River fishing at Navarone

[Vicus]

Hi

The wife and I are heading to Lake Navarone end of April (28th April,29th,30th,1st May). I have never fished in the Drakenberg before.

I read on their website that there are two dams. I have found some report-backs and discussions regarding fishing these dams. But nowhere do I find any discussion or report-back on the fishing of the 7km of river they say is available. Only described as "teeming with wild rainbows, providing some of the best angling of its type in South Africa".

Also, they say: "The section of the Mlambonja River immediately upstream of our eastern boundary has been improved with stone weirs to retain more holding water for trout. These fish tend to be small, (mostly under 30cm), but they are superb fighters. Light tackle and fine tippets are advised."

Having done a fair share of still-water fishing, I am more interested in the river fishing. River fishing has something special about it that I just enjoy more. So I would like some information/report-backs on the river fishing available at this venue.

Has anyone fished the river at Navarone? Any impressions, reports or advice would be welcome.

[Korrie]

I have not done the river, but the still water have HUGE fish in it.
Not plenty, overstocked, but hard rewarding fishing for big fish

[Vicus]

I have not done the river, but the still water have HUGE fish in it.
Not plenty, overstocked, but hard rewarding fishing for big fish

Thanks for the feedback. I will certainly spend a good portion of my time fishing the dams. Catching big fish is certainly exiting. But I still would love some good river fishing mixed in.

There is something special about drifting a fly into a pool, through the rapids entering it, that is just very exiting to me. I don't mind all that much that the fish will be smaller...anyone ?

[Nepptune]

My *** parents own Naverone, and I've fished it since I was about 3 or 4 years old, and its where I started flyfishing and did most of my flyfishing till my early teens before moving on to saltwater and a lot of other venues... I fished there at least once a month from when I was a little kiddie till I left school and moved overseas...

The river system is pretty awesome on Naverone, and the Mlambonja in particular is a very pretty piece of water, albeit a "micro creek" of sorts... both rivers are very susceptible to rainfalls though so during summer can get blown out pretty easily... you are going to be there during April which is a much more stable rainfall time, and should offer great fishing on the streams...
There are a lot of smaller fish on the streams, and they can be great fun on both dries and nymphs... I've always started on dries and progressed to nymphs as the day wears on if no action...
I've not fished there a lot over the last 10 years though, but always did well on simple high riding dries like DDD's and such...

There is a horse riding trail that runs alongside the full length of the stream, which makes access very easy as well, and is a lovely stretch to walk if you need to take family along... its also a beautiful stretch to have a picnic alongside, so you can set the family up somewhere alongside one of the pools, and then walk downstream and fish back up to them, or upstream and then walk back down...

Overall its a great venue, and I really wish I lived closer so I could get back there more often.... you'll have a great time..

[Vicus]

My *** parents own Naverone, and I've fished it since I was about 3 or 4 years old, and its where I started flyfishing and did most of my flyfishing till my early teens before moving on to saltwater and a lot of other venues... I fished there at least once a month from when I was a little kiddie till I left school and moved overseas...

The river system is pretty awesome on Naverone, and the Mlambonja in particular is a very pretty piece of water, albeit a "micro creek" of sorts... both rivers are very susceptible to rainfalls though so during summer can get blown out pretty easily... you are going to be there during April which is a much more stable rainfall time, and should offer great fishing on the streams...
There are a lot of smaller fish on the streams, and they can be great fun on both dries and nymphs... I've always started on dries and progressed to nymphs as the day wears on if no action...
I've not fished there a lot over the last 10 years though, but always did well on simple high riding dries like DDD's and such...

There is a horse riding trail that runs alongside the full length of the stream, which makes access very easy as well, and is a lovely stretch to walk if you need to take family along... its also a beautiful stretch to have a picnic alongside, so you can set the family up somewhere alongside one of the pools, and then walk downstream and fish back up to them, or upstream and then walk back down...

Overall its a great venue, and I really wish I lived closer so I could get back there more often.... you'll have a great time..

Thanks ! Exactly the type of feedback I was hoping for. So, barring heavy rain the river section will fish well. That is great news. Now counting the days and hours....

[GrahamS]

Thanks ! Exactly the type of feedback I was hoping for. So, barring heavy rain the river section will fish well. That is great news. Now counting the days and hours....

I'll be up that way next week, and plan to spend some time on the river. I'll post some feedback once I get back

[saflyfish]

I have been there many times in the past few years,and was last there in December.I have found the river fishing very disappointing over the years and have fished hard.I consider myself a decent river fisherman,but this stretch has me beaten.Dams are great and plentiful with fish however i disagree with korrie about there being big fish there.On a good weekend i have caught in excess of 30+ fish off a float tube,and never caught anything over 3 pounds.I have fished dams for 20 yrs so i know my lake fishing well.I fish off a float tube and i have thoroughly fished every cm of the main lake.
Please let us know how you go,but its a great venue with plentiful fish and you will love it there!

[Vicus]

I'll be up that way next week, and plan to spend some time on the river. I'll post some feedback once I get back

This will really be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[Vicus]

I have been there many times in the past few years,and was last there in December.I have found the river fishing very disappointing over the years and have fished hard.I consider myself a decent river fisherman,but this stretch has me beaten.Dams are great and plentiful with fish however i disagree with korrie about there being big fish there.On a good weekend i have caught in excess of 30+ fish off a float tube,and never caught anything over 3 pounds.I have fished dams for 20 yrs so i know my lake fishing well.I fish off a float tube and i have thoroughly fished every cm of the main lake.
Please let us know how you go,but its a great venue with plentiful fish and you will love it there!

Sounds great. Thanks for the feedback. I will certainly write a small review of my visit.

[GrahamS]

So no feedback on the river to give - it's been raining quite a bit here and the river is very high. I haven't bothered fishing it yet.

The stillwater at Castleburn is producing very well. I've been fishing snail imitations under an indicator and have picked up some really decent fish. Also been smashed up by a few!! A BFG fished right alongside the reeds has also produced quite well. This is one of the most pristine stillwaters I've fished - such a healthy array of insect life and minnows. The catch and release policy seems to be paying dividends because the fish stocks are pretty good.