TCFF Sterkfontein Yellowfish Experience 2025

The 29^th Complete fly fisherman Sterkfontein Yellowfish Experience was held of the weekend of November 7-9^th 2025 at the Qwantani resort on the dam.

With over 50 anglers and 12 guides taking part in this year’s event it promised to be another great event. Xplorer Fly fishing was invited to join the event and set up our mobile fly tackle shop for the weekend.  We arrived on Thursday afternoon to set up the shop as the heavens opened bringing a deluge of hail, driving rain and lightning striking all around us.  Just another Sterkies afternoon, Three seasons in one day.

With shop all set up, we were ready for the anglers to arrive on the Friday morning.   After the registration formalities were complete the anglers broke up into groups and were assigned a guide for the day. Strategic planning was done the night before, based on the predicted winds and weather for the next day, as to beats the anglers would spend the first day fishing.

The weather was going to make the fishing challenging on the first day. Wind, clouds and rain was the forecast.  The guys spent a good part to the day searching for yellows along their beats with some having better result than others.

Shaun and I made our way to barbel bay, under PJ’s instructions, to give the land based anglers a good berth.   We worked our way to the lei side of the bay where we saw the odd yellows feeding on the surface. We tried naturals, olive and finally the trusty black hopper was the fly of choice.  We spent the day chasing surface feeding yellow around the bay and ended up with 20 yellows of up to 70cm for the afternoon. All taking on the surface.

We made our way back to the launch site around 3pm to get ready for the anglers to come back from their day. The shop was opened as the guys filtered into the boma area to restock on flies and tackle after a hard day’s fishing and comparing notes.  After a hearty meal prepared by the Qwantani chefs, the guys retired to their chalets for the night, with the promise of better weather to come the next day.

We woke to a sunny Saturday morning, quickly checking the forecast to the day, it looked like we would have clear skies until about 3pm.  Once again, the anglers gather at 7am to meet their new guides and review their beats for the day.  After stocking up with more flies and gear, they headed to launch site to be ferried on the boats sponsored by Natal Caravan, to their beats.

Shaun and I headed back to the same bay we were designated the day before to give it another shot.  The sun was warming the water, we thought it would be a repeat from the day before, so we started with the ole faithful, black hopper.  After flogging the water for an hour with little interest in the hopper we mixed up our tactics, going to a smaller patterns, dry n dropper, to eventually just nymphs.  We landed a few on RAB’s but they weren’t going to be the choice of the day.  Having a few fish on dry dropper, Shaun eventually went to a straight tungsten beaded, sparsely dressed nymph. This would be the fly for the day.  Casting around the structure, weed beds and to cruising fish would be where we found the fish.   Over 15 decent fish were caught and released before an onerous dark cloud drifted over head, shooting the odd electric bolt and cracking thunder.  We quickly packed up the rods and headed for shelter of the harbor, getting the boat out just in time.

The anglers made their way back in batches as the boats collected the guys from their beats. It seemed to be a bit of better day for the guys, a nice largie, carp and a few smallies were caught and released.

The Saturday session was finished, the guys/ladies made their way back to their chalets to get ready for a long evening of prizes giving, dinner and a 10pm Springbok vs France match.

In true festival form, there were no prizes for the biggest fish. R320,000 in sponsored prizes would be handed out through a lucky draw to each angler and guide. Vouchers, reels, rods, braai, bags, accommodation at various resorts and more here awarded to all the entrants and guides.

The evening ended off with a few quiet drinks around the boma watching the Springboks exhilarating defeat over France. What a way to end the day!

Sunday was an absolute pearler of day, with bright blue skies and light wind. Most of the anglers tackled up and headed out for a morning session before heading back home.  With a long drive ahead, we opted to pack up the shop and make our back home. We had a great two days on the water with lots of fish.  The reports back from the morning session were promising with a good number of yellows landed.

The TCFF Sterkfontein Yellowfish Experience has been going for 29 years and is always booked out shortly after entries open each year. PJ and Lizelle host a professional event, whether you are a novice or experienced angler, this is a well-run event and one we can recommend if you’ve never done it before. Sterkfontein Dam is an amazing fishery set on the banks a nature reserve. Lots to see and nature to experience, even for non-anglers.  Make it point to get there and target a few yellows.

Sterkfontein Dam for yellow fish is one of Shaun’s trips he is offering and has some spots available for early 2026. Reach out to him and book a trip. Shaun@xplorerflyfishing.co.za