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Monthly report on our waters 

June 2022

 

By Peter Arderne (FOSAF)

 

GUBU & MADEN DAMS.

All the dams in the area are full or overflowing which means the fish are doing extremely well. In Gubu most of the rainbows caught are 2 years of age and in the 38cm to 40 cm range with those stocked a year ago or less 20 to 25cm. Interestingly the browns of the same year class are larger probably because they tend to hunt for bigger food on the bottom whereas the rainbows largely utilise daphnia and phantom midges. Gubu is less fertile than the trophy dams further inland and therefore has a lower percentage of larger food forms such as minnows, frogs, snails, and crabs.

Maden at 9ha is much smaller than Gubu at 109 ha and is more heavily stocked per hectare but has not had the same rod pressure. This is a pity as it has produced some excellent fish as can be seen in the photos below with browns up to 47cm.

The East Cape FFA will be holding stillwater trials on 1 & 2 July on Gubu and from 2 to 4 September there is the annual AFFC fundraising competition with tagged fish and good prizes. Non-members are welcome to enter this event.

 

CATA VILLAGE & WOLF RIVER

The AFFC has an agreement with the community to manage the nearby Mnyameni Dam.

This water contains a good population of smallish rainbows, all wild bred from the two streams that feed the dam. There are also browns in the dam and one can expect to catch at least one at each fishing session. It is hoped that they will also breed in the streams to set up a self-sustaining population. Moreover, It did receive another brownie stocking in January.

The club is also organising a wattle clearing project on the nearby Wolf River and donations towards this very worthwhile project will be appreciated by the AFFC. Some work has already been done and a new contractor is being sought to carry on with the project. The AFFC is still to arrange fishing access on the Wolf with the community.

 

LOCH LOCHIE

Some trophy-sized fish have been recorded recently. Martin Davies’ management agreement with the owners comes to an end at the year-end but he has donated some brownie yearlings for stocking. The dam is now full and quite weeded so a float tube or boat is recommended but there are areas where you can fish from the bank.

 

 

Into a Maden fish.

 

 

 

The first brown caught by Dale Bickell.

 

 

 

His second brown.

 

 

 

And a rainbow.