Fly Fishing

Movember fishing for stealhead on fly which I have been trying to get a hang of and learn, however I land up catching Walleye and Pike instead! Oh well, maybe I'll catch some stealhead next season...

Caught on a variety of dry flies.

caught nymphing with a Copper John fly

Mozambique is fast becoming the vacation destination of choice again because of it’s beautiful beaches, tropical waters and great improvement of infrastructure, to name but a few reasons.

Faraway lodge has 6 and 10 bed houses high on the dunes between palm trees close to Barra beach, rated as one of Mozambique's best beaches.

We also have a camping ground with baraccas and palm trees for shade, with electricity points, ablution with hot water, a swimming pool and bar with restaurant.

Faraway have something to offer everybody. It is very safe for kids and activities include:-

- World class diving – who has not heard of the mantas and whalesharks?

- Excellent snorkeling around shipwrecks, reefs or in the lagoon.

- Great fishing, deep sea, bill, game , fly fishing or rock and surf.

- Spearfishing. Safe entry and exit points for spearos who will enjoy the good viz, warm water and plenty of game fish behind the reef.

- Dhow trips to pansy island or across the bay to Maxixe for a traditional Portuguese lunch with a good chance of seeing dolphins en-route.

- Just enjoying the beach and the warm safe waters.

- Horse riding, quad trips and coastal flights are also available in season.

- Whale watching with pods residing for 4 to 6 months a year

The purists consider this region to have the finest river and stream beats on the African continent. Basie Vosloo, a  founder member of the Barkly Wild Trout Association, can  offer you the very best. Dam fishing is also available.

Distances:
Johannesburg - Birkhall: 883 km
Aliwal-North - Birkhall: 150 km

30°54’16.80”S
27°46’53.44”E
Altitude: 1810m

CRAIGROSSIE TROUT LODGES
Self Catering Cottage Accommodation
in Clarens, Free State, South Africa

At the foot of the Clarens and the majestic scenery of Golden Gate, lie the spectacular trout waters of CRAIGROSSIE.

CRAIGROSSIE extends over 170 hectares and is perfect to stretch the legs and fill the lungs with fresh air. The farm is situated 10 minutes from the picturesque town of Clarens. Facilities such as restaurants, walking and hiking trails a challenging golf course, tennis and squash courts as well as a number of shops, art galleries and interesting curios can be found in the town.

We have 2 large trout dams - one of 4 hectares and the other 5 hectares in size which are stocked with brown and rainbow trout.

There are 2 pairs of lodges on the farm. The lodges known as Woodland & Lakeside are double volume comprising an open plan living/kitchen area a shower room and a bedroom downstairs. The upper floor has another bedroom with a mezzanine with 2 made up beds on it. The lodge Lakeside has the same lay out except that the bedroom on the ground floor is en suite and has separate shower room off the living area. Each lodge sleeps 4 privately and 6 maximum in twin beds.

The lodges known as Poplars & Mountain View, which are single storey are approximately 200 metres away from Lakeside & Woodland. Poplars is wheelchair friendly with ramps and wide doors for access. The shower can be accessed by a wheelchair. This lodge comprises spacious open plan living/dining/kitchen area. Two separate bedrooms, with twin beds in each, and a shower room. Mountain View has the same layout with the difference that the main bedroom is en suite with a full bathroom with bath, and shower. It has a double bed and its own private deck with sliding doors off the bedroom. Both lodges sleep 4 people privately and a maximum of up to six. The couches in the lounge can be made up as extra sleeping space.

All the lodges have fully equipped kitchens, with all utensils, micro wave oven, gas stove and hob and fridge/freezer etc. Each lodge has its own braai area and jetty.

Sorry, No Dogs Allowed!
All activities at your own risk.

Fishing in Bhanga Nek and Kosi Bay

When fishing Kosi Bay, the main target species in the Kosi Bay Lake system are Grunter, Kingfish, Rock Salmon/Red Snapper, Yellowfin Bream and pick-handled pike.
Fishing at Kosi Bay along the coast, one can expect to catch Kingfish, Red Snapper, Specked Snapper, lemon fish, rock cod, sharks and rays.

Grunter
Grunter love Kosi Bay because the first and second lakes have very healthy populations of sand prawns ( Cracker Shrimp), which they blow from the sand in the shallower area. Grunter are caught on sand prawn and sardine bait on light tackle.
The favorite way of fishing for grunter at Kosi Bay is long lining, which entails taking lines out from the shore using a boat or a kayak, dropping them in deep water and leaving the baits to soak.
Long line fishing at Kosi Bay sounds simple, but can result in huge line tangles if the lines are dropped incorrectly.

Kingfish
Kingfish are predatory fish and are caught in all of the Kosi Bay lakes and from the sandy and rocky shore at Bhanga Nek, Black Rock, Island Rock, Mabibi, Goby's Point and 9 mile point. Kingfish are caught on artificial lures including Rapalas and soft plastics including 'drop shot' lures. These lures can be trolled or cast in the Kosi lakes and cast while fishing from the beach or rocky shore.
Surface plugs also work well in the surf, but if there are any rocks in the vicinity, make sure your tackle can take the punch or you will be wasting your time and leaving a beautiful fish with a hook and line attached to it!
Kingfish are often seen feeding on sprats in the first and second lakes, but spook easily when approached by boat.
Livebait is obviously the best bait for Kingfish, and pouter, mullet and glassies all produce good catches. If you cant get live bait, use big fillet baits or sand prawn or crab.

Rock Salmon
Rock Salmon/Red Snapper, are caught mainly at night on live bait or smelly fillet baits. Rock Salmon like structure and can be targeted along reed beds at night in all three of the Kosi Bay Lakes

Fishing Spots

Kosi Bay Fishing - Lake System

The First lake (closest to the sea), is almost as saline as the ocean, and is up to 12 meters deep in places. Grunter can be caught from the northern and southern bank of the lake. Big Kingfish are caught on livebait in the first lake. Sand Prawns/Crackers can be collected by permit holders only. Bait permits are available at the KZNCS offices at Kosi Bay.

The Second lake is up to 18 meters deep in places, and one often sees Kingfish feeding on sprats along the drop-offs. Dense populations of Sand Prawns attract Spotted Grunter to the Kosi second lake. The reedbeds along the banks make for good Rock Salmon fishing at night.

The Third lake is the shallowest, but largest of the Kosi Bay lakes. Trolling Rapalas works for Ignobilis and Big-Eye Kingfish. Yellowfin Bream are caught on anchor or drift with sardine or sand prawn.

Bhanga Nek Fishing - Rock and surf fishing

Fishing at Bhanga Nek in the daytime is best off the rocky shelf, and into the deeper channels along the beach. About 4km north of Bhanga Nek, there is broken rock in the surf zone, good for reef fish, but big Kingfish are difficult to land there.
Fly fishing and dropshot fishing at Bhanga Nek produces good catches of Ignobilis, Three Spot Pompano, Green Spot Kingfish and Garfish.

Black Rock
Black rock, about 20km south of Bhanga Nek, has deep water off the front of the rock, but landing a big fish off the front is difficult because of the height above water level. The Black Rock Bay is excellent for fly fishing and offers sheltered conditions when the south west busters come through. A permit is required to visit Black Rock. These can be bought at Manzengwenya and the KZNCS offices at the Third lake.

Great sized smallmouth bass. Gave a wonderful jump out of the water when the hook was set, check out the video!

Weather: Sunny and about 28 deg c.
Water Temp: about 22-24 deg c.
Flow rate: according to GRCA website was about 0.8 m3/s
Fly: Black Bunny Leech (my own variation)
Tied with no. 6 hook, black rabbit strip, copper cone head, olive ice dubbing for the body.
This fly is favorite of mine, especially for Bass fishing. It's one of those I've had in my fly box for a few years and just keeps evolving with new materials and different situations. This pattern can be made in any color that you can think of and in almost any size hook. Trout, Bass, Steelhead and Salmon have all happily snatched up this great pattern.