The Molenaars Beat

SEE A MAP OF THE MOLENAARS BEAT

The river known to anglers as the Smalblaar, has been renamed the Molenaars, and this can cause some confusion. However for the purposes of anglers, the Molenaars Beat is a section of the lower Smalblaar, which is in private hands and leased by the Cape Piscatorial Society for the purposes of providing angling to both members and non members alike.

Access:

Access to the stream for fishing purposes is controlled by Cape Piscatorial Society. Fishing is strictly controlled and must be booked in advance with the CPS. Day permits are available to both members and non members, for members season permits provide easy booking and access.

Parking.

Parking for the Molenaars beats is either at the road side of the N1 or via a gate access for which a key is obtainable from CPS offices. The off road parking lies some five kilometres past the Du Toit's Kloof lodge traveling south along the N1.

The fish.

The Molenaars is a rainbow trout stream, holding a strong self sustaining breeding population of fish.The the Molenaars beat provides the best opportunity of large wild fish in the Cape waters. Rainbows up to 20 inches are regularly caught on this beat. The average size is probably in the region of 15".

The regulations:

The river is fished under strict guidelines, barbless hooks are mandatory, as is catch and release fishing. THERE IS A NO KILL LIMIT.

The Beats:

The Molenaars beat is currently only operated as a single beat, it may be subdivided in the future.

The Fishing:

As the Molenaars lies at the lower end of the Smalblaar river, it is at the very end of the survivable water for trout, getting very warm in the summer months when temperatures are high and water levels low. The water provides very good terrestrial fishing with beetles, ants and hoppers featuring on the menu during the spring months. Later in the season small flies to imitate various natural insects work best.

SEE A MAP OF THE MOLENAARS BEAT