A Long Weekend in Underberg

A Long Weekend in Underberg

Fly Fishing, Fresh Water, Trip Report, Trout
If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times...no long weekend should ever go to waste. And since it had just been Nick and Tarryn's birthdays, we decided to do a family trip to Underberg for a little fishing and relaxation. Sadly my Jeep was in the shop so I borrowed my mom's Corolla and quickly packed it on Friday morning before the 7am departure time. Amazingly it almost seemed to fit in more than the Jeep and we easily packed all my fishing equipment, including my float tube, as well as Emma's pram and various other bags. I was truly impressed. [caption id="attachment_1349" align="alignleft" width="300"] A misty afternoon at Lund's Dam[/caption] We met up with Nick, Tarryn and Mila at our usual garage on the N3 and…
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The Boston Fly Fishing Festival 2013

The Boston Fly Fishing Festival 2013

Event, Fly Fishing, Fresh Water, Trip Report, Trout
[caption id="attachment_1303" align="alignnone" width="900"] Sunset on route to the Boston Dargle Fly Fishing Festival[/caption] After having taken part in the inaugural Boston Dargle Fly Fishing Festival in 2011 (and having then missed the second festival due to my wedding) there was absolutely no chance that we were going to miss the third running of this (now) legendary festival. So we made sure we got our entries in early and then counted down the days until the festival began. [caption id="attachment_1304" align="alignleft" width="300"] View over Ivanhoe[/caption] When Friday, the day of registration, finally arrived my day in the office dragged. Thankfully I managed to sneak out a little early and headed for my house where two of my team mates, Nick and Neill, were meeting me at 4pm. We threw all…
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Lesotho 2013

Lesotho 2013

Fly Fishing, Fresh Water, Trip Report, Trout
[caption id="attachment_964" align="alignleft" width="225"] Ian kitting up his bamboo rod[/caption] After a week of nervous weather watching our day of departure for Lesotho arrived and, as expected, it was raining. The four of us climbed in the Jeep and began the three hour journey that would take us up Sani Pass and into the Mountain Kingdom. Although none of us were new to fishing in the rain, navigating a pass that had been eroded by daily downpours (and was more the likely slippery and wet) was an obstacle that lay in the way of our fishing. We were also a little nervous that the river would be too high and that the trip would be in vain. We made our usual first stop for fuel and coffee and quickly learned that any slowing of…
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Midmar Bass Bashing

Midmar Bass Bashing

Bass, Fly Fishing, Fresh Water, Trip Report
[caption id="attachment_888" align="alignleft" width="300"] Launching At Midmar[/caption] Amazingly it had been 8 years since Nick and I last visited (and camped) at Midmar Dam in the Kzn Midlands. Yes, it's not as scenic as the mountains and bass are not as fondly thought of as trout by most fly fisherman; but we're not most fly fisherman! So when a long weekend popped up just before Christmas we packed the vehicles, hitched the boat, and took the families up to Midmar for a relaxing weekend with a "little" fly fishing. We arrived at around 6pm on Friday evening which left us just enough light to pitch the tents and get camp ready before darkness fell. Then the beers came out, the fire was lit, and we began the usual discussions of…
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Nick’s Underberg Virginity, Broken

Nick’s Underberg Virginity, Broken

Fly Fishing, Fresh Water, Trip Report, Trout
Friday the 24th finally saw Nick head out to test the much talked about waters of the UHTFC (in Underberg) with Neill in tow to show him the ropes. After a late start due to an issue on the N2 we departed Assagay at 17:15 in high spirits. [caption id="attachment_863" align="alignright" width="226"] UHTFC Sign[/caption] The drive up was uneventful and tales of how the waters were dominated on past trips filled most of the 220km road trip. I was praying silently that I would A) catch a fish, and B) it would be a lunker. We pulled into Undies around 19:30 and headed to “Woolies” hoping to grab some meat. Unfortunately they were closed so we opted for KFC. We pulled into our accommodation, scoffed the KFC, cracked some ice…
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Another Underberg Himeville Trout Fishing Club Trip

Another Underberg Himeville Trout Fishing Club Trip

Fly Fishing, Fresh Water, Trip Report, Trout
[caption id="attachment_585" align="alignleft" width="300"] Hail On Arrival In Underberg[/caption] Having been up to Underberg earlier this year I was quick to accept another invitation to go up and fish a few of the UHTFC (Underberg Himeville Trout Fishing Club) waters. I put in a half day’s leave and met Neill at Plantations at 1pm. We promptly packed up the Jeep and were soon on the road to Alan’s house in Underberg. After weeks of rain (over 400mm in a month which normal has around 90mm) I was glad to see that the weather sites all agreed that it would be a sunny weekend. That said there was a severe storm warning for the Underberg area on Friday and it certainly didn’t disappoint. Thankfully we had just carried the last of…
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Kamberg And The Bushmans

Kamberg And The Bushmans

Fly Fishing, Fresh Water, Trip Report, Trout
[caption id="attachment_558" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Warren Prior Fly Fishing Kamberg At Sunset[/caption] Another long weekend and another trip to the Berg to dominate some wild browns and rainbows. Sadly my last minute booking meant Kamberg was he only venue available and I was forced to head there for the umpteenth time, which isn’t really a bad thing. [caption id="attachment_559" align="alignleft" width="300"] Fly Fishing The Bushmans River[/caption] Friends of ours were staying at Giants Castle (yes, I was jealous) so Sharon and I headed for the Bushman’s River to kick the weekend off. We left just after 5am and were on the river by 8am ready to hunt down a few wild browns. Thanks to the recent snow falls and heavy rains the river was high, but definitely fishable. Things started off…
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Cape Vidal (With The DFT And South Coast Fly Anglers)

Cape Vidal (With The DFT And South Coast Fly Anglers)

Fly Fishing, Salt Water, Trip Report
[caption id="attachment_544" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Cape Vidal Teaser Image[/caption] After the success of the first Cape Vidal trip in April we headed back, this time with 14 fly fishermen from Team Baha, the DFT and South Coast Fly Anglers, to try our luck yet again. [caption id="attachment_547" align="alignleft" width="300"] The Boys Fishing The Ledges At Vidal[/caption] Nick picked me up just before 4am and we quickly passed Jan and Gavin on Fields Hill as if they were standing still. Clearly it was going to be a long drive for them with Jan cruising at a conservative 100km/hr on the freeway. Our first stop was at the garage just before the Mvoti Toll Plaza where we met up with Clinton and Hayden (and waited for Jan and Gavin). They eventually arrived as…
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Kamberg Snow Adventure

Kamberg Snow Adventure

Fly Fishing, Fresh Water, Trip Report, Trout
[caption id="attachment_523" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Panorma Of Eland Dam, Kamberg Nature Reserve[/caption] With the news of heavy snow falls on Tuesday and some light snow on Wednesday there was only one place that the Baha Boys were going to spend Woman's Day...and that was being manly in the Berg with a little fly fishing on the side. [caption id="attachment_521" align="alignright" width="300"] Warren Prior Fly Fishing In The Snow[/caption] We decided to head up slightly later than normally knowing that the water temperatures would be cold and that the fishing would be slow. That said we didn't want to leave it too late since there was bound to be lots of people heading up to see the snow. So at 6am Nick arrived at my door, we packed the Terios, and headed…
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Underberg Himeville Trout Fishing Club (UHTFC)

Underberg Himeville Trout Fishing Club (UHTFC)

Fly Fishing, Fresh Water, Trip Report, Trout
[caption id="attachment_505" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Turners Cottage[/caption] The weekend got off to an early and exciting start when I left the office at lunch time. The UHTFC (Underberg Himeville Trout Fishing Club) had been kind enough to invite me up to their waters for the weekend to see just what the club had to offer. It was an opportunity I certainly couldn't turn down. After a quick lunch Neill picked me and we started the journey to Underberg. One of the committee members, Alan, had offered to host us for the weekend so we headed straight for his house. Upon arrival we quickly unpacked a few of our bags, threw a few beers into the fridge, and Alan then took us straight to our first water, Finelands. [caption id="attachment_507" align="alignright" width="225"]…
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