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Fly Fishing Seasons in Dullstroom

What works best, when. A quick-glance guide to seasonal tactics, flies, and water behaviour—tailored for Dullstroom stillwaters and streams.

At a Glance

Autumn
(Mar–May)

Prime dries/emersers; calm margins + glassy evenings. Klinkhåmers, Shuttlecocks, Adams #14–18.

Winter
(Jun–Aug)

Clear & cold; smaller flies, finer tippet. CDC emergers, midges #18–20; slow nymphs.

Spring
(Sep–Nov)

Consistent hatches; active cruisers. Parachute Adams, Klinkhåmer #14–16, light nymphs.

Summer
(Dec–Feb)

Storm gaps & terrestrials. Hoppers, Foam Daddy; dry-dropper along banks & weed lines.

Autumn (Mar–May)

  • Flies: Parachute Adams / Purple Haze, Klinkhåmer, Shuttlecock #14–18.
  • Rigs: Single/double dry; short dry-dropper (40–60 cm) to #16–18 slim nymph.
  • Watercraft: Work edges & channels; watch for subtle sips and bulges.
  • Leaders: 9–12 ft with 5X–6X tippet; lengthen in glassy windows.

Winter (Jun–Aug)

  • Flies: CDC film emergers, Griffith’s Gnat, tiny midges #18–20; light nymphs.
  • Approach: Slow down; long leaders, thin tippet (5X–6X), precise drifts.
  • When quiet: Subtle nymph under a micro-indicator; occasional small bugger.
  • Light: Mid-day sun can lift activity—check wind lanes for sippers.

Spring (Sep–Nov)

  • Flies: Parachute Adams, Klinkhåmer, VR Caddis, Shuttlecock #14–16.
  • Activity: New weed growth; sight fish cruisers along clean banks.
  • Rigs: Dry or dry-dropper; swap to emerger on refusals.
  • Wind: Use banks with breeze pushing food—drift naturals.

Summer (Dec–Feb)

  • Flies: Hoppers, Foam Daddy, Stimulator #8–12; search with dry-dropper.
  • Timing: Early & late between storm spells; shade lines mid-day.
  • Colour: Tan/yellow/orange terrestrials; keep drifts natural near reeds.
  • Backup: If water colours up, try a slim nymph or small bugger.

Leaders, Tippet & Setup

  • Rod/Line: 3–5 wt with WF floating.
  • Leaders: 9 ft 3X/4X; extend with 4X–6X tippet to suit stealth.
  • Dry-Dropper: 40–60 cm dropper to #16–18 slim nymph/emerger.
  • Floatants: CDC safe gel + powder; carry desiccant.
  • Swap cue: Refusals to high riders → emerger in the film.
  • Colour rule: Dark day → darker silhouette; bright day → brighter/natural.

Season FAQs

When are dries most reliable?

Autumn and spring offer consistent dry-fly windows, with summer terrestrials firing between storm gaps.

What tippet should I use?

5X is a great start; drop to 6X in glassy water or with tiny emergers. Lengthen for stealth.

Do I need sink lines?

A floater covers 90%. A spare intermediate spool helps in wind or when probing deeper lanes in summer.

Bank-only venues?

Many top stillwaters are bank-fishing only. Check rules; barbless hooks are typically required.

Plan Your Season

We’ll tailor flies, leaders and venues to the day’s conditions—so you learn more and hook more.