Invermooi Estate - Jewel Of The Midlands

If fishing for brown and rainbow trout in both river and stillwaters is your thing, there are few places that tick all the boxes. TCFF takes a pictorial view of one such venue that should be at the top of your wish list.

The KZN Midlands is famous for its great trout fishing and beautiful scenery. In between its many valleys and hills, you will find yourself deep in trout country, steeped in fly fishing history and lore, the stomping grounds of Tony Biggs, Tom Sutcliffe, John Beams, Hugh Huntley and other early icons of the pursuit at a time when trout fishing in this country was still in its infancy. It is a stunningly beautiful part of South Africa with a laid-back atmosphere that belies its status as one of our top trout destinations.

This is where we recently found ourselves, en route to Invermooi Estate situated on Invermooi Stud Farm, a 1000ha working farm approximately 20km from Nottingham Road on the Lower Loteni Road. One of the attractions of this venue is the Mooi River which has a deserved reputation as a premier brown trout stream, and, while the venue having access to around 5km of this river alone warrants a visit, one would be foolish to negate the excitement offered by the five stillwaters on the property. Owner Paul Coetzee has rightly identified the potential of the farm as a trout fishery and has put in a concerted effort to ensure that his venue, together with all the other activities on offer, ranks as one of the most desirable holiday destinations in KZN. Its breathtakingly beautiful setting, amidst hills covered with both natural vegetation and planted pine forests, is the perfect place for chasing brown trout (in the river) and browns and rainbows in the stillwaters, while those not into fishing can spend a most enjoyable time taking part in some of the other outdoor activities.