Fly Fishing South Africa

Spring Flyfishing for Stillwater Trout

2011-08-24T06:19:00.000-07:00

Generally considered by many flyfishermen to be one of the most productive times of the year to target stillwater trout, spring is a welcome reprieve from the harsh winter mornings, where the flyfline would literally freeze onto the rod-guides.

After the snowfall in Dullstroom over the weekend, the temperatures have soared and warm balmy evenings with abundant hatches of Trico Mayflies have created the opportunity to sightfish to cruising trout.

Let's jump right into the tactics for effectively targeting stillwater trout in Spring. Firstly, the deeper areas of the larger lakes and dams retain heat over the evening period from the sunshine during the day. In the mornings, the heat rises and the entire column of water is uniform in temperature, this effectively means that once the winds that traditionally blow at this time of year arrives, the contents of the lake will be mixed. All the nutrients that settled in the deeper layers of the lake during the winter period mixes with the surface layers.

Normally fly fishermen regard windy conditions as a curse when on the water, but in actual fact the more windy the conditions during the initial phases of spring (August through October) the better the fishing is likely to be.

Imagine a cup of coffee and a teaspoon of sugar. The coffee being the water and the sugar being the oxygen, when the sugar is added to the coffee, it dissolves and becomes part of the coffee. Just as adding oxygen (21% concentration in the air) to water (1.5% Oxygen), it will diffuse into the water, increasing oxygen content. The act of stirring the coffee (Wind) will make the diffusion of sugar (Oxygen) much faster, hence reaching saturation levels more quickly.

This is good for the trout, as an increase in Oxygen levels mean an increase in aquatic weed growth, which in turn means more habitat for the trout's food sources, insects. A greater oxygen content in the water also make the trout more active and therefore easier to fool with a fly.

In Spring, the weeded shallows and the inlet channel are our main points of focus when targeting the actively feeding trout. As previously mentioned, there are four main factors to consider when looking for trout. They need security, food, adequate temperatures and sufficient oxygen content. Through the process of photosynthesis, weedbeds 'create' oxygen. Conveniently, they also provide Ambush structure, security and food for our piscatorial prey.

Effectively fishing weedbeds in the shallows is most easily done with a Floating line, which incidentally is a brilliant all-purpose line to target trout at any depth. A team of flies is very effective, allowing the fly fisherman to imitate a variety of the possible insects that may be hatching or active at the time. A long leader is always important when fishing the shallows, as the trout are more wary.

There are a number of changes on the aquatic menu in Spring. Dragon and Damselflies become more active as the temperature increases. Mass migrations of the damselflies in particular to the shore-line to hatch make catching trout that are selectively feeding on them a challenge. Presentation of the pattern is absolutely crucial catch the trout during this time. (Usually midday on warm days) The natural damselflies swim very much like a minnow, using their delicate tails as propulsion. No aquatic insect in existence can swim in 2 feet strips of the fly-line. A very slow, figure of 8 retrieve works best, with long pauses in-between, occasional twitches will attract the trout. Tom Sutcliffe, a widely regarded authority in the fly fishing sport, believes that damselfly patterns (Red Eyed Damsels etc) should be tied with no weight, and fished with a long leader coupled with a floating line.

Incidentally, another very effective method to fish for trout in shallow water, is to stand on the windward bank (wind blowing towards you) and fish the ruffled water over the shallows. Harsh sunlight will force the trout deeper, when the wind breaks up the surface, the trout could stay in the shallows throughout the day. There is also less chance of spooking the trout as their vision is distorted by the ripples. Cast directly into the wind with a floating line and long leader, then simply keep tension as the wind blows your line back toward you. The ripples will give a fly tied with marabou or CDC (Red Eyed Damsel and CDC emerger respectively) an irresistible action.

There is so much information on all of the different tactics and techniques to use in Spring, that there have been entire books dedicated to the subject, following is a short but to the point nuts and bolts guide to catching more trout in spring.

Floating and intermediate lines with 9ft leaders and varying lengths of tippet, relevant to the application. A longer tipped (5-9ft) with the floating line and a shorter length for the intermediate line.

Fluorocarbon is an advantage in shallow, clear water as the refractive index is closer to that of water, making it less visible to trout. A selection of 5-8lb tippet will be fine.

5wt rods are completely adequate for most situations, casting the full fly-line is not as important as an accurate, delicate presentation for rising or cruising trout. Line colour is debatable, I prefer a brightly coloured line (orange) for easier strike detection, the long leader makes the use of camo lines optional.

Flies selection will be mainly light tan colours to dark olive. A good selection of dry flies include the D.D.D, Humpy, Adam's parachute and a generic hopper pattern tied with foam.

Nymphs can include the Red Eyed Damsel, the Papa Roach (A very effective dragonfly pattern developed by Herman Botes), a generic mayfly imitation, such as a G.H.R.E or a PTN, and the humble brassie.

Streamer patterns can be anything from Wooly Buggers (A generic pattern that doesn't imitate anything in particular, it imitates everything) to Zonker minnows (Grizzly and Olive in Colour).

We usually use two flies in conjunction. A (#8-#12) Wooly Bugger or Dragonfly attached to the tippet with a normal clinch knot, coupled with a small (#14-#18) nymph, something like a G.H.R.E or brassie tied directly onto the shank of the larger fly, also with a clinch knot.

Focus your efforts around weedbeds and other structure, a clearly defined inlet channel with weeds adjacent to it is a really effective area to fish. Plan your casts, don't flog the water to death, check the margins, see what is hatching and if possible, hold off fishing for a few minutes and check if you can see movement on the surface. Sight fishing to cruising fish is a real treat, lead the fish by few meters, let the flies settle and begin a steady retrieve on the surface. If you see the fish following the flies, do not stop retrieving, keep retrieving until you feel weight on the line and lightly lift your rod. Takes in shallow water are normally very positive.

Something else to take into consideration, the trout are cruising the margins, although wading can be effective, fish the margins well before missioning off into the water. Remember to fish smart, watching your casting, you don't want to spook trout by slapping the water on your forward cast. Check your flies regularly to make sure they are not fouled by weed.

When the following situation happens to you, and it will, eventually, keep an 'emergency supply' of small, unweighted White Death flies handy. 'Activity will be everywhere, the water is bubbling with rising trout, thick hatches of Trico Mayflies (the tiny ones) fill the banks in clouds of white. Everything has been tried, and tried again. Frustration reigns. This is one of the only times in South Africa where a trout will be selectively feeding on a single, miniscule pattern that is viciously hard to imitate. Fish the white death with a long leader and a floating line, strip it back slowly, with 3-4 inch strips just below the surface. Many theories have arised as to why this works but it does, and that is what's important.

To conclude, spring flyfishing is one of those magical times of the year for us Trout fishermen, our quarry is ready and willing, hungry after a long winter and active because of the oxygen in the water. Read the water, apply the tactics and you will be rewarded.

Nile Perch - Egypt

2011-07-02T13:19:00.000-07:00

The mighty Nile Perch of Egypt has always been one of those almost mystical fish that every angler puts on his bucket list. Yet it is the remoteness of their habitat that has shrouded these fish in mystery.

Recently, Mavungana Flyfishing have taken a couple of fortunate souls into the depths of the Saharan Desert to fish for these monster Perch on Lake Nasser, the largest man-made lake on the planet.

It is strange to think, while getting of the air conditioned plane at Aswan airport and wondering how you will survive the next seven days as the furnace of hot air hits you square in the face, that just a short drive out of the city and through the sun-beaten desert, a massive lake spanning 550km awaits.

As we boarded the Nubian Queen, a houseboat which was to be our mobile home for the next week, we were struck by the Nubian people, children smiling and playing in the scorching heat and the friendliness of the locals. Several times I refused a cigarette, offered by a person who has so little, yet is so willing to share what he does have with a smile.

The vastness of the lake only hit us once we were cruising along on the topaz clear lake. As you look into the horizon and see the endless dam stretching into the distance, the reality of your destination kicks in.

Sam, our cook, was a friendly chap who also specialized in giving massages and entertaining us with stories of his hometown in Aswan, where they keep crocodiles as pets for tourist attractions. The talk quickly turned to the possibilities of hooking into the beastly Perch we had set out to persue. Fly Selection, tactics and stories of the monsters on previous trips had us all exited to hit the water. One particular story, recounted by Ahmed, one of the Nubian guides, told of two Nile Perch hunting down a massive Tigerfish. When asked about the size of the Perch, he replied, "They were same long as for me," while gesturing with his hands for effect.

No time was wasted as we approached our first campsite for the afternoon. It's quite a sight to see the massive houseboat towing three 'stealth' aluminum fishing boats, closely followed by three, 24ft fishing boats which have the dual purpose of comfortable trolling platforms for the conventional fishermen, and sleeping platforms.

The first session was a serious learning curve. This is unlike any fly fishing you ever done, period. The Perch behave very much like our Large mouth Bass, in that they are structure orientated and are in every sense of the word, ambush predators. Underwater 'caves' and overhangs formed by erosion and currents seem to be their preferred ambush spots. As the lake is literally the Nile valley that has been flooded, only the tips of mountains remain above the surface, creating a series of small islands.

Fly fishing for these fish involve accurate, short-range, smart fishing with a three dimensional outlook required to effectively cover the strike zones. They will ambush the fly as it swims past the overhang, this often involves near vertical retrieves, with erratic twitches of the fly to convince the perch and invoke the take. In typical bass fashion, the fish fight dirty and at close quarters, with the perch attempting to head for deeper water and may snag you in the rocks if you don't horse it out of cover, although this is easier said than done when you are attached to a fish the size of a Victorian bathtub.

The Nile Perch grow to an excess of 400lbs and can reach lengths of 2 meters. The Nile Tigerfish are also prevalent in the lake, these toothy critters are known to grow to around 15lbs. The average perch caught ranged from five to twenty pounds, although larger ones were hooked.

One of the anglers hooked a good sized perch (7lbs) and as he was fighting it, a huge Perch, estimated at 150lbs abruptly inhaled the terrified fish, needless to say it was a short story. Another incident occurred one memorable afternoon while working a classic 'fishy' spot, comprising of a deep channel with two adjacent weeded banks, my fly was inhaled by a Perch which the guide estimated at over 100lbs, I was ripped into the backing faster than any fish before, the monster tail walked several times and managed to wrap itself around seperate rocks. The backing knot eventually got snagged and the 75lb braid core fly-line broke, after several very colourful expletives, a new appreciation for the strength of these fish and a severely bruised ego, I trudged back to lunch to share my war-story.

The food is tasty, but this is not a culinary experience, with a traditional Nubian twist that will amaze you at the range of ways that a simple rice dish can be prepared. The ice-cold local beer is very good and refreshing after a long day in the sun. After dinner, stories are exchanged and 'fines' are issued, usually for botched attempts at navigating a particularly sharp piece of sand-stone, or losing a large fish. After the fifth vodka shot for the evening, you very quickly learn that terminal tackle needs to be immaculate, you don't have many shots at big fish, so when you finally hook into a monster Perch, equipment
failure needs to be the last thing on your mind.

Temperatures hover around bloody hot and 'moer warm.' Often, it reaches into the 40s and plenty of sunscreen is mandatory. The fishing involves navigating sharp sandstone rocks, high ledges and cliffs. Sporadic immersion of the entire body is done often to keep cool, after a good lookout for Crocs. Distance casting is not a requirement, but accuracy will help to fish the cover well. Lots of walking will be done to cover as much good water as possible, so you need to consider yourself fit and mobile. Sight fishing is a definite possibility, twice we came across a couple of large perch holding over a ledge. Stealth and accuracy come in again, leading the fish before starting an erratic retrieve, then speeding up as the fish follows the fly may lead to a hookup. There is no feeling that matches the nerves as a giant Nile Perch races to intercept your fly.

Evenings are warm, pleasantly so when the wind dies down. A cold shower (trust me it's a blessing in the heat) is aboard the mother ship, along with a flush toilet. Sleeping on the roof of the fishing boats under the stars is an experience in itself, I was rather alarmed at the lack of noise the first night. The desert is dead quiet, a pressing silence that adds to the remoteness and tranquility.

A tour of the Great pyramids is included, and it is not to be missed. Cairo is a city that needs to be experienced, the bustling streets are full of vendors selling gifts and souvenirs. Authentic paintings on papyrus can be purchased, along with freshly woven Egyptian carpets and hand-made jewelery. You can also ride a camel and get a feel for Egypt, with the security of an American Express guide.

Seriously important things to pack:

- Sturdy 10wt rod with a spare, 12 wt if you can cast it all day and a 5-6wt for the huge Tilapia.

- 400grain (10wt) shooting head fly line, bring a spare. 500grain for a 12 wt should you choose to bring one.

- Stripping/sun gloves, takes are brutal and line-burn can cause serious pain. The extra sun protection will save the back of your hands.

- Good quality, quick drying technical clothing. Invest in two proper long sleeved shirts and two technical pants, the zip-off variety is nice for versatility.

- Pliers for removing hooks from fish.

- A hook sharpener (important), you may hit a rock on your near-vertical back-cast. Razor sharp hooks will aid penetration.

- Good quality line clippers / scissors, we use anything from 40-80lb mono filament.

- A good quality reel, it does not need to hold 150m of backing, but it does need a decent drag system. Any good saltwater make will do.

- 40, 60 and 80lb tippet material. Maxima is reliable and strong, it's also relatively cheap.

- Bring along some deceiver style minnows, natural colours worked well because of the clear water, but the fly-pack that Mavungana provides contains every pattern you would need.

- A headlamp or flashlight is also highly recommended, and helped loads when navigating to your designated sleeping boat in the dark.

- A good pair of flats boots are also a must, an old pair of tekkies will also work, but they will take a beating on the sharp, hot rocks.

- Polaroid glasses, goes without saying, spotting fish along with saving your eyes from a very large, barbed hook. Always a no-brainer for any type of fishing, bring a cheapy spare.

- It never rains (ever) and there are no bugs, which makes the evenings so pleasant.

- A pair of swimming trunks and a small, lightweight absorbent towel.

- Superglue for impromptu fly repair and spare braided loops.

In total, we caught 144 Fish over the 7 days. The fish ranged from 5-20lbs. This really is an extreme fly fishing destination with the rugged beauty of the desert, mixed in with a dash of exhilaration and adventure. if you plan to join Mavungana on a trip of a lifetime, feel free to visit our website http://www.flyfishing.co.za/NilePerch.php or contact the Dullstroom store on 013 - 254 - 0270

Flyfishing Dullstroom - Private Syndicate

2011-05-10T12:04:00.001-07:00

Having Fished all the Day Venues that Mavungana had to offer, Marc and I were invited to fish the Private Syndicate. It's situated 12km outside Dullstroom, a beautiful 6 Hectare, spring fed lake. The dam maintains a relatively constant level throughout the year. It is stocked with trophy trout and a local population of largemouth bass keep the trout well fed throughout the year, especially during the Autumn months when other aquatic insects become scarce. Research suggests that when trout grow in excess of 6-7lb, their diets adapt and around 70% of their diet comprises of small minnows. A large trout doesn't want to expend lots of energy eating tiny mayflies when an abundance of high-calorie bass fingerlings are basically served on a silver platter.

We found that large(#6-#8), olive and brown Mylar Zonkers worked exceptionally well, the trout smashed these bass imitations so hard that I eventually decided to use straight 12lb flourocarbon tippet after being repeatedly broken on the take as the fly was sinking through the inlet channel.

A large black and brown tungsten bead wooly bugger, combined with a #10 Papa Roach (Dragonfly Imitation) Fished with a New-Zealand style rig produced many fish in the shallows.

The visibility was around 2 feet, so patterns with a dark body for contrast, a thick hackle to push water and plenty of action produced the most trout. The tungsten-beaded Wooly Bugger with the marabou tail and a Pancora Wooly Bugger worked well. The wind and rain we encountered while fishing the Lake made it feel like fishing the Rio Grande in Argentina. It seemed though that as usual it was a case of 'the worse the weather, the better the fishing.' Casting with the wind into the inlet channel produced the largest fish, and the most savage strikes. A straight 10lb fluorocarbon tippet with an intermediate line is recommended. The channel is very deep, but only about 6 feet wide, be careful when wading across as, at some point, your feet will encounter an area devoid of structure and a swim in the icy waters will soon follow. Long casts down the channel with large Minnow and Dragonfly imitations seemed to grab the attention of the larger denizens of the Lake.

The evening rise on the Syndicate dam is incredible. Fish movement is scarce, but put an accurate cast about a meter infront of a boiling fish and you are guaranteed to connect to a sizable specimen. As darkness falls, a slow intermediate with two large, dark, unweighted flies stripped along the surface will produce some stunning takes. There are also a few Brown Trout around, which made a brief appearance while

Marc was fishing a dropoff with submerged tree structure. None of the trout caught were smaller than about 2lb, and the biggest was around 6lb, with many larger fish lost to the sheer strength of the Syndicate brutes.

When arriving at the dam, drive down to the wall and make a walk down the water's edge, past the gravel banks and all the way up the inlet, large swirls and boils will signify your arrival to the affectionately named ; Lunker bay. Submerged structure and a weeded inlet channel make this a surefire bet when fishing the lake for the first time. There are various smaller channels running through the weed, and a suitable Dragon or Damselfly imitation will rouse the interest of the Trout, and perhaps a bass or two.

Wading gear is highly recommended, and a float tube will be brilliant on the lake. I have always had my reservations about Syndicates. Some of them are merely glorified timeshare in an estate with a little stockie bashing thrown in, but the best of the Syndicates will blow you away with the sheer quality of the fish. The Mavungana Syndicate is most definitely the latter. For R2900 per year, you have unlimited access to the lake, 10% off anything in either of Mavungana's stores, and you can bring a mate to fish the lake at no charge.

Marc and I fished this lake in one of the busiest times of the year, over the Easter Weekend. Dullstroom was pumping with tourists and flyfishermen, yet we saw only one other Syndicate member and his mate fish the huge lake all Easter. For R240 per month, you get access to some of the very best stillwater trout fishing available around Dullstroom. The lake also has a very 'wild' feel to it, untrimmed grass with a massive lake, drop-offs, and endless structure makes the dam challenging and very rewarding to fish. Too many of the day fisheries have become too 'commercialized,' it's nice once in a while to fish a Lake that doesn't have perfectly trimmed hedges with white picket fences.

When fishing the lake, only barbless hooks with soft mesh nets are allowed. CAR is mandatory for Brown Trout, and most of the clients fishing the Syndicate advocate the use of Catch and Release for Rainbows. Syndicate members are presented with their own, numbered key for the gate, and are free to come and go as they please.

For more info on becoming a member of the Mavungana Syndicate Waters, contact the Dullstroom Store at 013 - 254 - 0270

Autumn Trout Fishing - Dullstroom

2011-04-28T00:16:00.000-07:00

As the Yellowfishing season abates, the Trout fly fishing in South Africa is picking up. This is the beauty of Flyfishing. There is a species for every season, hence our finned quarry is always willing.

Recently Mark Courtiade and myself were invited down to Dullstroom to fish all the waters that Mavungana Flyfishing has to offer.

To avoid traffic from Johannesburg on Good Friday, we departed at 4:30 am into the fog. At 8:00 am we arrived and were familiarized with all the aspects of the Mavungana Dullstroom shop. We were supplied with a hot cup of filter coffee by Rose, the local Fly-tyer and entertained by the eccentric stories of Jim, the local Scotsman, characteristically smoking his pipe.

Once we had acquainted ourselves with the shop and set up a couple of starter kit combos, tactics, advice and opinions from the very competent staff in the shop was exchanged and we were ready to fish the waters, we rigged up our 5wt rods and set out into the fog.

Our first destination was a farm 7km's out of Dullstroom called La Verpa, consisting of 3 well stocked dams, crystal clear waters with amazing structure and is entirely catch and release. The fog was so thick that we missed the turnoff in the poor visibility: perfect weather for trout fishing.

La Verpa

Upon arrival, my companion and I were bursting for some Fly Fishing action. As we walked closer to the middle dam, we were greeted with an unbelievable scene: Trout were rising everywhere, a hatch of midges was in full swing, and we could barely see the other side of the 1ha dams.

We rigged up with floating lines, long leaders and fly patterns that had months before been carefully tied in preparation for the time we could get back onto the water again.

The trout were cruising in water less than a foot in depth, sipping midge emergers just below the surface. Carefully sneaking up to the edge of the water, I made a short cast into the small bay, along the margin to intercept a feeding trout.

I had opted for 3 fly rig, consisting of a #8, hopper-like pattern; tied with a uni-bobber: a tiny plastic ball with an air pocket inside tied directly on to the hook. This makes your terrestrial pattern practically unsinkable. Using an adapted New-Zealand style rig: a 4 ft length of 5lb

fluorocarbon tippet is tied to a #16 Epoxy buzzer: a versatile midge pattern that is deadly in clear water. I attached another 4ft of tippet with a #16 San Juan worm, a "blood worm" imitation that can fool even the largest trophy trout.

(Picture - Tripple Fly Rig)

Mark had opted to fish along the margins of the dam wall with an old favorite, the Red Eyed Damsel suspended under a large, bushy looking D.D.D that he used as an indicator. A triumphant shout of "Inside!" Was the indication that the first trout of the day had been hooked. The footage below shows the weather conditions like as he was landing his trout.

A well conditioned trout of around 2lb was landed and carefully released, barb less hooks are always a good idea, less surface area means better penetration into the mouth of the fish, and are much easier to remove from an earlobe, it also damages the fish less when the hooks are barb less, a barb with "drill" a hole into the trout's soft mouth as it fights, and eventually, if the fight is long enough, the hole could lead to the hook popping out.

A trout that had been patrolling the margins was feeding in a straight line along the bank, sipping the hapless emergers out of the surface film, a short cast presented the flies about 5 feet ahead of the trout and on queue, it confidently ate the Epoxy midge and pulled the hopper under. A short fight ensued, it was hooked in the corner of the mouth, and the pretty little rainbow was released and swam off strongly. We found that the trout are incredibly strong and vital at this time of year, the temperature is in their optimum range and the recent rain has oxygenated the water nicely.

We decided to prospect the lower dam, known for its trophy trout. The water on the lower dam seemed even clearer than the middle dam, by now a stiff breeze was blowing, we could see trout rising in the wind line, where the ripple meets flat water.

Trout love structure. physical elements like weed beds, reeds, channels and submerged tree stumps. Transitional structure like shade from clouds, wind and discoloured water also play a large role in trout movement and location during the day.

We could see that there was still some dragon and damselflies active in the margins. I opted for a floating line with a 14ft leader, 6lb fluorocarbon tippet and a dual fly rig consisting of a #8 Papa Roach, a brilliant dragonfly imitation with plenty of 'triggers' such as the large, black plastic eyes, rubber legs, a zonker strip, and a "heart" of holo dubbing which can pull trout in from a distance. Attached to the Papa Roach was a 6ft section of 5lb flourocarbon with a #16 Olive Gold Ribbed Hares Ear (G.R.H.E) A great generic mayfly nymph imitation.

A long cast with the wind helped to unfurl the long leader and the flies landed on the wind line. Almost instantly the Papa Roach was engulfed before it could sink below the surface. A powerful run into the backing with multiple jumps enforced the theory of the energized trout in the foul weather. A beautiful Rainbow Trout of 5lb was landed and revived before swimming away strongly in the icy, crystal clear water.

Six more Rainbows followed the first, all of them eating the Papa Roach, Mark was having similar success on a Pancora Wooly Bugger, a fly specially designed to bring out the aggression of trout. A slow, jerky hand twist retrieve seemed to be the order of the day, they were smashing the Roach as it approached the wind line.

The fog was still thick and a light drizzle, combined with the wind made the weather pretty crappy, but it seems the worse the weather, the better the fishing. If the barometric pressure remains stable, good fishing can be had in all weather. One exception is lightning, walking around with a 9ft long graphite conductor in your hand is not advisable, if you are caught in a lightning storm, drop your rod and get to safety.

La Verpa is a brilliant fly fishing destination, floating lines with long leaders (9-18ft) is advisable, along with small nymphs and a slow hand-twist retrieve should get you into some lively rainbows in the clear water. The rates are R150 per angler for a full day, dawn till dusk. Strictly catch and release, bookings can be made at Mavungana Flyfishing in Dullstroom.

The shop in Dullstroom - 013 254 0270

Flyfishing and Photography

2009-07-10T01:15:00.000-07:00

I have always been amazed and inspired by the sheer beauty of the scenery which our persuit of our finned quarry take us, just recently i have started taking an interest in photography, a very rewarding way in which to freeze and capture the feeling of a moment.

Rivers, Lakes, Mountains, gorges, forests and areas with great diversity and beauty play host to the fish, so much so that even if we catch nothing, the trip would have been worth the effort. This is what photography brings to me personally, a way in which to blend my passions to make my trip thoroughly enjoyable.

Following this piece i will post a number of photos from different places that i have fished, please do not copy or use these pictures without my consent, if you wish to utilise them for whatever reason, contact me at Troutmanx@gmail.com

Botswana - June - 2009

A Five Pula coin in the white sands of Botswana,
it's placed inside a hyena footprint near our camp.

A single blade of grass protrudes from the sand.

Sunset in Botswana

Casting Tips

2009-06-26T03:58:00.000-07:00

Casting when fly-fishing differs from conventional casting mainly in the sense that, there is no real 'weight' on the end of the line, as bass fishermen use by attaching a lure, or bait fishermen with a sinker. The fly-line is the weight, but the action of the rod as imparted by you, will propel the line forward.

I wont cover all the minute details of how to cast, simply because I'm not qualified to teach people, it's very important that, when starting out, to get a professional to teach you. The right action will be taught to you from cast 1 then. I myself had to iron out my casting flaws much later in my fly-fishing career, because i taught myself and in doing so, had many little bad casting habits.

Some tips that even experienced fly-fishermen will find useful in perfecting style, was taught to me by Jonathan Boulton from Mavungana Fly-fishing.

-Stand with feet spaced comfortably apart, do not use the shooting-stance as it has the tendency to make you move your shoulders and upper body too much when casting.

-Imagine the forward stroke as if you are hitting a hammer into the wall, or flicking paint onto a canvas, a solid forward stroke with a slight flick of the wrist as the cast ends.

-Imagine a pathway that you create for your rod from your first cast, do not alter the direction of your cast, and keep the rod in that little pathway until your final cast.

-Solid, powerful back-cast, allowing the line to unfurl behind you, imagine there is a wall behind you, this will prove useful when having to cast when there is long grass behind you.

-Always try and cast in tight loops, this will improve your accuracy and casting action, a possible exception is when fishing a really long leader with 2-3 flies, which may get tangled, cast with bigger loops in that situation.

-It may be fine when casting a light 3-5 weight rod when you're mainly casting with the wrist, but once you get onto heavier rods with pumping wind, you need to use your arm and elbow more. Imagine trying to throw a tennis ball over a building using only your wrist, it wont go very far.

-Remember to have a smooth action when casting, allowing for longer pauses as more line is being cast, do not have a robotic action, but remember to have a positive stop at 10am and 2pm.

Remember, perfect your technique before you move on to trying for distance with double hauling.

Gear Selection

2009-06-17T12:04:00.000-07:00

Although many of us passionate Fly-Fishermen don't admit it, our gear is held close to our hearts, and as in many sports, the fun bit is in the selection and testing of many different lines, rods and reels, these are the toys of our obsession.

There are many varying conditions in South Africa, different species in a multiple range of environments calls for changes in gear selection, although you can use rods which vary from double 0 weights for tiny stream and brook trout in crystal clear cape streams, to 15 weight double handed rods for sailfish and marlin behind a boat. Ill attempt to cover the most basic selection for river/stillwater trout, to yellowfish, and finally bass and tigerfish rigs.

RODS: In the earlier years of Fly Fishing for mainly river trout in South Africa, split cane rods were the norm, they were very fragile and delicate, but sensitive and many enthusiasts still own a couple.

Next came the fibre-glass rods, they were stronger, but heavy and tended to have a very slow action, meaning they were very flexible and soft, and couldn't load line at short distances well.

Finally came the graphite rods, stronger, faster and lighter, they were the revolution in all aspects of fishing, they are very sensitive and can be manufactured into stiff, fast action rods, these are the preferred choice among Fly Fishermen today.

The length of flyrods vary, but most commonly 8"6 to 10ft rods, with 9ft being the standard length.

Fast action rods are less forgiving, but can cast long lines with heavy, bushy, wind resistant flies more easily, good timing on the cast is needed to gain maximum performance out of these rods, the preferred choice for advanced casters.

Medium action rods are a little more forgiving, they are a compromise between fast and slow action rods, with a little more 'give' than the very fast action rods, meaning you can play fish a little harder without the tippet giving in.

Slow actions rods are mainly for short casts on large rivers, useful for Czech Nymphing on the Vaal, they load nicely at shorter distances, they are a little a sloppy if trying to achieve distance though. A good compromise would be medium/fast action rods, 10 ft rods are useful for Chech Nymphing, shorter rods are good when you want to fish a small river with lots of places to hang up on.

Many different manufacturers produce good quality rods, some local brands have decent rods at a fair price, while some imported brands have the advantage of being a reliable bet, are usually very expensive. If starting out, rather go for locally produced rods, the top of the range local rods are usually as good, if not better than the medium/top range imported rods.

Hardy, Sage, Orvis and Composite Development (CD) are the most prominent imported brands that have some very good rods, i myself own a Sage, fast action 9ft rod, it has given me many years of awesome casting and is still my favorite in my small forest of rods. Most Fly-Fishermen inevitably come to own. We need a different weight / action for all the species :]

Some good locally manufactured brands include Explorer and Stealth as well as many others which are generally inexpensive. Note that most good rods have a lifetime guarantee, which means if a section of a rod is broken, whether it be by a trophy fish or a car door closing, your local tackle store can send you a brand new piece at a minimal charge, this really is a blessing, as fly rods are fragile things, and buying one is an investment.

Below is a brief compilation of rods needed for different applications in South Africa.

3-4 Weight - Small rivers and streams - Trout/Yellows
5-6 Weight - Stillwaters and large rivers - Trout/Bass/Yellows
6-8 Weight - Large rivers and Lakes - Bass/Yellowfish/Tigerfish
8-10Weight - Estuaries/Inshore/Surf - Saltwater Species.

REELS: There is alot of debate about the importance of Reels, one school of thought argues that a good disc drag system is needed to handle the trophy trout that is ripping your backing off your spool, the other argues that it is there merely to hold the line. Personally i believe that 'palming' the spool is better than fighting a fish with the drag system, the next paragraph explains why. I believe that it depends on the species of fish you intend to tackle that will determine the importance of a reel.

When targeting large, strong yellowfish on a big river like the Vaal, the reel is vitally important as even relatively small fish will take you into the backing. The problem is that once your backing is out, strain on the tippet increases as the diameter of the backing is smaller, and there is alot more line in the water increasing the strain on the tippet, so the drag needs to be reset to maintain the correct pressure.

Again, there are locally made and imported brands which each comes with their pro's and cons. Disc drags are a luxury not really needed by the average trout fisherman, but essential when targeting large species offshore, another feature of some reels is the large arbour profile, the larger spool means that there is less 'memory' in the line, and the line retrieval rate is much faster with the larger spool, useful when the fish decides to run straight at you, slack line created by this can result in many lost fish when using barbless hooks.

Interchangeable spools is another useful feature which saves money and difficulty when you want to change lines while on the water. A floating line on the reel with a sinking line on the spool makes it simple and easy to interchange between them, simply reel up the current line, take out the spool and click the new one into the reel. This saves the necessity of having different types of reels which are bulky and generally more expensive.

One last tip about spools, when that trophy fish is ripping line off your reel, be careful when palming the spool, misplaced fingers will result in a nasty rap on the knuckles, also apply steady pressure when palming, the exact amount of pressure to apply will come with experience.

LINES: I wont say much about lines, simply because there isn't much to say about them, unless you want to go into complicated discussions on materials etc.

Unlike reels, the line is probably the most important part of the equipment. Cheap, badly manufactured lines will frustrate your best attempts at casting, good lines should have less 'memory' in the line, and will shoot better, and will generally do what they are supposed to. i.e not sink when supposed to float, and will generally give you a better fishing experience. Skimping on lines and ending up with a badly designed line is akin to trying to drive a golf ball with a putting iron. It will put you off . Get the best you can afford.

Sinking Lines: These do exactly what the name implies, they sink. Various sink rates are used for different depths, i do not particularly like sinking lines for trout fishing, and own only 1 which i seldom use, when fishing of a dam wall or off a watercraft like a float tube or boat it's useful, but i generally find that it forces you to retrieve too quickly, a habit which many beginners and even some more advanced fly-fishermen are guilty of, however for Saltwater and tigerfishing these lines are very useful in their own right, DI7 and lead core lines are used when trying to get down in a fast current or getting depth over a reef. Ill cover retrieve rates in a later section.

Intermediate Lines: The bread and butter of Stillwater fishing for trout in South Africa, my favorite types of lines, the line sinks at a very slow but steady rate, meaning i can let my line sink, and fish my pattern where i want to, and keep it there during the retrieve, 1-2 inches sink rate per second is my preferred line. Clear intermediate lines shoot very nicely and in my opinion are less visible to fish. Deeper sections of the dams can be covered with an intermediate by adding a relatively new addition to the arsenal of fly fishing, the polyleader, its basically an addition to the end of the line, which can make it sink faster or allow the tip to remain above the weed, thereby causing less snags. different sink rates can be obtained and when prospecting the depths, a fast sinker will take your intermediate line down pretty fast.

Floating Lines: I particularly like fishing with floating lines, as they cast much better than sinking or intermediate lines, with some tactics, you can virtually fish any depth with these lines, a long leader and heavy nymphs will get down to fish and you can even utilise the wave action to impart an irresistible motion to the flies that trout in particular seem unable to resist, and impossible to duplicate with a normal retrieve. Almost exclusively the line used on rivers for Yellowfish and Trout, if i could recommend a line for a beginner, this would be it, ill cover the tactics for the different lines abit later.

MISCELLANEOUS: Then there are all the little things, some an absolute necessity, and some just useful to have, gadgets and little bits that add to the overall experience.

Needs: Pliers: These serve to flatten barbs and remove hooks from deeply hooked fish.
Clippers: A must have for cutting line and removing tag-ends off flies.
Floatant: Keeps your dry-flies high and dry
Hat: Preferably wide-brimmed for max protection against SA's notorious sun.
Sunglasses: Preferably polaroid to cut glare, this is something i see many fly-flyfishermen
without, an eye is the last place you want to remove a hook from.
Fly boxes and vest, something ill cover in a later section.
Net: Ever lose that trophy trout because of negligence to bring a net? non-negotiable, get a soft, knotless mesh net to avoid scraping scales off or damaging the fish.
Sunscreen: The climate in South Africa is very harsh, particularly in summer months, a good sunscreen is a must for the sun, try get a 35+ spf water-resistant make.
Proper Clothing: Something i have learn't from experience, it pays to use layers of clothing instead of a big, bulky jacket, in this country, we can have literally all 4 seasons in a single day, from hot and sunny to windy and hailing in a couple of hours, a breathable long shirt is advised, with a thin fleece jersey and a water-proof wind-breaker ontop is the best combo for me, K-way and First Ascent have very effective, weather repelling clothing. Remeber to use neutral colours, i advise dark greens and browns to blend in.

There are many other little gadgets available, try not to go overboard, a minimalist approach is usually more practical.

Introduction to South African Fly-fishing

2009-06-17T02:29:00.000-07:00

Seychelles for GT's, The Zambezi for Tigers, Russia for Salmon, the Amazon for Peacock Bass and New Zealand for river trout.

These locations are all a fly-fisherman's dream, exotic as they may be, the price tag often associated with trips like these are beyond what most of South Africa's fly-fishermen can afford.

The good news is that we have some world class fishing in our very own slice of Africa. Through the recent economy bust, with times being harder then ever for most of us, stresses of daily life can become a strain, crime rates, power failures and road-work construction is evident in our busy city lives.

Thus, the joy of fly-fishing comes into the equation, balancing our work-lives full of stress with a weekend on some of the best trout, yellowfish and bass waters available. Non-fly fishermen, or, drifters, as i shall from now on refer to them, often ask us what drives us to invade the aquatic homes of our piscatorial quarry, why we spend days wading a river, striving for that perfect, drag-free drift over the ghostly shadow that is a 20-inch brownie, or why we 'waste' our energy and time on a float tube in the middle of a dam, battling the wind while being used as a perch for hatching mayflies, in search of that 10lb+ trout of a lifetime.

What these drifters do not take into account is the essence of fishing, it is not simply the quest to catch as much fish as possible (Other than competitive fly-fishing, which ill cover a little later on), but rather the journey involved before that heart-stopping adrenaline rush that comes from seeing a bass engulfing your surface popper, or your line being wrenched taut as a trophy trout grabs your Wooly Bugger, it is the careful preparation of your fly boxes, the lovingly tied flies in the vice. Days, weeks or months before the time, the scenic drive through some of the most stunning places in Southern Africa, and the soft bubbling of the stream, as the sun sets behind the Drakensberg, the perfect, tight cast under the overhanging branches and the flash of silver as a wild stream trout inhales the little nymph suspended under your carefully tied DDD.

Local anglers often dream about faraway places, take a better look at fly fishing in South Africa, and you will see that grass is often greener on the banks of the Mooi river. Following this article, i will post a series of my personal viewpoints and tips about South African Fly-fishing, note that i do not acclaim to be an expert in any field, but will use personal knowledge and that taught to me by some of the passionate anglers and vast amounts of literature on the subject to share what i believe is world-class fishing.