Mount Komati Gorge: 22-24 August 2104
So 9h00 Friday 22nd
August eventually arrives, Shane as usual is punctual as ever and arrives at my
house spot on, Rob & I pack all our kit into the canopy & off we go to
collect Leslie, obviously also looking forward to the trip opened his gate
before we had the chance to announce our arrival, his gear was quickly loaded
and we are on our way.
Along the journey our conversation turns to the epoxy shrimps that Leslie has created to trick the large & small scale yellows plus what other flies we have in our arsenal, the trip goes quickly and soon we arrive at Millys where we have planned to stop for a late breakfast, amazing how popular Millys is, the place was packed and we took up our seats in the conference room that they tuned to, to cope with the overflow. We were a bit worried that we could be stuck here a while as Millys struggled to serve the masses, but were pleasantly surprised when our Farmers Breakfast arrived promptly.
Back on the road it was only now a short way to our destination, following directions received we arrived at the turn off and make the requested phone call to Pieta manager/owner of Mount Komati Lodge to announce our pending arrival so that he can “come out from the mountains” to greet us, he advises the Lynne and Bruce had already arrived about half an hour ago.
After giving Shane the wrong directions at the first fork we did an about turn just before the Rose farm and back tracked then 15 minutes later arrived at the lodge after twice crossing the Komati on low level bridges passing comments that the waters looked oh so inviting ! But we were nervous as a coolish wind was blowing.
Bruce was already kitted up with rod in hand when we pulled up at about 13h30, Pieta arrived to greet us & showed us around the lodge area and our humble hikers quarters, we were not really interested in the lodge at this stage and were dying to get the Isuzu unpacked and our rods out, Pieta made us feel very welcome explained a few directions and then retreated asking us to sign indemnities in the evening when he saw that we just wanted to fish!
Bruce went up alone upstream while the 4 of us kitted up and when all ready we decided that Shane & Leslie would go down stream to the gate and fish upstream from there while Rob & I would go about halfway down stream and fish up from there, giving each other enough water to fish before evening.
About 500m downstream Rob & I came upon a large pool that we could not pass by – the head looked very inviting, water was clear, we eyed it out for a few minutes then Rob ever so gracious allowed me first opportunity, I manoeuvred a bit downstream to a nice looking spot under directions from Rob & being left handed the casting was ideal for me. After half an hour we left empty handed on what we thought was such a promising pool, I did however spot one fairly nice fish that I no doubt spooked. We got into the water just a bit upstream of the pool and decided to slowly wade up and fish the river as we moved, the structure for that stretch looked very nice, and there were areas between knee & thigh deep with good rock structure making good areas to cast to.
The bottom was covered in large pebble like stones average size possibly a bit larger than a soccer ball BUT oh so slippery, they were covered in what looked like a fine powdery residue / silt that made wading very difficult, and not a fish to be seen!
We got out and walked the bank a bit and fished likely looking spots – still no fish!
A little higher up we bumped into Bruce who delightfully announced he got 2 good fish at the head of a huge pool a little higher up, so given this encouragement we decided that we should go back to the pool where we first started off.
So back at our pool, we flogged the water until Shane & Leslie arrived, with great expectations from each other we cautiously enquired “how many?” only to discover that we all were fishless.
It was then evening and Bruce promised to lead us to his spot in the morning.
Back at base we inspected the Lodge, everything was neat and clean there is a fantastic braai area outside & equally nice semi indoor pub & dining area with a huge fireplace to which Rob eyes lit up as he has a pyromaniac streak in him and has been known to kindle great fires, the hiking quarters are tiny though, and luckily Pieta allowed us to use both so we spilt up 2/2 but still rather cramped.
After we had put our rods down and grabbed a beer we debated the afternoons fishing results:
-The wind was not in our favour – it undoubtedly put the fish down
-It was maybe too cold and a bit early in the season
-The lack of sighting fish was a concern especially in non-pool areas where the bottom was always easily visible, no fish in the faster water only in Bruce’s pool upstream from the lodge
-The slippery rocks with the strange silt made wading difficult, it was almost more of a slippery sludge that had deposited itself as a covering on top of these huge pebbles, without a wading stick you are doomed – on questioning Pieta later he remarked that it was because the good state of the river but did concede that the condition has deteriorated over the years and that the mining upstream towards Ermelo was a concern. We think a bit differently and not being Environmentalists cannot state our case with conviction but that sludge does not seem natural and the lack of insect life under stones we picked up was worrying??
-The right side of the river is very bushing & overgrown protecting ready access and restricting casting.
After a great Chicken Curry prepared by Bruce and washed down by ample red wine we retired with the dreams of catching plenty fish in Bruce’s pool the next morning.
SATURDAY
Saturday was greeted with the same evil coolish wind; in fact it was a bit more boisterous giving us early warnings of difficult fishing.
Bruce true to his word and took us first thing to the exact location where he caught his 2 fish the day before, it is indeed a magnificent pool larger that the pool Rob & I flogged the previous day, the inflow quite accessible to fishing with nice rock structure and deep – offering many potential (or so we thought) lies for the yellows.
But today was another day and despite all our combined efforts the pool kept its treasures from us, after an hour or so Rob & I decided to move upstream to the end of the beat.
The beat stretched out for about another 1,5 km, there were some very nice sections & small pools looking very fishable between knee & 1,2m deep, but the bottom always visible and no sign of fish at all – very disappointing, we spent the rest of the morning above the pool and then gave up and went for a sandwich back at the lodge, meeting the rest of the party we all gloomily reported our poor fishing experience, so not to be disillusioned we decided the best plan of action would be to take a quick nap and at 15h00 or so re-attack Bruce’s pool with a vengeance.
But the wind persisted and our luck did not change, a small mayfly hatch later gave us some hope but not a single rise to cheer us. I saw Leslie suddenly appear at the tail of the pool wading waist deep making awkward casts to avoid the trees & shrubbery behind him but even this brave move did not trick the yellows. The afternoon slowly melted away and we returned to base without reward.
Bruce still on a high from the previous days 2 fish produced some delectable T-Bone steaks with Lynne’s yummy salad coupled together with some beer, savanna dry, wine and whisky confirmed that fishing is great!
SUNDAY
Similar to Saturday the wind persisted with our bad luck, we concentrated on the pools again, Rob tried downstream & Shane explored upstream, Leslie & Bruce also again attempted other parts of the beat, at 12h00 we called it a day and packed up….
Bruce the winner & we all second place
Only 2 fish for the trip, Leslie had a break up on an epoxy prawn & Shane a knock on a Zak - same pool and that’s it!
MOUNT KOMATI LODGE
The accommodation and Host Pieta 100%
The beat is about 4km long with a pool either side of the lodge, downstream about 500m & upstream about 800m, these pools seem the most likely places to hold fish.
The river, both down & up from the pools have nice stretches that I think are fishable but not a fish in sight.
Only two or three spots really fishable thus limiting the number of fishermen
Great venue for hiking & birding – but let the youngsters sleep in the hikers quarters, 4 in there will be mighty cramped and will put strain on the geyser/availability of hot water
The veld was very dry and with the wind certainly a potential hazard
The Komati Expeditionary Team
Lynne, Bruce, Shane, Leslie, Rob & Bron
Along the journey our conversation turns to the epoxy shrimps that Leslie has created to trick the large & small scale yellows plus what other flies we have in our arsenal, the trip goes quickly and soon we arrive at Millys where we have planned to stop for a late breakfast, amazing how popular Millys is, the place was packed and we took up our seats in the conference room that they tuned to, to cope with the overflow. We were a bit worried that we could be stuck here a while as Millys struggled to serve the masses, but were pleasantly surprised when our Farmers Breakfast arrived promptly.
Back on the road it was only now a short way to our destination, following directions received we arrived at the turn off and make the requested phone call to Pieta manager/owner of Mount Komati Lodge to announce our pending arrival so that he can “come out from the mountains” to greet us, he advises the Lynne and Bruce had already arrived about half an hour ago.
After giving Shane the wrong directions at the first fork we did an about turn just before the Rose farm and back tracked then 15 minutes later arrived at the lodge after twice crossing the Komati on low level bridges passing comments that the waters looked oh so inviting ! But we were nervous as a coolish wind was blowing.
Bruce was already kitted up with rod in hand when we pulled up at about 13h30, Pieta arrived to greet us & showed us around the lodge area and our humble hikers quarters, we were not really interested in the lodge at this stage and were dying to get the Isuzu unpacked and our rods out, Pieta made us feel very welcome explained a few directions and then retreated asking us to sign indemnities in the evening when he saw that we just wanted to fish!
Bruce went up alone upstream while the 4 of us kitted up and when all ready we decided that Shane & Leslie would go down stream to the gate and fish upstream from there while Rob & I would go about halfway down stream and fish up from there, giving each other enough water to fish before evening.
About 500m downstream Rob & I came upon a large pool that we could not pass by – the head looked very inviting, water was clear, we eyed it out for a few minutes then Rob ever so gracious allowed me first opportunity, I manoeuvred a bit downstream to a nice looking spot under directions from Rob & being left handed the casting was ideal for me. After half an hour we left empty handed on what we thought was such a promising pool, I did however spot one fairly nice fish that I no doubt spooked. We got into the water just a bit upstream of the pool and decided to slowly wade up and fish the river as we moved, the structure for that stretch looked very nice, and there were areas between knee & thigh deep with good rock structure making good areas to cast to.
The bottom was covered in large pebble like stones average size possibly a bit larger than a soccer ball BUT oh so slippery, they were covered in what looked like a fine powdery residue / silt that made wading very difficult, and not a fish to be seen!
We got out and walked the bank a bit and fished likely looking spots – still no fish!
A little higher up we bumped into Bruce who delightfully announced he got 2 good fish at the head of a huge pool a little higher up, so given this encouragement we decided that we should go back to the pool where we first started off.
So back at our pool, we flogged the water until Shane & Leslie arrived, with great expectations from each other we cautiously enquired “how many?” only to discover that we all were fishless.
It was then evening and Bruce promised to lead us to his spot in the morning.
Back at base we inspected the Lodge, everything was neat and clean there is a fantastic braai area outside & equally nice semi indoor pub & dining area with a huge fireplace to which Rob eyes lit up as he has a pyromaniac streak in him and has been known to kindle great fires, the hiking quarters are tiny though, and luckily Pieta allowed us to use both so we spilt up 2/2 but still rather cramped.
After we had put our rods down and grabbed a beer we debated the afternoons fishing results:
-The wind was not in our favour – it undoubtedly put the fish down
-It was maybe too cold and a bit early in the season
-The lack of sighting fish was a concern especially in non-pool areas where the bottom was always easily visible, no fish in the faster water only in Bruce’s pool upstream from the lodge
-The slippery rocks with the strange silt made wading difficult, it was almost more of a slippery sludge that had deposited itself as a covering on top of these huge pebbles, without a wading stick you are doomed – on questioning Pieta later he remarked that it was because the good state of the river but did concede that the condition has deteriorated over the years and that the mining upstream towards Ermelo was a concern. We think a bit differently and not being Environmentalists cannot state our case with conviction but that sludge does not seem natural and the lack of insect life under stones we picked up was worrying??
-The right side of the river is very bushing & overgrown protecting ready access and restricting casting.
After a great Chicken Curry prepared by Bruce and washed down by ample red wine we retired with the dreams of catching plenty fish in Bruce’s pool the next morning.
SATURDAY
Saturday was greeted with the same evil coolish wind; in fact it was a bit more boisterous giving us early warnings of difficult fishing.
Bruce true to his word and took us first thing to the exact location where he caught his 2 fish the day before, it is indeed a magnificent pool larger that the pool Rob & I flogged the previous day, the inflow quite accessible to fishing with nice rock structure and deep – offering many potential (or so we thought) lies for the yellows.
But today was another day and despite all our combined efforts the pool kept its treasures from us, after an hour or so Rob & I decided to move upstream to the end of the beat.
The beat stretched out for about another 1,5 km, there were some very nice sections & small pools looking very fishable between knee & 1,2m deep, but the bottom always visible and no sign of fish at all – very disappointing, we spent the rest of the morning above the pool and then gave up and went for a sandwich back at the lodge, meeting the rest of the party we all gloomily reported our poor fishing experience, so not to be disillusioned we decided the best plan of action would be to take a quick nap and at 15h00 or so re-attack Bruce’s pool with a vengeance.
But the wind persisted and our luck did not change, a small mayfly hatch later gave us some hope but not a single rise to cheer us. I saw Leslie suddenly appear at the tail of the pool wading waist deep making awkward casts to avoid the trees & shrubbery behind him but even this brave move did not trick the yellows. The afternoon slowly melted away and we returned to base without reward.
Bruce still on a high from the previous days 2 fish produced some delectable T-Bone steaks with Lynne’s yummy salad coupled together with some beer, savanna dry, wine and whisky confirmed that fishing is great!
SUNDAY
Similar to Saturday the wind persisted with our bad luck, we concentrated on the pools again, Rob tried downstream & Shane explored upstream, Leslie & Bruce also again attempted other parts of the beat, at 12h00 we called it a day and packed up….
Bruce the winner & we all second place
Only 2 fish for the trip, Leslie had a break up on an epoxy prawn & Shane a knock on a Zak - same pool and that’s it!
MOUNT KOMATI LODGE
The accommodation and Host Pieta 100%
The beat is about 4km long with a pool either side of the lodge, downstream about 500m & upstream about 800m, these pools seem the most likely places to hold fish.
The river, both down & up from the pools have nice stretches that I think are fishable but not a fish in sight.
Only two or three spots really fishable thus limiting the number of fishermen
Great venue for hiking & birding – but let the youngsters sleep in the hikers quarters, 4 in there will be mighty cramped and will put strain on the geyser/availability of hot water
The veld was very dry and with the wind certainly a potential hazard
The Komati Expeditionary Team
Lynne, Bruce, Shane, Leslie, Rob & Bron
