General description and habitat:
With trophy fish breaking the 10lb mark, this fresh water speedster (fondly referred to as a freshwater bonefish) is one of Southern Africa’s finest fly fishing targets.

This fish is native to the Orange-Vaal River system. It is however in the crystal clear waters of Sterkfontein Dam that Tourette Fishing guides will guide you on a sight fishing spectacle of the highest quality.

With a shore line of over a hundred kilometers, this high altitude body of water offers arguably the finest freshwater sight fishing Africa has to offer, on par with top international destinations. The crystal clear water, combined with a healthy yellowfish population, make this destination a firm favourite amongst all fly anglers privileged enough to hunt her waters.

Yellowfish feed on a myriad of invertebrates. They breed from spring through to mid summer when they will migrate to spawn on suitable gravel beds. When water temperatures reach roughly 18 degrees Celsius, the yellowfish at Sterkfontein will begin to swim higher in the water column, on the look out for terrestrials blown off the grass-land banks or the ever possible caddis hatch. Fishing a dry fly becomes extremely productive from here on. This occurs each year from November through to March.

Angling Tackle and Tactics:

Fly:
Small mouth yellowfish in Sterkfontein are treated to a myriad of both terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates on which to feed. The results being that fly anglers can confidently target these freshwater speedsters with dry flies throughout the season, a method we strongly encourage.

A standard Sterkfontein set up comprises of a 9ft fast action 5 weight rod. This rod should be matched with a good quality reel spooled with a WF 5 or 6 weight line. 9ft 2X and 3X leaders are used, with tippets ranging from 4X to 6X (fluorocarbon and standard) depending on the fishing conditions.

Productive dry flies include; Elk winged caddis, foam beetles, Dave’s hopper, klinkhammer, stimulators, flying ants, CDC caddis, and parachute Adams in sizes 12 to 18

At times, when cruising fish are reluctant to rise to the dry fly, nymphs are used. In these scenarios, GRHE, Zac nymph, Z-winged caddis and mustard caddis in various weighted options are most productive.

Additional fly tackle includes lead putty, fly floatant, Orvis Mud and strike indicators. Over the past couple of seasons our guides have come to rely heavily on Orvis mud and believe this product offers the best method to sink ones tippet leading up to the dry fly.

As all fishing is sight fishing, a good pair of polarized glasses is recommended. Although we use a 16ft sea going zodiac to move around the dam, the majority of fishing is done off foot; either walk-and-stalk tactics or wading tactics are employed. Thus a sturdy pair of comfortable rubber soled wading boots is recommended.

Comprehensive tackle lists will be sent out on request keith@tourettefishing.com or on booking.

Visit the following link for a video clip highlighting the sight fishing for yellowfish at Sterkfontein www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNFBbN_3uD0

For details on the areas Tourette Fishing targets small mouth yellowfish , go to the following page:

• Sterkfontein Yellowfish Safari