Fly-fishing is both genteel sport and fine art, with enthusiasts spending hours preparing equipment and days travelling to the perfect spot to catch a rainbow. While Dullstroom in Mpumalanga is an iconic fly-fishing town, the southern Drakensberg, Eastern Cape and Western Cape all offer world-class freshwater fly-fishing for rainbow and brown trout, as well as indigenous yellowfish.
Fishing along the Eastern Escarpment
In Dullstroom, a short two-and-half hour drive from Johannesburg on the Eastern Escarpment of Mpumalanga, everything revolves around fly-fishing. Nowhere else in South Africa has an entire town committed itself so completely to the pursuit of trout and fly-fishing. Here you can catch both rainbow and brown trout, eat trout in restaurants and stay in establishments honouring this exotic fish species.
At 2 100m above sea level, Dullstroom has a cool climate with frost and snow in winter. This is the best time for catching trout on flies, and March to September is ideal for fishing in both rivers and dams in the area. Locals say damsels, dragonfly nymphs and woolly buggers are reliable flies to use here for both rainbow and brown trout.
Casting around
Everything to do with fly-fishing, from advice and casting lessons to equipment hire and the purchase of your own kit, is available in Dullstroom. Accommodation options range from stylish self-catering to ultra-luxurious, and there are plenty of eateries to choose from; with Harries Pancakes being legendary. For the rest of the family there is shopping, art galleries and the option to go birding for rare cranes, horseback riding or clay pigeon shooting.
Lydenburg and Machadadorp complete the Mpumalanga trout triangle; offering both still water and river fishing for rainbows and browns. The towns of Belfast and Waterval-Onder are also highly-regarded fly-fishing venues in the region.
Fly-fishing Elsewhere in South Africa
Fishing in the Eastern Cape is considered to be of an international standard. Moreover, it is not as crowded as the Eastern Escarpment as it is more remote.
The quaint little mountain towns of Lady Grey, Barkly East, Maclear and Rhodes in the Southern Drakensberg offer pristine fly-fishing in a wonderfully scenic setting. Here are rainbows, browns and yellowfish in cool mountain streams and still water pools.
South Africa is also a world leader in still water trout fishing and the very best areas for this discipline are around the Eastern Cape towns of Dordrecht and Molteno, as well as near Ugie and Maclear in the Southern Drakensberg.
If your destination is the Western Cape, head for Ceres and Worcester where there are crystal clear mountain streams with rainbow and brown trout and yellowfish.
Indigenous Catch
Yellowfish, increasingly prized among local and international fly-fishermen, are our indigenous offering to fly-fishermen. The Vaal River near Potchefstroom is renowned for these fish, as are the Riet River near Kimberley, the Southern Drakensberg and the rivers of the Western Cape. Importantly, yellowfish are not suitable for the table so should always be released. Gently remove the fly and return the fish to the water as soon as possible.
Flies to Fancy
In South Africa there are certain fly patterns that work throughout the country. For dry flies use the RAD and DDD, while by far the most popular wet fly is the Zak. ‘These are ideal for local conditions,’ says renowned fly-fisherman and head of the Federation of Southern African Flyfishers (FOSAF), Dr Tom Sutcliffe.
Of course the old stalwart flies such as Mrs Simpson, Walkers Killer and Woolly Worms are still highly effective, just outdated. The trend now is to go for more imitative flies, which is the case with the Zak, DDD and RAD. Fly-fishing, it seems, also has fashion trends.
Planning your Trip
While locals can enjoy superb fly-fishing in all corners of the country, international fishermen often have limited available time. ‘Visiting recreational fly-fishermen should head directly for the Eastern Cape,’ advises Sutcliffe. ‘More specifically, they won’t be disappointed with the areas surrounding the towns of Maclear, Rhodes, Barkly East or Lady Grey. They should bring along a four to five weight fly rod, then try the local RAD, DDD and Zak flies. By using our flies and going to the Eastern Cape they will soon appreciate that our fly-fishing is comparable to the best in the world, in scenery that is unsurpassed.’
Links:
The Federation of Southern African Flyfishers: www.fosaf.org.za
Mpumalanga Tourism: www.mpumalanga.com
Dullstroom: www.dullstroom.co.za
Machadodorp: www.machadodorp.net
Belfast: www.belfastsouthafrica.com
Eastern Cape Tourism: www.ectourism.co.za
Maclear: www.maclear.co.za
For fishing in the Rhodes area visit www.linecasters.co.za
Potchefstroom: www.potchefstroom.co.za
Kimberley: www.kimberley.co.za
Western Cape Tourism: www.tourismcape.co.za
For accommodation matters go to the Tourism Grading Council www.tourismgrading.co.za