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Trout fingerlings for sale in Mashishing (Lydenburg)
Mashishing has become a centre of South Africa's fly-fishing industry. We supply rainbow and brown trout fingerlings to the dams, venues and farms that keep that industry stocked.
- Fish health checked before every dispatch
- Stocking advice with every order
- You speak to the people who raise the fish
- Delivering to Mashishing
Fingerlings for fly-fishing country
Mashishing, the town most people still call Lydenburg, has become the centre of South Africa's fly-fishing industry. It is also an agricultural, tourism and mining hub on a tributary of the Lepelle River. Stillriver Trout breeds rainbow and brown trout to the south-west near Dullstroom and supplies fingerlings to dams, fishing venues and small growers around the town.
Buyers in Mashishing tend to know their trout. Many of the questions we get here are less about whether trout can live in a dam and more about size, timing and keeping a venue fishing well through the year. This page is written for that buyer, and for the first-timer who wants to join them.
Three kinds of buyer, three different orders
Fly fishing venues
A venue lives on anglers catching fish, so the questions are about size mix and restocking rhythm. Bigger fingerlings can be fished sooner. Smaller ones cost less and grow into the water. We help you plan a restocking pattern that keeps the dam fishing without overloading it in summer.
Farm and lodge dams
A private dam is usually stocked lightly and left. Here the key questions are depth, inflow and whether you will feed. Try the stocking calculator for a starting number, then send it to us to check.
Small growers
Some buyers grow fingerlings on to table size in their own ponds or raceways. That is a different business with different risks, mostly around water supply and feed. If that is you, read about trout farm setup before you commit to a large order.
How a fingerling order works
Tell us about the water
Surface size, depth of the deepest part, water source and how the water is used. A WhatsApp message with a photo is enough to start.
Get a suggestion and quote
We suggest species, size and numbers for your water, with a price and a delivery or collection date.
Sort out permits
Check with the MTPA what applies to your dam before the fish leave the farm.
Delivery and release
Fish arrive bagged with oxygen. We explain how to temper the bags to your water before you let the fish go, because temperature shock at release is an easy loss to avoid.
Species and sizes are on the fingerlings page.
Permits and honest limits
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 water with the MTPA. More on stocking trout in dams.
Not every dam near Mashishing suits trout. Shallow, sunny dams with no inflow can lose fish in late summer, however good the area's reputation for fishing. If your dam has lost trout before, tell us, and read why trout die in dams. We would rather adjust the order, or talk you out of it, than sell fish that will not last.
Delivery and collection for Mashishing
Mashishing lies north-east of Dullstroom, and orders for the town join our Highlands delivery runs. Fingerlings travel bagged with oxygen, timed for the cooler part of the day, and venue owners who want to inspect a batch first are welcome to collect from the farm. Collection also lets you see the raceways and ask questions about the batch in person.
Fly fishing venues here often plan restocking around the busy seasons. If that is you, talk to us early rather than the week before. It lets us set aside fish of the size you want, and it gives you time to sort permits. Venue kitchens can add fresh or smoked trout to the same delivery, and anglers who want to fish our own water near Dullstroom can see fly fishing at Stillriver.
New to trout and thinking of farming them rather than stocking a dam? Our fish farming training puts you on a working hatchery first.
Questions from Mashishing buyers
Do you deliver trout fingerlings to Mashishing (Lydenburg)?
Yes. Mashishing is in our Highlands delivery area, north-east of our farm near Dullstroom. Fingerlings travel bagged with oxygen, and we time deliveries for the cooler part of the day. Send your water details and location on WhatsApp and we will confirm a date with your quote.
Can I buy fingerlings to grow on to table size?
Yes, some buyers grow fingerlings on in their own ponds or raceways. That is farming, not dam stocking, and it needs reliable cold water, good flow and a feeding plan. If you are new to it, look at trout farm setup or our fish farming training before you place a large order.
What size fingerlings should a fly fishing venue buy?
Smaller fingerlings cost less and settle in well, but take time to reach a size anglers want to catch, and are more exposed to birds and larger fish. Bigger fingerlings cost more each and can be fished sooner. Many venues buy a mix. Tell us how often your water is fished and we will suggest sizes.
How do I keep stocked trout alive through summer?
Do not overstock, avoid overfeeding, and stock when the water is cool. Watch for fish gasping at the surface early in the morning, which is an early warning of low oxygen. Depth and inflow are your best protection. Our guide on why trout die in dams covers the details.
Are permits needed to stock trout around Mashishing?
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. Confirm your situation with the MTPA. See stocking trout in dams.