Not at all sure that the weather man knows what he is doing currently — perhaps the “Xmas Spirit” has gotten to him early, and he is just flicking switches as the weather is moving between extremes in the blink of an eye. One minute the temperature drops to near single figures and we are swimming in the rain, and the next minute it is cooking and you can’t get enough liquid in fast enough to maintain a sweat. Such is summer in The Midlands … you will no doubt recall the heatwave that was December last year.On the upside, the swings are pretty short-lived, and the weather roundabout will have us at the exact opposite pole shortly … and if the forecast is anything to go by, we are in for more of the wet, drippy stuff in the coming week.
It’s hard to tell if the weatherman is consulting a forecast — or just spinning a roulette wheel. Welcome to a Midlands summer. Blink and you’ve missed an entire season.
We all remember the furnace that was last December, so none of this should come as a surprise. The silver lining is that these swings don’t hang around for long. Last weekend’s rough weather kept most anglers sidelined, but for those willing to brave the elements, there are still fish about.
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The key, as always, is simply getting out there and making it happen. Recent rains have pushed river levels up and kept many anglers off the water. Upper reaches are running clear but strong, while lower sections are proper chocolate milk.
Best advice is to head upstream. Reports suggest “heavy metal” is the order of the day, with fast flows making dry fly fishing far less effective. A word of caution for anyone venturing into Blue Line waters — Berg thunderstorms can build fast, and flash floods are always a possibility.
Keep one eye on the sky. The upside of all this rain is full dams. Across the Midlands, levels are climbing fast.
Midmar currently sits at 96% full supply level, with Albert Falls close behind at 98%. A couple of decent storms should see both spilling any day now, likely before month-end. Stillwater reports from Natal Fly Fishers Club anglers have been limited, with access hampered by muddy, churned-up roads.
Only a single mention of fish came through, in the 20 to 30cm range. Water temperatures are climbing, with one report noting 21°C, which is pushing the upper comfort limit for trout. Warmer water means active food sources, and anglers are seeing plenty of minnows about. This is prime time for a solid minnow pattern.
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