Beat 3 & 4

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After about 30 minutes of walking and a decent down a steep mountain side for about 100 meters after the catwalk, (which must be negotiated with care) you will reach the start of Beat 3.

Fish all the shallow pockets that lead up too a long shallow pool. After this point there are several large pools that may need to be bypassed, especially in high water. Bypass these pools on the left (facing upstream) and continue fishing until the cave pool (the cave is visible on the left) which marks the start of beat 4.

Then follow the path, which starts on the left of the cave, back to your car. Beat 3 is a long beat, and needs to be fished at a steady pace, as there is no easy exit once you are on the beat. Also keep in mind that the walk back will take about an hour, so leave in sufficient time to get back to your car before darkness sets in. Remember that the weather can change for the worse very suddenly so always carry the necessary protective clothing and a space blanket.

But don’t let this put you off, the fishing on this beat is fantastic.

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Beat 4 starts at the cave pool, which cannot be missed if you follow the hiking trail from the parking area. Expect to be on the trial for at least 40 minutes before reaching this point.

From here fish the runs and pocket water all the way up to a massive pool in the middle of the beat. This pool holds some very large and very tricky fish, and is impossible to wade through. To continue fishing beat 4, follow the path on the right (facing upstream) to get to the water above the pool.

From this point onwards, you will find some of the finest fishing on the river. Although most of the fish are smaller than on the lower beats, the long runs and thin pocket water provide opportunities for some amazing sight fishing.

A small tributary, the Kraalstroom, that joins the Elandspad from the left (facing upstream) marks the end of the beat.

The hike back is slow and can take up to 2 hours, so keep this in mind when planning your fishing.