We had some difficulty moving on from Oxbow, but eventually we managed, with plans to drive south to the regional capital of Mokhotlong. That plan lasted about 35 minutes as we got distracted by Lesotho’s premier tourist destination’s scenic pub. While sipping a chilled Maluti at Afriski, mention was made of a notoriously difficult and skinny river nearby and it was decided that we should just have a look…
A fish with Jeandre’s name on it..
That “look” turned into a 7 kilometre hike downstream over hectic terrain, hiking as high as possible above the riverbed to not spook fish as the river runs extremely clear and shallow over exposed bedrock. This creates a series of very fast glides culminating in pools where you can see the bottom even if it is meters deep.
After playing enough Russian Roulette with our limbs, hopping boulders and slipping down goat trails, we took a break and then started to fish back up. The tactic was one on each bank, fishing alternate pools.
After an hour of no fish seen or raised (which is extremely unusual in Lesotho) I figured photography is definitely a more satisfying hobby under the circumstances. I caught up with Jeandre at the next pool and was busy taking a few frames of him when he connected with something that almost pulled the rod out of his hands on its first run.
Fortunately he was able to regain rod angle and bolstered by my words of encouragement.. “don’t cock it up, it’s only a fish of lifetime” he was able to land and safely release a spectacular wild rainbow.
A fin-perfect, wild bred cock fish, caught on a self-tied hopper, after a hard days hiking down a spectacular gorge… does it get any better than that? Nah, well done buddy.
"Don’t cock it up, it’s only a fish of lifetime"