Venue Reviews

Venue Name: Pongola Dam

Date Visited: September 2008

Duration: 4 days

Access and Vehicle required: Tar road all the way to the game reserve. Dirt road in reserve. Preferably a 4x4 or high rise vehicle.

Species: Barbel (Clarias gariepinus), Bulldog (Marcusenius macrolepidotus), Butter Barbel (Brycinus Imberi), Imperi (Labeo congoro), Purple Labeo (Labeo rosae), Mozambique Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus), Redbreasted Tilapia (Tilapia rendalli), Tiger fish (Hydrocinus vittatus).

Type of water: 13,276ha dam

Difficulty: Challenging

Daily Rod Average: 7

Flies that worked: Rosies' Mudfish, Clousers in chartreuse, orange, red and black.

Tips and Tactics: If you are fishing for tigers or any species from a boat, make sure the boat is clean inside with no catches and sharp points that can catch your fly line. Fish bare foot as it is much easier to feel if you are standing on your fly line. The DI7 sinking lines (which are a must when fishing deep) get tangled very easily. To avoid that, wet the whole line before you cast or alternatively you can use stripping basket. Don't lift the rod tip up just as you would do when striking into trout and yellowfish. Rather pull the line strongly once or twice with your striping hand to set the hook with the rod tip still in or near the water. When playing a tiger fish keep the rod tip low and try not to let the fish jump otherwise it will throw the hook straight back at you, especially if it is a big one. Fight the fish using a lot of side strain. Never ever use your fingers to get the hook out of the tiger fish's mouth, make sure you have a Leatherman or long nosed pliers with you to help remove the hook, because those teeth are not just for show. The best places to locate fish are deep drop-offs, weed beds and grass mats where bait fish congregate in the warmer water.

Weather Conditions: Sunny and hot. Variable wind.

Area: South Africa, Northern Kwazulu Natal

Fishing Write-Up: Weather was great except one afternoon we were driven off the water by a freak wind storm pushed by a massive veld fire. Rod average was 7 fish per angler per day. The largest landed by Hennie Fourie - 2.2kg. Everyone can honestly admit to dropping huge fish, early morning up by the old railway bridge we found massive female fish and all had a chance before boat traffic and sunrise dispersed them. Congratulations to Graeme King who hooked himself squarely in the cheek, he put up an excellent fight before being released.

Venue Write-Up: The 13,276ha dam is situated within the Pongola Game Reserve South in Northern Zululand, 350 km north of Durban, 450 km south east of Johannesburg and 270km south of the Kruger National Park. The dam was built for agricultural purposes and to control flood water down stream to the Makhatini flats. The dam irrigates more than 80000 hectares of agricultural land to grow products like sugar cane, rice, coffee etc. The dam gets its water from the Pongola River which has some deep pools with steep sides. People from the surrounding areas also use the water from this river for drinking and washing. Besides the numerous fish species, you will find some crocodiles and hippos in the dam too. The reserve also caters for the discerning nature lover, offering game drives, boat cruises, guided walks, rhino tracking and canoeing. The Nkwazi lodge in the Pongola game reserve situated on a hillside right above the dam offers comfortable thatched accommodation, hearty meals as well as a lovely view up river towards the railway bridge. The silent 4-stroke fishing boats are kept on site and are spacious enough for two fly fishermen plus the skipper.

Contact Info: http://www.pongolagamereserve.co.za/

Mavungana rating: 8/10
How the Guides Voted: JB-8, JT-7, CT-9, MC-8

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