Aaah, fly-fishing. That most civilised form of hunting that takes you to places wet and wonderful. Not so peaceful when you're accompanied by half of Gauteng though. If you love the cast, but hate the crowds there's only one place to head for, say the authors of "Don't Climb Kilimanjaro..."

The low-down on fly-fishing in Dullstroom

Not for nothing is Dullstroom known as 'Trouteng'. About two hours’ drive east of Johannesburg, the town has over the years developed a reputation as the fly-fishing suburb of Gauteng, with fantastic trout fishing in the many streams and rivers in the area.

Situated 2100m above sea level in the Steenkampsberg range, the misty, cool climate has a Scottish Highlands air about it. The Crocodile River, one of Kruger’s primary waterways, has its origins in Dullstroom, while the Lunsklip, Elands, Steelpoort and Klip rivers all also flow through the area. Marketed as offering the Five Fs, Dullstroom has 'fly-fishing, fireplaces, fauna & flora, fine food and fresh air'. Unsurprisingly, it is a popular weekend holiday destination for the Joburg crowd.

Sounds great: What's the problem?

Publicists manage to find the most interesting ways to put you off a place… The 'Five Fs'? Seriously?

It’s no surprise that Dullstroom's popularity has been its downfall; it now has a 'wide selection of elegant hotels and a variety of country accommodation, eateries, shops and activities' to water down the main reason for going. Since when has the noble art of fly-fishing mixed well with a happy family holiday? If you want a manly weekend away with mates, it’s time to head somewhere else.

Where to, then?

Once more maritime legend than reality, Bassas da India is a coral atoll about 10 kilometres in diameter that rises steeply from the southern Mozambique Channel about 400km west of Madagascar. A prime fishing and scuba-diving spot, the island has maintained its pristine exclusivity by virtue of being out of the way and hard to reach: chartered live-aboard yachts are the way to go.

READ MORE...

Originally published in 'Don't climb Kilimanjaro' by Two Dogs.
The area teems with game fish — tuna, kingfish, wahoo, dorado and more — though the underwater topography can make landing them trickier than first thought. You’ll try several techniques over a few days’ fishing at Bassas, but heavy tackle is generally necessary to haul in hooked fish quickly, preventing them from getting to the safety of the reef or being munched by sharks.

The atoll consists of a reef about 100m across encircling a shallow lagoon with a maximum depth of 15m. It is accessible at low tide for a few hours every day, when you can make use of fly rods to cast for kingfish, snappers, emperors, triggerfish and anything else that swims by — a unique angling experience. Fly-fishing in the middle of the ocean is a long way away from the five Fs of Dullstroom…

More info...

Visit www.go2africa.com.

Alternatives

  • Greater St Lucia Wetland Park: Head to KZN for a fly-fishing safari: get in some quality casting, then check out Big Five game-viewing in your spare time. If you have any.
  • Gabon: Nestled in the armpit of Africa, Gabon is proving to be a glorious destination for adventurous fly-fishermen. Get hold of a guide and prepare for fantastic, varied fishing.

AFP