Mike Laubscher

Nikao Fishing Adventures went with a client to hunt for Wild Brown Trout in the Central Drakensburg Rivers of Kwa Zulu Natal South Africa.

It was a lovely sunny day, and it got very hot, later on a stiff breeze picked up which we welcomed, it did however make casting a bit difficult. All the grass is starting to go green, flowers budding, birds around, and all the signs of spring are in the air, on the ground and all around, I love this time of year as everything is new and fresh and promising. I also noticed a lot of nymphs in the water.

We started out on the Bushmans River near Giants Castle, and as it is very early for river season the water level was still very low and crystal clear. There was sediment on the bottom that was a few centimetres thick. I must add that as we went further upstream we found the conditions improved. The few fish that we did find were very shy and following but not biting, we did see a few around 35cm. This reminded us of a trip I did with the same client in March this year where we fished the area for 3 days and got 22 Wild Brown Trout over 50cm, three over 60cm (All males) and one angry 70cm male complete with hook jaw, and all the males were starting to go into spawning colours. I think after a good rain the river will get "flushed" and the fishing will get going. After scouting a few kilometres of river we decided after 2 hrs or so to leave and go to another river not to far from there.

We then went to fish in the Mooi River near Kamberg and the water here was a little higher and flowing a little faster and was slightly turbid, and a lot of algae on the bottom. Here we managed to land 11 Wild Brown Trout between us mostly between 20-25cm and one of around 30cm, all were females. I think that as the season progresses we will be in for a good Wild Brown River Trout season providing we get some good rains. All the signs are there, which make it very promising.

Fish Species: Wild Brown Trout
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Mike Laubscher

About The Author: Mike Laubscher

Company: Blue Water Charters - Durban

Area Reporting: Durban. KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

Bio: I have been fishing since I was 5 years old in Durban and have fished many places around the world and in South Africa, but Durban is my home waters. I fished competitive for many years and I have been running my own charters since 2008 with 2 companies and 2 boats, fish a variety of styles and target a variety of fish species in both Salt and Fresh water, have many published articles in several magazines on fishing. Love nature and outdoors, Am very conservation minded and have a passion for birds. I am crazy about big Tuna, Marlin Fishing and Game Fishing, and also love light tackle spinning, am a total lure junkie. Represented my province in fly fishing for many years and am also pro staff for Rapala/Shimano. I want to write a book on fishing one day. 3 items left on my fishing bucket list, guess then a new bucket list will be in order. As a writer I have my own quote: \"I love taking people fishing because it releases their inner child, and in doing so keeps my inner child alive.\"

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