The Best Fishing Spots in Gauteng
Gauteng is a landlocked province where recreational fishing focuses on freshwater dams and rivers, notably sections of the Vaal River and numerous reservoirs around Johannesburg and Pretoria. Anglers commonly target largemouth bass and stocked rainbow trout in some private waters, while wild populations of yellowfish, common carp, tilapia and catfish provide solid shore and boat fishing action. Popular methods include lure and fly fishing for bass and trout and bait fishing for carp and catfish, with most waters offering easy access, boat ramps or bank fishing spots for family outings and sport angling.
Top Cities For Fishing
Other
River Fishing
Vaal River
Top Freshwater Fishing Spots
Victoria Lake
Central in Germiston , Victoria Lake (Germiston Lake) provides accessible sessions for carp and barbel; work reed edges and inflows at first light, scale down rigs for pressured fish, and capitalize on warming trends after cold snaps.
Vaal Dam
Gauteng’s go-to big water near Vereeniging , Vaal Dam offers prolific carp, powerful sharptooth catfish (barbel), and seasonal runs of yellowfish, with bass and kurper present in inlets; summer brings active surface feeding and lure bites, while winter favors specimen carp on long-range drops from a boat or at accessible banks near Deneysville .
Kleinfontein Lake
Within the Benoni pans near Brakpan , Kleinfontein Lake offers steady bank fishing for carp with chances of barbel; fish compact feeds to draw in shoals, and adjust hookbait size to match conditions and angling pressure.
Jukskei River
Threading through Sandton and Midrand , the Jukskei offers urban prospects for carp, barbel, and occasional yellowfish in cleaner upper reaches; fish current seams, bridge pools, and confluences, especially after stable weather.
Homestead Lake
In Benoni , Homestead Lake is a well-known bank-angling spot for specimen and conventional carp, opportunistic barbel, and occasional kurper; focus on reed-lined margins and drop-offs, with cooler months favoring longer sits and summer bringing frequent surface activity.
Hennops River
Running through Centurion and Hartbeespoort headwaters, the Hennops offers opportunistic fishing for carp and barbel in accessible park sections; focus on deeper holes, inflows after rains, and shaded undercuts for ambush-feeding fish.
Florida Lake
Located in Roodepoort , Florida Lake offers easy-access urban fishing with plentiful carp and barbel; target windward banks after a warm spell, feed small but consistent groundbait patches, and work shallow flats during summer afternoons.
Bronkhorstspruit Dam
East of Pretoria , Bronkhorstspruit Dam offers spacious boating water with reliable carp, active barbel, and structure-oriented bass; summer topwater and spinnerbait bites can be excellent around flooded brush, while long-range carp presentations and drifted deadbaits tempt fish year-round.
Boksburg Lake
In the heart of Boksburg , this urban lake supports steady carp and opportunistic barbel; simple mielie-based feeds, subtle hookbaits, and fishing close to structure produce bites, with summer evenings particularly productive.