Bo-vlakte

[swsmith]

Hi guys

has any fished here recently.last time i was up there johan was strugling with the weed.it was hectic.growing from the side out till about 20m from the shore in places.

it is such an awesome spot,with johan and his wife being great hosts.just seems the fishing has deteriated over the years....

[Pierre]

Hi guys

has any fished here recently.last time i was up there johan was strugling with the weed.it was hectic.growing from the side out till about 20m from the shore in places.

it is such an awesome spot,with johan and his wife being great hosts.just seems the fishing has deteriated over the years....

I'm thinking of driving out there this weekend since i will be in the area. Also like to know if it's worth it.

[swsmith]

well please let me know pierre.its such a pity,it really is an awesome spot and the hospitality is amazing.just found that the last couple of trips ive done there that the fishing has depreciated steadily.would love to catch those big boys that were swimming around there a couple of years ago.....

[Rendier]

Any updates on Bo-Vlakte?

[swsmith]

ja...any updates?ek wag nog steeds.....

[nkula_nkula]

ja...any updates?ek wag nog steeds.....

Eish bru, never been there!!! Maybe try phoning the tackle shops. They might have got word of how the venues is fishing?

Cant wait for summer again and an opportunity to get some salty fish again!!!

Its been such a long time since I was able to throw a line in the salt and catch a decent salty fish:(

[swsmith]

Eish bru, never been there!!! Maybe try phoning the tackle shops. They might have got word of how the venues is fishing?

Cant wait for summer again and an opportunity to get some salty fish again!!!

Its been such a long time since I was able to throw a line in the salt and catch a decent salty fish:(

come now liam...youve been klapping the trout at lakensvlei...no need to get greedy now my boy!

[Pierre]

Hi Stephen

Sorry man i didnt make it to Bo-Vlakte. Only managed the Breede. But i'm planning another trip to Swellendam soon. I'll fish Bo-Vlakte then, will let you know.

Cheers

[swsmith]

will be appreciated,thanks

[rols]

Hi Stephen

Sorry man i didnt make it to Bo-Vlakte. Only managed the Breede. But i'm planning another trip to Swellendam soon. I'll fish Bo-Vlakte then, will let you know.

Cheers
Hi Pierre
Last time I was there, no day fishing was alowed. Only people booked into the cottage could fish. I was there 3 years ago though.
Cheers

[Pierre]

Hi Pierre
Last time I was there, no day fishing was alowed. Only people booked into the cottage could fish. I was there 3 years ago though.
Cheers

Hi Roland

Thanks for the info. I'll give them a call. How you been ? We must get together at Eikendal sometime. Had some good fun there Friday afternoon. The evening rise at the bottom dam is great. I got the recipe for them. Let me know. Also want to fish Sandvlei sometime soon when the weather clears up a bit.

Cheers

[rols]

Yes we must get together. I worked for Philip twice at Eikendal but did'ng get a chance to fish as it was so busy. Going with him on his Lakensvlei weekend trip. Will get together when we come back.
Cheers

[Fish Hunter]

Has anybody been to Bo-Vlakte this year? What are conditions like out there at the moment, anybody know?

[rols]

Hi
Terence went there on the weekend of the world cup final and caught some real monsters. They caught mostly from the side. The water is very low at the moment. He might post some pics later and elaborate more.
Cheers

[Fish Hunter]

Thanks, thats great to hear. Im going fishing there in two weeks, any tips on patterns or anything that worked well, will be appreciated;)

[TERENCE]

Hi Shaun,fished there about 3 weeks back,caught plenty fish and some nice big rainbows.In the main dam there are rainbow,brown and steel-head trout.Booby flies worked well.There is nice weed growth,any fly in dark colours worked, fished deep.White death for surface action also worked well.I eventually used a flipper ( old sea pattern ) and they really smashed the fly,but it was to big and only had one pickup.I will be back with small flippers.Sliders in dark pattern should also work.My mate had most takes on black wooly buggers.Attached some pics to get your mouth watering.

[smallstreams.co.za]

... and steel-head trout ...

Really? Sea-run rainbows??

[TERENCE]

Enlighten me? Thats what Johan calls them.

[Scythe]

Product of popular misconception and errant naming ... there are no steelhead in South Africa.

[Fish Hunter]

Thanks Terence, those are some nice sized fish!, looking forward to the trip there, caught some nice fish there to in the pass. dam looks really low! in the pics. But there has been some good rain in the past month.

Was also wondering about the whole steelhead thing?? many trout farms are claiming to be stocking there dams with steelhead?? because they can tolerate warmer waters better? or something like that?

[smallstreams.co.za]

Enlighten me? Thats what Johan calls them.

Steelhead are rainbows which return to the river system after 2-3 years out in the ocean.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_trout

[TERENCE]

Hi Shaun,the owner claims he stocked steel-head as fingerlings in the holding pond in the dam.The patern (marking/colour )do seem to be different to the brown trout and the shape of the fish seem to be different.I will post some pics of the fish caught and the fundies can maybe tell the difference.

[pieterkriel]

Technically stocking fingerling in a land locked lake still does not make for Steelhead but as with all things fly fishing whatever blows the owners skirt up:D

[FishZ]

its just marketing, like calling those ugly ass albino fish "Golden trout". Golden trout are only found in a few locations in california and wyoming and a few others. Steelhead are sea run rainbow trout. they are genetically similar to rainbow trout. they are rainbow trout. call them rainbow trout.

But we are tired of catching browns and rainbows, we need to catch double headed ardvark trout and all that stuff.

[redhumpy]

Or Middelbek:D

[TERENCE]

Hi Shaun,I opened up a bees nest here,so lets say in conclusion there are a load of brown trout and rainbow's , as you know they do have a brown trout dam, specific ,but need a float tube for that dam unless you have mastered the snap d single handed spey casting technique ,it works well ,a 20mt cast with no back cast,I love it.
To scyrhe,small,piet,fish,and red I humble too your knowledge ,I looked and searched for steelhead trout and you are right they only exist at BOVLAKTE.I have opened the can,lets hear what Johan has to say about his STEELHEADS ,maybe there is some truth somewhere.
Shaun I hope you have a better camera than my cell ,I have a load of pics I could drop on this site but they are not that good ,the difference in the fish (browns) is significant .You be my judge. (I fished there a year ago and so called steelhead were in the pen as fingerlings and obviously since released, if they are browns or maybe brook trout I don't know,brown's that hit a flipper over and over on surface it's not what I expected, but it might have been the rainbow's .It did snow on the Sunday while we were there ,so go prepared.
Have fun ,fresh water brown steelheads are waiting for you,don't forget the flippers

[Fish Hunter]

Thanks Terence appreciate all the info. I also fished there about a year ago when the "steelheads" were not released yet into the open dam, they did look slightly different in colour, maybe a little dull. Would be interesting to hear what some or other expert has to say on this matter. And we did manage to get a few browns in the brown trout dam. Will definitely give the flippers a go, sounds like it could be fun.

Other than that im looking forward to the trip, and will post a update with pics in two weeks time. (Maybe some nice pics of those steelhead) ;) till then tight lines everybody.

[Scythe]

... I don't know,brown's that hit a flipper over and over on surface it's not what I expected, but it might have been the rainbow's

Muddlers and similar type flies retrieved like a bat out of hell especially in early light or last light conditions work a treat, so wouldn't surprise me that you did get this behaviour.

In my experience it depends entirely on the particular stillwater and what sources of food are available.

[Nicky Geldenhuys]

Ek was so paar maande gelede daar,die dam was maar laag op n tyd en die warm weer was nie goed vir die vis nie.Ek hoor die dam is weer gestock met n paar monster groot visse.Ek werk vir die plaas langsaan,ons het ook ons damme gestock met rainbow en browns,was verlede naweek by die dam dit was great.

[markdej]

Stillwater steelheads :D
Awesome.. guess this means those yellow goldfish in my garden pond are actually yellowfish:cool:

Are you guys not being confused by the parr marks?
Cause its no state secret that a steelhead is simply a sea run Rainbow trout. So I just dont get how the fingerlings could be sea run? Because if for arguments sake you had a steelhead that spawned and then hatched the roe they would still be rainbow trout. Could the chap perhaps mean landlocked salmon, as there were some of them brought into the country a few years backed and stocked up Pilgrims Rest way?

[redhumpy]

Kêk man! they are Steelheads - Finish en klaar. They were stocked outside Boksburg in a dam and somehow found their way to the sea up the road. I think they might be related to the Koi's at Sun City's Cabannas who also found their way to the Valley of Waves...

[smallstreams.co.za]

Kêk man! they are Steelheads - Finish en klaar. They were stocked outside Boksburg in a dam and somehow found their way to the sea up the road. I think they might be related to the Koi's at Sun City's Cabannas who also found their way to the Valley of Waves...

Can someone please do a Search-and-Replace on the entire Internet on matters regarding Steelhead? The current perception needs to be fixed!!

[deewy]

Guys, I am going this weekend. I will get a detailed picture of the fish, if we catch any, and I think we will. I will also get the history behind the fish from Johan and report back on Monday.

[firephish]

By "steelhead" they probably mean "blue trout". While I was in the UK I noticed some fisharies in the UK also seem to use "blue trout" and "steelhead" interchangeably. "Blue trout" are genetic mutations of onchorynchus mykiss like golden rainbows - and are in no way sea run ... just got called "steelhead" becuase they have the same sliver-blue sheen as actual searun fish, if that makes sense :confused:

[rols]

Terence, don't listen to all this hogwash....just tick off on your species list next to steel head, and then move on to the next specie :p:)

[deewy]

Terence, don't listen to all this hogwash....just tick off on your species list next to steel head, and then move on to the next specie :p:)

Jip, I agree, the closest most of us are going to get to a "real" Steelhead anyway

[markdej]

Jip, I agree, the closest most of us are going to get to a "real" Steelhead anyway

Hehehehe... still touchy about that whole golden trout thing I take it? :D

[deewy]

Hehehehe... still touchy about that whole golden trout thing I take it? :D

Nope I dont care and I dont get touchy on forums anymore, just a wast of time to be honest, I am still not a trout fan, golden, steelhead, what ever, give me something BIG and I am happy. But at the moment trout is all thats availible, so beggers cant be choosers, hopefully I get some goldens this weekend.:rolleyes:

[smallstreams.co.za]

Jip, I agree, the closest most of us are going to get to a "real" Steelhead anyway

So the fact that these fish have NEVER been out to sea and still called Steelhead is okay with you? Since when are cold, hard facts simply not worth anything?

Btw, here is a recent pic of a yellowfish from the Vaal ...

http://www.oneinchpunch.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/worlds-largest-carp.jpg

[Scythe]

Steelhead = Sea run trout.
Blue trout = Blue trout.
landlocked Salmon = Landlocked Salmon.

Quite honestly I don't see what the big hubbub is with "golden troot" or "blue troot" in the South African context, at the very best they're just rainbow trout in drag.

[Korrie]

some info from Catman re the blue trout

Blue Rainbow Trout
Blue Rainbow Trout are a mutation that occur in hatchery production of rainbow trout. So far, this rare genetic glitch has
occurred only in rainbow and brown trout.
To understand the rarity of Blue Rainbow Trout one hatchery recorded 30 rainbow trout were blue in a spawn of about
four million eggs. One year, more blue trout might appear. Another year, fewer.

"They are typically separated early on from the other trout because they're weaker fish and unless they are set aside, during
the first year the other fish usually eat them, or they succumb to the rigors of the hatchery's high-density environmental conditions."

Also Blue Rainbow Trout don't reproduce. Neither the males nor the females develop mature reproductive organs.

"We've been getting blue rainbow trout and blue brown trout for some 30 years or more, Years ago there was a concerted effort to
produce a line of blue trout.

It is believed that they could be genetic anomalies, or mutations, some believe that blue trout probably suffer from a thyroid deficiency.
A fish's thyroid gland produces hormones that affect its coloring during all its life stages. Thus, the hormonal mix-up lets these fish form
only the bluish pigment.

What we have found in Scotland is that lb for lb they fight like a Rainbow twice the size.

[jock0]

One of the venues we fish near Badplaas, with the biggest hatchery up country (150 tons a year apparently), has quite a few blue and red trout. Wade actually managed to catch a "red" of around 1.5kg's on our first trip there.

All they are, as Korrie and others have mentioned, are colour morphs of good old rainbow trout, just like the "golden trout" we get in most dams these days.

[chris williams]

Spot on again, Dave!

[deewy]

Exactly why I do not post on forums anymore, if its a fish and it eats a fly and puts up a fight then I catch it, I dont give a shit about the freakin colour or species, if its a mutant with special powers or not.

All I know is that this weekend I will be fishing for South african steelheads:cool:

[damage]

I think its good to get the right ID for the fish you catch
just for your own edification

just because oom bob calls his guppies great whites doesnt mean that you can claim it as a species (if species is your thing )

/d

[TERENCE]

Bovlakte brown and STEELHEAD pics .You be the judge!Deewy hope you have a good weekend,there are no more of those yellow fish things we caught last time.Lots of Bovlakte Steelhead though.

[Scythe]

You got a bunch of nice browns ...

[smallstreams.co.za]

You got a bunch of nice browns ...

Bronzeheads ...

[Bryan]

This is a Steelhead - you decide.....

[markdej]

Bovlakte brown and STEELHEAD pics .You be the judge!Deewy hope you have a good weekend,there are no more of those yellow fish things we caught last time.Lots of Bovlakte Steelhead though.

I think you left off the steelhead pics?
But those are some lovely little brownies there.

[NeilRowe]

Bovlakte brown and STEELHEAD pics .You be the judge!Deewy hope you have a good weekend,there are no more of those yellow fish things we caught last time.Lots of Bovlakte Steelhead though.

Which one of those browns do you think is a steelhead? AFAIK sea run browns are called Sea trout and sea run rainbows are called Steelheads.

[smallstreams.co.za]

Which one of those browns do you think is a steelhead? AFAIK sea run browns are called Sea trout and sea run rainbows are called Steelheads.

I think the one pic with the Italian guy is the one with the Steelhead.

[chrisvd]

Which one of those browns do you think is a steelhead? AFAIK sea run browns are called Sea trout and sea run rainbows are called Steelheads.

Contrary to its name, the spotted seatrout is not a member of the trout family (Salmonidae), but of the drum family (Sciaenidae).

from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynoscion_nebulosus

Just googled sea trout, some of the pics do look like brown trout though.

[Scythe]

Well anyways ... if they caught that many browns this guy must have a penchant for overstocking the browns unlike most other venues.

Where is Bo-vlakte exactly ? :D

[NeilRowe]

Chris

I do'nt think that what is commonly called Sea Trout in the UK is actually a drumfish.

What do the rest of you think?

[Bryan]

Those are spotted sea trout which are different to the sea trout we commonly refer to, which are sea run browns, and are members of the Salmo trutta family:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_trout

[NeilRowe]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_trout

[chrisvd]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_trout

Thanks Neil, that clears up my confusion. So stealheads = Rainbow trout with a dash of salt and Sea Trout (in the UK) = Brown Trout with a dash of salt.

Now how far is Bo Vlakte from any saltwater?:D

[NeilRowe]

exactly Chris.

[Bryan]

Chris

I do'nt think that what is commonly called Sea Trout in the UK is actually a drumfish.

What do the rest of you think?

In the UK they actually refer to their sea trout (sea run browns) as Sewin.

[chris williams]

Just to add a bit of confusion...when I fished the Welsh rivers as a kid for sea trout the Welsh called them 'sewin'. And when I fished for them at my uncle's place in Cornwall on the Tamar, the Cornish (and in Devon) called them 'peal'. They were all the same sea-run brownies. So in the space of about fifty or a hundred miles from where I lived, they would variously be known as 'sea trout', 'peal' or 'sewin'!

What the Americans call 'sea trout' is I think the euphemistic name for what they also call 'weakfish' on their East Coast.

PS - Imagine asking a Hout Bay commercial fisher of his catch : 'Peal?'...

[chrisvd]

exactly Chris.

Sea trout is new to me, but I do know what steelhead is.. Wanted to fish the santa cruz river in Argintina for a looong time now, check out the pic:D

[NeilRowe]

As per Wikipedia "sewin (Wales), finnock (Scotland), peal (West Country), mort (North West England) and white trout (Ireland)."

[pieterkriel]

Bovlakte brown and STEELHEAD pics .You be the judge!Deewy hope you have a good weekend,there are no more of those yellow fish things we caught last time.Lots of Bovlakte Steelhead though.

Very nice walk of the mill, standard but as always pretty browns you posted here, did you forget to post the "Steelhead" pics? So looking forward to see what South African Steelheads look like.

[chris williams]

Round the end of the 19th/beginning of the 20th centuries, didn't there used to be sea-runs of brownies from I think it was the Eerste river in the Cape? I know I've got the info at home in an old book somewhere. I seem to recall it may be in Bob Crass's tome about the history of trout in SA. That being so, we have had sea trout here.

I wonder if conditions would be conducive currently in any SA river for rainbows to theoretically go out to sea and breed and return giving us our own steelheads? I guess it could really only happen in the Western Cape area where you have the cold current pushing up and further east I guess the warm Mozambique current would make the sea temp too warm?

[NeilRowe]

Chris

The trek netters off Fish Hoek landed an unidentified fish (in the 1950's I think)which was later indentified by Prof JB Smith as a brown trout. Probable origin, the Eerste River. In a subsequent study, the Eerste estuary was netted and there were a number of sea trout amongst the marine species.

The Lourens River in Somerset West has sea run rainbows. This phenomena was also observed by catching Steelheads in the sea off the Strand and, once again, by observing estuary catches. I am convinced this still happens, on occasion, as I have heard reports about sea runs for over 30 years and I am almost positive I hooked one a few seasons back (In Radloff Park).

If I recall correctly, there was a massive argument about this in the early part of the 20th century. Fred Bowker aka Kingfisher was convinced this did NOT occur in Cape waters, whilst other flyfishers were. I might have this back to front, but there was a massive controversy at the time.

If you give trout the opportunity to follow their instinct, they most surely will.

[damage]

there are sea-run trout that were trek netted in false bay in the cps offices

I dont think they in the gretest shape but they definatly exist

/d

[nkula_nkula]

there are sea-run trout that were trek netted in false bay in the cps offices

I dont think they in the gretest shape but they definatly exist

/d

Agreed with denton here, there are pictures and other documentary evidence of rainbow trout being netted at muizenberg. They would meet definition of a steelhead...

[chris williams]

Interesting stuff, thanks guys!

Without myself getting overly pedantic on this, were the fish netted off Muizenberg - 'bows (i.e. steelheads) - or brownies (i.e. sea trout)?

I still havn't got around to re-researching my old books but it's all good historic stuff to inquire and to be inquisitive about - even if the actual facts may have been a tad diluted by time and overly fond memories/diary insertions.

In this day and age where we are all so spoilt 's'-less with ultra high tech equipment and technology, it's good to get back to the fireside discussions on recollections and other subjective unquantifiable trivia...

[nkula_nkula]

Interesting stuff, thanks guys!

Without myself getting overly pedantic on this, were the fish netted off Muizenberg - 'bows (i.e. steelheads) - or brownies (i.e. sea trout)?

I still havn't got around to re-researching my old books but it's all good historic stuff to inquire and to be inquisitive about - even if the actual facts may have been a tad diluted by time and overly fond memories/diary insertions.

In this day and age where we are all so spoilt 's'-less with ultra high tech equipment and technology, it's good to get back to the fireside discussions on recollections and other subjective unquantifiable trivia...

Only heard of rainbows...

[redhumpy]

Nice to have University archives;):D
Go read this on the "South African Steelhead":

http://researchspace.csir.co.za/dspace/bitstream/10204/3454/1/Estuaries%20of%20the%20Cape_16.pdf

Try Page 30 - point 4.2.5

[FishZ]

you can;t check steelhead or golden off yoru list, thats just stupid. you never caught one. You caught some fish not fit to even survive, mislabled for marketing purposes. Is this what fly fishing is about to you?

Its cool if you are just into catching a fish, and a fish is a fish to you, but don;t go telling people you caught a steelhead in SA, because the day you hook a steelhead, you will no longer have to have this talk. steelhead are mean, fast, and will break you before you can blink. i hear yellowfish can fight, but id wager a whole bunch they would never stand up to a steelhead.

Steelhead don't deserve this, so please stop. They are too good a fish to be tossed around as side catch on some tiny dam. call them hatchery rainbow mutants, as that is what they are. just like those "Golden Trout".

I hiked 26 miles over 2 days with 7 days rations on my back up to a series of tiny mountain lakes at 14000 plus feet to catch my goldens, so don't say you have caught a golden, because unless you have done the work, you don't deserve it. there are very very few anglers in the world who catch goldens, they are not easy, so again stop! call it a hatchery mutant, maybe a big hatchery mutant, but thats what it is.

and every fish in those pics is a small brown trout. brown with spots and halos like you described to me are brown trout. where the hell does this crap come from anyway? I used to want to fish at this place, but with morals like these, i think ill leave it for others to fish.

[redhumpy]

Goudvis *tick*

[ArcherFish]

Hi
Charl at Jonkershoek has booked Bo-vlakte for a weekend, so if you would like to go along, get hold of him.
Weekend 20-22 august, anyone welcome, Jonkershoek club members get a discount.
charl@jonkershoek.co.za

[NeilRowe]

Interesting stuff, thanks guys!

Without myself getting overly pedantic on this, were the fish netted off Muizenberg - 'bows (i.e. steelheads) - or brownies (i.e. sea trout)?

I still havn't got around to re-researching my old books but it's all good historic stuff to inquire and to be inquisitive about - even if the actual facts may have been a tad diluted by time and overly fond memories/diary insertions.

In this day and age where we are all so spoilt 's'-less with ultra high tech equipment and technology, it's good to get back to the fireside discussions on recollections and other subjective unquantifiable trivia...

Chris

There were both. At one time the Eerste had browns and rainbows. Not sure about the Lourens. I have read a report (in an old Piscator) of a brown being caught at sea as well. Not sure if it was at Fishoek or the Strand.

[smallstreams.co.za]

Not sure if it was at Fishoek or the Strand.

How far is Bo-Vlakte from this?

[Morne]

You and some other forumers really need to unclamp those cheeks.:rolleyes:

BTW, well done on your achievement in catching those gold fish.


you can;t check steelhead or golden off yoru list, thats just stupid. you never caught one. You caught some fish not fit to even survive, mislabled for marketing purposes. Is this what fly fishing is about to you?

Its cool if you are just into catching a fish, and a fish is a fish to you, but don;t go telling people you caught a steelhead in SA, because the day you hook a steelhead, you will no longer have to have this talk. steelhead are mean, fast, and will break you before you can blink. i hear yellowfish can fight, but id wager a whole bunch they would never stand up to a steelhead.

Steelhead don't deserve this, so please stop. They are too good a fish to be tossed around as side catch on some tiny dam. call them hatchery rainbow mutants, as that is what they are. just like those "Golden Trout".

I hiked 26 miles over 2 days with 7 days rations on my back up to a series of tiny mountain lakes at 14000 plus feet to catch my goldens, so don't say you have caught a golden, because unless you have done the work, you don't deserve it. there are very very few anglers in the world who catch goldens, they are not easy, so again stop! call it a hatchery mutant, maybe a big hatchery mutant, but thats what it is.

and every fish in those pics is a small brown trout. brown with spots and halos like you described to me are brown trout. where the hell does this crap come from anyway? I used to want to fish at this place, but with morals like these, i think ill leave it for others to fish.

[chris williams]

Chris

There were both. At one time the Eerste had browns and rainbows. Not sure about the Lourens. I have read a report (in an old Piscator) of a brown being caught at sea as well. Not sure if it was at Fishoek or the Strand.

Thanks for the info, Neil, very interesting

Cheers
Chris

[pieterkriel]

you can;t check steelhead or golden off yoru list, thats just stupid. you never caught one. You caught some fish not fit to even survive, mislabled for marketing purposes. Is this what fly fishing is about to you?

Its cool if you are just into catching a fish, and a fish is a fish to you, but don;t go telling people you caught a steelhead in SA, because the day you hook a steelhead, you will no longer have to have this talk. steelhead are mean, fast, and will break you before you can blink. i hear yellowfish can fight, but id wager a whole bunch they would never stand up to a steelhead.

Steelhead don't deserve this, so please stop. They are too good a fish to be tossed around as side catch on some tiny dam. call them hatchery rainbow mutants, as that is what they are. just like those "Golden Trout".

I hiked 26 miles over 2 days with 7 days rations on my back up to a series of tiny mountain lakes at 14000 plus feet to catch my goldens, so don't say you have caught a golden, because unless you have done the work, you don't deserve it. there are very very few anglers in the world who catch goldens, they are not easy, so again stop! call it a hatchery mutant, maybe a big hatchery mutant, but thats what it is.

and every fish in those pics is a small brown trout. brown with spots and halos like you described to me are brown trout. where the hell does this crap come from anyway? I used to want to fish at this place, but with morals like these, i think ill leave it for others to fish.

Great for you oh hallowed big white hunter, I am with you on no steelhead or golden trout in SA, but lighten up dude. Laugh and wave, or chuckle at them in your own time for their ignorance, but don't go ballistic on them:rolleyes:

[Scythe]

Someone needs to lay off the steroids.

[Michael]

Great for you oh hallowed big white hunter, I am with you on no steelhead or golden trout in SA, but lighten up dude. Laugh and wave, or chuckle at them in your own time for their ignorance, but don't go ballistic on them:rolleyes:

I still maintain he must have got bliksemed a lot as a laaitjie. With that attitude one can only get a klap. :)

[redhumpy]

Bonehead Piranha *tick*

http://images03.olx.co.za/ui/5/01/42/1268063400_79189942_1-Pictures-of--Ford-Cortina-XR6-Interceptor.jpg

[smallstreams.co.za]

Bonehead Piranha *tick*

http://images03.olx.co.za/ui/5/01/42/1268063400_79189942_1-Pictures-of--Ford-Cortina-XR6-Interceptor.jpg

This the Ford you drove for 2 years before finding the MP3 jack in the boot????

[Bryan]

you can;t check steelhead or golden off yoru list, thats just stupid. you never caught one. You caught some fish not fit to even survive, mislabled for marketing purposes. Is this what fly fishing is about to you?

Its cool if you are just into catching a fish, and a fish is a fish to you, but don;t go telling people you caught a steelhead in SA, because the day you hook a steelhead, you will no longer have to have this talk. steelhead are mean, fast, and will break you before you can blink. i hear yellowfish can fight, but id wager a whole bunch they would never stand up to a steelhead.

Steelhead don't deserve this, so please stop. They are too good a fish to be tossed around as side catch on some tiny dam. call them hatchery rainbow mutants, as that is what they are. just like those "Golden Trout".

I hiked 26 miles over 2 days with 7 days rations on my back up to a series of tiny mountain lakes at 14000 plus feet to catch my goldens, so don't say you have caught a golden, because unless you have done the work, you don't deserve it. there are very very few anglers in the world who catch goldens, they are not easy, so again stop! call it a hatchery mutant, maybe a big hatchery mutant, but thats what it is.

and every fish in those pics is a small brown trout. brown with spots and halos like you described to me are brown trout. where the hell does this crap come from anyway? I used to want to fish at this place, but with morals like these, i think ill leave it for others to fish.

That is incredibly admirable but I think the question on everyone's lips is......

Why did you take too much food?


;)

[smallstreams.co.za]

That is incredibly admirable but I think the question on everyone's lips is......

Why did you take too much food?


;)

Well, if you now Matty, you'll know why he gets the munchies, and also how often :D :D

[redhumpy]

This the Ford you drove for 2 years before finding the MP3 jack in the boot????

No MP3 plug in the boot but OMR did sort me with some Roger Miller 8 tracks.

[smallstreams.co.za]

No MP3 plug in the boot but OMR did sort me with some Roger Miller 8 tracks.

Adam Sandler has a great song about 8-tracks ... heavy lyrics though, PG24!!

[kyle-J]

Well, if you now Matty, you'll know why he gets the munchies, and also how often :D :D

Whaaa haaa! and Matt with that thought in mind you sure that was a 26 mile 2 day hike... you werent just walking in circles around a stokkie pond? ;)

[chris williams]

Or auditioning for the remake of 'On Golden Pond'?

[nicholas]

I still have no idea where Bo-vlakte is ???

[schloshd1]

I used to catch goldfish in my primary school pond . Tick.

[Morne]

Here is a real challenge. Non of those wimpy 2 day hikes with to much food stuff. (Sounds to much like what Fario is doing anyway)

Go catch one of those gold fish on flyrod at those ponds at Grand West casino. Pictures needed for proof. If the picture includes the security chasing you in the background you earn extra points. Even better if you land the fish from the bowsprit of that boat that's parked there.

[chris williams]

I still have no idea where Bo-vlakte is ???

Nick, there's a fishing mag article on it if you Google 'bo-vlakte trout' with all the details

[Rendier]

I still have no idea where Bo-vlakte is ???

Great venue for a boys weekend. Get Rols and Terrence to take you up there

[nicholas]

I used to catch goldfish in my primary school pond . Tick.


I caught crabs once *tick* and *tick*

[damage]

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/damagefly/IMG_4857.jpg

Bo-vlaktesearunraggedtoothguppy "steelhead" *check

man this species thing is simple (in english and in afrikaans )

/d

[swsmith]

nick about 2.5 hrs from cape town.btw montague and barrydale.

[TERENCE]

Just noticed a lot of STEEHEADS replied to this thread.

[rols]

You know what happened here....A group of guys wanted to go fish and found a place vacant on the weekend of the soccer world cup final. Boys packed their gear and were in high spirits to GET AWAY. Got to the venue, spoke to the farmer about conditions, fish etc etc. Farmer says there are steelheads in the dam....Boys ask....what does it look like??
Some of you were not too nice. Some were. I was supposed to be on this trip and if the farmer said steelhead, then I wanted a pic. These guys had a ball. Not too many mentions from the posts, congratulate them on having had a lekka weekend of fishing. (Some of those fish are a nice size), according to me....Sooo, some of us have never fished all over the world and some of us are just budget "where can we fish" kind of guys.....Don't knock them straight off because the name was wrong. I bet you these guys had the most brilliant weekends fishing than any of you would ever have.....because of their "gees".
The "name" steelhead...overshadowed the whole post. The ticking off the specie list was a very tongue in cheek post by me...hence the smilies...and so ja, my tuppence worth.
*shoot me, but don't go for a head shot first*.....late in the evening;)

[damage]

*shoot me, but don't go for a head shot first*.....late in the evening;)

Rols good on you for standing by your mates !


The way I see it

they went fishing caught some awsome fish landowner told them they were steelhead

they tell their story and correctly someone sets them straight as to what a steelhead is

Ending one

they say oh ok cool it was misnamed and they had an awsome weekend catching xxxxxxxxx troot and everyone woulda said cool there are xxxxxx trout to be caught at bo-v congrats


or

ending two

they could go stuff you its a STEELHEAD who are you guys to tell us its not
we dont give a stuff what you guys think/know we are calling them STEELHEADS and claiming them as a Specie
Ive got photos of browns to prove they are STEELHEADS
and all of you guys that are trying to help us with info are STEELHEADS


and then they wonder why they get sarky comments/posts ??


/d

[rols]

Point taken D Nicely put:)

[ArcherFish]

I caught crabs once *tick* and *tick*

MAKE UP YOUR MIND!
did you find crabs in your jocks or ticks?

[Rendier]

i still think the biggest problem here is guys like Dewalt who call themselves, pros or guides or whatever they call themselves, and then spread misinformation. guys who look up to Deewy as a guide or expert or pro then take this as true. why wouldn't they?


I'm still trying to see where he spread this misinformation in this thread :confused:

All I could find was post #33, #36, #38 & #44

Matt, why get personal in an open forum? Keep it on PM if you've got a beef with Deewy. Shouldn't you rather contact Johan and have a go at him? He gave me the same info last year and as the owner, a humble fisherman would accept the information given as dinkum.

[poppernel]

Exactly why I do not post on forums anymore, if its a fish and it eats a fly and puts up a fight then I catch it, I dont give a shit about the freakin colour or species, if its a mutant with special powers or not.

All I know is that this weekend I will be fishing for South african steelheads:cool:

Dewald, dont let them get to you, we trout/troot:p guys who consistently catch big trout and release them for others to catch one day by ''fluke'' or guided by flies, method or actually just schooled by the best. Thats what you and I are. To the reader, use it!! lose it!!.:eek:

[deewy]

Matt, if you have a problem with me the give me a call 0829415344, of better still, meet me, but dont make this personal on this forum. You dont know me, and you can ask any of the forumers on here that has either fished with me, been one of my clients, or are just friends with me, I am a good fisherman and there is something that I can teach allot of them or have taught them. If you look at my website www.flysouthadventures.co.za you will see that I dont not market this venue for guided trips, neither do I say that you will catch a golden trout, I mention there Golden Rainbow trout http://www.flysouthadventures.co.za/quarry.php?p_id=60 Get your facts straight before pointing a finger.

I was there this weekend and had a ball of a time, Johan is no fish expert and he bought the fish, which are brown trout, under the name, canadian steelhead from threestreams hatchery in Franschhoek. We pointed out to him, after catching browns in his dedicated broun trout dam that they are the same. He also said they are triploid, which is also untrue as one milted all over Louis's float tube. He said that he will follow it up with them. There is no more albino trout in the dam, they where all taken by fish eagles. We did get some monster trout and it was one of the best fishing weekends in a long time. I am no trout expert and most probably never be, I do know my sh1t and I can fish.

Oh and by the way, Johan is very happy about all this publisity his venue is getting.

[FishZ]

Hello all, I apologize publicly to Dewalt, that was not cool to single him out, I was in a bad emotional state to reply and I'm very sorry to him and to all.

Have a good day

Ill keep it fishing.

[swsmith]

wheres the pics?

[deewy]

Thanks Matt, I appreciate the post.

Stephan, all I can say is, next time when I invite you with you must tell the family members to enjoy the weekend without you. I am still working through the pics and sorting them and I must still get some pics from the other guys. Landing 4-5LBS rainbows on dries is the most fun that I have had this year.

I will post pics soon, promise, and maybe I do another article for a magazine, who knows, let see.

[deewy]

Louis took one of these last night on a dry

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk319/deewy2652/FlySouth%20Adventures%20fishing%20pictures/DPP_453.jpg

[Michael]

Louis took one of these last night on a dry

Nice fish!

[smallstreams.co.za]

Louis took one of these last night on a dry

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk319/deewy2652/FlySouth%20Adventures%20fishing%20pictures/DPP_453.jpg

What happened to the nose??? Otherwise a nice fish.

[ArcherFish]

He also said they are triploid, which is also untrue as one milted all over Louis's float tube.

Hi, I am not sure about this statement. IMHO a triploid trout should have all the equipment, but be sterile, like a guy who has a vasectomy. Thus a triploid trout should be able to produce milt. But I may be wrong.

Now if it was a big fish and Louis got all excited about it.....

[deewy]

I think that question you must ask Louis;)

Well if they are able to produce milt it explains allot, maybe someone with history in breeding trout can answer all the questions on this tread.

Mario, these fish are so agressive and horny and the cant breed, the cocks are fighting all the time, yesterday we watched for about 10 minutes as two BIG cocks was fighting on the surface in the middle of the dam, biting and ramming each other. That is why you will see fish with fins thats bit and torn, those big fish have serious teeth. I fought a fish that took almost all my line on more than 4 runs, so they are fit and VERY strong!

[redhumpy]

Matt, if you have a problem with me the give me a call 0829415344, of better still, meet me, but dont make this personal on this forum. You dont know me, and you can ask any of the forumers on here that has either fished with me, been one of my clients, or are just friends with me, I am a good fisherman and there is something that I can teach allot of them or have taught them. If you look at my website www.flysouthadventures.co.za you will see that I dont not market this venue for guided trips, neither do I say that you will catch a golden trout, I mention there Golden Rainbow trout http://www.flysouthadventures.co.za/quarry.php?p_id=60 Get your facts straight before pointing a finger.

I was there this weekend and had a ball of a time, Johan is no fish expert and he bought the fish, which are brown trout, under the name, canadian steelhead from threestreams hatchery in Franschhoek. We pointed out to him, after catching browns in his dedicated broun trout dam that they are the same. He also said they are triploid, which is also untrue as one milted all over Louis's float tube. He said that he will follow it up with them. There is no more albino trout in the dam, they where all taken by fish eagles. We did get some monster trout and it was one of the best fishing weekends in a long time. I am no trout expert and most probably never be, I do know my sh1t and I can fish.

Oh and by the way, Johan is very happy about all this publisity his venue is getting.

So what you are saying is that Threestreams Hatchery in Franschoek are a bunch of liars and cheats their customers?

[deewy]

Thats where he bought them from and I said earlier I will report back on the fish, well I did, use it dont use it. Follow it up with them, this is what Johan will be doing as well.

[Korrie]

Maybe the eggs are harvested form wild fish, that have been to sea and returned back to spawn.
The eggs are then exported all over the world as "steelheads", where they are hatched and raised before being sold.

Would that be wrong to classify the trout as "steelheads"?

[Fish Hunter]

Hey deewy, good to hear that you got some nice fish, I'm going to Bo-Vlakte this weekend so you better give a full report soon with pics, before friday! ;) (What worked, what didn't work, what flies did you use?....) I need some inspiration.

[Scythe]

Would that be wrong to classify the trout as "steelheads"?

I reckon so ... is a troot still a steelhead if it hasn't done it's time in the salt ? I don't know ... "SEA RUN TROOT" ;)

[Korrie]

I reckon so ... is a troot still a steelhead if it hasn't done it's time in the salt ? I don't know ... "SEA RUN TROOT" ;)

Maybe we should call it "off-spring of steel head" ;)

[Scythe]

Maybe we should call it "off-spring of steel head" ;)

Ah huh, and I'm going to start marketing my business with "not related to Chris Barnard, but we share a surname, so send me your business" :p

[Umhlangarox]

Anybody know if these fish are stocked as fingerlings(30grams) or if they are grown to size and then thrown in?

[nicholas]

I reckon so ... is a troot still a steelhead if it hasn't done it's time in the salt ? I don't know ... "SEA RUN TROOT" ;)

Good Question....is a tiger still a tiger if it is born in a zoo:D

[smallstreams.co.za]

Good Question....is a tiger still a tiger if it is born in a zoo:D

I guess that is the reason we don't need animals in the wild now ...

[nicholas]

I guess that is the reason we don't need animals in the wild now ...


Hi Mario, not sure what you mean? My comment is tongue in cheek? i should have posted with Korries comment.

Maybe the eggs are harvested form wild fish, that have been to sea and returned back to spawn.
The eggs are then exported all over the world as "steelheads", where they are hatched and raised before being sold.

Would that be wrong to classify the trout as "steelheads"?

[smallstreams.co.za]

Hi Mario, not sure what you mean?

I mean that it is quite clear cut that you cannot compare a wild animal to an animal born en bred in a zoo - kinda think this is the point of the whole steelhead debate.

[deewy]

Anybody know if these fish are stocked as fingerlings(30grams) or if they are grown to size and then thrown in?

He bought them as fingerlings and raised them in a net in the dam, as he does with all his other fish, then after they are about 1kg he puts them in the dams.

[nicholas]

I mean that it is quite clear cut that you cannot compare a wild animal to an animal born en bred in a zoo - kinda think this is the point of the whole steelhead debate.

Fair point.....But its still a tiger;) does not matter where its born, may not be a wild tiger......So if its from the spawn of a steelhead its a steelhead just not a wild steelhead....

[smallstreams.co.za]

Fair point.....But its still a tiger;) does not matter where its born, may not be a wild tiger......So if its from the spawn of a steelhead its a steelhead just not a wild steelhead....

You still miss the point - it's never a steelhead if is does not go into the ocean ....

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nlM-nrvvXKI/SQ4xnUGANqI/AAAAAAAAAOA/6EAeihQHYYA/s1600-R/homer_simpson_doh_02.gif

[nicholas]

You still miss the point - it's never a steelhead if is does not go into the ocean ....

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nlM-nrvvXKI/SQ4xnUGANqI/AAAAAAAAAOA/6EAeihQHYYA/s1600-R/homer_simpson_doh_02.gif


LMAO.........Ok so its not a steelhead, not sure why the debate has run 12 pages its obvious then, a fish in a dam that has never been in salt water can not be a Steelhead...what is the debate all about then..:D A Tiger is still a Tiger though, having said that you do not see to much of this going on in the wild.

[chris williams]

Tiger trout (another of these ghastly 'genetically-modified' clones - this time of browns and brookies) are sterile.

So how come the tiger trout and the dog fish in the pic are 'making love'? It must be a genetically-modified photo - and
I won't volunteer to strip the dog fish of it's milt either...

[Umhlangarox]

He bought them as fingerlings and raised them in a net in the dam, as he does with all his other fish, then after they are about 1kg he puts them in the dams.

Thanks, Dewald does he pellet feed them whilst they in the net?

[deewy]

Thanks, Dewald does he pellet feed them whilst they in the net?

As far as I know yes, but there is obviosly allot of algea groth on the net which atracts insects and they will also feed on that.

[Michael]

I mean that it is quite clear cut that you cannot compare a wild animal to an animal born en bred in a zoo - kinda think this is the point of the whole steelhead debate.

I reckon...if you take a Tiger in the wild, and go irritate him...he's gonna f**k you up...

Now, take a Tiger born in a zoo, that was fed all his life, and go f**k with him too...

Somehow I think the end result will be the same. On both accounts you are going to get SERIOUSLY dead.

:D

[nkula_nkula]

whats this thread got to do with tigers?:p

[Michael]

As far as I know yes, but there is obviosly allot of algea groth on the net which atracts insects and they will also feed on that.

So any trout over 2kg is seriously fit and healthy anyway, having to have fend for himself for a year or two already. I reckon it's all good. Who frikkin cares if he feeds them pellets.

At Millstream, there are about 9 dams (I think). All of them are stocked, and all are never fed...except two, the trophy dams. So you have a choice...go fish the smaller stocked dams for some good fun, and smaller (under 1.5kg) fish...go fish some of the bigger dams (like Lake Millstream) where the fish are not fed, very wild, and difficult to entice...or go fish the trophy dams, which are quite big, and the fish are fed and can attain sizes over 5kg. I've caught fish in those dams on damsel and dragon nymphs, dry flies, small mayfly nymphs, the lot. So the fish MUST be feeding naturally most times...but when the pellets fall on the water they say "thank you! Easy meal". That's when I slap on a BIG DDD and smack a few really big ones! Good fun...and then it's over, go back to fishing "normal" flies.
And so what.

Even the Troutbagger thread...it's actually getting old now. Who cares if he feeds or doesn't. I dunno why everyone gets their nickers in a knot about it. If you don't like fishing dams where fish are fed, then don't. Simple.
I personally like the challenge of big lakes, where they don't feed fish. The fish are nice and full-finned and in beautiful condition, and more challenging to fool and catch. But, if I get a chance one day to fish a trophy dam where the owner feeds the trout steroid-injected Monster Energy pellets...I will not say no.

Like most of the guys will tell the owner: "Nooo Boet...I don't like catching pellet-fed trout"...and then pack their rods up and leave (while the guy next to him just caught a 6kg trout that revved him).
Yeah right... :rolleyes:

[Andre]

Hey, I agree. For once you talking sense...Michael. Kidding hey, but yes, if the stockie ponds feed the fish pellets, you can catch them by matching the hatch, with a Spekboom prawn, DDD, or something. Sometimes you just have to splash the water to bring them to a frenzy, drop a fly and hey..on. But, it's not the kind of fishing that I'm going to take a camera to, or post it on the list of the words most technical catches. In fact, if I ever have to go to these places, I seldom unpack my rods, but there are some peole who enjoy it, and these places fill a valuable gap in the market. having said all this..... It's all down to the types of location you choose to fish in. I dare you to try it on the Cape streams for a day, and see how many trout you get.......

[Umhlangarox]

Hey, I agree. For once you talking sense...Michael. Kidding hey, but yes, if the stockie ponds feed the fish pellets, you can catch them by matching the hatch, with a Spekboom prawn, DDD, or something. Sometimes you just have to splash the water to bring them to a frenzy, drop a fly and hey..on. But, it's not the kind of fishing that I'm going to take a camera to, or post it on the list of the words most technical catches. In fact, if I ever have to go to these places, I seldom unpack my rods, but there are some peole who enjoy it, and these places fill a valuable gap in the market. having said all this..... It's all down to the types of location you choose to fish in. I dare you to try it on the Cape streams for a day, and see how many trout you get.......

Kinda what i was trying to get to, some people enjoy it and others like myself dont.

I am sure there are a lot of people that really enjoy the place and i see nothing wrong with that, i just prefer catching wild trout!

[flybum]

Thank goodness we have purists - otherwise public venues will get overrun.

I was a Dunkeld Estate 2 weeks back. I was not gonna unpack my rods - I'm trying to get my "purist" accredition - but had to because the kids wanted to fish.(does that count?:))
back to my story : the water in the "upsteam ponds" are Crystal Clear(in the top pond you can see every fish and they can see you - this made for interesting sight fishing. The other ponds/dams are close behind in clarity and you can sight fish exclusively if you want to.This being an easy public venue -I don't think you're allowed to call 7x & # 16-20 patterns "technical fishing" as these fished gets fed(stomach pump;)). I stole a few moments between chasing kids around the dams and did some "casting practise" (if I'm not "really" fishing does it count?)

Here's where it gets interesting. On the Monday (the weekend crowd has left) , Dad breaks down and decide to fish seriously for a few hours. Aaaagh ! there goes my purist badge - nevermind , I lost my flyfishing credibility a while back(I blobbed).
I get to the water and there is fish rising in all the dams. Ah , I know what they're on ( # 22 olive midge pupa & black midge adult)as if been through this plenty before. This fishing is as Wallington would put it -"tough but rewarding". Besides its stockies & I'm gonna drill' 'em ....>

[flybum]

continue...3 hours later and I'm about to cry :( these fish are cruising all over the place sipping black midge off the surface with complete reckless abandon. They would cruise 2 rodlenghts away from me (who is casting frantically) without a worry in the world and happily sip the midge right next to my pattern. The scene is simmilar to a caenis hatch - only the fish are cruising deeper and rising purposefully to the adult. They pulled "sterkie refusals " on my patterns.I'm at my witts end as I've gone through # 20 cdc harrop midge / 20 shuttlecock / 20 mosquito - I gave up with 7x & # 22 mosquito.Are you allowed to give up on stockies?:eek:
Anyway I got 2 goood Browns and 5 other fish - but only 1 fish(brown) ate the dry as it should've - the other ate a # 20 midge pupa below or a small Rat Face McDougal ( I broke down and tried to unmatch yhe hatch with a terrestrial). I stomach pumped every single fish and they were all Full of a black fly #18-20. BUT this was not a midge - there was no hatch after all:confused: ..>

[flybum]

..> the fly was a type of GNAT ? BLACK FLY ? BIBIO ? SMUT ? which lived in the surrounding wattle forest and dropped on the water via a light breeze.
Never in my time spend flyfishing have I been so utterly & completely outwitted by such a horde of fish. I'm sure those buggers took delight in my misery.Not even the stress and suffering during a caenis hatch came close.
Now I'm sure the "wild trout only" brigade would confirm that one should not even bother whith these fish ( I did make the mistake of unpacking my rods - so the damage was done) as they are simply stockies ,for goodness sake , and just toooo easy.

Just goes to show --- fish are fish(wild or otherwise) and if you think you are superior to instinct and mother nature , you've fooled yourself not the fish.

BTW - I was so infuriated by thos fish that i let my Kids loose on them . LALA(4 yrs) slapped a kyped cock on an orange Fritz & Luka (8 yrs) belted a stockie on a black bugger in quick succession. After that I felt justified and cruised into Dullies for breakfast.

[Scythe]

My superiorness says ... in a situation like that ... dynamite ... kaboom !

EDIT : You can even present it on the end of your 7X with the 3WT if it makes you feel puristisititical :D

[pieterkriel]

Hi Mr. Botes

Now my brand new HP ProBook 4520s is sopping wet due to the blast of water I gave it right after I sipped some Valpre and read your post. (luckily it is water resistant and even has water resistant keyboard to boot)

I have fished for so called wild trout in SA stillwaters and had red letter days, I have fished the same stillwaters and experienced the scenario you described, I have gone stocky bashing and bashed the living sh!t out of them and I have gone stocking bashing and got bashed badly myself.

You are so right with " fish are fish(wild or otherwise) and if you think you are superior to instinct and mother nature , you've fooled yourself not the fish" bit there

[Umhlangarox]

.
Now I'm sure the "wild trout only" brigade would confirm that one should not even bother whith these fish ( I did make the mistake of unpacking my rods - so the damage was done) as they are simply stockies ,for goodness sake , and just toooo easy.

Just goes to show --- fish are fish(wild or otherwise) and if you think you are superior to instinct and mother nature , you've fooled yourself not the fish.



Who said it was easier?

At least i know that when i get a trophy fish it got that way all on its own without being feed pellets:p

[flybum]

Who said it was easier?

At least i know that when i get a trophy fish it got that way all on its own without being feed pellets:p

so if its not easier , it has to be discrimmination(not very PC towards trout of naturally deprived upbringing) or worse stockie phobia( bad experience at the trout farm as a youngster? - don't worry we understand)

[flybum]

Hi Mr. Botes

Now my brand new HP ProBook 4520s is sopping wet due to the blast of water I gave it right after I sipped some Valpre and read your post. (luckily it is water resistant and even has water resistant keyboard to boot)

I have fished for so called wild trout in SA stillwaters and had red letter days, I have fished the same stillwaters and experienced the scenario you described, I have gone stocky bashing and bashed the living sh!t out of them and I have gone stocking bashing and got bashed badly myself.

You are so right with " fish are fish(wild or otherwise) and if you think you are superior to instinct and mother nature , you've fooled yourself not the fish" bit there

:) one of my many tales of fishing woes .
(I'm bluelining an area close to where you once took 20 yelloows on dry without moving your feet - or so the legend goes;):))

[nkula_nkula]

My superiorness says ... in a situation like that ... dynamite ... kaboom !

EDIT : You can even present it on the end of your 7X with the 3WT if it makes you feel puristisititical :D

Or you can try a blob....:p
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd296/nkula_nkula/Blobs.jpg
Picture - courtesy flyfishingpoint.net

[Umhlangarox]

so if its not easier , it has to be discrimmination(not very PC towards trout of naturally deprived upbringing) or worse stockie phobia( bad experience at the trout farm as a youngster? - don't worry we understand)

Neither i actually am more of a Wild Trout Elitist Snob;)

[FishZ]

they are much prettier when they are wild.

plus the experience outside the fishing is always better when the quarry is wild, as wild trout never live in the ugly neighborhood.

Anymore, its not about catching fish most times, its just about getting onto a stunning piece of water and hanging out for a day.

[Herman Jooste]

they are much prettier when they are wild.

plus the experience outside the fishing is always better when the quarry is wild, as wild trout never live in the ugly neighborhood.

Anymore, its not about catching fish most times, its just about getting onto a stunning piece of water and hanging out for a day.

Methinks it's time you came up here and spent a day on the water with OMR and I. :D

Like yuor way of thinking. :D:D

Ask Andre, he has actually done one trip with us.:o;)

[Fish Hunter]

Hey guys fished Bo-Vlakte this past weekend, and I'am happy to report that fishing was excellent! Day 1 we were blessed with perfect weather, and between the three of us managed to catch and release 50+ Trout. Late afternoons seemed to put the bass into feeding mode and had some fun with them to, we must have caught 30+ on our trip, none were released back into the dam. The browns or (steelheads) proved to be very aggressive and feisty little buggers! And made up the bulk of our catches each day. Most of the rainbows were monsters, biggest fish for weekend weighing in at just over 3kg. Day 2 and Day 3 weather turned for the worst bringing in a huge coldfront with strong winds and rains, even covering mountains around us with snow. Between the two last days we probably managed 3hrs of fishing max, and even with all the elements against us caught some beautiful trout. All in all it was a great weekend spent on some good fish and good company!

[nicholas]

Hey guys fished Bo-Vlakte this past weekend, and I'am happy to report that fishing was excellent! Day 1 we were blessed with perfect weather, and between the three of us managed to catch and release 50+ Trout. Late afternoons seemed to put the bass into feeding mode and had some fun with them to, we must have caught 30+ on our trip, none were released back into the dam. The browns or (steelheads) proved to be very aggressive and feisty little buggers! And made up the bulk of our catches each day. Most of the rainbows were monsters, biggest fish for weekend weighing in at just over 3kg. Day 2 and Day 3 weather turned for the worst bringing in a huge coldfront with strong winds and rains, even covering mountains around us with snow. Between the two last days we probably managed 3hrs of fishing max, and even with all the elements against us caught some beautiful trout. All in all it was a great weekend spent on some good fish and good company!


Sounds Like you had a bash, i am going next month to go catch my first steelhead:D

[Fish Hunter]

Having problems uploading some of the pics

[Fish Hunter]

Some more pics..

[Fish Hunter]

Sounds Like you had a bash, i am going next month to go catch my first steelhead:D

We did have a bash;), or atleast the first day we were there, while the weather was still good. We used biggish woolly buggers and zonkers, and it seemed the flies with a hint of orange worked best. The (Brown's/steelheads) are still little, I would say ranging from 400g-900g but very aggressive and for there size give a spirited fight. Cant wait for them to grow 2kg+, that could be very exciting.

[TERENCE]

Told you i caught a steel head haha :D

[smallstreams.co.za]

Told you i caught a steel head haha :D

Looks like someone klapped it on the head with diamond patterned plating :cool: :cool:

http://www.flytalk.co.za/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=8457&d=1281471951

[redhumpy]

Must be a steelhead - look, even its head got the same print as a manhole cover.

[jock0]

You'd also need a steel head if you were chowing boobies with hooks in them all day...

[ArcherFish]

This is how Matt' countrymen catch real steelhead.

All you need is 8 flyrods sticking out back of boat, and you get a Tun of fish.

Ok they are salmon, but you get the point...:-)

[Korrie]

While I fished some stillwaters in South Island NZ, I regulary saw boats trolling for trout.

Not uncommon even in Canada as well.

[chris williams]

Same when I lived in Oz, lots of guys trolled for trout - not my personal cuppa tea but to each his/her own if it's permitted wherever you are. Also the Scots still troll a lot for trout especially the so-called 'ferox' haggard old monster cannibals..

[Booger Rose]

I thought a float tube was build for trolling?

[chris williams]

It also doubles up as an inner for a tractor tyre - the original use for which the tube was invented.

But that doesn't mean if I use a float tube ergo I'm a mielie farmer...

[Herman Jooste]

It also doubles up as an inner for a tractor tyre - the original use for which the tube was invented.

But that doesn't mean if I use a float tube ergo I'm a mielie farmer...

The only thing you know about Mielie Farmers' is to ask their wives to take their bra's off. :eek::eek::D:D

[Booger Rose]

It also doubles up as an inner for a tractor tyre - the original use for which the tube was invented.

But that doesn't mean if I use a float tube ergo I'm a mielie farmer...

Mielie farmer, Potato farmer, Tomato farmer...

Thinking back now to my time on a tractor, pulling some stuff behind me...:D

[chris williams]

The only thing you know about Mielie Farmers' is to ask their wives to take their bra's off. :eek::eek::D:D

Only because I've forgotten how to take bras off. With arthritis these days I can't get my hands behind my back...

PS - I've never been back to Sharkies since - and even when I go back to W Boven I assume a disguise (e.g. handsome well-dressed man)

[Korrie]

I thought a float tube was build for trolling?

YEs, for the Trolls, doing trolling. :D

[BuzzLiteBeer]

YEs, for the Trolls, doing trolling. :D

Ja, they sit on them under bridges waiting for goats.

[Sean Mills]

Hi
I have just heard from Charl that there has been a last minute cancellation on this weekends trip to Bovlakte with Jonkershoek.
There are a few slots open now on a fully catered trip.

If you would like to go, please contact Charl at charl@jonkershoek.co.za
072 459 7750

You could get a large steelhead or brown trout.

[ArcherFish]

Hi
I have just heard from Charl that there has been a last minute cancellation on this weekends trip to Bovlakte with Jonkershoek.
There are a few slots open now on a fully catered trip.

If you would like to go, please contact Charl at charl@jonkershoek.co.za
072 459 7750

You could get a large steelhead or brown trout.

There also a lift available with me if you decide to go

[TERENCE]

Hi Guys,how was the fishing at bovlakte and did anybody catch any of those so called STEELHEADS ? We need pics and report back. Besides the fishing, did it snow?Was it hot when you got there and freezing when you left? Not sure if the cold front is that far from bovlakte and how it effect fishing ,any case let us all know.
hope you all had a good time.

[Fish Hunter]

Hey guys, booked Bo-Vlakte for the 5th-8th August 2011, If anybody is keen to go with let me know. Space for 4-6 people.

[Fish Hunter]

Hi Guys still have place for one or two people for the weekend 5th-9th August at Bo-Vlakte between barrydale and Montagu, rate is R250 per night fishing included. If anybody is interested you can send me a message.

[Golden Rainbow]

Guys is Bo-Vlakte still up and running? Absolutely nothing on the web recently...