Queenstown Fly Fishing Club Andrew van Wyk The Queenstown Fly Fishing Club, or QFFC for short, is situated in the Eastern Cape between the Snowberg and the Winterberg Mountains. The QFFC has been a part of the Queenstown community since 1977, making the club forty-two years old this year. It was originally called the Queenstown Trout Angling Club, but it was later renamed. The original club was founded by some wellknown and respected anglers of the time who included Chairman Fred Croney, Lionel Emms, Harold Swingburn, Charles Ricter, George White and D.Baillie.
about to all of their fishing buds. The Queenstown Fly Fishing Club oversees and manages twelve dams. These are dotted around the region with Queenstown as the central point. Distances from town to the waters vary between 10km and 140km. Part of the club’s responsibilities and annual activities include the stocking of trout into our various dams. Fingerlings, that are only a few days old, are sourced locally from trout breeder Martin Davies and are introduced by the hundreds into existing dams or into new locations that are mainly on land owned by farmers. The trout grow quickly and are very healthy in this area due to the abundance of natural food found in our crystal-clear waters. Our dams are fed from annual snow melt running directly into the valleys where they are situated or by the equally crystal-clear rivers that are found throughout the area.
The club and its waters have been gaining in popularity and interest among avid trout anglers as we have several dams under our management that are home to monster size rainbow and brown trout - many of which have been successfully caught in the area over the years. We have all read about or heard of the 10lbs plus trout that a few lucky anglers have captured in our area and the photos alone prove that this is no fisherman’s tale.
Other activities that the QFFC committee members partake in include the management and monitoring of each individual water. This is done as frequently as every second week. During the inspection water levels, temperature, water condition and annual weed growth are surveyed and recorded. The committee also does the important task of wetting a line to assure themselves first-hand that our prized trout are in good condition and healthy all year round.
In the last few years the QFFC has grown in leaps and bounds. New members have streamed in from both the local community and from all parts of the country. QFFC members have one mutual aim in mind and that is to seek out and fish some of the best stillwater locations in South Africa as they hunt for that elusive trophy trout to brag
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