Thought I'd share some pictures from a couple recent trips to the Vaal river just outside Johannesburg, South Africa. We were fishing for Yellowfish, an African fish that very much resembles the Rocky Mountain Whitefish in habits and body shape. Obviously it's colored differently. It feeds primarily on insects, including the very abundant caddis flies. It averages a couple pounds and favors the heavier currents of riffles and pocket water. It is extremely strong and uses the current to full advantage. In short its a heck of a lot of fun to catch. If you google it up you find all kinds of more detailed info.

We have been using short line Czech nymph techniques most of the time but when the caddis are emerging a soft hackle swung downstream works well too.

That's good stuff, Budd. I hope you're getting some rain in your watershed this morning.

Wonderful! Did you go there just to fish or was it a busman's holiday?

pretty cool stuff; a steer roper from Texas fishing in South Africa!!!!Who'd a thunk it!!-p-

You didn't hit any trout water? I here there are some really big bows and browns down there.

Bud,
so that's where you've been! looks great to me. Did you swing any flies in that current?

Les

Budd it pulls at the heart strings to see your pictures and read your report.
I lived in South Africa for 27 years and the last ten of those years I spent as much time as possible on the Vaal River catching small mouth yellow fish.
I only fished with the fly rod and especially enjoyed fishing the fast water upstream and sometimes up and across on the dead drift. My best day was 40+ fish in a afternoon but the average was mostly around 30.
As you stated they are a hard fighting very fast fish.

This was my personal best weighed over 4 kg (9 lbs)