About
The Hastings Exclusive
The Hastings Exclusive
This years is the 8th edition of the Hastings Exclusive. The dates are set, the waters are full of prize rainbows and browns, and we anticipate good fishing with the good early rains this year. The Hastings Exclusive, is an exclusive event open to limited entries and by invite only. The waters fished span across various farms in the Upper Dargle area of the Natal Midlands, at high altitude and pristine beauty. Besides this annual competition, the waters are hardly fished and only open to a few owners. A portion of the proceeds help fund water improvements and stocking, ensuring the event every year is one of the most highly ranked on anglers calendars. Entries will be limited and teams will consist of 3 anglers each. We are also introducing new sponsors which will ensure some amazing prizes.
From the time you arrive, you will be enthralled by the spectacular fishing waters and unbelievable scenery. The dams all have their own unique characteristics, and all fish very differently. So, each session will be a unique experience. Fed by pristine mountain streams, the dams lend themselves to trout with a massive fight, both Rainbows and Browns. This year we are really excited to welcome many new sponsors and we appreciate their contributions to making this event one of a kind.
As this is a fully-catered competition, you will not be required to bring your own food for any of the meals between Thursday evening and Saturday evening. Breakfasts will be provided at the dams and lunch at base camp on Hastings Farm. All other meals, briefing, drinks, prize giving, etc. will happen at base camp. Drinks will also be provided in the morning and afternoon. An account system is used for all drinks, fishing gear purchases, raffle tickets, etc. Cash will no longer be essential as credit card facilities will be available for 2024. Items purchased in the auction on Saturday night may be settled by EFT before the Monday evening, or in cash.
Meet on Thursday evening for check-in, briefing, light dinner and drinks.
• Friday and Saturday – fishing session 1 – 4.
• Saturday evening – prize giving, lots of stories.
• Sunday – depart for home.
Top teams, Best individual, Biggest fish, and many more. Some fantastic and exclusive prizes to be won.
Please enter your team by completing the form on the www.hastingsexclusive.net HOME PAGE. If you are entering alone, please state this on the entry form. Other individual entries will be grouped to form teams of 3. Entry will be reserved for past participants until 30 November 2023, at which time new teams will be invited to enter. All participants who have entered and paid by 31 January 2024 will be entered into a draw for a special prize.
• Entry per angler – R4500 (includes competition entry, all meals Thursday to Saturday evening, goody bag, and a huge amount of fun)
• EFT – Hastings Farm Pty Ltd : Absa Bank : acc.no. 4076686307 : Branch 632005
• Please use your name as payment reference
Meet at Hastings at 6pm on Thursday. Dinner will be provided until 8pm. The competition introduction, briefing on format and rules, and team dam draw will take place around 8:30pm. If you are arriving late, please advise and an independent person will draw your dams on your behalf. Drinks can be purchased on a voucher basis. The rules and format of the competition will be advised and a great opportunity to meet the other anglers. This briefing is compulsory. If you cannot make it for any reason, please contact Lawrence MacDougall. Breakfast is not provided on the Sunday morning. The rules and format are further noted below.
There are 2 sessions on the Friday and 2 on the Saturday. First session each day starts at sunrise and ends at 12:00. The second session runs from 1pm to sunset. Exact times will be advised at the briefing. The competition is a team competition of 3 anglers per team. On the Thursday evening briefing session, a draw will take place for which dams each team fishes for each session. The dam spread is evenly based and will ensure everyone has spectacular fishing.
Please take note of this year’s format. The competition will be based on the best team across all sessions and points are scored per session. This will result in a team ranking after each session. This means that one excellent session and 3 bad ones, doesn’t secure the win. The objective is to catch large fish rather number of fish. So, catch the target number of fish for the respective session and then go hunting big ones!! Details of the format will be provided at the Thursday evening briefing.
Prizes and what’s up for grabs will be advised on arrival. You will be excited to know what the prizes are as there are some great items and experiences. We also have an unbelievable goody bag again this year, thanks to our sponsors.
Our “suggested” flies will be on sale at the venue as well as necessary items such as traces, extra nets, etc.
On arrival, each contestant will receive an unbelievable goody bag with some amazing gifts from our sponsors. As there are numerous items of clothing, we require your clothing size as you enter on-line. Please provide these personal details by filling in the form on www.hastingsexclusive.net or emailing Lawrence MacDougall on hastingsexclusive@gmail.com. Please specify jacket size and shirt size as XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL (Clothing sizes will be included as part of the entry form).
Please ensure you arrange your own accommodation urgently. There is plenty of accommodation in the area ranging from self-catering to top end. If you need some advice or help with accommodation, please contact Sonja Newlands from Unashamed Travel who can assist you at no cost to yourself info@unashamedtravel.co.za or 0833038373
There is limited connection in the area. Vodacom should connect in most areas but MTN and Cell C and other subscribers battle. Some accommodation has Wi-fi but it is suggested you bring your own router if required. There will be WIFI at the base camp, but we cannot guarantee it will be working as reception and connectivity is intermittent.
As this is an exclusive by invite only event, and items are specifically procured for the number of teams, there is no refund, unless the team can be replaced by another team.
Included in the entry fee:
• All meals from Thursday evening to Saturday evening
• Great Goodie bag to survive the weekend
• Tea and coffee and rusks every morning
• 4 fishing sessions
• Unbelievable fishing and memories
Please remember to bring enough cash for drinks, raffles, purchases of gear, etc.
• This is strictly a catch and release competition.
• All fish caught must be handled with extreme care and all efforts made to return the fish to the water safely and uninjured.
• Only bone fide fly fishing equipment may be used. No lures, bait, spinning or any other fishing equipment is permissible.
• Fishing times for each session must be strictly adhered to. No lines in water prior to the session opening time or after the closing time.
• Barbed hooks may be used.
• No fish finders or electronic fish detection may be used.
• Float tubes and waders may be used. Only flippers and no motorised propulsion. Float tube etiquette will be advised at the briefing.
• All measurement of fish caught must be from the tip of the beak to the inside V of the tail running along the side of the fish.
• Any fish over 60cm must be photographed with the provided measurement tool.
• All catches must be recorded on the catch return forms, even if the session quota has been reached. This is very important to assist us with stocking levels, dam conditions, etc. Catch return form must still be submitted even if no fish are caught, stating “no fish”. The dam, team number and session number must be clearly noted on all return forms.
• No fires or open flames allowed at any time. Please collect all litter and cigarette butts and discard in a dustbin.
• All anglers must always carry a net, hook extractor. These will also be on sale at the venue, if required.
• Indemnity forms must be completed and signed by all participants on arrival.
• The judges’ decisions are final. Any dispute must be lodged with the organiser during the event and no later than 7pm on Saturday 25 May. Any dispute lodged after this time will not be considered.
• The dispute will be ruled on exclusively by 3 of the directors of Hastings Farms and the outcome will be final.
• No prizes can be exchanged for cash or swopped.
• All farm gates must be left as found and all farm signs and rules strictly adhered to.
• By entering this competition and paying the entry fee you acknowledge and accept these terms and rules of the competition.
• The Hastings Exclusive, its members, sponsors and organizers do not accept any responsibility for any loss or damage to any property or any injury, illness or death to any entrant / guest whilst using the waters or facilities or properties on which the festival is being held.
• Please observe normal security rules and lock your vehicles.
• The Hastings Exclusive committee reserves the right to interpret these rules entirely at their discretion.
• The purpose of this competition is to provide anglers with unique waters and experiences. Honesty, and respect for the fish and waters, is of utmost importance and everyone’s acknowledgement of this makes the Hastings Exclusive a truly special competition.
NB: Indemnity form – This will be attached to the invite. However, if it is not completed before the event, it can be completed at the event. No-one will be allowed to fish without first completing the indemnity form.
1. Take the N3 to Durban
2. Take the Tweedie off ramp (just before Howick). From Durban direction, it is the turning after Midmar.
3. At the end of the off ramp, turn right and go over N3 (or go left if coming from Durban).
4. Drive to the ‘T’ junction (The Everything shop and fuel station on your LHS)
5. At the ‘T’ Junction turn right and go for about 5kms (past the Nelson Mandela Capture site)
6. Take the turn off for Dargle/Impendle to the left (there is also a sign to Hebron Haven). This is just before Piggy Wiggly.
7. Travel on the tar road – it will become dirt after about 20km’s
8. You will pass Barrets Country House (on your right) after about 8km on the dirt section.
9. Keep going for about another 5km until you see the D522 on your left – take it!!! (there is also a sign here for ‘Hastings Farm’ and Tillietudlem) – this is where the road becomes a bit dodgy, so take it slow.
10. Go for another 4km’s on the D522 and you will see ‘Hastings Farm’ on your left – you are there!!!! There is one possible place that you could go wrong, and that is when you are on the dirt road. There is a junction as you go past Barrets Country house – make sure that you keep to the right.
Hastings coordinates: 29.5752° S, 29.9346° E
Hastings Farms KZN is also on WAZE, so this should lead you there directly.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact Lawrence MacDougall:
Lawrence MacDougall
082 652 5429
hastingsexclusive@gmail.com