Essential Advice for
the Highlands
Hard-won practical advice for fishing the Eastern Cape Highlands by Tony Kietzman.
Clothing & Personal Safety
Wear a hat and long-sleeved, long-legged garments for sun protection. Always carry rain gear. Specialist footwear with felt soles greatly facilitates movement in the river. Wet wading is standard practice in summer; waders make spring and autumn water temperatures more bearable.
Warning
Never venture into the mountains alone. Always consult with locals before heading onto remote beats such as Francisdale or Gateshead. Flash floods are a genuine hazard and have threatened the lives of anglers.
Polarized sunglasses are essential — water clarity allows for sight fishing, and good polarization is the difference between seeing fish and not.
Catch & Release Practices
Most fishing in the Highlands is on a catch-and-release basis. Follow these practices to ensure fish survival:
Use barbless hooks or flatten the barb before fishing.
Use a soft cotton mesh net (not nylon) or a dedicated release tool.
Land the fish as quickly as is practical — prolonged fighting increases mortality.
Always wet your hands before touching the fish.
Do not squeeze the fish, especially around the gill plates.
Keep the fish in the water wherever possible. Lift briefly for a photograph, then release immediately.
Aid recovery by cradling the fish facing into the current, holding around the tail wrist. Only release when it swims away strongly.
Never toss a fish back — replace it gently in the water.
Warmer water carries less dissolved oxygen, reducing survival chances of a stressed fish.
A fish bleeding from the gills is unlikely to survive. Kill it humanely and return the carcass to the stream, or take it home to eat.