Dis 'n Vaal Vaal Winter - Terry Babich

Terry Babich

The big C-19 is keeping us off the water and the thought of fishing the Vaal River in winter is not normally the most exciting. The fishing prospect are looking rather bleak for the next few months, and that is of course only if we get a “get out of jail free” card.

The Vaal normally sees only a few anglers during winter. A couple will try their luck at dry fly fishing and a few diehards will be out there flogging the water in the scant hope of landing a largie or two. This seems to be where it all ends. Don’t get me wrong, this fishing is great when it comes together, but that is just it, it’s hardly ever fireworks and for most landing even one fish is a good day. More fishless days are accounted for on the Vaal in winter than in basically any other fishing. Yes, I know that that isn’t the case for everyone, but it is rather daunting.

I am going to touch on a few methods that can be used for species that can still be actively targeted in winter and which should result in pretty good success. The key to this is that you need to be open-minded and prepared for all opportunities because you seldom know the exact circumstance that will present itself on the day. With all the different rods and gear sticking out from it your boat will look a lot like a porcupine on heat.

We can start with the obvious species, the largemouth yellowfish. This fish, because of its difficulty to catch and frustrating scarcity, seems to have an almost mythical existence. Land a few of these and you will become a household name overnight, only to be whispered in awe. Largies require a lot of work, well placed flies and an endurance that will keep you alert for that one single bite that will come when you’re probably least prepared for it.

One of my clients, Jack Lotter, had some good success with a fly called the BDSM this past season. But behind its success were a lot of hours, hard work and determination.

This is what largie fishing is all about - hard work, good accurate casting and time on the water. So here is the bomb. It’s not the most exciting fish around. Poof bang bang bang. I just got shot, murdered, as the readers all gasp in surprise. If you want a largie then get out there, stay in touch with your flies and don’t even leave home until you can cast like really well if you want to see any measure of success.

Why am I so ugly about largies? Because ladies and gents there is much more to the Vaal in winter than just that.

A few anglers with good skills and a good ability to spot fish will be out there, especially late afternoon, throwing diminutive flies at some respectable smallmouth yellows. This is a lot more exciting. The weather and conditions can throw a damper on the day but when it comes together it is great sport.

Leading up to the hatches and dry fly action why not you throw a few streamers, small MSPs or a small leach? The upside to this is that there are some really good size smallies around and with the water in winter being so much clearer they fight like hell and give a very respectable account of themselves. Last winter I spent a bit of time on the water with Geoff Muir. We spent a lot of time drifting and swinging nymphs and caddis patterns in the tail-outs. We landed a good bunch of fish. Interestingly, the strike indicator came out to play and delivered more fish than the conventional nymphing methods. If you’re keen you can do a bit of deep water nymping you will be well surprised at how the yellows, muddies and the occasional moggle keep you busy and how good tallies of fish can be landed.

If you like muddies like I do then dredging really slow and deep in tail-outs and sand banks will deliver a good few tugs. Heavy flies accompanied by a few bright coloured caddises will do the job. Yellows have a preference for natural and orange colours and muddies love chartreuse and red. Coming back to being prepared for anything, many mudfish were landed last season on black flies fished to tailing fish. Yes, you heard me, ”tailing fish“ in shallows and slow flowing water and, yes, in the mouth. That’s fishing for you, every year might bring something different.

The Vaal is full of really good carp, although they are a little more difficult to find and catch. But they are there.

A good method to use is to keep an eye out for feeding bubbles. If you can sight fish to this species you can rig up with a conventional inverted or upside-down fly so commonly fished abroad for carp. Cast

over the bubbles, let the fly sink to where the fish is and either leave it until you get a tug or give it a little pull every now and then. These bigger carp are happy to snap up a nice gaudy fly and will keep you very busy on a fly rod if you hook one.

Just remember that all fish must still eat in winter

Sometimes you actually see them tailing and you can cast more directly at the fish, but you need to be careful not to spook them. If the water is still warm you might be able to physically see the fish and present a carp tugger, a caddis or a fritz to it. You may even see a bubble line or foam on the surface and have a chance to drop a fly in front of the carp or drift a fly to one.

The key here is that if you see foam on the water you should go and investigate as you may only see the fish on close inspection. No, this foam doesn’t always means pollution, it is often a completely natural phenomenon in winter. You will also see catfish here and these can also be caught on dry fly.

Before this gets too long-winded let’s quickly touch on catfish. They are in abundance in the river and landing one in between rocks and lifting it onto the boat can be a real challenge. But challenges are what flyfishing is about, isn’t it?

You should still be able to use your six weight for catfish, although I would suggest something heavier if you want to actively target them. A big MSP or weighted largie

You should be able to spot the characteristic sight of fish breaking the surface in the shallow, slightly warmer water or even the herding of small bait fish against the river banks.

Cast over them and do a slow, steady, nearly continuous retrieve and you will almost certainly go tight. Just be prepared to be in for a long fight. The average size of a winter catfish can be over ten kilograms with some whoppers making a regular appearance.

Just remember that all fish must still eat in winter and that they just do it differently compared to in the summer months.

Richard Wands guided into a largie