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.

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.

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 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.

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.

The Eastern Cape offers the perfect climate for trout to thrive in with mild summers and cold winters. The area is home to some of the most scenic and unspoilt mountainous landscapes where visitors will find nestled into the valleys what could be some of the best stillwater fishing opportunities on offer in South Africa. These locations are the perfect place for one to hide away from the world for a few days, to recharge one’s batteries and to get into some fierce battles with some big trout - the kind of fish that legends are made of.

The oldest and first stillwater that the club took under management was Oakleigh Dam situated just outside Queenstown. It is part of Aloe Grove Guest Farm and historically many of the club’s annual fishing gatherings have been held here.

Next on the list is Bird River situated near Penhoek Pass and is located on Johan Wege and Ed Clark’s Farms. The water consists of four dams set in a valley with a small mountain range running the length of the valley, connecting each dam and serving as a picture perfect background. Situated on Ed Clark’s farm, Top Dam and Middle Dam offer a tranquil environment and receive snowfall each year which makes for spectacular winter-wonderland scenery. The other two dams are located on Johan Wege’s farm and are named Bottom Dam and Quarry Dam.

Heading south out of Dordrecht the next water is Snowden, situated in the Winterberg area. Although there are another three dams here you will find Sowden Trophy Dam situated between two mountain peaks and only accessible with a 4x4 vehicle. To get to this dam one has to trek through the valley and up over the mountain peak before you find the picture perfect stillwater. It is one of those locations that just add to the adventure of a day out. The other club waters on the property are the Big House Dam and the Small Hidden Dam. The latter is situated at the bottom of the Sowden valley and very few know its actual location.

Just 15km from Sowden the club has access to Table Hill Dam which is situated on Carl Miles’ Farm. This is one of our new, virgin dams and was stocked only two years ago. It has recently been opened to members and early catch reports look very promising with the trout in this water not being all that shy of artificial flies.