Fly-fishing in Lesotho
Fishing in Lesotho can offer fantastic rewards for the enthusiast. The clear, beautiful mountain streams are surrounded by majestic mountain peaks and deep valleys. Rainbow trout and Yellow fish are in abundance here which makes this area one of the best fishing grounds in Southern Africa. The high altitude and cold mountain streams allow for year round fishing. Hit Lesotho at the right time and you’ll experience some of the best on offer. Top the day off with a dram of whiskey and a trout on the braai and you won’t be mistaken if you thought you were in fishing heaven. But before you head off here are some things you should know and some places you should try.
Places to fish. There are many good places to do some fishing in the Lesotho Highlands. The Sani flats have many great little places and form some of the traditional fishing areas above the Sani Pass. Towards the town of Mokhotlong the Khubelu River offers some good spots especially downstream from Metebong. The Mokhotlong River also has some good areas and is largely unexplored, so there’s some great spots to be found. The river has yellowfish as well as Rainbow and Brown trout. Some other good rivers in the area are the Sehonghong River valley, Soloane River, Linakeng and the De Beers dam. Out towards Quachas Nek there are some great little places. Sehlabatebe Reserve allows for some fishing in the park ponds or on the Tsoelikane River which is downstream of the falls. Semonkong also allows for some wild fly-fishing and some great scenery. Katse dam has yellowfish and trout in abundance but shore fishing can be difficult along some of the steep sides. All in all some fantastic places.
Fishing Regulations.
-The license fee is M5.00 which is obtainable from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock division, Private Bag A82 Maseru 100.
- Closed season for fishing is between 1st June and 31st August.
- Fishing tackle is limited to only a rod and line. Artificial non-spinning flies may be used. A landing net and gaff may not be used.
- The bag limit for trout is 12, which must be over 25 cm in length.
Fishing in Summer, or in the rainy season can be difficult as rivers become silty and may be hard to access.
Happy Fishing!