Fly-aholic
New member
So,
After moving to CT, I have not done much fishing due to work pressure, and then they call it 'Slaapstad', well not where I'm working.
Searched the forum to pick-up on some threads regarding Zandvlei and stumbled upon a few Sealiners that frequent regularly.
So, a private message goes out and Bushbuck, replies with some valuable information.
Our discussion 1st refers to the conservation park of the vlei, single hooks on lures and then techniques. Very helpful gentleman.
Now, I am no expert but have extensive experience regarding being a salty fly fisher and lure angler. I was raised in PE and the Swartkops, Gamtoos and Sundays were regularly visited.
Nothing like the experts that show their great catches weekly and fish every weekend.
I pack my tackle including a few trusted top water and suspended hard lures. Accompanying the aforementioned are some buck tails and plastics, paddle tails and all.
14-pound braid, flouro leader and we are ready.
I have been warned about the bergies around the vlei and were given some pointers, where not to fish early in the mornings.
04h30 I arrive at the vlei and head for safety, the yacht club. It was still dark and I hear a huge commotion far out. As dawn approached I saw the huge chases in the middle of the vlei, too far to reach. So, hoping for a 'verdwaalde' leerie I cast my z-claw out, nothing.
Change retrieve and increase frequency of the walk, nothing. Increase speed even more and now I’m skipping the z-claw on the surface, nada, niks.
Against my better judgement I change to a skitter V, not my favourite lure, again nothing. Change back to the z-claw and do a very slow retrieve, like we catch spotties in the Swartkops, two swirls and I think this is it. 20 casts later, and a few swirls, nothing.
Decide to walk to the bend. Cast out the z-claw, swirls, damn must be large mullets. Then I see chases and cast amidst the mayhem, here she comes, from the left like a steam train, the bow wave clearly visible.
She stops dead, I mean that you can hear as she 'pulls ‘up the hand break, WHAT, no not possible.
So, the days continues, follow after follow, change retrieve, follow. Now, I'm not too fond of changing lures as I would rather change my retrieve. So, on goes the JNR Spook, change retrieves, nothing, no interest.
Other than learning to do the spotty retrieve initially I have never had such a frustrating day on the water.
I have been reading that the Fly liners have had success with very large flies i.e. 300mm! and I was fishing with 90mm and 110mm hard plastic lures.
Has anyone had the same experience at the vlei, I'm thinking taking a page from the FF that I should drastically increase my lure size to 140mm and see what happens. I think the leeries in the vlei are a bunch of gluttons, maybe my offering was 'just not worth the effort'.
Some insights to my experience would be greatly appreciated.
Tight lines and Happy New Year.
Kind regards,
Pierre.
After moving to CT, I have not done much fishing due to work pressure, and then they call it 'Slaapstad', well not where I'm working.
Searched the forum to pick-up on some threads regarding Zandvlei and stumbled upon a few Sealiners that frequent regularly.
So, a private message goes out and Bushbuck, replies with some valuable information.
Our discussion 1st refers to the conservation park of the vlei, single hooks on lures and then techniques. Very helpful gentleman.
Now, I am no expert but have extensive experience regarding being a salty fly fisher and lure angler. I was raised in PE and the Swartkops, Gamtoos and Sundays were regularly visited.
Nothing like the experts that show their great catches weekly and fish every weekend.
I pack my tackle including a few trusted top water and suspended hard lures. Accompanying the aforementioned are some buck tails and plastics, paddle tails and all.
14-pound braid, flouro leader and we are ready.
I have been warned about the bergies around the vlei and were given some pointers, where not to fish early in the mornings.
04h30 I arrive at the vlei and head for safety, the yacht club. It was still dark and I hear a huge commotion far out. As dawn approached I saw the huge chases in the middle of the vlei, too far to reach. So, hoping for a 'verdwaalde' leerie I cast my z-claw out, nothing.
Change retrieve and increase frequency of the walk, nothing. Increase speed even more and now I’m skipping the z-claw on the surface, nada, niks.
Against my better judgement I change to a skitter V, not my favourite lure, again nothing. Change back to the z-claw and do a very slow retrieve, like we catch spotties in the Swartkops, two swirls and I think this is it. 20 casts later, and a few swirls, nothing.
Decide to walk to the bend. Cast out the z-claw, swirls, damn must be large mullets. Then I see chases and cast amidst the mayhem, here she comes, from the left like a steam train, the bow wave clearly visible.
She stops dead, I mean that you can hear as she 'pulls ‘up the hand break, WHAT, no not possible.
So, the days continues, follow after follow, change retrieve, follow. Now, I'm not too fond of changing lures as I would rather change my retrieve. So, on goes the JNR Spook, change retrieves, nothing, no interest.
Other than learning to do the spotty retrieve initially I have never had such a frustrating day on the water.
I have been reading that the Fly liners have had success with very large flies i.e. 300mm! and I was fishing with 90mm and 110mm hard plastic lures.
Has anyone had the same experience at the vlei, I'm thinking taking a page from the FF that I should drastically increase my lure size to 140mm and see what happens. I think the leeries in the vlei are a bunch of gluttons, maybe my offering was 'just not worth the effort'.
Some insights to my experience would be greatly appreciated.
Tight lines and Happy New Year.
Kind regards,
Pierre.