Early winter Vaal tactics

[jean.struweg]

Hi All

I am keen to head off to the Vaal in the next few days (Parys/Potch area). Have the fish moved into the deeper water yet?

Any tactical suggestions?

Cheers

Jean

[0266395]

SM's have already moved to deeper water, so you have to wade chest deep (in cold water) or fish from a boat. Mayfly hatches are quite regular already, creating possibilities for dry fly action.
Herman

[troutmaster]

Had 2 blank mornings, Friday and Saturday - but fished VERY EARLY until 10:00; other reports confirmed that fish were taken from 11:30 - 16:00.

There is very thick morning mist (very cold) and the sun only comes out from 09:45 - 10:15; thereafter the insects and fish become more active.

Nymph the deeper water (1m+) - and look out for surface, dry fly, action. If you can find the latter an emerger pattern, e.g. klinkhammer, will do wonders.

I will probably give the Vaal another go on Thursday - will report back on the 'Vaal river update' thread.

[Yellowfever]

Jean

There will be something in my May blog coming soon......

[FlyFanatic]

Interestingly we caught some nice fish bang inside the rapids a few days ago. Time was from about 13:00 till sunset. And that was after all that rain and hail we had, water was really cold. Anyone have some answers to this?

[Michael]

Interestingly we caught some nice fish bang inside the rapids a few days ago. Time was from about 13:00 till sunset. And that was after all that rain and hail we had, water was really cold. Anyone have some answers to this?

Did you actually measure the water temp? Sometimes it can feel cold (or warm) but actually not so bad.

[Scythe]

Interestingly we caught some nice fish bang inside the rapids a few days ago. Time was from about 13:00 till sunset. And that was after all that rain and hail we had, water was really cold. Anyone have some answers to this?

What are you looking for an answer to ? Why the water was cold or why you picked up fish in the rapids in the afternoon ?

[FlyFanatic]

Lol scythe! Why we found the fish in the rapids, thats what i would like an answer to.

Micheal, the water temp was 18, and yes i measured it.

P.S. Scythe, since when are you bothered with the pompano's?

[Scythe]

Well it's simple, as the MF start their pre emergence drift the fish will move from the throat belly of the pools to the eye of the pool, typically where you get your bottom dropping away and the riffle water starts to smooth out.

They will feed here for extended periods, awesome fun on dry fly to be had.

Then some of them will slowly but sure move forward into the deep rapids, then forward into the shallower stuff, all depending on the intensity of the hatch and the presence of food.

You have to remember your invertibrates hang out on the rocky substrate in the riffle water, not in the (mostly) featureless bottoms of the deep pools.

I've been bothered with all things SW ever since I found out a 2KG Pompano pulls harder than a 5KG Largie.

[FlyFanatic]

thanx for the info!

lol neva hand a pompie pull my fly, will surely give it a bash when next i visit the coast.