Vaal River Update

[pieterkriel]

Just to let you guys know, yesterdays average (07/01/03) out of the barrage dropped to 48cms yesterday with 28cms reading at 7am this morning. It’s a welcome change after the barrage has been running over 75cms since last week

some good news, maybe get some fishing in this weekend

[Scythe]

Maybe ?

Wat's wrong with you ... if I hadn't commited to going to my one FF bud's 1YR old's BlarfDay Party I would be on the water come Sat morning. Now it will be Sunday

[rockworm]

Just to let you guys know, yesterdays average (07/01/03) out of the barrage dropped to 48cms yesterday with 28cms reading at 7am this morning. It’s a welcome change after the barrage has been running over 75cms since last week

hi, im new to site and I think its awesome. but what really makes it worth while are all the people who regularly comment here.

whats the best website for monitoring flows ie. dwaf or randwater?

you think the vaal at Eastco or Arendsnes will be fishable tomorrow?

[MaXiMuM]

Both should be fishing well...

I couldnt tell you which is the better site, you need to watch all of them, then work out which one works for you... I like the DWAF one...

[Gael]

Like Maximum said, you kind of have to watch them all to attempt to get up to date info.

For barrage flows you can look at:
http://www.reservoir.co.za/flow.htm
http://www.randwater.co.za/Education...p?ArticleId=48
Sometimes the one is more up to date than the other, so you have to check both (like the rand water site is more up todate at this very moment). Knowing these flows come in handy when fishing further downstream in like Orkney and Bothaville as water from the barrage takes 3-4 days to reach there, so helps to plan you trips ahead of time.

From the DWAF website ( http://www.dwaf.gov.za/Hydrology/rtmain.aspx ) you can get the meter reading for Goosebay Canyon which is situated downstream of Silver Stroome and the meter reading for Schoemansdrift.
Sometimes the meter’s do give faulty readings, so don’t take it as gospel, use your noggin and compare all the flows from all the sites.

[dizzy]

you think the vaal at Eastco or Arendsnes will be fishable tomorrow?

Yes, they will definetly be fishable. I fished Arendsnes at 120cms and got fish, you just gotta find them. If you are unable to wade, look for slower water. There is a channel that runs under some trees at Arends, try fishing through there.

[MyWorld]

I got beaten up 6-0 yesterday by the Vaal and decided that I need a bit more strategy when planning on going fishing....

The flow rate has increased dramatically to such a point that it was difficult and dangerous wading without a wading stick. I left the wading stick on shore the second stretch I fished and boy was I stupid! Had the full flow on the Vaal against me and trying to get to the little bit calmer water was impossible without it...

Now what I need to know, how should I read and interpret the flow charts of the Vaal?
http://www.dwaf.gov.za/Hydrology/rtmain.aspx

Just trusting on luck and not making a more informed decision on when fishing would be best has now lead to a good few bruises on my poor body...

[MaXiMuM]

So, at least you have the best website to view...

The Vaal fishes best between 10 and 30 cubic meters per second, I refer to it as "tons", others "cumic's"... however, you can fish it up to about 100 tons in certain places, but it really does become dangerous. I don’t fish it above 40 tons... and even then there has to be a really good reason to drag my @ss through some of the rapids.

The 2 stations to watch are Goose Bay and Schoemansdrift, if they are working properly you can judge the flow well from them.

Mike

[Byron]

Depends where you are fishing but try and find the nearest point where you can get a m3/s value. It's currently over 100 m3/s below the barrage - way to heavy to fish that area in my opinion.

Anything below 50 should be more manageable - some might disagree but it really depends on what you prefer, and what the venue you choose can handle.

[Wade]

Depends where you are fishing but try and find the nearest point where you can get a m3/s value. It's currently over 100 m3/s below the barrage - way to heavy to fish that area in my opinion.

Anything below 50 should be more manageable - some might disagree but it really depends on what you prefer, and what the venue you choose can handle.

And how light or large you are

Skinny = low flows
Large = slitly higher flows

I know a few skinny's that get washed away in 50m3/s while i am such a hippo that my pants got torn off in high flows a while ago while i remained standing (suprising i know)