Big barbel in the river where the freeway crosses about 1,5 clicks from the Barrage. If you are travelling towards Parys/Cape the spot is to the right of the bridge. I always fished on the Free State side but everytime we went someone was in "our" spot so my buds used to stop on the highway and drop me at the bridge. I would paddle the canoe to a spot opposite and camp on a lekker bank that nobody could get to. It was on private land but I never left a mess or got bust. Big fish taken on Muddy heads that were left out in the sun until nightfall. I never caught during the day. Off the bite.
Me and dad fish the Vaal River often. Near Vredefort we had a few good ones on a regular basis. My dad got a 11 kg with sardien heads. (Big mustad catfish hooks and 50lbs line).
The other day I went to the river and used a big muddy head, the barbel broke my 50lbs line.