Anton Hartman with a beaut Smallmouth caught on Dry Fly
The Vaal River is probably one of the most popular fly fishing destinations in South Africa. Every summer season thousands of eager fly anglers gather on the banks of the Vaal, armed and ready to take on the mighty indigenous Yellowfish.
As the Vaal temperatures start to increase around the changing season the Smallmouth Yellowfish become active and will move into shallower, flowing water to feed and of course spawn the next generation of feisty “yellows”. Anglers target these hungry feeders, who show similar feeding habits to that of river trout, using upstream nymphing and Czech nymphing tactics, often landing a good number of fish in a small stretch of water.
Aerial Shot Of The Vaal Barrage
So successful are these nymphing techniques that some anglers will overlook the modest little dry fly in their fly box of beaded nymphs and weighted caddisflies. However dry fly fishing on the Vaal River can be the most fun you will ever have and not to mention the size fish that are fond of a surface presentation.
It’s well documented that Smallmouth Yellowfish are tuned into surface feeding, a case in point is the popular Sterkfontein dam where thousands of yellowfish come up in gin clear water to feast on terrestrials and other winged insects on the surface of Sterkfontein dam. The Vaal River water clarity will never compare to that of Sterkfontein but that does not mean the Yellows hug the bottom of the river and won’t feed on the surface.
Smallmouth Yellowfish on Elk Wing Caddis
In the spring season, the Vaal can experience some insane hatches, thousands of caddisflies, mayflies, and midges can be seen struggling on the water surface. The Smallmouth Yellowfish go into feeding mode taking advantage of these vulnerable insects.
It’s my favorite time to target smallmouth yellows as they gently sip the insects off the surface leaving a slight ripple as the only evidence of their presence.
Smallmouth Yellowfish on 16 Para Adams
The best way to target surface feeding yellows on the Vaal is from an inflatable boat or tube. A boat gives you access to the deeper pools where the fish will be feeding, but some venues allow wading anglers to reach the “feeding zone” at the “head” and the “tail” of the pool. Before setting out make sure that your casting is accurate and your presentation gentle, don’t let the off-color Vaal water fool you into a false sense of security, these yellows are clever and will spook at the first loud splash or bright fly line swinging above their heads.
Fish longer leaders from 12 up to 15 foot and scale down your leader to 6 or 7-pound tippet material. Your fly selection is very much dependent on what’s hatching at the time but a good old “elk wing caddis” or similar style fly for your caddis hatch and a Parachute Adams, mayfly spinner or cdc dun for your mayfly hatch all in size 12, 14 and 16 works well for the Vaal.
Parachute Adams
When you hook into these feisty surface feeders hang on, they take off at a rate of knots leaving a massive wake behind. Often you will find that the better size fish also reside in the pools not wanting to expend too much energy in the fast-flowing rapids and rather waiting for the afternoon feeding frenzy to start. An 8-pound smallie on a size 16 dry fly is not uncommon.
Anton Hartman with 10lb + Smallmouth Yellowfish on dry fly
Area Fishing: South Africa
Discipline: Freshwater Fly
Species Targeted: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Smallmouth Yellowfish, Largemouth Yellowfish, Natal Scaly, Tigerfish, Bass, Carp
Rhuan grew up in a fishing family and being raised on the banks of the Vaal River he spent many hours targeting anything that swims. He started out as a lure angler fishing with his father in local bass circuits and money trails. He caught his first Yellowfish on fly in the Vaal River and has been hooked on fly fishing ever since. Nowadays Rhuan spends his time in the KZN midlands fishing the pristine trout waters in the area and every now and then he visits his home waters of the mighty Vaal River.
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