Tim and Lesley-Anne Brewer, third generation Brewer, are the proud owners of Katrinasrust Trout Farm.

Katrinasrust Trout Farm was established in 1949 by Tim’s grandfather and two other partners. The farm did not do  well and in 1954 Tim’s father, Eric, took over the farm from the owners. He drove down through Africa from the Sudan in an old Citroen car with his pregnant wife and baby.

It was a real struggle in the first few years as there were many logistical hurdles to overcome. The roads to Johannesburg being dirt much of the way, were atrocious. The fish produced were sent to a depot in Johannesburg and distributed to  restaurants. Trout angling was not popular in those days.

The food for the trout was made on the farm daily using old horses, fishmeal, offal, blood from local abattoir, vitamins, powdered milk, and semels. This was a wet food that was thrown into the dams. As  can be imagined the feeding of the fish was a constant problem. In later years after the advent of the dog pellet, Tim’s father, Eric, thought it was time that trout were also fed on a dry food and engaged the food companies on the possibility of producing trout pellets. Wet food is no longer used by anyone.

When trout angling became more popular in the 60’s Eric started trout stocking as it is known  today. In the old days people used to stock fingerlings into their waters and the State offered up free fish to landowners. It was very much hit and miss and it was at this point that experiments were started with the stocking of larger fish.  The first two farms used for this purpose were Santa and Driehoek, two well known farms in the area. The experiments proved to be a great success and the rest is history.  Over the years the average size of stocked fish went from 300 gms up to 700 gms. Big fish up to 3kg are also supplied on prior special order. The era of instant gratification had arrived.

For the last twenty years Tim Brewer has been managing the family business and has specialised in the supply of quality angling trout to the recreational industry. Katrinasrust only uses large earthen ponds to rear trout in order to keep the quality as good as possible. During  winter months Tim breeds brown, golden and rainbow trout and in the summer months eyed ova are imported from either Denmark or United States.

Katrinasrust also offers a free advisory service on the development and management of trout waters.

Contact details : (013) 256-9063/ 082 570 1673

e.mail : timbrewer@cybertrade.co.za

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Stocking and Fishing Policy