balloch

[cameronlochner]

hi i'm going to drakensberg in april and will most likely end up at balloch i have read up a bit but almost all the info was from 2012
any more recent info will be great

[white death]

Phone the owners as they are knowledgeable anglers. I have not been back since the drought took hold but there is always the dam to fish.

[smallstreams.co.za]

hi i'm going to drakensberg in april and will most likely end up at balloch i have read up a bit but almost all the info was from 2012
any more recent info will be great

Fishing has been tough with the stream being almost completely dry for a period of time. We've had good rains over the past few weeks, and the Willow/Vlooikraal is flowing well again. Fishing will be tough, but the fish populations have picked up again since Sept last year. We've had a few spawns, so you will find fish I'm sure! Don't discount Burnbrae just below - there are good holding pools which would have held water (and fish) over the driest of times.

[cameronlochner]

thanks guys i'll report back

[One toner]

Any more info on the conditions of the willow or the fishing?

[Korrie]

Good rain falling as I am typing this, so the rivers should be doing well.
(

[Stephen Louw]

How long does it take for a river to build up its population after a prolonged dry spell (over two years if I remember correctly)

[Korrie]

Depends on a lot of factors.
can be 2 to 4 years.
The food chain has to build itself up for the river to be able to sustain decent populations.
If the food chain is stunned by to many fish in to short a time, the growth of the fish will be stunted.
If too little food, a lot of the fish will not make it. A bit of a catch 22, circle.
A food chain can settle very quickly without serious predation.

[Stephen Louw]

I guess thats about right. We have the same problem at Verlorenkloof, after two very dry seasons.