Grantchester

Took a trip to Grantchester dam on Defence farm in the Kamberg valley yesterday. There were two other club members, Jan and John, who arrived just after me also fishing. I proceeded to fish the south shore and they fish the north shore. Between the three of us we caught one rainbow trout and it wasn't me.  I had several takes on the wiggle tail fly, but all right at the end of the retrieve, just when my concentration was starting to slip. Jan caught his fish just as he was preparing to lift the fly off the water to cast. He was more surprised than the fish.


I sat for a long while eyeing a fish who hung in the water not two rod lengths away. The fish was facing me. How to cast a fly to it without spooking it, the water was very clear, that's why I was sitting.(to keep a low profile and hope the fish don't see me). Not so easy casting any distance from a sitting position. Anyway the fish solved my dilemma by disappearing with a flick of his tail.


Took the following to photos on the way to Grantchester. Click on photos to enlarge.

Winter landscape. Blue gums in the foreground, and Natal stretching away to the north.

Note the fire break starting from the bottom left hand corner of the photo. According to law all fire breaks have to be burned before the end of this month. When burning fire breaks a land owner has to inform all his neighbours. By the middle of next month the winds start to blow and veld fires are a regular occurrence. A run away fire can cause huge damage and endanger lives and property. 


During the fire season people do not readily leave their farms, but keep a watch for fires which have to be tackled immediately to prevent them getting out of hand.


The next photos are of Grantchester dam. Everything was reflected in the water.

Upside down trees in their winter bareness.

The view above I found particularly intriguing, the repetition, in the water, of patterns, texture and variations of brown. Taken across the water and over the Dam wall. On the hill in the top right hand corner, is where the owner of the farm has a vulture restaurant. Any animals that die on the farm, or any offal from when he slaughters something, is left here for the vultures. 

Grantchester is a large piece of water, in a steep sided valley, so it is quite deep. The club only allows four rods at a time to fish this piece of water. Although a dozen could fish it and you wouldn't notice them they would be so spread out. Yesterday was one of the few time that I got there and others were also fishing it.


Those out there who like to tie their own flies might like to go to this link www.streamxflyfishing.co.za/fly.htm Some interesting flies there this month