What a lekker weekend.
We arrived in the valley about midway between Tugela Ferry and Kranskop at around 16:00 on Friday after watching the Sharks squeak home in a tight game.
After meeting the local chief Dlamini and dropping off the required gratuity, we quickly erected our camp on a grass bank on the edge of rather fast flowing pool. The water was brown which dashed our hopes of really targetting the scallies but no sooner were the baits in the water, when a really serious barbel run ensued. We caught probably around 20 small barbel with a small scallie and one eel thrown into the mix.As the light began to fade I appropriated the scallie head, splitting it down the middle and attachng it to a 10/0 circle. Popped it into an eddy just behind a big rock and while trying to get a little overwind undone on my Trini 12 went vas with a good fish. Short tussle later a beautiful grey very fat barbel of aroun 10kgs was on the bank.
A couple of beers and we retired for the night. We woke the next morning to blazing heat. It was well over 40 degrees from literally 07:30 in the morning. All movement became very slow but an intrepid party did head upstream and came back with a few small barbel and a nice scallie of around 3 pounds.
We soon were forced into the river to cool down as action was pretty slow, rumours of crocodiles aside.
The evening fireworks were not forthcoming the second night. That said in putting in a big fish fillet further down the pool, i spotted two green eyes looking back at me aroun 40 metres down from our camp. They were around 20 - 25 cm apart.
Nice - so there are crocs
While a great braai was underway interspersed by a couple of smallish barbel the heavens opened up and we were treated to a pirotechnic display of note.
Everyone sheltered in the cars and emerged a little more bedraggeled a hour later.
I opted to sleep under the gazebo again and just before bed dropped a fresh fillet far downstream. Not 2 minutes after climbing into bed at around 10pm the ratchet started, grrr, grrr - with the 10/0 circle in pace I left the bugger. Hook yourself you S%&t was the thought process. For the next 3 hours my sleep was interuppted by regular short runs. Eventually at 01:30 it became persistent and I was 'forced' to get up. Hook was already set and I reeled in a long range fish that gave a good account of itself. Another beautiful grey barbel of around 7 or 8 kgs and fat as a pig. Time for sleep.
We woke the next day and started breaking camp. The youngsters (who view you as the regular DSTV channel) arrived in full force with a view of the spoils. They were not dissappointed as they were soon feasting on vienna's, cheese, bread etc. The inevitable ama hooks request soon followed and we provided them with a few hooks sinkers and some line.
True as bob, not 5 minutes later a youngster walks up from jts below us carring a 4 or 5 poind scallie proudly. mmmm, makes you wonder.
Anyway - great weekend - fun fishing and great opportunity for spending time with mates.
I am certain to return but next time will make it a backpack mobile excursion as there is some awesome water a couple of km's down stream that cannot be accessed by a vehicle.
My monstor barbel and umbogwaan (eel) still alludes me but will come, of that I am sure!
My camera remained in my bag as usual, but the other guys got some pics - will post when I get a chance.
