Home / Areas served / Dullstroom
Our trout farm in Dullstroom: fingerlings, fly fishing and farm visits
Dullstroom is home for Stillriver Trout. Local dam owners and lodges collect or take delivery of fingerlings from the farm, and anglers and families come to us for the water.
- Fish health checked before every dispatch
- Stocking advice with every order
- You speak to the people who raise the fish
- Delivering to Dullstroom
A trout farm in Dullstroom, for the dams and lodges around it
Stillriver Trout Breeding Centre breeds rainbow and brown trout just outside Dullstroom, and many of our fingerlings never travel far. They go into farm dams, guest lodge waters and fishing venues in the hills around the village, often a short trip from the raceways they grew up in.
Dullstroom sits high on the Highveld plateau, and that height is the reason its climate is so much cooler than the country around it. The town takes its name from Wolterus Dull, whose settlement company founded it, and from "stroom", the stream that runs nearby. Cold, clean water is the whole story here, for anglers and for trout farmers alike.
For a local dam owner, a farm next door has practical benefits. Fish spend less time in a bag. You can come and look at the batch before it leaves. And when something goes wrong in February, the people who sold you the fish are close enough to come and look at the water.
Fingerlings for Dullstroom farm dams and lodges
Lodges and guest farms around Dullstroom stock trout because guests come here to fish. That puts pressure on the water. A dam that holds a few dozen fish comfortably may struggle when it is restocked every season for busy weekends. We would rather sell you fewer fish that survive the summer than a big order that ends up floating.
Before we quote, we ask about surface size, the depth of the deepest part, and where the water comes from. Spring-fed and stream-fed dams with depth are the easy case. Shallow run-off dams are the ones where we may suggest stocking later in the season or stocking lighter. Our stocking calculator gives you a starting point, and the fingerlings page covers species and sizes.
Stocking trout is regulated. The national listing of rainbow and brown trout as invasive species was excluded from commencement until further notice (Notice 115 of 2021). In Mpumalanga, the MTPA has required permits to sell and stock live trout, except in dams not connected to rivers. Confirm what applies to your dam with the MTPA. More on stocking trout in dams.
Dullstroom trout fishing on our own water
Dullstroom is known as one of South Africa's premier fly fishing destinations, and plenty of visitors arrive with a rod and no plan. Our stocked still water is a quiet option a short drive from the village, booked by the half day or full day so it never gets crowded.
It suits a beginner who wants a fair chance at a fish as much as a regular who wants a calm morning away from the busier venues. See fly fishing at Stillriver for how sessions work and what to bring.
Farm visits
Families, schools and groups can walk through the hatchery, the raceways and the ponds, and feed the fish at the end. Dam owners who are thinking of buying from us are welcome to visit first. Book through farm tours.
When trout are not the right fish
Even in Dullstroom, not every dam is a trout dam. A shallow, sunny dam with no inflow can get too warm and too low in oxygen late in summer, and that is when stocked trout die. If that sounds like yours, read why trout die in dams before you order, or send us photos and we will give you an honest view.
The fastest way to start is a WhatsApp message with your dam size, depth and water source. We reply with a suggestion and a quote.
Collection, delivery and timing around Dullstroom
Local orders are the simplest we handle. Many Dullstroom customers collect from the farm, which keeps the fish in their bags for the shortest time. If you would rather we bring them, we deliver to dams and lodges around the village and plan the trip for the cooler part of the day.
Timing matters more than distance. We suggest stocking when your water is cool and staying cool, and we will move a delivery date rather than send fish into a dam during a hot spell. Lodges that restock before busy weekends should order early, because we would rather hold fish at the farm than rush them into a dam that is not ready.
Questions from Dullstroom dam owners and visitors
Can I collect fingerlings from the farm instead of having them delivered?
Yes. Dullstroom customers often collect, which keeps the fish in transport for less time. Bring the dam details when you book, we bag the fish with oxygen at dispatch, and we talk you through tempering them to your dam water before release. If you would rather we bring them, ask about delivery when you place an order.
Is trout fishing in Dullstroom good all year?
Dullstroom is known as one of South Africa's leading fly fishing destinations, and the cool climate helps. Conditions still change with the season: still water can warm up in late summer and fish go deeper and slower. Ask us how our water is fishing before you book a session at fly fishing at Stillriver.
Do lodges need a permit to stock trout in Dullstroom?
Possibly. The national listing of trout as invasive was excluded from commencement until further notice. In Mpumalanga, the MTPA has required permits to sell and stock live trout, except in dams not connected to rivers. Many Highlands dams are on streams, so confirm your situation with the MTPA before stocking. We can explain what we know when you order.
Can we visit the hatchery before we order fingerlings?
Yes, and we encourage it. Seeing the raceways and the fish you will stock is the best way to judge a supplier. Farm visits are by booking so we can give you time, and dam owners are welcome to bring questions about their own water. See farm tours to book.
Which trout suits a Dullstroom dam, rainbow or brown?
Rainbow trout are the usual choice for put-and-take fishing and for most farm dams, because they feed readily and grow well in good water. Brown trout are warier and suit anglers who want a harder fish. Depth, inflow and how you plan to fish the dam decide it. Tell us about your dam and we will suggest a mix.