Thrift/Redcliffe Trophy trip

[FlyCraft]

Here we go, have to say it is quite hard to settle back in after visiting such a special place, being totally away from it all, no cell reception, bright stars in the evenings, the slower pace and remoteness.

We left Somerset West at 6am on Wednesday morning the 20th of May, we hoped to still see the water at Redcliffe that same afternoon, but this was not to be. We arrived at Redcliffe just after 5 that afternoon and being further east in the Winterberg mountains it was dark soon after. Carol, Solomon and Nonsisi welcomed us and we settled in. The Redcliffe house offers all the comfort and atmosphere a person can wish for. It is big, with 5 bedrooms (8 single beds in 4 rooms and 1 double bed - all electric blankets) 3 Rooms have en-suite bathrooms and then there is also a seperate bathroom. A kitchen with AGA stove, which Solomon keeps going 24 hours a day. Two fridges, deep freeze and all the modern extras. A dining room, lounge, bar area, braai area, swimming pool , huge garden etc. etc.

Our route, from Somerset West we measured 925km, the last 45 off km is on gravel road in a reasonable condition



The entrance to Redcliffe off the R344



Francois and Alwyn having a toast on the AGA stove. Apart from an electrical stove we used the AGA for most of the cooking and warming up.



Eddie enjoying a proper fire. Solomon cleaned and packed the braai and bonfire everyday. There is also a gas braai available.

[FlyCraft]

We decided to fish Delton dam the next morning and Ventnor in the afternoon. Apart from Delton there are also Theaden and Ventnor dams. Delton is reserved for guests only and is in the region of 2.5 hectares. Solomon showed us how to get there and we decided to fish it from the shore, this proved a bit difficult since the dam is lined with weedbeds, extending for most part 4m - 8m into the dam, it gets deep quite quickly.

Apart from smaller stockies, Francois landed a good fish near the inlet, after being taken into the weeds. The weed here is more of long, brownish stems with leaves.

We mainly fished intermediates and floaters and a midge tip line. Ideally Delton would be best from tubes (2 anglers) and 1 or 2 shore anglers.

Francois with a well conditioned Delton fish. However, all fish from these waters are in prime condition.

[FlyCraft]

After a quick lunch back at the house, we grabbed the floating devices and headed off to Ventnor. Ventnor is close to Johnnie and Carol's homestead. 5 Hectares in size, and really a beautiful dam in a picture perfect setting. After fishing from the shore for half an hour and landing some smaller fish (Eddie and Alwyn picked up good fish off the dam wall), Francois and I decided to hop on the tubes and to go explore the inlet area.

Alwyn's Cock fish from Ventnor



And a Hen, look at the number and spacing of the spots on these rainbows

[FlyCraft]

I have taken quite a bit of footage on the Go Pro at Ventnor. Being still new at this I still need to figure out angles, mountings etc. but will do a video clip on the trip.

We have taken quite a few fish in the inlet area, of which the better fish fell to the chubby head barb fly I have tied prior to the trip. Again on intermediate lines and a midge tip line.

Tubing Ventnor

[Korrie]

We decided to fish Delton dam the next morning and Ventnor in the afternoon. Apart from Delton there are also Theaden and Ventnor dams. Delton is reserved for guests only and is in the region of 2.5 hectares. Solomon showed us how to get there and we decided to fish it from the shore, this proved a bit difficult since the dam is lined with weedbeds, extending for most part 4m - 8m into the dam, it gets deep quite quickly.

Apart from smaller stockies, Francois landed a good fish near the inlet, after being taken into the weeds. The weed here is more of long, brownish stems with leaves.

We mainly fished intermediates and floaters and a midge tip line. Ideally Delton would be best from tubes (2 anglers) and 1 or 2 shore anglers.

Francois with a well conditioned Delton fish. However, all fish from these waters are in prime condition.

Notice the frost on the grass in the first photo.

[Gerrit Viljoen]

Mooi man!

[FlyCraft]

The next morning we headed for Thrift, bit more than an hour's drive from Redcliffe, 60 odd kilometres. The road is manageable for most part, bit bumpy and I am sure if you want to have more adventure then go with your sedan car. Approximately 15 km's from Thrift you will pass Highland Home dam right next to the road. This dam has also produced submarines in the past but we just didn't have the time to fish it (included in your day fishing permit of R 300.00)

Highland Home dam, 400m long and 40 odd metres wide

Lowering down into a valley Thrift will appear in all its glory. Personally I was in awe and the dam was more than I expected, it has personality, a certain kind of presence and uniqueness, coupled with the harsh environment definitely a place all fly fishers need to put on their bucket list. I had the feeling of standing a chance to hook into my All African record rainbow trout of 9.38kg at any time :wink: The water at your feet is home to clouds of daphnia, these fish are swimming in a high protein soup. There was a bit of a northerly wind but not too bad by Thrift standards, outside temperature was in the region of 8 degrees, again not too chilly.

The dam to the inlet side of the causeway had extensive weedbeds with quite a distinct channel and the main body of water on this side was in the region of 15 odd hectares before it narrows at the inlet side. We met an angler from another group who measured the river bed at an average depth of 10 feet, with the water further up 7 degrees celcius and 9 degrees towards the road.

We started of fishing the main body of water to the dam wall side where some fish were hooked and missed, including a new World Record

[FlyCraft]

Since we haven't been to Thrift before we decided to head for the dam wall area where the cottages are located. There we met a very pleasant group of fellow fly fishers who arrived the same morning. We hopped on the water towards the point of the peninsula. The shore here is fringed with weed beds and many holes between the weed beds. Francois caught 2 well conditioned fish (have Go Pro footage for later), the fishing was pretty slow and we headed back to Redcliffe at 4:30pm.

Alwyn, with the dam wall and cottages in the background

The next morning Eddie and Alwyn went back to Ventnor and caught a good number of fish and also lost some big fish. Myself and Francois went back to Thrift and launched his ARK on the inlet side of the causeway. Here we met two good friends, Kobus and Raimer who have been fishing the past two weeks, from Hodgeback to Lake St Bernard and more, they paid us surprise visit and topped it with a 5 year old KWV as a gift. They have landed three fish off their tubes, fishing the river bed.

Eddie fishing Thrift from the comfort of his pontoon boat

There is just so much water to explore, I landed a beautiful cock fish in full spawning colours and later a hen when wading the inlet channel. The wind picked up and we headed back, wading for a few hours, hooking and missing a few more fish.

As pretty as they come, the fish that is.



Wading the inlet

[FlyCraft]

The double figure fish eluded us on this trip, but we will be back hunting them, they are there.

Fishing the inlet

Francois casting on the main dam side of the cause way

Hope to have the video sorted sooner than later and will post it here.

[FlyCraft]

A few more pics of the accommodation and house.

Spacious lounge with DSTV, just below this is a bar/sunroom area



Dining room, walking out on the braai area



One of 4 rooms with two single beds, then there is one with a double bed, one room with a fire place and also a fire place in the lounge

Front view of the house, swimming pool and braai area is to the right

View from the braai area side, walking into the dining room