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About
the Dam
Goedertrouw
Dam, also known as Lake Phobane,
is situated about 15km
north of Eshowe.
Goedertrouw
is the second largest dam
in KwaZulu-Natal and is
fed by seven rivers of
which four flow all year
round. The Dam,
constructed by the
Department of Water
Affairs on the Mhlatuze
River, was completed in
1980. The dam was built
to provide an assured
water supply to the
developing industrial
complex and port of
Richards Bay and for the
expansion of irrigation
for agriculture.
The dam is set in the
Umhlatuze Valley with
Mabelebele Mountains
offering a spectacular
backdrop. The habitats
along the dam vary from
dry acacia scrub to tall
mixed woodland, riverine
forest patches and
mountainous areas with
cliffs up to 100m high
dropping into the water.
The dam itself is mainly
open water with a few
areas of quiet backwaters
with plenty of
overhanging vegetation.
Where the rivers feed
into the dam, shallow
rocky areas have formed.
The water can be slightly
murky at times.
Goedertrouw
Dam is probably the only
public dam in Southern
Africa which has only
pure Florida strain Bass
with no Northerns or
hybrids (F1s) whatsoever!
It was stocked with
Florida strain Bass in
1981. By the mid 1980's
3kg plus fish were
regularly taken there.
There is not too much
information forthcoming
about recent conditions
and catches at
Goedertrouw Dam. Perhaps
a few people are keeping
things secret ...
The
weather is warm year
round and the growing
season would therefore
never stop. Given the
long lifespan of the
Florida strain even in
very hot climates (12 -
15 years) and the
potential to gain more
than 1kg per year, there
must be some real
monsters in Goedertrouw
after more than 20 years
of undisturbed breeding,
feeding and little
fishing pressure! For a
realistic chance at a 4 -
8kg Bass, there is, in my
opinion, no better place
to try in South Africa
(south of the Limpopo
River). Inanda Dam would
be the next best bet
followed by Albert Falls
...
Not
much information is
available about other
fish in the Goedertrouw
Dam, but one would expect
Catfish, Bream and the
Natal Scaly.
Licenses
and access
For KwaZulu-Natal
you no longer need a Provincial freshwater
angling license.
The
southern shores of the
dam are under the control
of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and is
known as the Umhlatuze
Community Conservation
Area. A variety of
animals have been
reintroduced here
including Giraffe,
Waterbuck, Kudu and
Impala. Leopard have also
been seen. Access
requires a permit
available from Iphiva
Bush Lodge
which is a joint tourism
venture between the local
Mpungose Tribal Authority
and the private sector.
Also
situated nearby is the
cultural village known as Shakaland. This facility
provides an introduction
to Zulu culture and
offers hotel
accommodation.
How
to get there
From
Eshowe head towards
Melmoth/Ulundi on the
R66. About 10km out of
Eshowe is a dirt road to
your left (signposted
Goedertrouw Dam and Shakaland). Follow this
road (suitable for a
sedan car) for 7km (pass Shakaland entrance
and keep following the Iphiva Bush
Lodge signposts) and
cross the dam wall to
find the secure parking
area on the northern
shore. Here Iphiva Bush Lodge
employees, Freeman, Bheki or
Andries are on duty.
This
shoreline from the wall to the Iphiva
car park is about the only place
to fish from the side.
A
sketch map showing
directions can be found here.
Map
of the Dam
Click
here for a map of the dam.
Accommodation
1. Shakaland
(about 5km from the dam), is a Protea
Hotel providing accommodation in
Zulu huts.
2. On the shores of the
dam itself, within the
conservation area, is Iphiva
Bush Lodge. Iphiva offers
self-catering accommodation and
B&B by arrangement. The only
drawback is there is no electricity,
so you cannot charge your batteries
for your electric trolling motor! This
means you probably will not be able to
stay and fish here for longer than
about 3 days depending on your
battery capacity.
3. About
10km from the turnoff to the dam on the
R66 to Eshowe are three possibilities
for accommodation:
3.1
Eshowe B&B: a great
self-catering venue with reasonable
rates which is highly recommended (ask
for Unit 3 or 4). Contact Louene or
Hayley Chittenden at
chit@intekom.co.za; (035)
474-2276, 474-2979 or 083-286-2246.
(R145 ppn single; R125 ppn double)
3.2
Fleurdale B&B: B&B only, no
self-catering. Contact Carey Symons
at (035) 474-2604 or 082-926-3471. (R140
ppn)
3.3
Gratton Farm Cottage: Self-catering
or B&B. Contact Sharon
Yardley at (035) 474-1619 or
083-777-3815.
4.
If you prefer a caravan or camping
site, speak to Mark or Ronel
Hulley at (035) 474-1141, 474-3060
or 083-256-5516. They run the Eshowe
Caravan Park and the Eshowe
Social Fishing Club!
5.
A little further on, just outside
Eshowe (about 20 - 25km) from the
Goedertrouw Dam turnoff, is Brocklee
Farm Lakeside Chalet. This just
has to be too good to be true! Not too
far from Goedertrouw Dam and the
chalet is built overlooking a private
Bass dam in which guests may fish!
Bream and Bass abound - the biggest
Bass to come out of this dam to date
(October 2002) is 4,1kg. If you are
interested, contact Hugh or Renee
Lee at (035) 474-4711.
Other
useful Goedertrouw links
None
so far!
Goedertrouw
photos and catches
This
is Bobby Flaxman with
a 4,575kg (10.065lb) pure
Florida strain Bass
caught at Goedertrouw Dam
in KwaZulu-Natal in 1987.
This fish probably
started the "Florida
revolution" in South
Africa and since then,
the SA record has
regularly been broken. As
these fish can gain
approximately 1kg per
year under favourable
conditions and an
abundant fodder fish base
and can live for up to 12
- 15 years, a new South
African record is
imminent!
Shane Redman
with the current official Goedertrouw Dam (Lake Phobane),
KZN, lake record Bass of 5,88kg
(12.94lb) taken on 8 September 2007 on a
green pumpkin Super Fluke in 4ft of water. The
magnificent Bass was, of course, released.
"Congrats to you,
Shane, keep on catching (and releasing!) those big ones!"
And here's another view of
that same Bass below:
By the way, Shane reports
that another great Bass of 5.6 kg was also taken
at Goedertrouw that same
weekend!
Wendy Watson
displays a 4kg (8.8lb) Bass taken in August 2004
at Goedertrouw Dam
(Lake Phobane) in KwaZulu-Natal
on an 8" Dead Ringer.
And here's
Kieron with a 3,5kg (7.7lb) Bass
also taken in August 2004
at Goedertrouw Dam.
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