Monthly report on our waters 

April 2022

By Peter Arderne (FOSAF)

GUBU & MADEN DAMS.

Gubu started to overflow about a month ago, for the first time in many years. At 109 ha it is possibly the largest trout stillwater in the country. Best of all it is kept well stocked and although it does not qualify as a trophy water a couple of sizeable browns have been caught recently. It appears that browns do well in this dam. Some 15 000 rainbow fingerlings were stocked in December last year followed by a brownie stocking in January.

Being a low altitude dam it is at its best as the water cools down in late autumn onwards so expect some good fishing from now on.

Maden Dam is also overflowing and was also restocked at the same time as Gubu. Recent reports indicate that it has a lower population per hectare, but the fish tend to be larger on average than Gubu.

CATA VILLAGE & WOLF RIVER

The AFFC has an agreement with the community to manage the nearby Mnyameni Dam.

This water contains a good population of smallish rainbows, all wild bred from the two streams that feed the dam. There are also browns in the dam and one can expect to catch at least one at each fishing session. It is hoped that they will also breed in the streams to set up a self-sustaining population. Moreover, It did receive another brownie stocking in January.

The club is also organising a wattle clearing project on the nearby Wolf River and donations towards this very worthwhile project will be appreciated by the AFFC. The AFFC is still to arrange fishing access on the Wolf with the community.

LOCH LOCHIE

Some good-sized fish have been recorded recently and with the drop in temperature, the fishing can only improve. Martin Davies’ management agreement with the owners comes to an end at the year-end but he has donated some brownie yearlings for stocking. The dam is now full and quite weeded so a float tube or boat is recommended but there are areas where you can fish from the bank.

A Gubu Brown