The majority of South Africa, and specifically the Eastern Cape, has just survived quite a severe drought. When your business is fishing, it has quite an impact!
Weekend walkabout
Posted by Annabelle on Sat September 27, 2025 in Fly Fishing for trout.
What should we do over the weekend, maintenance or fishing? Mmmm, is this a trick question?
Alan hates doing maintenance over the weekend. Not because he wants to rest or fish, but because there is always something you need from the hardware store, and they're not open! Except Bismilah's, they're always open, but they don't always have the variety that you need. So, when the water pump to the guesthouse packed up at 10pm on Saturday evening, after fiddling with it for 2 hours, I eventually convinced him to leave it till Sunday morning. At least if would be light, and you could see what you were doing! But, alas, after a further 3 frustrating hours on Sunday morning, we eventually decided that fishing was a much better idea.
We packed something to eat and a little liquid refreshment and set off to see how one of the trout waters was doing. Twenty minutes before lightning chased us off the water, with three bumps and one fish, we have high hopes. The rainy season is almost here, the weed has died down a bit, so when the water level rises, the trout will thrive!
The smile on Alan's face says it all. The latest stocking was successful. Holding thumbs for the Spring and Summer rains to fall before the farmer needs to empty the dam even more.
Further Reading
Surviving the drought
Mon May 1, 2023
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Operation: Rescue Trout
Sat October 29, 2016
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This last weekend, we decided to mount a rescue mission. With the drought that is gripping South Africa, the rains have been very patchy, with some areas receiving just enough rain to keep the dams filled, but others receiving little if no rain. The Bankberg Troutfishers Club trophy water in the Cradock area unfortunately falls within one of the unlucky areas. So, last weekend, we decided to try to rescue as many...
Mountain Dam Madness - Fly Fishing in Somerset East
Wed June 10, 2015
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When summer turns to autumn, this change of season provocative; hot days, cold nights, drizzle or gusts of icy winds, and water temperatures that drop dramatically.
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