Vaal River Update

[BenzoV]

It's time already. Saw fish feeding in the rapids below the pool...

[Gerrit Viljoen]

We got a Largie today nothing else happening! River dead quiet after yesterday's foul weather. More to come soon.....

[Circus]

The fish are about, but still in the deeper water and you definitely have to work for them.
On Saturday, upstream of Parys, I caught seven in an afternoon session.

The fish were in waist-deep water with reasonable flow (above/below rapids). I was happy to be wearing waders as for me the water was too cold to be standing that deep.
Despite the low flows, visibility was poor for this time of year at less than 30cm - once the old man's beard growth gets up, it should clear, but then we'll have other problems.

I caught the fish roughly half-half with a size 14 mustard caddis and a size 16 cdc black mayfly. Nothing on the pink or orange beads.
The takes were particularly subtle, made worse by me being a bit out of practice after winter.

As usual for spring, the average size of fish was excellent, with all fish over 1.5kg and one that was 65-70cm long. The length-weight calculator reckons 3.2-4.2kg. It pulled like a train.
The fish were in great condition and i definitely prefer them in this state to when they've got spawning-related injuries.

My favourite part about the first yellowfish outing of the spring is the reminder of just how much stronger and faster these fish are than trout or bass. The thrill of responding to the twitch of the indicator and having half your line upstream a couple of seconds later is just fantastic.

[Gerrit Viljoen]

Mooi Largie gekry vandag - klient Dave Sebesta. Largie Toad het weer toegeslaan!

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[Gerrit Viljoen]

Toe dog ek hy is in 'n dik Largie in sho daai vis het gemove seker 20m gevat in paar sekondes!!!!! Colin Mcdaniel met 'n mooi Smallie.

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[Gerrit Viljoen]

Mooi Largie gekry gister en paar byte! Nie veel ander aktiwiteit op die surface nie erge winde....

[Gerrit Viljoen]

On today's buffet......a feisty 17lber Largie well done Eddie Cik awesome catch!

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[Herman Jooste]

Some great fish there Gerrit.

I am so pleased for you that the guiding is working out well for you. You deserve it after all the "homework" that you have done.
Hope to bump into you again sometime this summer.

BTW, was at Erina 2 weeks ago, water still cold at 14.3, visibility poor, flows 10, and rocksnot a plenty.

Unless we get massive rains and soon, one is going to have to pick their waters very carefully this summer, skinny water and tons of rocksnot at most venues.

[Gerrit Viljoen]

Some great fish there Gerrit.

I am so pleased for you that the guiding is working out well for you. You deserve it after all the "homework" that you have done.
Hope to bump into you again sometime this summer.

BTW, was at Erina 2 weeks ago, water still cold at 14.3, visibility poor, flows 10, and rocksnot a plenty.

Unless we get massive rains and soon, one is going to have to pick their waters very carefully this summer, skinny water and tons of rocksnot at most venues.

Thanx Herman hopefully I'll see you soon!

[Gerrit Viljoen]

Exceptional day out on the Vaal today with Marthinus Pretorius. He landed 5 very very pretty Largies one of which tipped the scale @ 22lbs an absolute beast it ran like crazy!!!!!!

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