Report on Yellows on Fly over Easter Weekend (Vaalriver)

Report on Yellows on Fly over Easter Weekend (Vaalriver)
Posted Thu, 2010-04-08 03:24

Hi fellow addicts,
Was down at the Vaal river on 27 and 28 March and Liefie (my wife) son Bennie (visiting over school holidays) and me myself dropped a few flies into the river to see what would happen.
We caught quite a few yellows but I noticed damaged patches on their bodies. Open sores and scales missing testify to the weak condition of the fish. I figure this is still the result of the floods, as after the floods(previously mentioned by myself) most of the Carp I saw as well as yellows and mudfish were damaged in the same way. 

Back to the day.
Caught most on a homemade wasp pattern (two colour types) yellow and orange. Also Liefie caught a lot using an adapted PS Nymph pattern I tied, whereby a gold yarn is used to wrap the rabbit hair dubbed body/thorax and wings made of White Zebra mane hair with two or three strands of flashing. Fish grab this at a fantastic speed.
Over the long weekend we camped next to the Vaal dam and did a bit of 'pap gooi' but only caught small carp and grass carp.
Monday 5 April found us back at the river but due to the good rains over the weekend, 2 sluice gates were opened with a discharge of 307,18 m3/sec, and dam capacity at 101.70%. Fishing at our old spot was virtually impossible and the heavy mist from the sluices not helping much.
We moved to 'Rapids Pradise' and tried to fish there but without success.
I noticed 2 scruffy guys with a Durban registration bakkie, using throwing nets and catchig all size yellows and mudfish in the shallow water.
As this type of fishing using nets (including jigging) disgusts me I decided a plan of action was nedded.
Making it very obvious and making sure they saw me, I walked up to their bakkie and took photos of the registration number, the contents of the bakkie, and then to make it real good, took a couple of photos of the two of them with their nets, using my cell phone camera.
Then, ignoring their 'looks that could kill', Liefie and I calmly walked passed them and started casting our flies.
In about 5 minutes, they had packed their braai(not yet used) and other belongings, and dashed off at a high speed.
Amazing what a cell phone can accomplish.
Also stopped a few 'jiggers' on the Water Affairs side of the river by pulling rank.
Can you believe they said they are 'flyfishing' and the fish are biting good on their naked 3 point hooks.
Appears the sluises will remain open till the weekend, so I will have to keep myself busy with tying a few flies. 
Cheers to all until next time
'forever young'

‹ yellowfish fly patterns Conservation ›
Golden Yellow's picture

Injuries to Vaal River Yellows

Thu, 2010-05-20 02:03 — Golden Yellow

Catches of Yellowfish semed to have slowed down since the river flow has receded.
 
I have also noticed the damage to the fish but would like to suggest that these injuries are also being inflicted by the Comorants (Darters) as they are in abundance and are regularly seen hunting in the water. Their presence is also an indication that there are still a lot of fish around!
 
It would be interesting to know what their success ratio is; how many strikes at fish to how many successfully caught. Whatever it is, at any time you can see multitudes sunning themselves on the rocks as they digest their catch.
 
I have personally seen a Goliath Heron spear a good sized fish in the dam as well as several Comorants floating down the river trying to swallow fair sized fish, twisting their heads to and fro to manouvre the fish into their gullets!
 
The Yellowfish seem to have gone off nymphs somewhat and better catches are being made on dry fly, particularly Caddis imitations in the late afternoon. Surface fishing is always exciting as you can see where the fish are feeding and when they take your fly. It can also be very frustrating when they are feeding around your fly and never take it!
 
Whatever happens at the waters edge, it's always a pleasure to be there.