gouritz source to sea

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DeWaLdMeYeR1

Member
Hi Guys,
just a quick report.
a few days ago while enjoying a cold one with Panzerfaust he invited me along on his trip to Gouritzriver. I obviously could not let this opportunity pass me by and had my gear packed within a day or 2.
The trip is know as the the Gouritz Grand slam. You start off at Vaal hoek only a few Km downstream from the beginning of the Gouritz river near Rooiberg Pass. the mission is to connect with as many species as possible with Grand slams offered as
Grand slam silver: 4 species including 1 saltwater species
Grand slam gold: 5 species including 1 saltwater species
Grand slam platinum: 6 species incl 2 saltwater species
this challenge also provides you with the change to catch a smallmouth yellowfish as well as a leerie in one day! not possible anywhere else in the country!
So bags were packed early Wednesday morning to hit the road to vaalhoek. we departed early morning and arrived on site at about 12noon.
 

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DeWaLdMeYeR1

Member
Henkie Altena and Phillip Meyer doing a quick scout of the water from the local braai...
 

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DeWaLdMeYeR1

Member
after unpacking the bags we soon made out way to the river banks for a bank session. after reaching the banks with my first cast as well as the first cast for the trip I connected with this lovely young smallmouth yellowfish. a first for me on fly but not to be the last.
 

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DeWaLdMeYeR1

Member
Obviously lines flew through the air as this fish was landed and a few more fish were taken for the afternoon including some yellowfish smallmouth bass blue gills as well as a young carp. With most of the team returning to camp me and Panzerfaust decided to hang around untill dusk. turns out to be a good decision as I was rewarded with this nice 45cm Carp. also a first for me on fly. was a great moment and I was glad I had my buddy there with me. He quickly snapped a few beautiful shots and the fish was returned.
 

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DeWaLdMeYeR1

Member
the next morning we headed off to a bigger pool in the river with the float tubes. Fishing didnt go all as planned for us salties but the freshwater anglers tactics paid off even though the fishing was slow. here is Johan with one of 2 nice yellows that was taken that morning.
 

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DeWaLdMeYeR1

Member
later on Phillip got into some bass action and landed a few nice small and largemouth bass, but overall us salties had a very slow days fishing and opted to connect with the rum.
The next morning we woke up with beautiful weather and decided to do a morning session on the banks once again and just soak up the goodness that is mother nature! Vaalhoek is really a majestic place!
 

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DeWaLdMeYeR1

Member
With water that good looking I knew patience would pay off and it was not long before I connected with a lovely 35cm small mouth bass followed by a 32cm shortly after. by 8:30 I was on 3 smallmouth bass and a juvenile largemouth and promptly made the decision to move as time is counting down to lines up.
 

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DeWaLdMeYeR1

Member
after spotting some movement in the pool I was fishing and not getting into any bass I knew it had to be something else and that I just had to play it cool and the results will come. I made a few more casts and was fortunate enough to connect with a lovely 35cm carp followed by a 40cm carp 2 casts later which ended my freshwater section with 5 species ie. smallmouth and largemouth bass, smallmouth yellow, carp and numerous bluegills. Now I just needed that saltwater species. The last morning a few more bass and carp were caught as well as Johan with yet another yellowfish.
 

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DeWaLdMeYeR1

Member
Well with the bags packed we took on the long drive to Gouritz river mouth where we had to try our hand at the salties. As always windy conditions made fishing a bit tough and no fish were landed. I came very close to hooking a southern moonie but just could not connect. the next morning we all left for the upper bridge area. Raimer came very close to hooking into a few leeries but could also not seem to connect. with lots of effort and the rest of the teaming heading back for breakfast I managed a small leerie on a bait fish sprat. small indeed but still a saltwater specie on fly giving me the Golden grand slam.
 

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DeWaLdMeYeR1

Member
that afternoon had us fishing in near gail force winds. we sighted a massive leerie feeding as well as a odd grunter but none within casting distance leaving us empty handed for the afternoon. the next morning me and Panzerfaust stayed in packing our gear for the long trek back home. the rest of the team returned excited with most of them getting into some leerie action. in the end it was only Phillip who was able to connect and landed this nice young leerie.
 

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DeWaLdMeYeR1

Member
Thanks Raimer (panzerfaust) for the oppertunity. big ups to Phillip from Flytalk for arranging the trip as well as Henkie Altena and Wikus from Fly.Fish for their excellent service, organization, advice and their general way of being! Great people all of you! here sits the master Henkie from Fly.Fish doing his business!!
 

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T

Tuna fish

Senior Member
Hi Dewald

hat a awesome trip to do ! Would love to have a crack at it. Are you fishing private waters ?

Cheers

TF
 
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DeWaLdMeYeR1

Member
hi TF
The freshwater angling was done in the rooiberg pass nature reserve. admittance is only allowed with Henkie from flydotfish. thats why its so untouched!
 
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DeWaLdMeYeR1

Member
thx guys,
really had a great time!
spoedvraat ek kom mar min daar hoekom? was so paar weke terug daar. my vriend het n chase op lepel gekry en n mooi gurnard gevang. buiten vir dit was ek lanklaas daar.
 
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