Please can you email me with some locations for a great fly fishing experience around Umkomaas.

We are going camping in December and would love to make the most of our adventure.

Looking for day fishing spot with picnicking facilities or name of nearest restaurant for lunch.
On our way to area at present.
Much appreciated

Regards
Hayley

Sorry about the delayed response. I recently immigrated to Australia and I’ve had limited access to the website during the transition. I hope you had a great trip and managed to pick up a few trout. Please let me know how it went.

For the benefit of everyone else, here are my recommendations…

The first thing I’d recommend is attending Rob’s talk on Tuesday evening, that’s assuming you’re not just there for the weekend. He works at the local hatchery (who also happen to stock Castleburn) and is a wealth of knowledge on both trout, and the fishing conditions at Castleburn.

Next I’d recommend fishing the lake, and not the smaller dams. The dams are there to fish for the pot, are a little small, and can get crowded. That said they can be challenging due to the rod pressure and are your only option if you’re wanting to stick a fish on the braai.

The lake on the other hand is where the fun is at. It’s a massive expanse of water with incredible structure and unlimited fishing options. It may take a while to work out and, despite what a lot of people say, there are a lot of fish in there. Just take a stealthy walk around the fringes in the evening and you’ll spot a handful of fish.

I had my most success during sunrise and sunset, and tended to limit my fishing to these times. That said, it was also a family trip so I spent most of the rest of the day on family activities.

As for fly selection, I found smaller flies to be the most successful, specifically those which were white in colour. Obviously this could change quickly so work your way through your box, but this may be a good starting point.

Good luck!

Cheers,
Warren