WILD TROUT ASSOCIATION (WTA)
Associations in Barkly East

The Wild Trout Association (WTA) is an organisation of riparian owners with trouting waters at their disposal, and affiliate members, who provide services and facilities such as guiding and accommodation. The WTA is thus a fly-fishing marketing body that promotes fly-fishing on a sustainable basis on behalf of its members. Remember that you are on private property that is precious to the owner. The formation of the WTA brought about long-needed access to these waters and has been remarkably successful in doing so. It has taken many long years for the association to expand the scope of its access to fishing. The WTA is responsible for the administration of the fishery, including the central booking system and other administrative functions such as data capture and processing, permit fee disbursements and marketing. Riparian members have been encouraged to develop the necessary infrastructure to accommodate visiting fly-fishermen to the area. Fly-fishing cottages and lodges have duly been established along the rivers and in the village of Rhodes where a host of different accommodation options has become available. Although trout fishing is the major sport practised in the region, there are umpteen other attractions such as snow-skiing, hiking, mountain biking, bird-watching, pony riding, rock art viewing and, for the hunting enthusiast, greywing francolin shooting to be enjoyed as well. The greatest concentration of fly-fishing on wild running water available to the public in Southern Africa is to be found in the Highlands of the Eastern Cape. The Highlands straddle the southernmost portion of the Drakensberg and continue into the Stormberg. The WTA administers and has access to more than 350km of running water throughout the Highlands and is the largest sport fishery of its kind on the entire continent of Africa. The waters range from Lilliputian streams found at the headwaters of the tributaries of the Kraai River that grow as they tumble down into the valleys below. These freestone streams and rivers are mostly fed by summer precipitation including thunderstorms and to a lesser extent by melt water from occasional snowfalls in winter. This is one of the more spectacular WTA beats with its massive sandstone cliffs and rock formations. We were greeted by the gracious hosts, Kate and Phil and given coffee while we tackled up. The river was looking awesome, crystal clear and where the bottoms are sand, totally clean gravel. We have this annual window before the rains arrive and while other waters in the area are dropping the Kraai flows strongly because everything else on this side of the escarpment flows into it. We took numerous smaller trout in the ten to thirteen inch range. The amazing thing about these fish is their condition factor and most left the water numerous times after being hooked. The fish have a similar appearance to those living in the Sterkspruit, silver, few spots and a greenish tinge to their sides. Yellowfish were seen feeding over the bedrock in shallow rapids but we were unable to interest them in our offerings. The good news is that, after a long absence, Tom now realises what he has been missing: we await his return.