🎣 RIVERMAN CABIN COUNTRY LODGE

Fishing Rules & Regulations

1. Trout Dam – Strictly Fly-Fishing Only

Our Trout Dam is reserved exclusively for fly-fishing.

Permitted equipment: Fly rods, fly reels and fly lines, Barbless flies only.

Strictly prohibited: Bass rods, spinning rods and conventional reels (coffee grinders), Spinners, spoons, artificial lures and plugs, Live bait, worms and other natural bait, Sinkers, weights and fishing additives.

Penalty for non-compliance: R2,500 per offending angler.

Any angler found fishing in the Trout Dam using prohibited equipment or methods will be subject to a penalty of R2,500. These rules are in place to protect our trout fishery and must be respected at all times.

2. Bass Pond

The Bass Pond is designated for bass fishing.

We strongly encourage catch-and-release fishing to help maintain healthy bass stocks for the enjoyment of future guests.

Please handle all bass carefully and return them to the water promptly. Avoid unnecessary handling and take care not to injure the fish during removal of the hook.

3. Fishing Log Book – Mandatory

A Fishing Log Book is provided in the information file inside your cottage.

All anglers must record their fishing activities in the log book. Please ensure that Every fishing session is recorded.

All fish caught are recorded, whether released or retained.

Any fish that dies or cannot reasonably survive release is recorded.

All required details are completed accurately.

The log book must be completed even if no fish are caught during a fishing session. Please ensure your entries are accurate and complete.

4. Catch-and-Release – Handle with Care

We encourage responsible catch-and-release fishing to preserve our fish stocks and protect the long-term health of our dams.

Please observe the following guidelines:

Wet your hands before handling fish.

Keep fish in the water as much as possible.

Use suitable forceps or a release tool to remove hooks.

Avoid squeezing fish or damaging their protective mucus coating.

Minimise handling time and return fish to the water promptly.

If a fish needs reviving, support it gently in the water until it can swim away under its own power.

An injured fish does not automatically have to be retained. Please make every reasonable effort to release injured fish safely. However, if a fish is so severely injured that it cannot reasonably be expected to survive release, it must not be returned to the water. Please record the incident in the Fishing Log Book and notify management.

5. Keeping Your Catch – Trout Pricing

Catch-and-release is encouraged. Guests who wish to retain trout must pay according to the following rates:

Trout weight

Price per fish

500 g to less than 1 kg - R200.00

1 kg to less than 1.5 kg - R250.00

1.5 kg to 2 kg - R300.00

All retained trout must be recorded in the Fishing Log Book and weighed using the scale provided outside the Donkey Deli. Payment must be made at the Donkey Deli.

Trout weighing less than 500 g or more than 2 kg must be presented to management for assessment before being retained.

Any trout that dies or is so severely injured that it cannot reasonably survive release must be recorded and reported to management. The applicable retention charge will apply to such fish.

6. General Fishing Rules

Please respect fellow anglers and keep noise to a minimum around the dams.

Children under 12 must be supervised by an adult at all times while fishing.

Vehicles are not permitted on the dam walls.

Do not leave fishing equipment, litter, discarded fishing line or hooks around the dams.

Please do not introduce fish, bait or other aquatic organisms into either dam.

Follow any additional instructions issued by management regarding fishing conditions, equipment or the protection of fish stocks.

7. Our Fisheries, Our Responsibility

Our trout are sourced from Lunsklip Fisheries, and maintaining a healthy fishery requires the cooperation of every guest.

These rules are intended to protect our fish stocks, preserve the fishing experience and ensure that future guests can enjoy the same opportunities.

By fishing at Riverman Cabin Country Lodge, you agree to comply with these rules. Failure to do so may result in the applicable penalty, the withdrawal of fishing privileges or further action where appropriate.

Thank you for helping us protect our fisheries and enjoy the best of country living responsibly.

Happy fishing!

Management – Riverman Cabin Country Lodge

Fishing Rules