Fishing, and particularly trout fishing in rivers and dams, is one of the primary attractions to this area of KZN having established itself over a century ago.
In 1882, John Parker, who lived on the Tetworth farm north of Howick, wrote to British publication The Field, asking for advice on how to introduce trout to the area. In response to his query, Sir James Maitland of Howick Town Fishery gifted him 10 000 trout ova. When none survived, Maitland sent another 10 000 ova the following year, which also died. Regardless, trout-fever had struck. In 1889, Cecil Yonge, a member of Pietermaritzburg’s Legislative Council, obtained a government grant to introduce trout and salmon to Natal’s waters. A committee was formed to manage the process, and Boschfontein was selected as the site for the first trout hatchery.
In 1890, many of the 30 000 imported ova successfully hatched. In May of that year, the first 1 500 fry were released first into the Bushman’s River, then the Umgeni and Mooi rivers. This process continued each year until most of the province’s suitable rivers were stocked.
In the 1909 book, Trout Fishing in Natal by Hedley Salmon, Natal is already described as “the angler’s paradise.”
During the early 1950s, trout were stocked in a small number of dams in the Kamberg Valley. One of the first dams to be stocked in the Kamberg Valley in 1953 was Plover dam.
The fingerlings for these stockings were sourced from the Natal Parks Board hatchery situated in the Royal Natal National Park at Mont Aux Sources. Fish were transported in 10- gallon milk cans and stops were made in Bergville, Winterton, and Estcourt to blow oxygen into the water from garage tyre inflation air pumps. These stockings were relatively successful and by the late 1950 s these dams were producing quality Browns and Rainbows.
Traditional flies such as Alexander’s, Connemara, Bloody Butchers, Invictas and Walkers Killers were used. A unique and roughly tied fly was created by renowned South Coast Rock angler Tommy Tucker, who also enjoyed his trout fishing when visiting the Armstrong’s at Danesfort. This fly was simple to tie but highly effective. He used the eye of a peacock feather bound onto the hook with fishing nylon, which impressively he made on demand and on the spot!
The Kamberg Trout Fishing Festival was first established 24 years ago thanks to Mike Poplett and Pieter Moller. Initially sponsored by Bells, it continued to grow into what is now the biggest Trout Fly Fishing Festival in SA. The arrival of Gareth and Jenna George to the area in 2000 further boosted this event as significant sponsors such as Xplorer, WildFly, and others came on board. When Bells decided to withdraw their sponsorship Tops at Spar took over the primary sponsorship.
