Wild fish
Uniquely shallow lake
Abundant food
When you take an epic journey over mountain passes, there is always that fear that the destination won’t be worth the effort. But with Vrederus, you arrive at a place that has you planning your return before you even leave.
Features of the stillwater fishing at Vrederus
1.
It’s best fished with a float tube or a pair of chest waders and the dam supports heavy weedbeds and structure.
2.
Natural patterns fished on lighter tippets on floating and intermediate lines is the most successful means of targeting wild trout.
3.
Sometimes you have to work for your fish – these are wild fish with a lot of food options!
Naude’s Lake
How to fish Naude’s Lake:
Although Naude’s Lake is a large body of water, the extensive weed beds mean you need to plan your fishing carefully to avoid fishing over large bodies of weed that aren’t holding fish. Typically, fish move in the shallow waters (surface to 50cm) throughout the lake in low light conditions and this is an ideal time to fish a floating line and dry fly. But you need to be on the water before the sun is up very high OR alternatively, wait until the sun is below the horizon.
Once the sun is up, the fish move into the deeper pockets of the lake although this still means water of only about 50cm – 1,2m so a floating line is still fine. The channel which starts opposite the line of willow trees or working around the willow trees are 2 very good places to start. The dam wall and causeway areas are very productive and hold the deepest water (still only around 2m) but when the sun is high, an intermediate line can be used here.
Fish shallow (unless the sun is high) and fish slowly and you will be rewarded by big and wild trout up to 11lbs!
How to fish Jurg’s Dams:
The main feature at Jurg’s Dams is the prevelent structured weed-beds lining their banks. The lower of the two dams is very deep, and sinking small nymphs on long tippets has proven an effective way of getting down to the feeding zones. A dead drift often get’s the bite here.
Both dams are fished well at midday, often when the wind is blowing down the valley, towards the dam walls – this is where insects and other food collects.
Expect large, hard fighting fish.
