The Maclear Fly Fishing Club is the custodian of fly fishing on the rivers and stillwaters of the part of the North Eastern Cape Highlands surrounding the villages of Maclear and Ugie.   

Small streams run off the Drakensberg escarpment to form freestone streams like the Tentkop- and the Hawerspruit, which offers endless pleasure with a light rod and a dry fly. These creeks meander down another two escarpments, and joins up to form famous fly fishing streams like the Wildebees-, Pot-, Mooi- and Tsitsa Rivers.

In these rivers, catches of Rainbow Trout over 40cm are common, and every year a couple of catches over 50 cm are recorded. The biggest fish caught at one of the Maclear River Festivals was 59cm taken on the Little Pot River, while a catch of a Rainbow hen of 5lb in the Pot River is also on record.

The club also has abundant stillwater fishing, with 21 dams under its control.

Fly-fishing in the area goes back to the early 1900’s with early pioneers like Sydney Hay coming to mind. Rivers in the area have been stocked with rainbows in the late 1800’s and the trout is self sustaining, and has only been stocked on the odd occasion.

The result was a wild river trout that is hardy and adapted to local conditions, and even the small ones give you your money’s worth in a fight.

From the 1950’s  a loose association of fly fishing friends started looking after fly fishing interests in the area, and by the late 1980’s a formal club was formed.

Today we have a club with an active membership who is keen to share our 600km of fly fishing rivers with the rest of the world.

Day permits are available from

The Yummy Convenience Store

Caltex Garage Complex

c/o Van Riebeeck and Rugby Street

Maclear

Tel: 071 268 6366

E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Contact person: Jeff Sing

These folks will also gladly set you up with good accomodation and fishing venues.

Day permits costs are: Unaccompanied R150 per day per rod

Guides are available at an additional fee.

Please note that some of our landowners require that visitors are accompanied by a guide when fishing on their property.

The Stone Junction Coffee Shop (apart from delicious breakfasts and lunches) also have a Fly Fishing Corner which stocks flies selected from local knowledge. (On western top side of the main road opposite the NG Church)

Your contact persons at the club:   

Theuns Botha 073 674 3326 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Noel Wagenaar 0829251425 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Ten day weather forecast for Maclear