The Fishing
The Fishing
Fishing on all the properties is flyfishing only and strictly catch-and-release. A senior Mavungana Flyfishing guide will be in attendance during all fishing sessions. They will assist with techniques and valuable seasonal insight into the waters, ensure fish are handled and released properly and also record valuable fish details.
A selection of high-end imported flyfishing tackle is available for guests’ use.
The waters will be rested and rod pressure thoughtfully managed. The warm months of January, February and March, will be carefully monitored and the fishing closed off if warm water over 18 degrees threatens the health of the fish.
Trout Valley
The three dams are fed by extensive wetlands on the property unaffected by runoff from other properties or development and have been magnificently engineered, providing an excellent variety of depth and sunlight penetration, maximising invertebrate life and habitat for the trout. There are islands, solid earth access points, hardwood casting jetties, new steps and a wrought-iron bridge over the spillway. The size and depth of the Trout Valley Upper main dam is breathtaking. The water volume and quality generated by the immense Palmietfontein wetland that feeds it and the massively enriched food chain makes this arguably the best stillwater in the Dullstroom.
There are two other dams on the farm, Duck Pond and Trout Valley Lower. Both have undergone some significant improvements since taking over, including creating additional earth casting points and bays. The full aquatic food chain was re-established upon refilling of Duck Pond including the translocation of tadpoles, insect larvae and three different species of endemic minnows that occur in the Trout Valley Upper system. Inflows have been enhanced and packed with attractive rock to increase oxygenation and circulation benefit.
A strategically-placed system of circulators will attract sexually mature fish during spawning time. These are then netted, carefully weighed, measured and stripped of their eggs which are fertilised. The main purpose of this is to free the huge females of accumulated eggs that they would not be able to drop and would eventually cause them to become egg bound and die. These females are then revived and returned and will be able to live and grow another season reaching the impressive sizes we are consistently landing.
Longmeadow
Several pools of the Crocodile river shaded by old established trees and the large Stillwater stretching back into its very own water source, the large wetland running at the base of Dullstroom’s Suikerbossie mountain. The Longmeadow dam had been in place for many years, with Anglo owning the farm since the 1960s; in 1987 the dam was improved upon further by Anglo; huge drop offs, productive shallows, an impressive wall and multiple casting jetties, a boat house and rowing boat all to give the angler’s access to depths in which the monsters of local angling folk lore exist.
There is a picturesque stretch of the Crocodile River with three long deep weirs and a further three wild, loose stone runs holding rainbows and running under shady willow trees.
Careful, scientific fishery management will ensure this fishery will continue to grow even further season after season.
