Queenstown, Catchcart etc. Eventually you turn off the N7 at Stutterheim and you start a 40km drive on a gravel road to Amatola. On the gravel road we passed Gubu dam that is set between plantation and looks like a very good option for a future trip.

Gubu Dam

After getting confused with a few turn-offs we eventually figured out how to get to the lodge. The last section of road is tarred and we followed it up the hill and found our temporary home for the next few days. The lodge is set high on a hill and has a very scenic view with the Cata Stream and dam in the valley below, surrounded by mountains with indigenous forests!

Amatola Mountain Lodge

Our Chalet

A Close-up of our chalet

After arrival we quickly unpacked and headed down to the river to have a quick look around before the sunset, we had no success but we where full of enthusiasm for the next few days! 

My girlfriend fishing in the lower reaches of the Cata Stream

Another section of the lower reaches of the Cata Stream

The evening we had a relaxing braai in the braai area in front of our chalet and discussed that we would fished the dam the next day and the river on the last.

Braai Area

Braai Area View

Saturday, 7 April 2012

On the Saturday we woke up to quite dismal fishing weather, with gale force winds and a chill in the air. We were met by the local guides and we headed of to the Mnyameni dam that is about a 15 minute drive away from the lodge. At our arrival I was again surprised by the scenic setting of the dam high up in the catchment of the Mnyameni River. It is truly one of the most beautiful dams I have fished in I a while! We fished the dam until about 2 pm with no luck and decided to call it a day, the weather was deteriorating and the wind was getting stronger which was making casting nearly impossible.

Mnyameni Dam!

Another view of the dam!

Casting myself to death, at least the view was pretty!

Our patient guide at the inlet of the dam

Sunday, 8 April 2012

On the Sunday morning our two guides joined us again and we headed down to a little bridge where we would leave our car for the day. We fished the lower reaches of the river for about an hour with little luck. I only noticed one fish interested in a size 18 Zak nymph that I drifted passed some reeds, but I was to late on the strike. We headed into the forest and after about another hour of fishing I was starting to get a bit discouraged. 

Upper reaches of the Cata Stream

Bow-and-arrow casting territory!

Bow-and-arrow cast!

As these negatives thoughts where passing through my mind, I made a bow-and-arrow cast in a pool above me with a Puterbaugh caddis and a Zak nymph dropper. As the flies drifted towards me I saw a white mouth appearing from the depths that in an instant swallowed my fly! The ice was broken and I was thrilled with my first little Brown Trout safely in my landing net.

The fish that made my trip!

The Close-up!

I decided to take the dropper of and fish with the caddis pattern the rest of the day. This proved to be a good decision as I quickly caught another fish soon after that was hiding under a branch of a tree hanging in the stream. This was the trend of the day with fish sticking close to structure in deeper pools, attacking the Puterbaugh Caddis with speed as the fly drifted past their lies.

More fishy photos:

At around 3 pm we decided to call it a day and hike up to the waterfalls and to the hiking trail up on the plateau. This was quite a good break to the tiring and challenging fishing conditions in the dense growth of the indigenous forest. On our hike we spotted some weird looking frogs, insects and on our way up to the plateau we were even surprised by quite a large Bushbuck ram. By sunset we eventually got back to the car, both quite spent from a long days fishing and more walking than I have done the whole year combined.

Our guides from Cata village

One of many waterfalls!

A scenic view of the Cata forest 

The plateau overlooking Cata village and dam

Monday, 9 April 2012

The Monday morning I was quite sad to leave this place, the friendly people, the scenic nature scenes and the intimate little Cata Stream with its beautifully colored little Brown Trout had made quite an impression on me. This is one of those places where I felt at one with nature and truly felt closer to my Creator, hopefully I will visit this magical little forest soon…

Late Season Fishing at Vaal Streams

The past weekend I fished and camped at Vaal Streams with my friend and both of our girlfriends. The weather as predicted was quite cold and it was still raining early Saturday morning. As the weekend went on the weather deteriorated, becoming colder from late Saturday Afternoon. This affected the fishing and we only managed to catch fish on Saturday morning to early the afternoon where after it became quiet. I will briefly tell you what unfolded during the Saturday...

So as we arrived at the water on the morning it was quite cold and I was regretful of leaving my waders at home and also telling my friend to do the same. We met a fellow angler at the water and I had a short discussion with him about some flies and different tactics. I quickly rigged-up my girlfriend's rod as she would fish a bit later as the day got a bit warmer. Her rod had an NZ rig with a heavy Caddis pattern with a floating hotspot. That out of the way I showed my friend the basics of nymphing rigs and how he should fish it. I sent him on his way and after rigging my two rods (one with a three fly Czech nymphing rig and the other with a dry fly) I joined him on the river.

We fished our way down and across the rapids to the opposite bank, I lost a fish on the way with one of my droppers parting on the take. I suspect that the line got damaged while nymphing, learning a valuable lesson, check your line and knots often! We got to the opposite bank and made our way down to the deeper slow flowing section. I decided to start of with a PB caddis pattern and my friend with a yellow foam hopper. It was not long before we both had takes that we managed to mess up by striking to early, causing loads of swearing out of frustration. 

My friend managed the first hook-up and after a brief fight he had his first Smallmouth Yellowfish on fly, quite an achievement to get your first Yellowfish on dry fly I must add!

Yellow Foam Hopper

My friend's first Yellowfish!

I kept on missing fish out of lack of concentration and striking too late or early. We later realised that side striking seemed to produce better hook-ups. I experimented with various patterns that got strikes, all that I missed. I switched to an Airhead that proved to be a fantastic idea as an epic fish chased down the fly causing a bow wave and leaping out the water as it grabbed the fly. It heading down stream with some force and I had to follow it for a few meters. It calmed down after this and the fight reverted to a slow tug of war where after the fish gave up and was safely netted by my friend. A few minutes later my girlfriend on the opposite side of the river also managed  to catch a little Yellowfish on the floating orange hotspot, this was the only fish we managed to catch on a nymph between the three of us.

The Airhead disappeared into the abyss !

The beauty that made my weekend!

A close-up!

A few casts later with the Airhead and it was smashed again, however I was too slow with the strike! I cast it back into the middle seam of the river and it immediately got another take this one I side strike and the hook was set properly. This fish was only worth a laugh as it proved to be my smallest Yellowfish on dry fly. 

Little bugger, big appetite!

My friend switched to a black beetle and it was not long before he got another average sizes fish. He then decided to move to a different spot and I said to him that he should go see if there is any other suitable places further down. A few minutes later a saw a splash in front of him as a fish took his fly. He later told me that he saw a fish rising close to him and he dropped the beetle close to the fish where after it sipped in the beetle and sped off! I made my way down to him to net the fish for him, the fish was quite a fighter and reluctant to come to the net. After a few nervous moment and careful manoeuvring, the fish was safely landed. It proved to be another beauty of a fish and I was glad for my friend, who at one point said that he is already addicted to Yellowfishing!

Another Beauty of a fish!

We managed another couple of average sized Yellowfish both on black foam beetles whereafter we decided to head back to the camp and have some lunch. After lunch we returned with high hopes, but this feeling was short lived as we didn't get any fish. We tried various dry fly patterns, emerges and some nymphs, clearly the colder weather was having an effect. My friend wisely opted to call it a day and left for the camp site. As sunset approached a tried various mayfly patterns as there where various species of mayfly hatching, this also proved to be unsuccessful. As the sun was setting I took a few photos to end the day and was suprised by a little visitor that seemed to to find my hand comforting... 

Perfect ending to an awesome day!

The little visitor!

Olive Chaos Hopper and Puterbaugh Caddis produces the goods!

On Sunday, 18 March 2012, I headed back to Vaal Streams with a friend to try get a better result than the previous weekend. I rigged up two rods, one with a Czech nymph rig and the other one with a hopper pattern. My game plan was to wade and nymph downstream to the slower part of the river to target the fish on dry fly. On my way there I had one bump on the Czech nymph rig, however I was too late to set the hook.

When I arrived at the slower section I got onto some higher ground, and immediately saw some fish rising. My first choice of fly was a light brown Chaos Hopper and after a few casts I had a take, I was too fast on the pick-up and the hook popped out. I was quite frustrated with myself after missing out on the first fish, after another few drifts I switched to an olive Chaos Hopper and got a very powerful take as the hopper hit the water. The fish jumped a few times after the take and after a valiant fight it was safely in the net.

First Fish!

Olive Chaos Hopper!

I got another two fish on the olive chaos hopper where after it went quiet. I decided to Czech nymph back to the car, my friend managed a small yellow on the way back and I only got a bump from a yellow in the shallows on the olive hopper.

After lunch we headed straight back to the slower section, I stood on the bank and my friend waded to a sand bank close to the opposite bank. He almost immediately got a knock on a foam beetle, however he missed it the strike. This happened another three times where after things went quiet on his side. Meanwhile I was changing flies on a regular basis with no luck, I switched to a Puterbaugh Caddis and made an upstream cast from three rising fish. One of them spotted the fly and didn’t hesitate to take it, the fish was another averaged size smallmouth. This fly proved to be quite effective and I got another few fish on it, missing out on many more. My friend also managed to hook a few on hopper and beetle patterns during this period. This ended up being my most productive day with dry fly for yellows thus far!

PB Caddis - Fish Nr. 1

PB Caddis  - Fish Nr. 2

PB Caddis - Fish Nr. 3

All seasons in one day - Foam Hopper delivers at the end

So on Saturday my girlfriend and I headed down to Vaal Streams. She tested out her new rod and reel, and I experimented with some Czech nymph rigs. In the morning it was quite cold and the fish had some serious lock jaw. I spotted some carp, grass carp and some big yellows in the shallows during the morning, but could not manage any of them to take a fly. By mid-morning it was scorching hot and humid, with some clouds forming, a sign that the afternoon thunder showers where heading our way

Lunch time we headed back to the car and I met a fellow angler on the bank. We swapped some fisherman stories and discussed why the fish where not biting. After a long lunch and rest I was determined to get a fish before the end of the day. I headed to my favourite spot on this stretch of river and started casting some dry flies in the slower flows. After about an hour I switched to a small foam hopper with reddish brown legs, I made repeated casts to some rising fish and eventually I was rewarded with a little yellow. The weather during this time was deteriorating fast. A storm was approaching and after the first lighting I decided to call it a day!

Smallmouth that fell to the Brown Foam Hopper!

Little Brown Foam Hopper that saved the day!

Czech Nymphing and some Kindergarten Smallmouth Yellowfish

I fished the Vaal River between Parys and Potchefstroom on Saturday with my girlfriend and some friends. As we arrived at our venue we where met with gloomy skies and a fine drizzle of rain. Although conditions were not ideal, nothing was going to keep me out the water.

The first few hours I was exploring the water and spotted some Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) feeding on some overhanging reeds. I made a few casts at them with different fly patterns with little to know interest. Will have to conjure up some kind of a vegetation fly for the next outing, something that represents fallen reed leaves or hyacinths. I moved on further down river and spotted a shoal of Carp (Cyprinus carpio) tailing in the shallows, this got me quite excited with some fish probably weighing around the 5kg mark. The carp was slowly moving towards me and I quickly tied on a bloodworm pattern and drifted the fly past them with no response. After another try the fish were so close to me that I could almost touch one of them, he eventually noticed me and startled the whole school.

After wasting some time on these alien species I rigged up a Czech Nymph rig with three flies: a lead and thread caddis as my control fly, a PTN and a orange bead brassie.

Green Lead and Thread Caddis Larvae

I started fishing my way up to a set of rapids and after about the first cast hooked into a fish that came of a few seconds later. A half an hour later while fishing in the rapids I eventually hooked my first little yellow in the fast water on the control fly.

The Average Size

A few casts later and I was into another little yellow, this time on the orange bead brassie. This seemed to be the trend of the day, I caught about 20 fish with only one fish being over 1kg. I reckon the water clarity made the bigger fish skittish and complicated things. Although I only caught small fish it was still quite fun and the kindergarten kept me busy practising my bite detection.

One of the Toddlers

Eventually I found that drifting my rig down stream in the fast flowing rapids in the rapids produced the most fish. I caught about 8 fish in about 20 minutes with this technique and it also delivered the biggest fish of the day.

Another victim to the orange bead brassie

Biggest for the day!

The Technique

What I basically did was stand in the fastest section in the rapid facing downstream and fishing in the tail end of the rapid. I would lift my flies up place them in the fast water and let them wash down into the slower sections. As soon as my line started lifting I would bring my rod tip down, low to the water and start a slow retrieve. Most fish where hooked as soon as the line started lifting or on the slow retrieve. The most important thing was always to keep in contact with the flies to detect any bites. This technique proved deadly and I could even detect the smallest of fish hitting my flies.

Dry fly fun at Vaal Streams

The last two weekends I have spent some time at Vaal Streams below the Vaal Dam. Although it is a challenging fly-fishing spot on the Vaal River for Largemouth Yellowfish (Labeobarbus kimberleyensis) and Smallmouth Yellowfish (Labeobarbus aeneus), it is a good option when flow-rates are to fast at venues further down in the river.


First Weekend

On the first weekend, 29 January 2012, I offered to a new friend that I would go fly-fishing with hi to show him the ropes. I don't consider myself an expert in any means, but I am a bit of a Jack of all trades always exploring different techniques and flies. My girlfriend also decided to join us, this being her second outing on the Vaal, the first time being a fruitless prospect. On the Sunday morning we arrived at around 7am, the conditions where not ideal, being quite cold and cloudy. I showed the beginner the basic Czech nymphing rig set-up and also set my girlfriend up with a NZ-rig.

We started fishing and after a few seconds I hooked and lost a fish, probably a foul hooked muddy. After that first miss the fishing was slow with no bites for about 3 hours. I decided to change tactics and changed to a zonker type Largemouth fly. On my first cast down stream in a slow flowing rapid I retrieved the fly slowly up stream and it got smashed by a little Smallmouth with an attitude.

Little fish big appetite!

A few minutes after this little bugger my girlfriend gave a yelp to me and she was fighting her first Smallmouth Yellowfish. A few cast later as I was walking away to start fishing again she got another one, this time being a bit bigger 

First Smallmouth

The Upgrade!

My girlfriend decided to take a break after this fish to get out the cold and take a nap in the shade. I was feeling quite bad for the beginner, having caught nothing yet not even a nibble. I noticed some fish rising in the in the slower, deeper flowing sections below the rapids and decided to investigate. I waded across to a rocky ledge and tied on a black beetle pattern. On my first cast the beetle made a plop on the water and in disbelief I saw a pair of lips sucking in the fly, I paused a few seconds then slowly lifted into the fish, it bolted out the water and the fight was on. After a minute or two fight I landed it my first yellow on fly!

First Yellow on Dry Fly

Quick snap before release

The next hour or two I managed another two fish one on a Black Foam Beetle and the last one on a Brown Foam Hopper. 

Black Beetle strikes again!

Foam Hopper victim!

I was quite amazed with the eyesight of these fish, seeing these flies in water with about 10cm visibility. This day really introduced me to dry fly fishing for yellows and will be exploring this technique more in the future. Although the beginner didn't catch anything he enjoyed the day and he said he can't wait for the next outing, hopefully getting his first slab of gold!


Second Weekend


On the second weekend I took another beginner for his first outing. We decided to fish from the Saturday afternoon until the Sunday, camping next to the river. I quickly showed the beginner a few basic and we went of the river to a little side channel where my girlfriend caught her two fish the previous weekend. As we approached the channel I spotted a fish next to the bank and told him to make a drift past the fish with his NZ - rig. After about the fourth cast his indicator disappeared and the fight was on, it was quite small, but no bad for a first fish on fly.


I then told him that I am going to leave him to fend for himself and started walking to my dry fly spot from the previous weekend. It was not long before I heard him screaming a "whoo-ooh" with another fish on the line, the excitement was short lived with the hook pulling after a few seconds. About a half an hour later he hooked a decent fish that he fought for a few minutes but unfortunately the fish wrapped around his wading stick and snapped the line.


The action was a bit slow at my spot, but I eventually managed to hook a nice little feisty fish on a Brown Foam Hopper.

Brown Foam Hopper

The First Fishy!

After this fish I started wading upriver looking for fish in the shallows to target on the Brown Foam Hopper, I struggled to hook fish, missing about strikes. The fish where hanging behind rock piles covered in a green vegetation. Just before sunset I spotted three fish behind a small little island feeding on insects in the vegetation. I made a perfect cast with the hopper landing with I nice plopping sound and the closest fish didn't hesitate to grab it, what an ending to a day!

The Foam Hopper gone!

Perfect way to end a day!

The beginner decided to take the day easy, having hurt his foot the previous day. He was satisfied with his one fish for the weekend and the few ones he missed.

My day was very uneventful with no success for hours. I spotted a few fish and tried to catch them on Hopper and Beetle patterns to no avail. Eventually I reverted back to the old trusted NZ - rig with an Olive Caddis imitation and a brown and green orange hot head mayfly nymph. After about a half an hour I made a drift pass some reeds and suddenly my line shot upstream at an alarming speed. The fish ran about 20 meters in 3 seconds before I managed to stop it and begin the fight. After a few nervous moments I got him safely in my net. I decided that was the day for me and I took the fish to the bank to take some decent photos and revive it, what an ending to a very tough day!

Happiness!

Another angle!

Measurement!

The Release!