FLY FISHING ADVENTURE: An afternoon fly fishing session with Sundowner at Oxbow Country Estate

FLY FISHING ADVENTURE

WORDS: Werner Lubbe | PHOTOS & VIDEO: Jessica de Villiers | GUIDE Wayne Sinclair

Oxbow Country Estate is set in the foothills of the Magaliesberg range near Bronkhorstspruit Dam and is home to a unique river system with remarkable geographical phenomena known as ‘oxbows’. Nurtured and improved over the years, it provides prime habitat for more than 130 recorded bird species as well as abundant insect life. In its waters are trout, bass and carp. Oxbow Country Estate is a veritable oasis outside the city, offering idyllic wedding receptions, conferencing and mid-week breakaways.

Situated just 40 minutes from Pretoria, Witbank, and Benoni it was only a short drive to the estate which is located 25km from Bronkhorstspruit on the banks of the Osspruit River. It is the perfect countryside venue for families, friends, and individuals seeking an absolutely special and unforgettable occasion.
The best advice for achieving fishing success, is to follow the advice of a local guide to assist with fly selection, presentation details and understanding the geography.


With expert advice from Wayne, we selected two flies on a floating line – an orange blob on the bottom and a small black faster sinking fly to create a ‘washing line’ effect.
After a few casts I got the push from the wind and the speed of the drift right and started getting bites. They were fast hits and a few times I was caught asleep, but a few minutes later I got the strike timed right and the first trout fell prey to the dreaded orange blob.
Oxbow has a series of dams and we moved to another one. On my very first cast I was hit very hard by a big trout that did a few majestic jumps like a pumped-up marlin. The fourth jump however was too severe and the 3x tippet gave way. I was really disappointed with the loss, more so of my favourite orange blob than the fish itself!
A replacement blob came from Wayne’s fly box and worked quite well.
Sometimes a slippery fish can make the photographer’s job quite tricky. This picture however was captured as a moment in time.
We started moving up to the next dam and a last cast just before we left resulted in this beautiful specimen. It was clear that the first cast or two on a specific spot always got hit hard, so it was important to make sure everything was right for that surprise factor – correct line, right angle, drifting in close to cover and so on.
Oxbow’s trout season closes mid-September and then bass anglers are allowed to target bass using bass tackle. Jessica swopped the camera for a Poseidon Inshore Light rod paired with a ProRex 2500 reel loaded with 8lb J-Braid to successfully land a few of the green fish.
In this transitional period, it is quite possible that you can still catch trout on bass gear, which Jessica did on her tenth ‘last cast’ for the afternoon (or was it evening?).
It is really fun to catch the hard fighting trout on bass lures as well, but the proviso is that you then have to take it away for dinner. The cost for trout is R150/kg in winter, and R100/kg in this culling season.
A good meal starts with a good catch, then a sharp knife and good spices!
When filleting the fish, cut close to the dorsal fin and slide the knife over the rib bones that are attached to the spine.
Just some lemon butter, a bit of garlic, a few light fish spices and just a few minutes in the pan or on a grill cooks it to perfection. Do not overcook fish, it must still be soft and moist.
This is a real healthy meal, especially if served with a green salad.

For a successful fishing outing with Sundowner Fly Fishing Adventures at Oxbow Country Estate, contact Wayne Sinclair on +27 83 414 0391 or gofish@sundowner.co.za, and www.sundowner.co.za.

NOTE: To see how this afternoon unfolded, also watch Hier Gaan Ons Alweer from January 2025 on kykNET, channel 144.



The latest digital edition of THE BANK ANGLER / DIE OEWERHENGELAAR is now available!

The latest digital edition of STYWE LYNE/TIGHT LINES is now available!

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