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Fly fishing near Dullstroom on stocked still water
Quiet, stocked water a short drive from Dullstroom village, booked by the half day or full day so the banks are never crowded.
- Fish health checked before every dispatch
- Stocking advice with every order
- You speak to the people who raise the fish
- Delivering to Dullstroom
Fly fishing in Dullstroom, without the crowds
Dullstroom is one of South Africa's premier fly fishing destinations. At around 2,100 m above sea level, often described as the highest town in the country, it has the cold water trout need. Stillriver Trout adds stocked still water to that, a short drive from the village, booked by the half day or full day.
Because every session is by booking, the water stays quiet. You will not be sharing a bank with a busload of anglers, and you can take your time over a cast.
Half day
A morning or an afternoon on the water. A good choice if you are combining fishing with a farm tour, or if you want the best light of the day without the midday lull.
Full day
Time to try different banks, change flies as the light shifts, and stop for lunch. Full days suit anglers who want to fish the early and late hours, when trout are often most active.
Dullstroom trout fishing on stocked still water
Our water is stocked with trout from our own hatchery. The fish are raised in cold spring water and released into the dams, so you are fishing for healthy trout in good condition.
Still water fishes differently from a stream. There is no current to read, so you look instead for the edges: weed beds, drop-offs, the wind lane where food collects, and the shaded bank on a bright day. Beginners find it easier to cast without a current pulling the line. Experienced anglers find the challenge in reading a calm surface for rises.
Catch-and-release or keep
The rules on keeping fish are set per booking. Some anglers want catch-and-release only, some want to take a fish or two home for the table. We confirm the rule for your session, and any limit, before you arrive. For catch-and-release, use barbless hooks if you can, keep the fish in the water while you unhook it, wet your hands before touching it, and let it swim off on its own.
When trout fishing in Mpumalanga is at its best
Water temperature drives trout behaviour, and it is the most useful thing to know when you plan a trip.
Rainbow trout feed most readily at about 7 to 18 °C. Above about 18 °C their appetite drops sharply and then stops. Brown trout grow between about 3.5 and 19.5 °C, and water above 19.5 °C stresses them. In South Africa, still water often runs above 20 °C in late summer, from January to March. That is when trout feed less and are hardest to catch.
So the cooler months usually fish better. Autumn, winter and spring days bring fish that are more willing to take a fly. In summer, fish the first and last hours of the day and fish deeper in the heat of the afternoon.
A note on the weather: winter mornings in Dullstroom are often close to freezing, and most rain falls between October and April. Pack warm layers in winter and a rain jacket in summer.
Warm water is also hard on fish you release, because warm water holds less oxygen. On hot days, keep fights short and releases quick. Our guide on why trout die in warm water explains the temperatures involved.
What to bring
- Rod and reel: a light outfit suited to still water trout. If you do not have one, ask when you book.
- Floating line, and a sinking or intermediate line if you have one, for fishing deeper on warm days.
- A small box of flies: nymphs, a few lures and some dry flies.
- Polarised sunglasses and a hat, for safety and for seeing fish.
- Warm layers, a rain jacket and sun protection. Highland weather changes quickly.
- Water, snacks and lunch for a full day.
- Clean, dry waders and nets. If your gear has been in other water recently, tell us, so we can protect our fish from disease.
Beginner-friendly
If you have never fly fished, still water is a good place to start. Tell us when you book. We will suggest the easiest bank for casting, simple flies to try, and the times of day you are most likely to catch something. A beginner who comes on a cool autumn morning has a far better chance than one who comes on a hot January afternoon.
Who it suits, and who it does not
Our water suits anglers who want a quiet, booked session on stocked still water, families with one or two keen anglers, and beginners who want an easy start. It is not wild river fishing. If you want to fish moving water for wild trout, a river guide is the better booking.
How booking works and what drives the price
Choose your day
Pick a date, and decide on a half day or a full day. Tell us how many anglers and their experience.
Agree the rules
We confirm catch-and-release or keep, and any limit on fish kept, for your booking.
Fish
Arrive at the farm office, check in, and we show you to the water.
We confirm the price with your booking. It depends on half or full day, the number of anglers, and whether you keep fish. Ask for the current price list.
Fishing, a farm tour, or trout for your own dam?
If you want more than fishing, add a farm tour to see the hatchery the fish came from. If you would like trout in your own water, read about stocking trout in dams and our trout fingerlings.
Trout fishing near me: making a short trip count
If you are searching for trout fishing near you from Gauteng or elsewhere in Mpumalanga, the drive is part of the day, so plan the time on the water carefully.
- Book the cool hours. In warm months, a half day that starts early catches the best of the fishing. In winter, mid-morning to mid-afternoon is more comfortable and the fish are usually still willing.
- Watch the water, not the clock. Rises along a wind lane or near weed beds tell you where fish are feeding. Fish there before you change flies.
- Go slower in the heat. On a warm day, fish deeper and slower, and be ready to rest the water through the middle of the day.
- Ask on arrival. We will tell you which banks and patterns have been working that week.
Looking after the water and the fish
Fish diseases travel on wet gear. Please arrive with clean, dry waders, boots and nets, and tell us if you have fished other water in the last few days. Take your line, leader offcuts and litter home with you. If you are releasing fish, keep them in the water as much as you can, and let each fish swim away in its own time.
Fly fishing questions from visiting anglers
When is the best time of year for fly fishing in Dullstroom?
The cooler months usually fish better. Rainbow trout feed most readily at about 7 to 18 °C, and above about 18 °C their appetite drops sharply. In South Africa, still water often runs above 20 °C in late summer, from January to March. Autumn, winter and spring days tend to bring more active fish. In summer, fish early morning or late afternoon.
Can I keep the trout I catch?
That depends on your booking. Catch-and-release and keeping fish are set per booking, and we confirm the rule, and any limit on fish kept, before you arrive. If you want to take trout home for the table, say so when you book. If you are fishing catch-and-release, we will remind you of good handling on the day.
I have never fly fished. Can I still book?
Yes. Still water is one of the easiest places to learn, because there is no current to manage and you have room to cast. Tell us you are a beginner when you book, and we will point you to the easiest bank and suggest simple patterns. If you bring a friend who fishes, so much the better.
Do I need a fishing licence to fish your water?
Ask us when you book, and we will tell you what applies on the date of your visit. Rules for trout in South Africa are set partly by the provinces and can change. We would rather give you the current position for your booking than state a general rule here that might be out of date.
Where can I go trout fishing near me if I live in Gauteng?
Trout need cold water, so most trout fishing in this part of the country is in the Mpumalanga Highlands rather than in Gauteng. Dullstroom is one of South Africa's best-known fly fishing destinations. Many Gauteng anglers make a weekend of it, combining a half day on our water with a farm tour.
What flies work best on your dams?
It changes with the season, the weather and the time of day, so we would rather tell you on the morning than promise a pattern here. As a rule of thumb, have a few small nymphs, a few larger lures and something to fish near the surface on calm evenings. Ask us on arrival what has been working that week.