High flow (Vaal) = Fish KILLS ??? (LM Yellows?)

**Niel Myburgh** · 02-02-10

This is Sad, really sad

**pieterkriel** · 02-02-10

Originally Posted by MaXiMuM

So we had big floods in 2006, 2002, 2000, 1998, 1996, 1991... granted its been a while since the Vaal was flushed, but it is good for the system.

Allot of rivers in the States now have mandatory flood periods, trying to emulate the natural floods the rivers would have had. It is making a huge impact and in some rivers a small "test" population of stocked Salmon are actually getting quite large, and we are talking down into California.

Personally, I firmly believe that the Vaal needs a controlled flood and run at 400 to 500 tons for at least 2 weeks in Sept/Oct every year, with a boost of say 800 tons for a day or 2.

Looking at the alpine streams, spoke to TK yesterday, and he tells me the upper Bell is fishing better than it has in a very long time, this is probably due to the high water last year Feb, then good rains till winter, then good snow, and now good rains again. He says you don't find the tiddlers that normally pester you all day and the bigger fish are shaped like rugby balls.

So is high water a problem?? I think that if the Vaal was flooded annually, we wouldn't run into this kind of issue.

I think you might be spot on here.

**Shamwari** · 02-02-10

What about the spawning that took place late last year etc.

Has that been all but wiped out now with these extreme flows?

**Scythe** · 02-02-10

Smaller fish survive easier in low oxygen conditions.

PK, did you see any of the baitfish, Southern Mouthbrooders, Kurpers or of the Barbs ?

**MaXiMuM** · 02-02-10

Originally Posted by Shamwari

What about the spawning that took place late last year etc.

Has that been all but wiped out now with these extreme flows?

Does it matter??? We have artificially created the best habitat the yellows will ever have and they have shown that by thriving...

If you fished above the dam, you will know that there are nowhere near the numbers of fish, and that those fish are not in as good nic as the fish below the dam.

This kind of thing is really good for the population over the long term. Remember that after the floods there will be less food, so there has to be a loss of fish, otherwise the will insufficient food for all the fish...

Sorry, just me trying to positive.