The Midlands has been under a spell of mild weather recently — some would say it’s been too nice! — so before a state of complacency is reached, bear in mind that some of the worst winter weather (or “best”, depending on one’s view of snow and ice), has pitched up in September when it’s supposedly Spring, but Madame Winter put her foot back in the door before being shut out.
This weekend sees a dip in temperatures, with mornings in the low single-figures and getting up to mid-teens around midday, as a result of the current forecast showing that there might be some light snow up top.
The Midlands is dry, and water levels are dropping — fingers crossed that we do indeed get some late “real” winter weather and runoff to feed the catchments and streams and ease the waters through before the summer rains arrive.
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However there are strong indications from the global weather watchers, that there is a “Super El Nino” on the way, which typically causes hotter and drier conditions across SA.
With the trout streams still closed for the next six weeks, for those anglers targeting the moving waters, yellowfish / scaly are the primary target.
For those brave enough, and the necessary tackle (sometimes) to back it up, the notorious tackle-busting “Whiskered Mermaid” will certainly assuage the need for a bend in the rod, whatever flavour of stick one might be fishing.
The recent outage experienced by The Natal Fly Fishers Club website has resulted in limited news coming from the NFFC waters. From the few returns on hand, there have been a few good fish that have come to the net. Flies that have produced fish are damselfly nymph, and the so called egg patterns / blob.
The issue to the NFFC website is set to be resolved shortly (at the time of writing), online forms have been created for the process of booking and submitting returns, but if required, please contact the secretary or chairperson directly for any further assistance that may be required.
ALSO READ | Cold front and snowfall sets stage for prime winter fishing
Last weekend saw Leg3 of the TOPS Corporate Challenge taking place on the waters in and around Nottingham Road – with a total of 189 fish reported by 14 teams of anglers, fishing was decidedly tough in the cold, crystal clear waters, and the weather being “too nice” (and a plummeting barometer), resulting in dead flat, calm conditions requiring technical skills to entice the wily trout.
There were hatches of caddis and midge, and small dry flies, or dry and dropper, was the name of the game.
Biosecurity protocol remains a critical component for the control of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). All anglers (and visitors) traversing The Greater Midlands are advised to take heed of biosecurity measures, and to heed all biosecurity notices / signage around The Midlands, and to please comply with any movement regulations, and assist where possible with hygiene and risk-reduction measures to safeguard local livestock.
The 24-hour biosecurity spray stations on the Kamberg Road at the Connington Road junction, and at the beginning of the amaHlubi Tribal area on the way up to Giant’s Castle are required stops for all travelers going up and down the valley.
On the international fly fishing front – this week saw :
* the finals of the 23rd World Youth Fly Fishing Championships (U19 and U24) taking place July 16-22, in Ballybofey, Ireland … South Africa currently lying fourth place overall, with everything to fish for, for a place on the podium!
* The Protea Senior Ladies are currently in Norway, in practice week for the fifth World Ladies Fly Fishing Championships, July 27-August 2, in the Innlandet region, north of Oslo, in the middle of Norway.
* The Protea Men’s Masters, including local Midlands angler Shane Sclanders, are also in Norway, in practice week for the 11th World Masters Fly Fishing Championships, July 27-August 2, in Koppang, Norway.
The water quality issues at Albert Falls Dam gained traction with a damning uMngeni-uThukela Water report documenting waste water feeding into the dam, further fueling the “Save Albert Falls” campaign.
With winter bass fishing usually on the slow, on the upside, there have been some fish coming out at Midmar and some private waters, while Inanda Dam remains the current jewel in the local bass crown.
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Get ready for the biggest Shad fishing event of 2026! Join the Foton and KingFisher Shad Fishing Competition from August 14-31 for your chance to compete for an incredible R85 000 prize pool, including R60 000 for first place, R15 000 for second place, and R10 000 for third place. Entry is just R250, and entries are open now.
Visit kingfisher.co.za, fotonsa.co.za, or any of our eight KingFisher branches to get your tickets today. The 2026 Foton and KingFisher Shad Fishing Competition is where the next big catch could be worth R60 000!
Please send any info about fishing or fish caught in your area to Vinesh Soogreem at [email protected]
