The Fly Fishing Academy would like to extend a BIG THANK YOU to everyone who was involved in supporting the Fly Fishing Exibit at the 2011 Bundu Expo. As you all are aware, our concept was to round up as many new fly fishermen as possible and expose them to this wonderful sport. We believe that we achieved this as we had a constant flow of people through the stand from when the show doors opened on Friday morning, up until it began to quieten down on Sunday afternoon. We estimate about 2500 to 3000 people stopped and took some form of interest in our exhibit. In addition to the general exposure, we received contact details from over 100 aspiring new fly fishermen. This can have a major effect on all areas of the industry as these 100 beginners all need equipment and venues to visit. The likely hood of them also bringing additional family and friends into the sport is good, thus having a mushroom effect for the development of fly fishing in the future.

Please take a look at a couple of the photo’s of the exhibit below. If you would like to contact us please feel free to send us an e-mail.

Thanks again for your support.

The Fly Fishing Academy Team!

The TREEFERNS banner is on the Xplorer panel extreme left.

We visited Katrinasrust Hatchery and Trout Farm recently to familiarize ourselves with the breeding of trout.  Frequently asked  questions of our guests are where our trout come from,  how they are hatched and grown to the sizes we want. We are happy to say that for the past 17 years Katrinasrust has been our sole supplier of trout, and we will continue to stock from them. Tim and Leslie-Anne Brewer are the proud owners with many years of experience.

Hatching of trout is fairly straightforward. When spawning a female fish is taken out of the water by hand, and her stomach  gently pressed to release the eggs in a mixing bowl or bucket. The male’s sperm, also called milt, is added into the bowl allowing it to fertilize the eggs.The fertilized eggs are then put in a tray incubator for incubation. Incubation depends on the water temperature. With a temperature of 55 º F or 15 º C eggs will hatch approximately 3 weeks after fertilization. The cooler the water the longer it will take.

Once the eggs hatch into fry (small fish 1 – 2 cm in size), they are moved from the incubator into troughs 3 – 5 m long, 0,5 m wide and 100 – 200 mm deep, with a waterflow of 40 – 50 liters  per minute.

When about half of the fry come up or swim up, feeding by hand of starter mash starts on the surface of the water 3 – 4 times per day. As soon as most fry are actively feeding they are fed more frequently with approximately 10 % of fish weight per day.

After the fry have been feeding for two weeks, the density is reduced by moving some to other troughs to prevent over crowding, typically below 0.5 kg of fry per 0.5 m³ of water volume. The fry are moved into larger troughs when they have grown to 25 mm in length, and when  larger they are transferred to  dams where they will grow to big fish, and netted out as ordered.

Although the whole process seems simple,  it requires constant supervision and attention to ensure adequate water flow with the right oxygen level and of course food. Fish hygiene is equally important to reduce contamination and disease.  It is therefore time consuming and labour intensive  requiring a high degree of reliability.



A deep sense of tranquility and serenity.

There is no more pertinent way to describe the soul reviving beauty of the Treeferns Trout Lodge, nestled snugly on a vast farm land just outside Belfast.

Treeferns is the perfect getaway for the weary city dweller who seeks a refuge from all the noise and stress.

It also stretches out a welcoming hand to families, to the tourist, to the angler, to the adventurer and to the scribe.

An old farm house, still occupied, stands on the farm to add that magical touch of authenticity as the visitor is transported back to a time of simplicity and innocence.

From the moment one arrives at Treeferns, the magnitude of the stillness embraces you, as you allow for the stressed and worries of life to seep away like the water that runs from the top trout dam down to the many lower dams.

This is not just a trout farm. This is about relaxation. The geese that lazily drift on the water or the dogs that sleep under the baking sun attest to this laid back lifestyle.

Treeferns is about getting back to nature. It is about switching off the cellphone and allowing for quality time with family or friends.

It is about appreciating beauty and nature, with the chalets offering a panoramic view.

Each chalet, built with wood and stone, has a unique quality. Apart from being quaint, cozy, it is comfortable, spacious and caters for all your needs.

The chalets are fully equipped with modern day luxuries, so that in one sense you have one foot in nature and the other firmly planted in the modern world.

Other facilities include a shop that offers the basic needs, and also hires out fishing rods and other equipment.

Indeed, Treeferns offers a welcome break as you kick off your shoes and letting the fresh air invigorate you.

For those with a bit more energy, there are plenty of wonderful sports to tackle, such as fly fishing at the various dams, while there is more than ample opportunity to go for a walk or even to take a scenic drive.

Not to be missed is a trip to the gorge, where a river gentle meanders through it. The hike will appease the appetite of the adventurous at heart.

Treeferns in essence is a postcard picture of rolling hills and calm waters, framed by the chalets and the old farm house, which offers fantastic opportunities for the professional or the amateur photographer to explore the many shades and tones and textures of this peaceful landscape.

And when the winter sets in or when the gentle rains fall, then the fireplace in each chalet offers opportunities for fellowship or romance. Wood on request is supplied.

What are you then waiting for? A trip to beautiful Mpumalanga awaits where  Treeferns Trout Lodge  will offer the remedy for total relaxation.

Riaan Engelbrecht ( 18 – 20 March 2011)

riaane@live.com

(The foto’s were taken by Riaan himself)

This month, I’ve decided to change our main subject from fly fishing to what Treeferns really has to offer!!

With new innovative technology, all info about us is just a mouse click away, but sometimes you just want to hear/read about it in a paragraph or two without browsing through the whole web page.

A frequently asked question is:  ” What of the women and children/ non-anglers…what are they going  while dad is fishing?”

This past week for instance, we had a group of 20 guests some of whom from the Netherlands, who accompanied a honey-moon couple, Roel and Wilma Janssen,  on their vacation.  They saw some of the most spectacular places in South Africa:  from The Kruger National Park to St Lucia, game drives etc.     ….till they arrived at Treeferns!  Everyone was amazed by the awesome surroundings, clean air and water, and absolutely no disturbance of sirens, vehicles driving, crazy taxi drivers and all the other horrible things you get in the cities!

Marina and Willie, the bride’s parents/  Wilma and Roel/   Morne, Marina and Willie

Their visit started off with a traditional farmhouse dinner prepared on the old coal stove in the main house that was re-built in 1908.  After a very long journey they were early in bed after this delicious meal.  Early next morning after a huge breakfast, we went to our neighbouring farm, Greystone Lodge for clay pigeon shooting.  And the winner was none other than  the bridegroom,  Roel Janssen, with his new wife, Wilma, almost in tears when he received his certificate and bottle of mampoer,  distilled in one of the smallest towns in South Africa, ‘Tonteldoos’…about 60km from us. After the clay pigeon shooting, we all went on a scenic hike on our farm;  a good 2-hours hike. The alternative hiking trail takes about 4 hours. After the hike it was  fishing time!  With a quick lesson in casting, it was all fun for the rest of the afternoon with Donè, one of the guys in the group who caught himself!!  Luckily no serious injuries occurred. When fishing was done; it was party time: A quick ‘braai’ at the lapa, music and then we  introduced them to real South African boere-musiek…..this went on till 01:00am!  Next morning it was the last breakfast on the lapa deck overlooking the trout dams and then lots of tears  saying goodbye!  Thank you very much, Roel and Wilma Jansen from Maastrich, Netherlands, and your families for honouring us with  your visit. Can’t wait for the next one in September!

In short: If you don’t fish, you can decide on a few things from, hiking, bird watching (129 species!!), clay pigeon shooting, game drives on our other neighbouring farm, or a visit to places like Dullstroom with it’s restaurants, curio shops, Belfast, Waterval Boven and Machadodorp…. If you’re into the so-called ‘unexplained’, then you have to visit the stone circle museum in Waterval Boven….ever thought of other forms of live in the universe…..?? Then I need to say no more!

Our hiking trail is very popular as well as our star gazing (weather permitting!). After 4 very long misty months, we can see some of the favourites in the night sky again like the planet Saturn with it’s planetary rings, moon phases (with rocks and craters clearly visible through the telescopes), Nebulae, Stars clusters and other galaxies during the ‘Dark Moon’ phases.

Our annual fly fishing competition is still on for the last weekend in October in conjunction with Diabetes South Africa.  This will be a fun-filled weekend for the whole family. Remember to book your entry and accommodation ASAP. More on this in next month’s news letter.

About fishing the past 3 weeks:  The biggest one came from  dam no 11:  A whopping 3.6 kg by Dirkie Joubert, a new addition to the farm.  Flies and patterns that still works:  DDD with small droppers (size 18 or smaller!) and all your smallest flies in your box (sizes 16 and up) like Red Humpy’s, Buzzers, Adams and Midge Pupae.

A tackle shop in Dullstroom, The Village Angler’s new owner, John Hunter, and I,  fish  regularly   and then we put some flies together for our anglers to buy at our shop on the farm.  These patterns are tried and tested!  (Our shop/kiosk still offers the best home made jams in this area! )

Our new chalet/ house ‘The Oaks’ is completed and  very popular.  Johan de Waal is our first syndication member. Only 7 syndications available:  4 weekends and 2 midweeks for 8 persons: Only R 17500-00 per year (a total of 20 nights)!! For more info on this, feel free to drop me an e-mail: mornejansevanrensburg@vodamail.co.za

Inputs from our guests are always welcome! We are now also on Facebook, thanks to my sister-in-law, Sonya Smith, owner of  Sonya Smith Funeral Group.

Till next time…

Enjoy fishing!

Morne van Rensburg: Manager: Treeferns Trout Lodge.

072 403 1895.

What’s this ?

The picture above shows the harvest of only one round trip to the chalets. Yes, these are indeed cigarette butts. It does not  include those in the refuse bins or on the dam walls, where there are even more.  Anglers are supposed to use the containers provided, but as it seems, with little effect. It makes us a little sad because the flyfisher is an eco or “green” conscious person. Therefore we feel at liberty to call upon all guests to put their cigarette butts and refuse in the ash trays and bins. To further accommodate smokers, we now also supply eco mini bins which clip onto the belt, clothing or bag at R25 each. The lid can also be pushed out to hold small throw-aways like chewing gum or toffee wrappings. The slide show that follows tries to encourage smokers with acknowledgement of their rights, to please co-operate and contribute to a ” greener” and cleaner environment. We thank all for understanding :

Treeferns is truly concerned about the environment. We used stone from the farm to build the chalets and reservoir to blend with the background, the dam walls were covered with kikuyu grass, and the terrain was left undisturbed as far as possible. The following pictures demonstrate clearly. Note how the drinking water reservoir in the centre of the photos blends with the background rocks:

Morne, our Manager

Interest in people is to understand human behaviour, the meaning of life, and survival. Religion, psychology, and sociology  investigate the nature, purpose, and behaviour of people.  Science, economics, law, and politics study ways and means of people to survive collectively.

We must also distinguish between the behavioural definitions, and those of politics, and law. In the behavioural sciences the emphasis is on behaviour of people. In politics governments rule on behalf of the people; in law prosecutions are brought in the name of the people.

“People are our strength” – this is what the late Anton Rupert said when asked to explain the reasons for his success.  We can also say ” you are as good as your people” . Therefore it is fitting to pay tribute to our people, i.e. those working with and for us; our suppliers;  those who support us, our customers; and our family who always encourage us.

Be a little patient while the slides are loading :

A farm with no animals and poultry is unthinkable. Therefore our farm, Vlakfontein, is endowed with cattle, chicken, duck, geese, turkey, and peacock. Cattle have been dealt with elsewhere, but poultry haven’t been covered yet on our web site. As guests and particularly children are keen on seeing animals and poultry on a farm, it is appropriate to show them. Children always  like to “feed the birds.”

A slide show of some birds on the farm follows in a few seconds.

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Vlakfontein, home base of Treeferns Trout lodge, because of its high altitude, is an ideal site for telecommunication transmissions. Not surprisingly, therefore, three landmarks or towers dominate the skyline. The major telecommunication networks are represented here, viz  Sentech, Eskom, Telkom, Vodacom, and MTN. I  believe that also Cell C is utilising  excisting infra-structures.

Sentech.

Sentech evolved from the technical and broadcast arm of the SABC into an information communication technology company. It is state-owned and a fully commercial enterprise. Sentech owns and operates a large number of broadcasting transmitter sites : 598 television transmitters, 730 FM transmitters, and some medium and short wave transmitters. One of these is sited at Vlakfontein on the hill called Mareskop, and is referred to as the Dullstroom tower, shown below.

The height of the tower is 800 ft, it pivotes on a ball, is well anchored with 4 anchor cables on each of 4 anchors. It has a radius of 150 km. The tower also hosts Telkom and Vodacom.

Eskom.

Eskom ownes the Machadodorp Radio Repeater Station which is also situated on Mareskop, Vlakfontein. It is a 45 m Eifel tower as part of Eskom’s radio communication network. To ensure sustainable power to all its consumers Eskom relies on its own communication network. This station also hosts a MTN base station. The tower is the one on the left on the picture below, west of the Telkom mast.

Telkom.

Telkom has erected a mast of 50 m high on a concrete foundation of 7 m² on a site of 12 m², with associated telecommunication equipment. It is the mast on the right of the above photograph. Telkom also has an Alcatel radio antenna at the Sentech tower. The farm telephone is connected to this antenna.

Vodacom.

Vodacom operates a base station  at the Sentech FM tower.

MTN.

The Eskom mast left on the above picture hosts a MTN base station, as shown on the photo below.

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This post contains news items, events, and general info of interest:

1 November 2010 :  Our new reception and kiosk was opened on  1 November, and our  selection of flyfishing items for sale at the KIOSK updated. Contact Morne, 072 403 1895

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30 November 2010:  Our web site is still very much alive, and we have added some more info under accommodation, with special reference to the surrounding towns as experienced by some of our guests, local attractions, etc.  You are more than welcome to share your adventures at Treeferns with  visitors to our web site.

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30 November 2010 :  Product owners of trout facilities are required by law to have permits to stock trout in their dams. Treeferns Trout Lodge had been issued  permits for many years, and is therefore a legitimised operation in the Trout Industry.

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31 October 2010 :  A very successful flyfishing competition was held on 30 October 2010, and 185 fish were caught and released. The winners of the longest fish were Eben du Plooy and Craig Richardson, and John Hunter won the prize for the longest bag.  We thank all our sponsors for the prizes.  We are looking forward to the next one.

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