Beat 1 & 2

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Beat 1 presents lovely water that demands some very technical casting in places. This beat often produces good numbers of trout and some pleasurable sections of dry fly water amongst beds of aquatic grasses.

Using a dapping technique, place dry flies in the pockets among the grasses – numerous smaller trout hang out here.  Also remember to fish larger and more buoyant caddis patterns, such as the Elk Hair, and Stimulators in the headwater of fast runs.

The rainbows not only instinctively take up station in fast water, but they also show a preference to areas with elevated oxygen levels in the mid-to-late summer heat.

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Beat 2 is a mix of heavily-bushed sections and large pools, some of which need to be bypassed in the surrounding fynbos.

An important tip is to enter the pools from downstream with as little disturbance as possible and fish the fringes and undercuts in the tail-outs. Trout often take up station in the shallow, shaded parts under bank-side vegetation near the tails of pools.

As with a lot of the water on the Holsloot you can’t go wrong with a #12 Ed’s Hopper pattern tied with bright yellow foam.