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Pictorial beat information.
Elandspad River Beat #1
Beat one of the Elandspad offers fishing very close to the road with little walking required, the lower section of the beat provides fishing in both large pools and some pocket water, the upper half of the beat provides fishing in some superb pocket water in addition to some beautiful runs suitable for dry fly and nymphing techniques.
The start of beat one is at the confluence with the inflow of the Smalblaar River as the old road bridge crosses the river. From here there are a variety of runs and pools, offering the potential of some quality fish. The pools however fish better when water levels are higher. An interesting run just below the first weir (see image Elandspad #1_1) is tricky to fish well on account of the severe bend in the stream but this pool holds good numbers of fish.
Above the first weir is some excellent pocket water, tricky casting in tight spaces, (See image elandspad #1_2)and a deep pool with a steep rock face on the left side of the river. Above this point there is more pocket water leading up to another beautiful run before the river opens out into the large pool of the second weir. (Image elandspad#1_3)
Above the second weir is a superb run, with a steep rock face on the right side of the stream and then the river forms a massive dark and deep pool which has to be skirted using the path on the left bank. Access to the top portion of this pool can be achieved with some clambering down into the water. Accessing via either the river or the path brings one to one of the most picture perfect runs on the river. Again with a rock face on the right, this run holds some very good fish, but it is such an obvious spot that everyone fishes it and the fish are weary in the extreme. (See Image Elandspad #1_4)
From this run onwards the angler stays in the river, with several hundred metres of superb pocket water fishing and runs, (See Image Elandspad #1_5)
At the very top of the pocket water are some interesting pockets with marked weed growth, terminating in a long glide which almost always holds feeding fish, but they are weary and a stealthy approach will be required in low water conditions. Above this run is a massive pool, the head of which often holds feeding fish in good flows, but the water becomes too thin in high summer. The top of this pool, with the catwalk directly overhead on the left is the end of the beat. A marker indicating the start of beat two can be found on rocks in the middle of the stream. A white cross on the rocks to your right can also be used to indicate the end of the beat. Escape from the river requires a steep climb up the left bank to the path or a less arduous path along the left bank that links to the path just above the catwalk. In case of emergency remember that the path is always on the left bank looking upstream, should you need to exit in a hurry.
Elandspad Beat #2
Walking on the path on the left side of the river, the path leads along the bank high off the water and drops down to river level at the second weir, part of beat one, then on past a small overhang and a sandy beach before turning away from the river and climbing again. Extreme care should be taken on the higher points of the path, precipitous drops on the river side of the path represent a serious hazard to anyone losing their footing. Climbing away from the water one reaches the "catwalk" which is now protected with a wooden ladder (Image Elandspad #2_1). Access to the start of beat two can be gained via a very steep path down to the water directly after the catwalk, or the path can be followed a little farther to the level plain where a much easier route backtracks next to the river.
The beat starts directly upstream of the large pool designating the end of beat one. (Image Elandspad #2-2) Several deep pools and pockets lead on to a magnificent run with complex currents and superb trout habitat. This section of the beat can be clearly seen from the catwalk (Images Elands #2-3 and #2-4)
Above this run is another long run where there are always fish holding under the trees along the right bank. Thereafter pocket water and superb runs continue for most of the beat. (Image Elands 2-5)
Somewhere about half way up the beat the path is no longer easily accessible from the river and the only reasonable exit point is at the end of the beat. A long pool with a rock face along the left bank requires that you cross the river and move up the right hand bank to proceed further.
Above this long pool is more pocket water and several large deep pools followed by superb runs along the left bank and on to a massive pool with a distinctive large boulder at the head. At this point you are almost at the end of the beat, it is clearly apparent that the sides of the river steepens dramatically and as the kloof closes up, a beat marker on rocks on the right hand side of the river demarcates the start of beat #3.Image Elands #2_6 shows the final section of the beat and the arrow indicates the approximate position of the beat three marker.
Access and fishing on beat three of the Elandspad.
To access beat three, follow the instructions for beat two, walking along the path on the left bank of the river until you reach the catwalk. After the catwalk the path leads down to river level for approximately 100 metres before once again climbing away from the water on a clearly defined path with wooden anti erosion steps.
(Images, Elandspad #3-1,#3-2, #3_3)
The walk in to the start of beat three will take the average walker a good 20 to 30 minutes, the walk out from the top will take 40 to 60 minutes, keep this in mind when planning your fishing. Staying high above the water the path reaches a plateau with protea trees right on the path, (image Elandspad #3-4)you will be able to see the kloof sides steeped dramatically in the distance and this is the start of beat three. A small less defined path leads off the main track down a very steep grassy bank to the water, following the path will bring you directly to the intersection of beats 2 and 3.
Take note there is virtually no escape from beat three once you are in the water, it is essential that you time your fishing properly to be able to exit the river and get back onto the path, there is only one alternative exit which is very strenuous. Bear in mind that your walk out from the intersection with beat four will take from 40 to 60 minutes without leeway for accidents or unforeseen problems.
From the start of the beat marker, there are a couple of small pockets which invariably hold fish, then a long shallow run where fish can be found throughout in higher water and near the head when levels are low. Above this the kloof proper starts with a massive long and deep pool, the only means of continuing is to hug the left hand bank as you fish, the steep right bank should be avoided. Above this run which holds numerous fish, is a section of pockets and small runs before the river bends severely to the right, the dark waters of the corner pool always hold fish. From this pool the river again opens out into some terrific pocket water terminating in a long run with a steep rocky bank on the right and a boulder strewn beach on the left. More pockets and long runs continue until you reach a massive pool where a small tributary enters from the left when levels are high. This is the only other escape from the beat, and requires a very steep climb up to the path.( Image Elandspad 3-5/6)After this more pockets until you reach another huge pool where the only passage is on the left bank, a small "tunnel" path through the undergrowth will allow access to the top of the pool. From here more quality water and some wonderful pockets take you to a large corner pool where the river once again bends to the right, a long still pool requires deep wading along the left bank before a final staircase of pocket water takes you to the cave pool and the exit at the beginning of beat four. Image #3-7 shows this section as viewed from the path.
Access and fishing on beat four of the Elandspad
Follow the initial parking and access instructions for the previous beats. The path follows the left hand side of the river all the way to the start of beat four, this is a long walk, do not be tempted to think you have "gone far enough" or "walked past it" you haven't and you cannot stay on the path and miss the start of beat four at the cave. The only possible error is to walk down onto beat three but if you stay on the main path this will not happen. Having walked high above the water of beat three the path goes over a small ditch and shortly afterwards drops down towards the river again. From the path a distinctive red rock face above the cave denotes beat four. Following the path will take you directly to the "cave" see Image Elandspad # 4.1 with its beautifully scripted "no fire, geen fure" sign.
Opposite the cave is "Cave Pool" Image #4.2 which is the first section of water on the beat. Fished by everyone the pool is however home to many fish, although they can be difficult. In times of good flow, take care to fish the tail out of this pool or you will spook dozens of fish before your day begins. When you are done with "Cave Pool" get back on the path on the left of the river and walk around it, you access the top of the pool by getting back off the path a few metres upstream. Here there are some exceptionally good runs and pocket water, for about 70 metres or so and then the river appears to split to the right (looking upstream).
Crossing the river you can fish up through some lovely pocket water Image #4.3 and good runs and pools Image #4-4, take note of the fact that the path ceases to exist on the left bank after this point, although there is a path on the right for a while. A long run with a clear tributary entering from the right Image #4-5 leads on to a short section of pocket water before you are confronted with a massive pool. There are some very large and very tricky fish in this pool, and it is impossible to wade through. To access the upper sections of the beat you must backtrack slightly to the tributary and follow a path on the right that for a short time leads you high above the water on the right hand side of the river. Please note that from this point on you are committed to the kloof, there is no alternative access to a path and you will have to return along the river on the way out. Do not persevere up this section in the event of high and rising water, you may become stranded. Above this is more exceptionally productive pocket water Image #4-6 again take special care here, it is easy to slip on the rocks as this section gets relatively little sunlight and the rocks can become greasy, a fall here away from the path could be serious. Above you on the right hand side of the river you will see a distinctive rock formation
Image #4-7 "Gogg and Magogg", this is the marker for the second unwadeable pool on the beat. Image #4-8 A long often very still section that can be most easily bypassed by walking and clambering along the right side (looking upstream). The very top section of this pool can be highly productive and holds numbers of fish in moving water, the rest of the pool being so calm as to render normal fishing very very difficult indeed. Climbing down off the right hand side rocks one can then proceed up the right in the water or cross over the opposite bank to continue upstream. From this point onwards you need only stay in the river taking the line of least resistance and moving about so as to offer the best fishing possibilities.
From here on is some of the finest fishing on the river, although most of the fish will be smaller than those on the lower beats, long runs and thin pocket water with opportunities to sight fish run on for hundreds of metres upstream. see Image #4-9 Some exceptional pools including the one featured in Image #4-10 offer great fishing most of the year, but do not only fish the pools, lots of fish will be found holding in small pockets amongst the rocks and this section of the river offers wonderfully intimate pocket water fishing with light tackle.
Fishing through the runs and pockets you will reach a large pool Image #4-11 which should be bypassed along the left bank, above this is more pocket water Image #4-12 and eventually you will reach a distinctive bend in the river to the right with a noticeable red rock face on the left bank Image #4-13
Turning the corner you now have some 100 metres of superb tiny pockets amongst the rocks that hold a good many fish before reaching the junction with the Kraalstroom and the end of beat four. Images 4-14, 4-15, 4-16
Elandspad Beat #5
Beat five extends above this junction but is rarely fished being too far to reach in a normal days fishing, equally access to beat five requires that you walk through the water of beat four and as a consequence is normally only fished by anglers who are also fishing beat four, invariably they run out of time before being able to explore beat five to any degree. Beat 5 should not be fished unless you are experienced in the kloof and have plenty of time. It requires some extreme wading, even swimming in places and is extremely isolated in the event of a problem occurring.
