Where the Monsters live Andrew van Wyk Andrew Van Wyk has lived in the Queenstown area for most of his life and has been an avid angler since a young child. His trout fishing journey started in 2008 and from that first trip Andrew knew that trout fishing would be a part of his life until he no longer had the strength to lift his fly rod. This is his story and insight into what you can expect from this beautiful and unspoilt trophy trout region of the Eastern Cape. It’s a little past four in the morning and I’m standing on the front veranda drinking the last few sips of my coffee. It’s pitch dark and icy-cold outside as it is the middle of July and winter is in full swing. We have had some snowfall reported in the Snowberg and Winterberg Mountains area over the past two evenings and there is a definite chill in the air. I can feel my nose burning with each icy breath I inhale. I take my phone out my pocket and flip open the weather app. It says that it’s -5C outside and I am once again reminded just how cold this part of the country gets.
half-Sasquatch to anyone that could see me now.
The icy cold is not enough to send me back under the warm covers of my bed - why would I do that, when all I have been thinking about for the past few days is my fishing trip? I plan to spend the day hunting trout at Birds River on Johan Wege and Ed Clark’s Farms where I will be able to fish Top Dam, Middle Dam, Bottom Dam and Quarry Dam.
As I get closer to Birds River I take the turnoff and leave the tarred road behind me as I continue on a dirt road for a few kilometres. Knowing that I’m close to my final destination I can feel the excitement building in anticipation and I hope that today’s fishing trip will be one to remember.
I head out of Queenstown, leaving the town and the lights behind me as I head in a north-westerly direction on a short journey of roughly 45 minutes to reach my final destination at Birds River. On route I head through parts the old Transkei, looking out of the side windows of my now warm and cosy car I can see off in the distance a single light on in someone’s home in one of the rural villages; I guess I’m not the only person awake at this time of the morning.
On arrival at Ed Clark’s farm where Top and Middle Dam are situated the day is just barely starting to break and the sun’s rays are struggling to get over the mountain range that are the backdrop to the two dams. I pull up to the dam and park. I kill the engine, get out and am greeted by eery silence and fresh mountain air. It is a feeling that I can never get tired of; just me, the dam and whatever might be lurking beneath the water’s surface ready to take my fly.
There is no way I will let some last minute cold snap hold me back! My fly fishing gear has already been meticulously prepped and my rods and kick boat are already packed in the back of my 4x4. With my coffee finished I lock up and walk towards my car. I’m dressed in my warmest winter jacket, a woolly beanie covering my head and ears and my gloves and scarf to keep me warm. I can’t help but think I must look like some half-man, www.saflyfishingmag.co.za
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