When it all comes together on the Orange River

The Orange River in the Kalahari is a beautiful stretch of river, surrounded by majestic mountains, blue green water running through white grey rocks, and sometimes runs against the foot of the mountains through deep gorges. The cry of a Fish eagle or the echo of a baboon’s warning call to his family letting them know of the unexpected intrusion by humans is a daily affair and burned deep into my memory of the Orange. Sometimes you venture into areas where you wonder if this stretch of water has ever seen human footprints. The river is untouched and undisturbed, as it should be. The fish abound in species, number and size. I’m privileged to guide my clients on such a remote stretch of the Orange River, to share such a special time with my clients and helping them catch yellowfish, small or big. It’s more than just the fishing, it is the whole experience that makes it a trip worth doing. Right spot But it remains fishing, and you cannot force the fish to bite. Most of the times when drifting down river with our inflatable boats many opportunities arise to get big yellowfish, but there are a few factors that need to come together at the same moment that determine success or not. Firstly, you need to be at the right spot at the right time. I have worked it out over the last few years and found fishing to be best at around 10am. Secondly you need to be in a bit deeper water with a good flow and some structure, mainly rocks. Thirdly is the part of the angler. The cast is where most of the challenge seems to be. Getting the fly in the right spot is of utmost importance. Most of the fish will engulf almost any fly if it swims past it, but therein lies the challenge, namely getting the fly to the fish. And I’m convinced that this is the point where a guide can make it much easier with a bit of help or pointers on casting to help a person to better his or her casting and to hit the right spots quickly and effortlessly. Blue Kurper is not indigenous to the Orange but is a welcome specimen to catch. Frik with a good size Smallmouth Yellowfish. I’m sure if you are a regular reader that you have noted some of my clients recurring on the photos. And it’s true - some of my clients have the privilege to spend more time on the water than others. My client, Frik van Zyl is an avid and passionate angler as myself, and we have worked out our team setup on the inflatables and streamlined our setup in order to work best for us. Frik enjoys the way I guide but also has great success with me. It is a team effort and when it all comes together you get the desired results. This was one of those adventures when it all came together. In the Kalahari We arrived in the Kalahari in January for 7 days on the mighty Orange but were quite sad to see that the river was quite low. In the heat of January, the farmers were drawing lots of water for their vineyards and the rainfall was also very low. With the low flowing river, the fish move out to different areas, and January is a very hot time of the year with temperatures averaging at 35 to 45 degrees Celsius. Own rules for the Orange River As per normal we started our adventure by doing an 8km drift that we have done many times before. But this time things were different, and we struggled to locate the fish. Our first day was windy with not a lot fish on the end of the line, although we were blessed with a trophy or two. What a challenge when the familiar becomes unfamiliar and it feels like you must try and figure it all out again. But like a good friend once told me, “the Orange River makes its own rules! You must never think you’ve got it all figured out as the Orange will quickly make you respect it again!” This is a beautiful specimen of a Yellowfish that Frik managed to land. We quickly realized that the fish had moved, and that we would have to change our game plan. The next day we drifted another section of the river with deeper pools and faster flowing water. This paid off well as we took more than 20 fish for the day, including some really good size fish. Once we figured out the feeding pattern of the fish and where they liked to hang out, it was game on! Frik and I had spent so much time together on this stretch of water that it was about time to get a fish of note, and I had an expectancy for a big fish to come out, maybe a fisherman’s undying hope for a huge fish! Third day On the third day we were positive about the day and had great expectations. Starting in early morning we went out to a section downstream through rapids and some secondary pools to scout this section of river. In the tail end of one of these pools Frik hooked into a monster 20kg barbel. After a long battle he managed to pull it closer to the net but getting a fish this size into a net is another battle all by itself, but we managed to get the fish into the boat, and we were elated to land such a big specimen. This was a great time to call it a day as the temperature rose to close on 40 degrees. We barely managed to make it back up all the rapids with pulling the boat through the rocky outcrops and the fast-shallow rapids, but what an adventure to go where few dared to go! A 20kg barbel that made Frik work hard to get it to the net. Fourth day The fourth day we went to a familiar area with a large pool next to a rapid where I previously got some decent fish when the temperature was this high. At first the fishing was not at its best and we landed only a few smallmouths but nothing too exciting. Then around 11am Frik was casting into another area where the water was pushing hard up against a reed bush. He had done this a number of times already but this time the reel started screaming and the rod tugged very hard as the beast of a fish shook its head. We both immediately knew by the way it swam that it was a big largemouth. Frik is the most patient person I know when it comes to playing a big fish and he nursed the big largy all the way to the net. This is one the best feelings for me as guide and also for Frik. It is a shared moment, difficult to describe to anyone. The massive fish weighed in at 17lb what a trophy largemouth and a fish for the memory books! We celebrated the moment and a few high fives did the rounds between us - we couldn’t believe how fortunate we were with such a beautiful fish. More adventure We enjoyed the rest of our day landing another few good-sized smallmouth yellows while drifting a bit more downstream. As it is on the Orange the fish tend to go off the bite in the afternoon from around 3pm, so we decided to make our way back to camp. As per usual Frik would be casting while I steered the inflatable and made sure he was able to cast to the best spots all the time. To get to our vehicle we needed to go through a very narrow section about 50 meters long and only 10 meters at its widest with overhanging trees and reed bush on the bank. The river pushed very hard here where the river narrowed, so for this small section I was focussed on getting us through this section without doing damage to the propeller and getting us through the fast water by using my oar. We proceeded as normal when Frik suddenly picked up a fish that swam very fast downstream towards the rapids. If the fish got out of the pool, we were in there was a very good chance of us losing the fish, almost a certainty! Frik shouted that he saw the fish and that it was again a huge largemouth. Turn around I quickly turned the boat around and started chasing the fish, but just as we started heading downstream the fish made a turn and went back upstream again, wand very quickly decided against that choice, turning back and with a great speed passed us again downstream. This time however the line wrapped around a rock, so as quickly as I could I jumped into the water and swam to the rock, dove down and untangled the hooked line from the rock. The fish was a good 30 or 40 meters downstream already and I couldn’t believe that the leader line had not broken. We chased after the fish which pursued into the deeper section, rubbing itself against the rocks trying to rid itself of the hook. Again, Frik nursed the fish gently through the rocks and finally got it to the boat and it was indeed another huge largemouth. I pushed the net out to land the beast, but it was not done yet. Right at the net the fish dashed away again using its massive tail to throw its heavy body away and made another massive run. Again, Frik’s skill and experience paid off and the line yet again didn’t snap as it so often does on the last runs close to the boat. Frik van Zyl with an awesome 17lb Largemouth Yellowfish. With loud laughter we landed the fish. I had goose bumps all over my body and it was an undesirable rush to say the least. We couldn’t believe how everything just came together for us this day – the right place at the right time with the right cast resulted in two massive largies for Frik, with this one at 19,8lbs, so close to a 20-pounder! It is days like these when everything just comes together that you get rewarded with two fish of a lifetime. Our day and trip had become a massive adventure all together, and we were elated as we made our last bit back to the car. It was a special feeling, that last day or two, starting to feel like a dream. This is when you want to return to feel the tug again, to feel the rush of adrenaline. Our time together ended and Frik’s awesome guided trip ended as he went back home. I however had a few days on hand to spend by myself on the river, a guide’s day of? This would be my adventure for next month. Until then, tight lines. Frik with a 19,8lb reward of a Largemouth Yellowfish. More about the author *Rohan Koegelenberg is owner of Rapid Hunter Yellowfish Guided Safaris offering standard, day guided fly fishing trips to the Vaal River at Parys and Warrenton and to other destinations. Rohanfish Flies ties and supplies exclusive, custom-tied flies. Add him to your Facebook or visit: www.rapidhunter.co.za; Tel. 079 874 7380.