The recent rains have pushed the level of the Mngeni System across the Midlands to 95% — and with both Midmar and Albert Falls over 96% FSL, the next BIG rains will push these waters over the wall. There was some excitement that Midmar had already started going over, but this was wind-driven surface water in last week’s storm that wreaked havoc in Hilton. Reports are that there has also been plenty more rainfall at the mountains, and that the rivers and streams are coming down full bore.
The upper reaches remain relatively clear due to the natural vegetation, but lower down, any runoff from cleared areas will input some serious chocolate colour. With the flows up, last week’s suggestion of a third leg (wading staff) is even more prescient for those anglers planning to tackle the moving waters. There have been no returns from the Natal Fly Fishers Club river anglers for the past week.
The local community contact for The Bushman’s River reported that the river was “high”, with a likelihood of more rain — usually an indication that trees, cars and buildings could come floating down. A report from further afield noted that the weather and river conditions were “challenging, to put it mildly” — “definitely not dry fly water”. The angler did, however, put a weighted nymph rig down and was rewarded with a solid brown trout.
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Well done for persevering; and this after taking a tumble. The NFFC stillwater anglers did not fare much better over the past week — just a few returns, most making some snide remark about the weather — but a single return with a fish, and a good one at that, landing in the 19-21 inch / 48-53cm class. Surface water temperature was reported at 18-19°C.
Weather again playing a large role here … you might get chased off the water by an afternoon thunderstorm, but the period before is (usually) the most productive. And if you ain’t out there, you certainly ain’t catching, and there are some private stillwaters that are happily giving up the goods and showing off their residents. Of news to the fly-tying fraternity is that Ed Herbst, widely considered to the High Priest of Fly-tying (and small stream fly fishing) in South Africa, has released his long-await book, The Delicate Fly Fisher.
There is an inspection copy available to preview at Kingfisher PMB, and print-on-demand copies can be ordered on Amazon. To assist landowners in protecting cattle/dairy stocks in the increasing concerns around foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in The Midlands, the NFFC has closed a number of its waters at their request, and the NFFC further requests all anglers to please follow any landowner/staff/SAPS/SANDF requests to respect their vehicle/footwear bio-security and transport/travel protocols as required. Once again, no word from the bass anglers at Albert Falls; Midmar is reportedly still giving some numbers of small(er) size fish.
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