Know Your Knots - Flyfishingtails
Know Your Knots - Flyfishingtails
Know Your Knots - Flyfishingtails
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
October 2011 Vaal River Report<br />
On 14 October, Rick King, Steve<br />
James and Myself went to a<br />
venue about 10km’s down from<br />
Parys. A beautiful day at my<br />
favorite spot, probably in the world! Fish<br />
were very active, basically all over and the<br />
spawning of Yellowfish was evident, as<br />
thrashing tails and fins were seen in the<br />
rocky shallow runs. Awesome sight! Even<br />
the freshwater staffies (Mudfish) were<br />
abundant and doing their thing…<br />
We managed to catch quite a few Smallmouth,<br />
ranging between 2 – 4kg (good<br />
breeding stock) and even two Largemouth<br />
Yellows. All released quickly after a good<br />
observation. The water was fairly murky, about<br />
25cm visibility and did not smell bad at all that<br />
day, although there has been reports of bad<br />
water, probably due to the unmanaged<br />
sewerage plants…..<br />
It is great to report some positive for our beloved<br />
fish; however, there is still concern on the<br />
quantity of fish that remain and the condition,<br />
viewed closely. If I go back 10 years or so, on<br />
a day like that with 20 being the number I work<br />
off; 20 deg water temp, 20 cumecs water flow<br />
and 20cm visibility. Landing between 60 and 80<br />
fish in one day was common, for me anyway.<br />
14th Oct 6 – 10 years ago<br />
No Photoshop here, You be the judge?<br />
Fish Snares:<br />
I have often come across these things! That day I destroyed 3 in one area.<br />
We do try educate the locals if caught fishing with these but I feel for them,<br />
eating fish from this water. Hunger and thirst is another reason to make things<br />
right in this water system, as well as Yellowfish conservation and ethics.<br />
That day we managed to land around 18,<br />
losing a quite few on top of that.<br />
Then if I compare the condition of the fish<br />
between 10 and 6 years ago, caught during<br />
the same time of year, same venue, and<br />
now, there is a difference! Rick King says<br />
that he has never seen the Yellows look as<br />
black. Then, on the fins and body the red<br />
spots are evident; I still need confirmation on<br />
this abnormality? The black spots or cysts<br />
were also there on a few of them. I have<br />
older photo pictures but not very clear, these<br />
are the best ones I could find:
Change language