The WTA Guide book is the premiere source for information on every aspect of fishing on Wild Trout waters. It is crammed full of every conceivable detail you might need to make your fishing experience even more enjoyable.

The 2012 edition, a whopping 99 pages, is currently available in printed ringbound form at R150/copy excluding postage to addresses in South Africa. Should you want to order a copy, please drop us a line at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

One of the main features of the guide book is that it lists beat’s gps locations making tracking down your fishing spot a breeze.

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Dunley

Stefaans & Melanie Naude - 045 974 9268

Entrance:         30º 45´ 49.04 S              28º 03´ 01.66 E 

Upstream:        30º 45´ 47.03 S              28º 03´ 22.49 E

Downstream:   30º 45´ 05.38 S              28º 01´ 39.33 E

Travel from Rhodes past the Kloppershoek turnoff towards Naudesnek. +-15km from Rhodes a poplar plantation on the left and a sign marked “Dunley” on the right indicates the entrance to the farm. Either park at the poplars or continue for +-1km to the Naude Monument at the bottom of the Naudesnek Pass where one can park in the shade of the trees. The monument is at the upstream end of the Dunley beat. From this point, one can fish downstream for +-4.1km.

 En route to the monument, a clearly visible landmark, easily seen from the road, is a footbridge over the Bell River an indication as to how high (and cross) the water can get at times!

It Also contains articles and stories ranging from the very practical to the very unbelievable.

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HIGHLAND TIPS

by Tony Kietzman

Wear a hat, long legged and sleeved garments for sun protection. It is advisable to carry rain wear.  Specialist foot wear with felt soles greatly facilitate ease of fishing. Wet wading is the general practice, although waders may make spring and autumn water temperatures more bearable. You should never venture into the mountains alone. Always consult with the locals before venturing onto beats such as Boarman’s Chase – flash floods have been known to threaten the lives of anglers. Water clarity allows for sight fishing so polarized sunglasses are essential.

Although there are certain sections of water have been identified as “killing zones” where ideal spawning conditions lead to over-population, by and large, fishing in the Highlands is on a catch and release basis.

For this purpose, a few basic measures will ensure the survival of fish caught and released;

• Use barbless hooks or flatten the barb on flies with standard hooks.
• Use a “catch and release” net, i.e. one with a soft fine cotton mesh netting rather than the more robust nylon mesh.  Or consider investing in a “release tool”  
• “Land” the fish as soon as is practical. Unduly stressing the fish can lead to its demise albeit after you have retired to the pub!
• Always wet your hands before handling the fish.
• Do not “squeeze” the fish, especially about the gill plates. Be firm but gentle and keep handling to a minimum.
• Avoid allowing the fish to touch your clothing or anything else that is dry.
• Keep the fish in the water, lifting it out for the “Kodak-moment” and release it as soon as it has recovered.
• Aid recovery by gently cradling the fish facing into the current to help it breathe. Holding it around the “wrist” at the base of its tail is a good way. Release the fish by gently replacing it in the water and certainly not by tossing it into the stream.
• Only let the fish go once it is has recovered sufficiently, you’ll know when it is strong enough.
• Remember that warmer water carries less oxygen than cold and this affects the survival chances of a released fish.
• A fish bleeding from the gills is unlikely to survive, kill it and return the corpse to the stream where it can add to the food chain or…….take it home to eat!