Know Your Knots - Flyfishingtails
Know Your Knots - Flyfishingtails
Know Your Knots - Flyfishingtails
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<strong>Know</strong> <strong>Your</strong><br />
<strong>Knots</strong><br />
Fishing By<br />
Phase<br />
Moon<br />
TROUT FISHING<br />
IN SOUTH AFRICA<br />
Argentina DIY<br />
Dorado
Distributed by Stealth Fly Rod & Reel | Tel: 011 791 2635, Fax: 011 791 2782<br />
Email: dlevene@stealth.co.za | gadams@stealth.co.za | www.stealth.co.za
CONTENTS<br />
4 WELCOME TO ISSUE 2<br />
5 FEATURE ARTICLE<br />
Argentina, as a fly fishing destination, is better known for its wild trout...<br />
8 LOSKOP DAM<br />
Water quality monitoring in the Olifants River catchment, Mpumalanga, is...<br />
26 VIDEO BITES<br />
28 KNOW YOUR KNOTS<br />
30 OCTOBER DIARY<br />
38 NOVEMBER DIARY<br />
10 FISHERMANS<br />
TALES<br />
13 TOP TIP CLICKS<br />
14 COOL STUFF<br />
18 PICK ME PICK ME<br />
22 CHART OF MOONS<br />
Cover Shot<br />
-Franscois Botha and Mike<br />
Wickins for their photographic<br />
contribution<br />
To find us on Facebook<br />
click below:
Another month, another<br />
issue, a few fish, a couple<br />
whiskeys, a heat wave<br />
and at the time of writing<br />
this, the Lions are in the<br />
final to be played tomorrow.<br />
I can only hope that<br />
as you read this, the game is done and<br />
the Lions are at last victorious… I can only<br />
hope.<br />
Our first issue last month was a resounding<br />
success. Far more than I expected and with<br />
more to come. The feedback on the digital<br />
format was fabulous.<br />
Fly fishermen world wide read the book and<br />
our analytics tell us that on average a reader<br />
is spending over 40 minutes in the<br />
magazine per visit, which as you may or<br />
may not know is fantastic in the digital world.<br />
The digital solution allows massive world<br />
wide distributions at the click of a button,<br />
and without the burden of a massive print<br />
bill we can offer you the reader a whack of<br />
info at no cost, delivered<br />
each month to your inbox,<br />
wherever in the world you<br />
may be. Not to mention the<br />
economical ad rates we can<br />
offer the industry suppliers...<br />
So keep reading and<br />
forwarding it on to all and<br />
sundry... if you do that, we<br />
will bringing you the info for<br />
years to come.<br />
One thing I've realised over<br />
the last month is that I need<br />
to get some time to sit down<br />
and create my fishing bucket<br />
list.<br />
Only having gotten back into<br />
the fly fishing game over the<br />
last couple of years, having<br />
spent a decade or more playing rugby<br />
and publishing retail magazines, I lost<br />
touch with the fly fishing opportunities and<br />
adventures that lie only a flight away.<br />
Not to mention the fact that when I first<br />
held a rod on the odd weekend some 20<br />
years ago, flying across the world to fly<br />
fish in exotic destinations never featured<br />
in my mind. Probably as a result of the<br />
contents of my wallet being more mothlike<br />
than anything else...<br />
The fact however remains that unless you<br />
put all the places you want to go to on<br />
a list of some sort, and then plan when<br />
and how you are going to get there, you<br />
simply never will. Whether is be<br />
patagonia, or the galapagos islands,<br />
Dullstroom or the berg, put it on a piece of<br />
paper... or an i pad more than likely these<br />
days, and plan your attack. Life is simply<br />
too short not to...<br />
Enjoy this months issue, and keep<br />
fishing.<br />
Fly Fishing Tails is a first of its kind in South<br />
Africa. A truly digital only magazine with a<br />
free distribution to all who want it. It is not a<br />
website, but rather a digital representation of<br />
a print magazine, with the added features and<br />
associated benefits that the digital platform<br />
brings.<br />
The content of the magazine is tailored to<br />
bring something to everyone. All the current<br />
offerings in the market place have lost site of<br />
the importance of the novice fly fisher, and<br />
content to a large degree is catering only to<br />
those that know the game inside and out. We<br />
at Fly Fishing Tails believe in catering to all<br />
and as such, whether you are a beginner with<br />
only a hand full of flies in his or her box, or<br />
a seasoned vet with a photo album full of 6<br />
pounders, Fly Fishing Tails will have<br />
something for you.<br />
Fly Fishing Tails is a monthly magazine and<br />
we urge you to send it on to fellow fly<br />
fishermen all over the globe.<br />
Publisher<br />
Thetha Media Sales<br />
www.thethamedia.co.za<br />
Managing Editor<br />
Warren Hickinbotham<br />
warren@thethamedia.co.za<br />
National Sales Manager<br />
Shane McDonagh<br />
shane@thethamedia.co.za<br />
Office Manager<br />
Kyle Broughton<br />
kyle@thethamedia.co.za<br />
Production Manager<br />
Mishqah Hendricks<br />
mishqah@thethamedia.co.za<br />
Editor<br />
Elri Rautenbach<br />
elri@thethamedia.co.za<br />
Graphic Design/DTP<br />
Dijon de Bruyn<br />
Accounts<br />
Kirsty De Ville<br />
accounts@thethamedia.co.za<br />
Dorothy Toal<br />
accounts2@thethamedia.co.za<br />
P.O.Box 87745,<br />
Houghton,<br />
2041<br />
Tel: (011) 789-2112<br />
Fax: (011) 789-2115/<br />
086 649 7803<br />
E-mail: info@thethamedia.co.za
DIY Dorado<br />
By Francois Botha
Argentina, as a fly<br />
fishing<br />
destination, is<br />
better known for<br />
its wild trout and<br />
sea run browns<br />
from the colder<br />
southern regions<br />
like Patagonia.<br />
But the<br />
international limelight is shifting to a<br />
species of fish called the golden dorado,<br />
found in the tropical northern province of<br />
Corrientes. Over the years a ‘dorado culture’<br />
has emerged in these home waters of<br />
Argentina and the guides have followed it<br />
like a religion.<br />
One such guide, Ramiro Badessich and I<br />
became friends while working on Desroches<br />
Island Lodge in the Seychelles. Ramiro told<br />
me of his home waters Corrientes and how it<br />
offers fly-fishing for dorado on your doorstep,<br />
from pristine marshlands, gin clear<br />
tributaries and even in the city of Corrientes<br />
itself. “We call it urban fishing,” he said.<br />
Ramiro and I agreed that if ever we were<br />
to visit each other’s homelands, we would<br />
do some fishing together and no less than<br />
a year later we were standing at Corrientes<br />
airport…in the rain.<br />
After Ramiro collected us from the airport,<br />
we made a quick stop for supplies in town<br />
and then headed north on a one and a half<br />
hour journey to an infamous dorado fishing<br />
town called ItáIbaté. Ramiro is the typical<br />
Corinthian; flask under the arm, maté in<br />
his hand and tough as nails - at age 30 he<br />
still plays rugby. It is fascinating to hear<br />
about the history of Corrientes, the role<br />
its people played in wars past and how<br />
Ramiro has been fishing for dorado there<br />
all his life. He paints a colourful picture but<br />
beware, Ramiro is a known prankster and<br />
he pounces on gullibility.<br />
We arrived in ItáIbatéand, pulled up to a<br />
quaint guest house at the edge of town<br />
overlooking the Paraná River where we<br />
met Pinti Pinto, a retired doctor and now<br />
full time Dorado guide. We were to be<br />
some of his first guests at this new<br />
establishment but he had been guiding on<br />
the Paraná for many years. The Paraná is<br />
a large river that forms the northern border<br />
between Argentina and Paraguay and<br />
in this region it stretches as wide as six<br />
kilometres with countless scattered islands<br />
and remote channels.<br />
When you first get on the water you notice<br />
quite a bit of commercial and recreational
traffic on the water but, like any good guide, Pinti<br />
knows of the places that others don’t. It doesn’t<br />
take long before you are surrounded by jungle with<br />
the ruckus of howler monkeys in the background<br />
and find yourself drifting down a secluded channel,<br />
casting at all sorts of structures and lies in clear<br />
water. That must be one of the most alluring things<br />
about this place, the visibility is really good so you<br />
see these golden denizens come from a long way<br />
away to get your fly.<br />
The fish are big too, the biggest fish that Pinti has<br />
caught on fly weighed 40lbs and a previous world<br />
record of more than 60lbs also came from here!<br />
The flies are big and you fish close to the surface<br />
with floating lines, which just lends itself to the<br />
tremendous visual aspect of fly-fishing here. At the<br />
end of the day, your nerves are wrecked from all<br />
the action.<br />
We managed to get a dorado of 17bs and several<br />
fish weighing more than 10lbs. There are other<br />
species of fish to be caught as well, such as the<br />
sought after Pacu, the silver dorado and two<br />
species of pirapita. We managed to land a beautiful<br />
golden pirapita of 10lbs on a method of Pinti’s that<br />
we now know as ‘the music’.<br />
At one stage the dorado had gone off the bite and<br />
Pinti pulled out a rattling cigar box from his jacket.<br />
In there was a colourful selection of one-inch plastic<br />
beads with big hooks stuck through them. He held<br />
up a purple one and said, “this fly is callcochito, it<br />
means small coconut”. He took the rod from me,<br />
tied the fly on and lobbed it out with a sort of<br />
overhead cast to make perfect plopping sound on<br />
the surface. “You hear the music?” Pinti asked as<br />
he handed me the rod, “now, you make the music”.<br />
It wasn’t long before Pinti pointed out a tree on the<br />
banks that was bearing fruit of a similar colour and<br />
size. I made a cast next to the tree and gave the<br />
cochito some time to sink when I saw a big flash<br />
and felt a powerful hit from the golden pirapita.<br />
They are known for their strength and it was a<br />
fantastic experience to catch such a specimen<br />
using this method.<br />
After fishing we settled down at the guest house<br />
for the most delicious home cooked meal and<br />
great Argentine wine – it felt like we were at home.<br />
Pinti explained that the fishing had actually been<br />
quite meagre compared to what they were used<br />
to. Unexpected downpours the previous week had<br />
pushed the water levels to a record high and most<br />
of his ‘good’ spots were inaccessible and the<br />
visibility wasn’t what it should have been either.<br />
For Paul and myself it was probably the best day<br />
of fishing that we could remember. Sure, we had<br />
fished in some of the best and remotest spots that<br />
the world had to offer but this was different; this<br />
was about two fly-fishing buddies sneaking off for<br />
a fish, experiencing the local flavours of a country<br />
and meeting people that we now shared a deep<br />
passion with, the dorado.<br />
For more information on fishing for dorado in<br />
Argentina, contact Francois Botha from The<br />
Guide’s Company (www.theguidescompany.com)<br />
on 082 817 0308 or francoisbotha@gmail.com
“<br />
Water quality<br />
monitoring in the<br />
Olifants River<br />
catchment,<br />
Mpumalanga, is<br />
evaluated using<br />
river water dissolved sulphate levels,<br />
one of the best indicators of pollution<br />
related to acid mine drainage.<br />
Assessment of long-term water<br />
quality records shows that monitoring<br />
has not been carried out systematically.<br />
In that it fails one of the most<br />
fundamental criteria of good<br />
environmental monitoring practices. At<br />
some monitoring stations sampling<br />
frequency has been scaled down<br />
At the Loskop Dam dissolved sulphate<br />
levels have increased more than 7-fold<br />
since the 1970s evidently due to<br />
increasing levels of pollution within the<br />
Little Olifants River catchment. At 4<br />
of the 7 long-term monitoring stations<br />
river water sulphate levels exceed the<br />
100mg/ℓ threshold value for aquatic<br />
ecosystem health most of the time for<br />
the duration of the record, and all of the<br />
time since about 2001. At these stations<br />
river water sulphate levels also exceed<br />
the 200mg/ℓ threshold for human<br />
consumption 27 to 45% of the time, for<br />
the duration of the long-term record.<br />
Picture by: Mike Wickins<br />
These observations necessitate more<br />
frequent and improved monitoring, not<br />
evidently reduced efforts.<br />
A major concern is the location of a<br />
recently re-opened copper mine outside<br />
Phalaborwa, just upstream from the<br />
confluence of the Ga-Selati River and<br />
the Olifants River. Levels of copper<br />
sulphate, highly toxic to aquatic species,<br />
should be urgently investigated as a<br />
probable cause of recent fish and<br />
crocodile deaths in the Kruger National<br />
Park and Loskop Dam area. In river<br />
systems subject to intensive mining<br />
activity, such as the Olifants River, toxic<br />
constituents such as copper, arsenic,<br />
Klein Olifants (Aug 2011) – At the back of Middelburg Dam<br />
ffrom approximately i t l weekly kl to t monthly thl chrome-VI, h VI etc., t currently tl not t routinely ti l<br />
intervals over time, despite evidence measured by the Department of Water<br />
for increasing and problematic levels of Affairs (DWA) need to be included in<br />
pollution.<br />
monitoring efforts as a matter of<br />
urgency. This will require drastic<br />
improvements in current water quality<br />
monitoring efforts, including the<br />
acquisition of modern analytical<br />
instrumentation.” (This was taken from<br />
an article in 2010)<br />
More than 60 tons of fish have died,<br />
bulk of it being large and small scale<br />
Yellowfish.<br />
• It is sad that we have to see these<br />
sights and I know that Ecocare, RAU,<br />
WITS, Onderstepoort and Geosciences<br />
have been involved but what is even<br />
more concerning is that I can’t seem<br />
to find the involvement of Department of<br />
Minerals and Energy (DME) and<br />
Department of Water Affairs (DWA) with<br />
these cases? Not an attack, just a<br />
question!<br />
• I can’t help but image the similarities<br />
between these events and the ones on the<br />
Vaal river systems…ect. I recently spent<br />
some time up in Middelburg along the<br />
Olifants/Klein Olifants River and<br />
Middelburg Dam and to my shock; after<br />
spending 14 years of my life there during my<br />
schooling days and now coming back to try<br />
and see if what was, an extraordinary<br />
fishing area, has now resorted to this, with<br />
low fish number and absolutely no<br />
yellowfish in sight! Very upsetting! Take<br />
Loskop Dam for instance, they had an<br />
annual carp fishing tournament with big<br />
prizes, 1st place was awarded a boat. I had<br />
a couple of friends fishing there and there<br />
were apparently around 1 500 entrants.<br />
With this amount of fishermen and some<br />
spending days before creating feeding<br />
areas to catch that big one, they only<br />
managed to catch a handful of fish, the<br />
biggest being 4.8kg. I remember as a<br />
teenager, we used to catch loads and loads<br />
of fish there, Yellows, Kurper, Barbel, Carp.<br />
Big stuff as well, exceeding 25kg’s. It was<br />
an amazing place and would always be<br />
guaranteed good fishing there…nowadays it<br />
is shocking and I hear stories about the<br />
Olifants catchment area all the time!<br />
Would it be possible to get some answers<br />
as to the actions taken in these problem<br />
areas and what is our Government doing to<br />
sort our river issues out?<br />
More than 60 tons of fish have died, bulk<br />
of it being large and small scale Yellowfish.
Fisherman’s Tails<br />
Fly Fishing For Squawfish<br />
That's right. Squawfish. Ptychocheilus.<br />
A poor man's<br />
bonefish. A destitute man's<br />
carp. Sometimes called a<br />
pike minnow. Sometimes<br />
called a coarse bottom fish<br />
or scavenger. Sometimes<br />
confused with carp. (Sometimes confused<br />
with crap.) How does it get any respect? If<br />
it isn't devouring endangered salmon in the<br />
Columbia, it is being protected from<br />
endangerment in other parts of the country.<br />
Squawfish don't even get a<br />
mention in the great coarse fish<br />
tournaments in the UK, where anglers<br />
challenge each other over such venerable<br />
fish as bream, tench, roach, crucians and<br />
golden orfes.<br />
On the other hand, you aren't<br />
risking your life fly fishing for them, as you<br />
would dangling your fingers as bait in a<br />
muddy Oklahoma pond noodling for catfish<br />
- as real men do. Squawfish have only one<br />
real attribute; they are indigenous. (Then<br />
again, some would argue, so are mosquitoes<br />
and herpes.)<br />
I remember catching squawfish with spoons<br />
as a kid. A slow creek under a train trestle<br />
held many of them. Large ones, too. Not<br />
as large as the current IGFA record of 5<br />
pounds 8 ounces, but for a kid, they were<br />
monsters. Twelve to sixteen inches some of<br />
them, with the color and look of the warm, dirty<br />
creek they came from.<br />
I raced home with a sack of them. My mother's<br />
attitude, beyond the obligatory pat on the<br />
head, was probably disgust at the thought of<br />
cleaning and frying up a half dozen<br />
peculiar-looking fish. At the time, I don't recall<br />
if I thought the fish were trout or not, and I<br />
probably wouldn't have cared.<br />
In my search across the internet, I have yet to<br />
come across anyone who fly fishes for squawfish.<br />
So I'm wading in new currents here, and<br />
risking my already frail reputation as an honorable<br />
fisher of flies. But there I was, at a cabin<br />
on a north Idaho lake, enjoying my family's first<br />
yearly vacation week among the white pine<br />
and tamarack.<br />
I was hoping to enjoy some cutthroat fishing,<br />
which this lake was famous for at one time.<br />
Or maybe I would stick a few dollies, or some<br />
remnants of land-locked sockeye salmon<br />
(silvers) planted decades early, or anything<br />
resembling a trout and interested in pouncing<br />
upon my delicate Cahil. Toward dusk,<br />
at the edge of the cabin's dock, after all the<br />
waves died down from the afternoon winds<br />
and skiers, I struck instinctively to the tiniest<br />
sipping motion. Squawfish. Then on the next<br />
cast, another squawfish. After the tenth of<br />
so squawfish, I was beginning to get upset. I<br />
had no idea where they were coming from.<br />
I mean, yes, they come from the water. But<br />
where are all the other fish, the cutts, the<br />
dollies, the silvers, the... well, anything else<br />
but a bunch of lousy fish from the dirty creeks<br />
of my childhood?<br />
Trying to find something positive out of the<br />
situation, I figured I could at least interest my<br />
daughter in some fishing. I went back to the<br />
cabin and rigged up her fly rod, and we both<br />
started catching squawfish.<br />
She, of course, hasn't yet acquired the<br />
delicate sensitivity of a seasoned fly fisher<br />
like myself who demands trout, char, bass,<br />
or, barring those, anything else as long as<br />
you can find it between the covers of a recent<br />
fly-fishing rag. She, of course, was delighted<br />
to be catching any fish. So for the next five<br />
days, we caught exactly what I deserved -<br />
squawfish. She, however, was delighted with<br />
catching these different looking olive gold<br />
fish, which she proudly named "gold trout".<br />
- Toney J. Sisk<br />
To read the rest click here -<br />
http://www.waywardflyfishing.com/articleSquaw.htm
Confluence Films Premiers<br />
Their New Film, Connect<br />
Japan, Yellowstone, Alaska, Yukon, Tanzania, Cuba and<br />
more... that’s where you can expect to be taken to when you<br />
watch this film, which for any fisherman would be a dream<br />
come true. The best part is, we don’t have to wait for our wallets to<br />
be full to be taken there. On the 25th of November, Sandton City<br />
Ster Kinekor will be premiering the film for R100 per person with a<br />
bar service and snacks to follow. Be sure to get a ticket by mailing<br />
Keith Clover on keith@tourettefishing.com. To watch the trailer<br />
simply click below...<br />
Fishing Near<br />
The Tongaat River<br />
My mates and I have been avid fishers for many years and<br />
we’ve tried everything from fly-fishing in the Drakensberg<br />
to trout fishing in Dullstroom.<br />
We decided that we needed a new adventure and decided that<br />
we were going to go Cob fishing over the June/July holiday when<br />
varsity closed for recess.<br />
On arrival we quickly got a fishing license at the Ballito Post Office<br />
and set out towards the mouth of the Tongaat River. The river<br />
mouth was open and we had the most riveting experience fishing in<br />
this area.<br />
We hardly had time to sit down and have a braai because the<br />
adrenaline was pumping while all our friends were<br />
reeling in fish and having the times of our lives.<br />
I’d recommend Cob fishing in the Tongaat River to anyone who is<br />
looking for a new fishing challenge!<br />
- Tobie, Pretoria<br />
Source: www.fishzone.co.za<br />
The Skinniest Fish I Ever Saw (Ok We <strong>Know</strong> This<br />
Isn’t Fly Fishing... But It’s Worth A Laugh)<br />
Next to the hilarious conversations<br />
and rowdy campfire capers, the<br />
next best thing about our “fishing<br />
trips” had to be the great food,<br />
especially the pan frying of a day’s catch.<br />
All species tasted the same - excellent!<br />
Perch and walleye seemed to be the group’s<br />
preferred fare but crappies, bluegills, catfish<br />
and even the state’s “put and take” trout,<br />
all melted on the tongue whether breaded,<br />
coated with special sauces or spread over<br />
with just a hint of butter, salt and pepper.<br />
Wash the palate with some cold beer and<br />
there you have it - the ideal camping meal.<br />
To accommodate the quick preparation of<br />
such meals in anticipation of frighteningly<br />
large appetites, the guys would often clean<br />
fish on the boats and ice down the fillets.<br />
The carcasses (now resembling those<br />
cartoon fish skeletons) slipped quietly over<br />
the sides of the boats, sinking to obscurity<br />
and the awaiting jaws of crayfish and other<br />
underwater scavengers...but I digress...<br />
On this particular day, we opted for an early<br />
end to the fishing and a speedy banquet<br />
of the several baggies full of fillets. Most<br />
of the boats came in at the same time, but<br />
Freeman and Father Wisdom stayed out a<br />
while, taking advantage of the nice weather<br />
conditions and their sole possession of the<br />
Tub Run cove.<br />
The fire was roaring, thanks to landlubbing<br />
Muskie, keeper of the flame. Puff whipped up<br />
some of his famous “sauce” (some combination<br />
of ketchup and horseradish); other guys<br />
breaded the fish or cut up some potatoes for<br />
frying.<br />
Things were looking and smelling promising.<br />
In the midst of the pre-feast oblivion, Hoppie<br />
yelled, “here comes Freeman - he’s holding<br />
something up in the air, but I can’t make out<br />
what it is”. About the same time, Freeman,<br />
as their boat slid into the back, laughingly<br />
announced, “You guys are NOT going to<br />
believe this. Look what I caught!”<br />
And there it was, suspended from his thumb<br />
in the standard grab-the-bass grip - the<br />
skinniest fish I had ever seen. Freeman had<br />
managed to hook in the mouth and land a<br />
filleted smallmouth bass, still “gilling”<br />
though lacking all side flesh and skin. The<br />
resulting explosion of incredulity stands<br />
unmatched by any event ever experienced<br />
by our group, before or after the day<br />
Freeman made that catch.<br />
That topic consumed hours at the campfire<br />
that night, especially when Gasser got into<br />
the biological improbabilities of this<br />
never-before witnessed phenomenon.<br />
Guys accused Freeman of rigging the catch<br />
and of all other sorts of chicanery and<br />
buffonery. Cappy was regarded as<br />
co-conspirator. They both swore the catch<br />
was legit.<br />
We often tell the story to others, but we are<br />
met always with disdainful rejection and<br />
bitter expressions of disbelief, absolute<br />
denial of any possibility of such a thing<br />
happening. Too bad. It’s the truth.<br />
- Collin T Wansor<br />
Source: www.campfirecapers.com
Eastern Southern Africa<br />
is divided from its vast<br />
interior by the Drakensberg<br />
Mountain range that<br />
stretches from the Eastern<br />
Cape in the south to the<br />
Gauteng and Limpopo in the north.<br />
Where to go<br />
To the trout fisherman the mountains are<br />
a godsend. Close to the coastal plains the<br />
mountains rise steeply to over 3 000m,<br />
causing a massive upwelling of moist air<br />
and heavy rain on the eastern slopes in<br />
summer. Thus, they are the birthplace of<br />
countless trout streams flowing east into<br />
three prime trout areas of the country:<br />
- the midlands of KwaZulu Natal;<br />
- Mpumalanga and<br />
- the Eastern Cape around the towns of<br />
Barkly East and Lady Grey.<br />
At the furthest tip of Africa in the Western<br />
Cape, trout are found in the high mountains<br />
a short distance inland of Cape<br />
Town, where the climate is Mediterranean<br />
with clear sunfilled days in the summer. Apart<br />
from these main locations, there is good<br />
trout fishing in the independent Kingdom of<br />
Lesotho, a landlocked mountainous country<br />
crisscrossed by bright, clear streams, most of<br />
them over 2 500m feet above sealevel. Food<br />
is more abundant in these high streams than<br />
in any others, with particularly dense populations<br />
of mayfly.<br />
What to catch<br />
Salmonids were introduced to Southern<br />
Africa near the turn of the century from<br />
Loch Leven brown trout stock imported from<br />
Scotland. These browns did well in their<br />
environment, and rainbows were introduced<br />
a decade or so later to complement them.<br />
Still, most of the rivers retain a clear identity,<br />
either brown or rainbow waters, rarely ever<br />
holding both species.<br />
South African trout waters are small by international<br />
standards, more streams than rivers,<br />
yet the average size of the trout caught is<br />
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large. Most of the rivers produce fish of up<br />
to four or five pounds, and in the Barkly<br />
East area river fish up to nine pounds are<br />
not rare. In the upland sections of most rivers<br />
the trout proliferate and the waters tend<br />
to become overstocked.<br />
Season<br />
Most river fishing in South Africa is done<br />
wading. The trout season starts in September<br />
and goes on through to the end of May.<br />
Many of the stillwaters, on the other hand,<br />
have no closed season at all.<br />
The best of the fishing is in spring from<br />
September to October, and in autumn,<br />
from late March through May. During these<br />
months the water is cooler and the trout are<br />
more active feeders. The mountain streams<br />
of the Western Cape are a notable exception,<br />
where free-rising trout come to the dry<br />
fly smartly, just as they do in the upland<br />
streams in Lesotho.<br />
Source: www.places.co.za<br />
Have you taken a pic of the biggest fish you or a mate has ever snagged?<br />
Got a shot of something no one will belive from your last fishing trip?<br />
Simply think it’s better than anyone else’s? Send it on down to<br />
competitions@flyfishingtails.co.za and you could win!<br />
Got a Tall Tail you’d like to share? Send it to:<br />
info@flyfishingtails.co.za and if it’s tall enough it might get published<br />
next month. Just make sure to tell us who wrote it!
FOR BEGINNERS<br />
Beginners Take<br />
Note<br />
Although there are hundreds of types<br />
of flies used for fly fishing, most of<br />
them fall into five specific categories,<br />
or types.<br />
These types are dry flies, wet flies,<br />
nymphs, streamers, buck tails and<br />
terrestrials. The main purpose of the fly is<br />
to imitate an insect that the fish wants to eat.<br />
Besides these basic five categories of<br />
flies, there are many other kinds of flies<br />
that are used for fly fishing. Some of<br />
them are a combination of one or more of the<br />
basic categories and some do not fit into any<br />
group.<br />
The most important thing to remember is<br />
that it doesn’t matter how the fly looks to<br />
you, the fisherman. It matters how the fly<br />
looks to the fish.<br />
To read more about the types of flies go to<br />
www.topflyfishingtips.com<br />
Stream Fly Fishing<br />
For Trout – <strong>Know</strong><br />
Where They Are<br />
When fly fishing for<br />
trout it is especially<br />
important to<br />
understand the<br />
various types of trout<br />
“lies’. Trout take<br />
up their positions,<br />
or lies, based on a set of three of their basic<br />
needs when they are in moving water.<br />
These needs are shelter from a constant<br />
current, protection from predators and the<br />
need for adequate food.<br />
Swimming against a strong current can be<br />
very tiring for a trout. Therefore, looking for<br />
shelter from the current is their first need.<br />
Sometimes the trout rest behind objects in the<br />
water, such as a large rock, which breaks the<br />
current.<br />
But most of the time trout stay in holding lies<br />
that are close to the current. They want to be<br />
able to dash out and grab any food that the<br />
current brings their way.<br />
To read the rest of the article click here -<br />
http://www.topflyfishingtips.com/category/topfly-fishing-facts<br />
Fact OR Fable?<br />
The five best times to fish for big browns<br />
are: early in the morning at first light; the<br />
last half hour before dark and at night;<br />
after a summer rainstorm that muddies and<br />
cools the water; during a spawning run; and<br />
during a hatch of large insects such ch as<br />
the salmon flies or Green Drakes.<br />
FACT<br />
Tips<br />
When fishing with a sinking line -<br />
always keep the fly rod pointing down<br />
at the line to increase bite sensitivity.<br />
When approching fishing waters -<br />
always take care to walk slow and<br />
quiet - sound are transmitted more<br />
rapid through water than air!<br />
When fishing streams - take your<br />
time to look for rises and insect<br />
hatches before making your first cast to<br />
a likely area on the water.<br />
When fishing a river or stream -<br />
always fish upstream and let the fly drift<br />
back, the fish are lying in wait for prey<br />
just in front or the back of the rocks in<br />
the riverbed sheltering from the current.<br />
When using a net - take care not to<br />
swipe at the fish, the sudden<br />
movement will scare the fish and you<br />
can break the tippet on your fly line and<br />
lose the fish in the process.<br />
Releasing your fish - make sure that<br />
the hook is removed gently by using<br />
forceps or pliers whilst keeping it in the<br />
water.<br />
After the cast - Strip in as much line<br />
as needed in order to keep a straight<br />
line between the fishing fly and the fly<br />
rod tip.<br />
When the fish strikes - tighten your<br />
fingers around the fly line and the fly<br />
rod handle, then raise the rod sharply<br />
to set the hook.<br />
When wading - always use a wading<br />
stick to feel your way through<br />
unfamiliar waters, never pull the<br />
wading stick up until you have both feet<br />
firmly planted, the stick acts like a third<br />
leg and can support you on uneven<br />
riverbeds!<br />
To read more click here -<br />
http://www.flyfishinginformation.net/<br />
Fly_Fishing_Tips.html
BLACK SPLASH PROOF FLY BOX<br />
This is a standard SPLASH-PROOF fly box, not 100% water<br />
proof, but will keep flies dry if dropped while fishing.<br />
Source: www.xplorerflyfishing.co.za/<br />
STANDARD WADING BOOTS<br />
Cordura and nubuck uppers, felt sole and reinforced<br />
toe.<br />
Standard Wading Boots<br />
Model Sizes SRP*<br />
Standard 5 - 12 R1200<br />
Source: http://www.stealth.co.za/<br />
BARCELONA STREET BACKPACK<br />
Created for an active, urban lifestyle. Spacious and<br />
comfortable, this backpack brings fishpond to the big<br />
city.<br />
Features<br />
• Steel Blue and Moss Green in durable 1680 ballistic<br />
nylon fabric<br />
• Available in Khaki, rugged 16 oz. cotton canvas<br />
• Pewter hardware<br />
• Padded laptop compartment fits most laptops with 15”<br />
screens<br />
• Contrasting lining color for easy visibility of contents<br />
• Oversized, #10 industrial zippers<br />
• Padded, ergonomically designed shoulder straps and<br />
hardware<br />
• Safety whistle integrated into sternum strap buckle<br />
• Removable cell phone/ MP3 case<br />
• Two external zippered compartments<br />
• Interior features two zippered compartments and five<br />
storage pockets<br />
Dimensions<br />
13” x 14” x 17”<br />
Source: www.frontierflyfishing.co.za
FLY FISHING FOR STRIPED BASS<br />
Author:Rich Murphy<br />
A practical guide to tackle, casting and retrieving techniques,<br />
this work helps the average angler enjoy the sport of fly<br />
fishing for the rebounding populations of striped bass as they<br />
migrate from the Carolinas to Maine.<br />
It features close-up and underwater photos of the bass in<br />
their natural marine environments.<br />
Source: www.exclus1ves.co.za<br />
FLY FISHING ADVICE FROM AN OLD TIMER<br />
Author:Ed Quigley<br />
Gain decades of fly fishing know-how from this<br />
handy volume!<br />
Source: www.exclus1ves.co.za<br />
Stealth fly vests are made from a light weight<br />
mesh.<br />
14 easy accessible pockets, covered fly<br />
patch, large storage pocket on the back and<br />
rod holder on the front...more info<br />
Fly Vest<br />
Model Sizes SRP*<br />
Standard S, M, L, XL, XXL R465<br />
Source: http://www.stealth.co.za/<br />
Both Stealth Stripping Gloves and Stealth<br />
Sungloves are manufactured from stretch fabric<br />
with an SPF rating of 35.<br />
Sungloves<br />
Size SRP*<br />
One Size Fits All R130.00<br />
Stripping Gloves<br />
Size SRP*<br />
S-XL R150.00<br />
Source: http://www.stealth.co.za/
What Is Happening With<br />
The NEM:BA Ais Regulations?<br />
The short reply to what<br />
is happening about the<br />
long-awaited revised<br />
draft regulations of the<br />
NEM:BA Alien and<br />
Invasive Species<br />
regulations (with special<br />
reference to trout), is that unfortunately,<br />
in this instance, no news is NOT good<br />
news! We, from the Environmental<br />
Committee of FOSAF, have grown<br />
weary of writing “No Progress” reports<br />
to stakeholders.<br />
Most of us who have been<br />
involved in the long and arduous<br />
process of commenting on official<br />
documents are so frustrated and<br />
annoyed at the lack of progress from<br />
the Department Environmental Affairs<br />
(DEA) over the better part of a decade,<br />
that it has become difficult in the<br />
extreme to retain focus.<br />
All that we can report is that the flurry<br />
of activity over producing maps for<br />
demarcated areas, which showed areas<br />
in which trout may be permanently<br />
maintained (compared<br />
to areas in which trout<br />
would not be condoned)<br />
seems to have<br />
come to naught.<br />
This is because the<br />
authorities failed to<br />
accept the advice<br />
provided by FOSAF<br />
and possibly other<br />
organisations - that<br />
there is no provision in<br />
the Act for the Minister<br />
to grant exemptions<br />
for an invasive species<br />
(such as trout).<br />
Such exemption<br />
formed the basis of the provision allowing<br />
for demarcated areas and DEA only came<br />
to this realisation when they recently took<br />
expert legal advice.<br />
Despite a number of e-mails sent by Ilan<br />
Lax, our FOSAF Chairman to the relevant<br />
official in DEA requesting that we be kept<br />
informed of developments, we remain<br />
YWG Newsletter: Oct. 2011<br />
Dear All,<br />
We know all about the abuse the poor old<br />
Vaal has suffered from pollution emanating<br />
from malfunctioning sewage plants<br />
and various toxic materials from the mines<br />
but it was particularly shocking to learn<br />
that a well know fishing destination in the<br />
Potch area, Oord Nebo, was quite prepared<br />
to tolerate jigging of spawning fish<br />
in the shallows. According to the report<br />
some 30 fish were caught by this method<br />
by persons who arrived in a Mercedes<br />
Benz Vito Van and were quite unperturbed<br />
when it was pointed out that this was<br />
illegal as were the destination<br />
owners. The matter is being followed up<br />
as the complainants took down the vehicle<br />
number, but if anyone has a contact at this<br />
venue it will help if you apply the necessary<br />
pressure to make them comply with<br />
the law.<br />
Other News<br />
•1. A meeting of the steering/management<br />
committee of the Orange/Vaal Yellowfish<br />
Management Conservation Association<br />
will be from 10am on Thurs 10 Nov to 12<br />
noon on the 11th at the Sandveld Nature<br />
Reserve, Bloemhof Dam. This meeting<br />
will be convened by Leon Barkhuizen<br />
(barkhl@detea.fs.gov.za) who has taken<br />
Dr WR Bainbridge<br />
entirely in the dark about their current<br />
thinking.<br />
We are beyond guessing what will<br />
happen next. The only sensible comment<br />
that we can make at present is that stakeholders<br />
should NOT relax their vigilance.<br />
We are firmly of the opinion that this issue<br />
has NOT gone away, but until the<br />
authorities issue some official statement<br />
to which we can respond, there is nothing<br />
we can do – except possibly go fishing!<br />
Dr W R Bainbridge<br />
Chairman, FOSAF Environmental<br />
Committee<br />
For more information on FOSAF please go<br />
to www.fosaf.co.za<br />
over the chairmanship of the group from<br />
Pierre de Villiers.<br />
•2. Rob Karssing reports that a joint<br />
operation is being conducted between<br />
the DWA, Umgeni Water Board (UWB),<br />
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and the University<br />
of the North West in terms of<br />
implementing the national River Health<br />
Programme (RHP) in the KZN province.<br />
Budget has been allocated by the DWA<br />
this year to determine the ecostatus of 35<br />
preselected sampling sites with the...<br />
To read the rest of the newsletter<br />
click here - http://www.fosaf.co.za/news.<br />
php?type=Current
Fly Fishermen by our very nature are lovers of the great<br />
outdoors. We love the solitude of a sunrise, and the beauty<br />
of a sunset. The silhouette of a mountain reflected off a<br />
mirror-like lake is enough to make us stand still for a moment and<br />
appreciate the world around us.<br />
We at Flyfishing Tails say don’t be selfish... get the camera out and<br />
share the beauty with all of us. Do this and we may even reward<br />
you for it...<br />
E-MAIL US YOUR BEST<br />
PHOTOGRAPH<br />
Submit your best photos each month, with a description of where<br />
it was taken and what camera you were using, and we will publish<br />
the best ones. The winner each month will take home a prize to<br />
make it worth the effort (not to mention the bragging rights).<br />
Photo Submitted To competitions@flyfishingtails.co.za<br />
Earlier this year Canon launched the powerful, compact and stylish Canon PowerShot SX23<br />
journey. In addition, the Canon PowerShot SX230 HS is packed full of technology, producing<br />
In South Africa, the Canon brand is today synonymous with consistency, driven by the comp<br />
products and business solutions.
Congratulations to Tyrone Dada,<br />
you have won this month’s<br />
competition. Enjoy your<br />
prize, proudly sponsored<br />
by Canon.<br />
Photo By Tyrone Dada<br />
0 HS, allowing you to produce stunning photographs on the move. It features GPS technology so you can tag your pictures and track your<br />
rich images which are full of detail - making it the ideal take-anywhere camera for your adventures.<br />
any’s passion, imagination, knowledge, and most importantly, loyalty to its customers. Canon SA offers a wide range of consumer imaging
pick me<br />
"Although this picture was clearly an error, there's something about the mood that it picks up.<br />
Definitely worth a look in terms of what can happen, even if you don't know how you did it".<br />
Last Cast in Dullstroom before heading off to the<br />
Poacher<br />
Photo by Dale Williams<br />
Sunset in Bantry Bay, shortly after<br />
some rock fishing<br />
Photo by Chris Scott
Fishing By Moon Phase:<br />
Every fisherman dreams of a<br />
bigger catch! Is it possible to<br />
know beforehand when you<br />
should plan a trip to enjoy<br />
some fishing, catch more<br />
than usual, and come home<br />
feeling 100% satisfied? Based on my own<br />
personal research around the best fishing<br />
times, I think it is.<br />
Increase <strong>Your</strong> Catch!<br />
When I first started fishing, the best fishing<br />
time for me was whatever time happened<br />
to suit me. I tried different lures, baits and<br />
techniques until I’d spent a small fortune in<br />
my quest to improve my fishing catch. When<br />
I finally heard about the “Solunar Theory” - or<br />
fishing by moon phase - like most anglers, I<br />
was skeptical.<br />
What I’d read sounded too complicated. All<br />
sorts of factors needed to be checked and<br />
the determined angler needed to be at the<br />
water’s edge at exactly the right time, TO<br />
THE MINUTE, in order to improve on his<br />
average catch. Was I really willing to take<br />
my hobby that seriously? Let’s just say that<br />
curiosity got the better of me.<br />
To help me determine whether there was any<br />
truth in the moon’s effect on the best fishing<br />
times, I kept a record of every trip I made<br />
over a period of 18 months. All information<br />
related to the moon’s phases, the weather<br />
conditions and the catches I made were<br />
carefully logged. What I discovered convinced<br />
me that moon phase fishing works.<br />
BUT, I also found that it isn’t anywhere near<br />
as complicated as many would have us<br />
believe.<br />
How Does Fishing By Moon Phase Work?<br />
Every fisherman knows that the best fishing<br />
times are when the fish are feeding. This<br />
By David Rose<br />
tends to be during dawn and dusk, but what<br />
often goes unnoticed are the two periods<br />
elsewhere in the day - moonrise and<br />
moonset. Because the moon has an effect<br />
on a variety of factors surrounding the fish<br />
- including the live fodder they hunt - these<br />
periods, combined with the moon’s phase,<br />
are what trigger feeding.<br />
By understanding this, and choosing times<br />
when sunrise/sunset and moonrise/moonset<br />
coincide with new or full moon phases,<br />
you’ll increase your chance of a good<br />
fishing catch. Assuming there are fish in the<br />
area, of course.<br />
Choosing The Best Fishing Times<br />
There really is nothing complicated about<br />
this at all; it’s just a matter of knowing<br />
ahead of time exactly when the sun and<br />
moon will rise and set. Fish are most active<br />
during 90-minute windows surrounding<br />
each of these four daily events; that’s 45<br />
minutes before and after these four daily<br />
points.<br />
Fishing during these four periods will help<br />
increase your fishing catch, but if you plan<br />
wisely so as to ensure you’re at the water’s<br />
edge on the days of new or full moon, you<br />
can use these ‘windows’ to reel in a catch<br />
like you’ve never done before.<br />
If you have to choose between sunrise/set<br />
and moonrise/set, always go with the moon<br />
as the moon is the stronger influence.<br />
Hunters have always known that fish and<br />
game are most active at dawn and dusk<br />
- sunrise and sunset - but their activity<br />
surrounding moonrise and moonset is less<br />
noticeable because these events are likely<br />
to occur without effecting any change in the<br />
perceived light. The rise and set of a new<br />
moon is invisible anyway and overcast<br />
weather often hides the moon. Without<br />
prior knowledge of setting and rising<br />
times, two of the best fishing times will be<br />
missed every day!<br />
Other Considerations<br />
When planning your fishing by moon<br />
phase, there are certain other factors that<br />
should also be considered.<br />
Weather – Severe weather changes have<br />
an impact on the way fish feed. When<br />
a storm’s brewing, or just after one has<br />
passed, is a good time.<br />
If this happens while you’re in place, you’ll<br />
be in for a treat! However, if there’s a cold<br />
front approaching, the fish are likely to<br />
move deeper into the water and become<br />
inactive.<br />
Season – Most fish are more likely to bite<br />
willingly during seasonal transitions with<br />
the transition from winter to spring and<br />
summer to fall being the two best fishing<br />
times.<br />
Now that you know that moon phase fishing<br />
really works, there’s no reason why<br />
you shouldn’t utilize this knowledge to<br />
increase your own fishing catch by being<br />
at the ready with your rod during the best<br />
fishing times available. It’s easy and it<br />
works!<br />
David Rose is an avid outdoorsman and<br />
the creator of QuickPhase Pro, a popular<br />
moon phase software program. The software<br />
helps you discover the fun and easy<br />
way to view the phases of the moon and<br />
increase your fishing catch.<br />
Source: www.flywaters.co.za
South Africa Moon Calendar November 2011<br />
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday<br />
30<br />
31<br />
1<br />
2<br />
1stQ<br />
3<br />
4<br />
5<br />
Sun Rise:<br />
05:35<br />
Set : 18:49<br />
Moon Rise:<br />
08:33<br />
Set : 22:58<br />
6<br />
Sun Rise:<br />
05:29<br />
Set : 18:55<br />
Moon Set :<br />
02:44<br />
Rise: 15:16<br />
13<br />
Sun Rise:<br />
05:24<br />
Set : 19:01<br />
Moon Set :<br />
07:05<br />
Rise: 21:28<br />
20<br />
Sun Rise:<br />
05:21<br />
Set : 19:07<br />
Moon Rise:<br />
01:32<br />
Set : 13:58<br />
27<br />
Sun Rise:<br />
05:19<br />
Set : 19:13<br />
Moon Rise:<br />
07:16<br />
Set : 21:36<br />
Sun Rise:<br />
05:34<br />
Set : 18:50<br />
Moon Rise:<br />
09:35<br />
Set : 23:48<br />
7<br />
Sun Rise:<br />
05:28<br />
Set : 18:56<br />
Moon Set :<br />
03:14<br />
Rise: 16:09<br />
14<br />
Sun Rise:<br />
05:24<br />
Set : 19:02<br />
Moon Set :<br />
07:58<br />
Rise: 22:16<br />
21<br />
Sun Rise:<br />
05:21<br />
Set : 19:08<br />
Moon Rise:<br />
02:09<br />
Set : 15:03<br />
28<br />
Sun Rise:<br />
05:19<br />
Set : 19:14<br />
Moon Rise:<br />
08:20<br />
Set : 22:24<br />
Sun Rise:<br />
05:33<br />
Set : 18:51<br />
Moon Rise:<br />
10:37<br />
8<br />
Sun Rise:<br />
05:28<br />
Set : 18:56<br />
Moon Set :<br />
03:45<br />
Rise: 17:02<br />
Moon Apogee<br />
15<br />
Sun Rise:<br />
05:23<br />
Set : 19:02<br />
Moon Set :<br />
08:54<br />
Rise: 23:00<br />
22<br />
Sun Rise:<br />
05:20<br />
Set : 19:08<br />
Moon Rise:<br />
02:48<br />
Set : 16:11<br />
29<br />
Sun Rise:<br />
05:18<br />
Set : 19:14<br />
Moon Rise:<br />
09:23<br />
Set : 23:05<br />
18:39<br />
Sun Rise: 05:32Sun<br />
Rise:<br />
Set : 18:52 05:31<br />
Set : 18:52<br />
Moon Set :<br />
00:31<br />
Rise: 11:37<br />
9<br />
Moon Set :<br />
04:18<br />
Rise: 17:56<br />
Moon Set :<br />
01:09<br />
Rise: 12:35<br />
10<br />
FULL<br />
22:19<br />
Sun Rise: 05:27Sun<br />
Rise:<br />
Set : 18:57 05:26<br />
Set : 18:58<br />
16<br />
Moon Set :<br />
09:52<br />
Rise: 23:41<br />
Moon Set :<br />
04:54<br />
Rise: 18:50<br />
17<br />
Sun Rise: 05:23Sun<br />
Rise:<br />
Set : 19:03 05:22<br />
Set : 19:04<br />
23<br />
Moon Rise:<br />
03:31<br />
Set : 17:21<br />
Moon Set :<br />
10:52<br />
24<br />
Sun Rise: 05:20Sun<br />
Rise:<br />
Set : 19:09 05:20<br />
Set : 19:10<br />
30<br />
Moon Rise:<br />
04:19<br />
Set : 18:31<br />
Moon Perigee<br />
1<br />
Sun Rise:<br />
05:31<br />
Set : 18:53<br />
Moon Set :<br />
01:43<br />
Rise: 13:30<br />
11<br />
Sun Rise:<br />
05:26<br />
Set : 18:59<br />
Moon Set :<br />
05:33<br />
Rise: 19:44<br />
18<br />
3rdQ<br />
17:11<br />
Sun Rise:<br />
05:22<br />
Set : 19:05<br />
Moon Rise:<br />
00:19<br />
Set : 11:52<br />
25<br />
NNEW<br />
08:12<br />
Sun Rise:<br />
05:19<br />
Set : 19:11<br />
Moon Rise:<br />
05:13<br />
Set : 19:39<br />
Solar Eclipse<br />
2<br />
1stQ<br />
Sun Rise: 05:18Sun<br />
Rise:<br />
11:53<br />
Sun Rise:<br />
Set : 19:15 05:18 05:18<br />
Moon Rise:<br />
Set : 19:16 Set : 19:17<br />
10:23 Moon Rise: Moon Set :<br />
Set : 23:42 11:21 00:14<br />
Rise: 12:16<br />
Sun Rise:<br />
05:30<br />
Set : 18:54<br />
Moon Set :<br />
02:14<br />
Rise: 14:23<br />
12<br />
Sun Rise:<br />
05:25<br />
Set : 19:00<br />
Moon Set :<br />
06:17<br />
Rise: 20:37<br />
19<br />
Sun Rise:<br />
05:21<br />
Set : 19:06<br />
Moon Rise:<br />
00:56<br />
Set : 12:54<br />
26<br />
Sun Rise:<br />
05:19<br />
Set : 19:12<br />
Moon Rise:<br />
06:12<br />
Set : 20:41<br />
3<br />
Sun Rise:<br />
05:18<br />
Set : 19:18<br />
Moon Set :<br />
00:45<br />
Rise: 13:10
I'm Trying To Fish Here!<br />
CASTING LESSONS<br />
Dullstroom & Johannesburg<br />
R190 p/p per hour<br />
Year round<br />
Whether you have never picked up a fly rod in your life before,<br />
and are off trout fishing, or want to fine tune your Spey<br />
casting skills before your big international trip, our team of<br />
instructors and guides can help.<br />
Jono, Mark and Derek are all internationally certified instructors for single<br />
handed and double handed rods from trout to salmon and through to<br />
saltwater.<br />
We can manage groups of 1-100, depending on your needs, and can<br />
arrange casting lessons for just a half hour, or an entire weekend out.<br />
Single handed casting instruction is held mostly on stillwaters either in<br />
Johannesburg or Dullstroom, while our Spey casting clinics and lessons<br />
are held on the Vaal river. Let us know what you are after, and we can<br />
tailor make the lesson to fit.<br />
Fly casting instruction, including a theory lesson on fly selection, basic<br />
entomology (insects that the trout eat) and practical fly fishing techniques<br />
starts at R95 for 30minutes introduction on the lawn in front of the Dullstroom<br />
store.<br />
For our Johannesburg based clients, a more advanced lesson can be<br />
privately arranged for individuals or groups. Starting at R380/hour for<br />
beginner to advanced casting, gear testing and double haul techniques.<br />
We can meet you at a convenient venue of your choice, whether its your<br />
office park, back garden or a local school field. We of course can host you<br />
on our own waters as well, so just contact us to make your bookings.<br />
For more information and bookings go to www.flyfishing.co.za<br />
These photos were send by Peter Arderne<br />
It’s Official!<br />
The SFA SA<br />
Fly Fishing<br />
Film and<br />
Photographic<br />
Competition is<br />
now open! With<br />
prizes from<br />
Shilton, TFO,<br />
Oakley, Senqu<br />
and Fishient up<br />
for grabs and a<br />
deadline date for<br />
the 28th February<br />
2012 there<br />
is plenty of time<br />
for you to get out<br />
there and get the<br />
shot!<br />
On The Scene<br />
Archive footage<br />
is more than<br />
welcome. We<br />
are also pleased to announce that South African<br />
Fly Fishing legend Tom Sutcliffe will be our Photographic<br />
Judge.<br />
For more details and entry form downloads<br />
please visit the following sites:<br />
www.safarifilm.co.za or www.flyfishers.co.za<br />
Okay, I give up - we can play, I can fish anytime...
PLACES TO BE<br />
MOUTAIN TROUT LODGE<br />
In the mountainous escarpment at the edge of the beautiful<br />
Mpumalanga Highveld lies a peaceful guest farm, Moutain Trout<br />
Lodge. Situated on the R38 between Carolina & Badplaas, a mere<br />
2.5 hours from Pretoria and Johannesburg, the lodge offer the<br />
ideal getaway from the stresses and strains of life.<br />
Their trout fishing facilities cater for all, from beginners to<br />
professional fly fishermen. They offer 4 well stocked trout dams<br />
and a beautiful 1.5km of river fishing along the Seekoeispruit, a<br />
perenial river running through the whole farm.<br />
Mountain Trout Lodge offers comfortable, upmarket self catering<br />
cottages and houses, as well as Fisherman’s cottages which<br />
overlook the beautiful Homestead dam.<br />
For further pictures and information please go to<br />
www.mountaintroutlodge.com. For bookings and enquiries please<br />
contact Lisa on 072 207 9924 or at lisa@cradletrout.com<br />
FLY-FISHING AT KLOOFZICHT<br />
LODGE (MULDERSDRIFT)<br />
The Lodge overlooks six exquisite fly-fishing dams and the<br />
lower reaches of the Blaauwbank Spruit, as it meanders<br />
through the unspoilt Zwartkops gorge. The dramatic scenery,<br />
natural vegetation and the abundant wildlife set the mood.<br />
A fly-fishing experience of a lifetime awaits you at Kloofzicht<br />
Lodge in Mulderdrift, be you pro or novice.<br />
Trout, bass, carp and the ever-elusive yellow fish will provide<br />
you with hours of entertainment and the opportunity to relax<br />
and unwind.<br />
Website:<br />
http://www.sa-venues.com/visit/kloofzichtlodge/<br />
Source: www.sa-venues.com<br />
FLY FISHING AT TILLIETUDLEM<br />
TROUT FARM (DARGLE)<br />
Some of the finest private fly fishing waters on the Midlands<br />
Meander!<br />
Tillietudlem offers exceptional and exclusive fly fishing for Rainbow<br />
and Brown trout, plus indigenous Yellow fish, in 5 dams and the<br />
Eland’s river.<br />
The waters are managed for trophy fishing with fish in excess of<br />
4kg, and a catch and release policy.<br />
Guided fishing and fly-fishing clinics are available by prior<br />
arrangement.<br />
The Upper Dargle area is renowned for being one of the best trout<br />
fishing locations in South Africa due to the pristine water and high<br />
altitude, up to 2 000m. Enjoy some of the country’s best fly fishing in<br />
a tranquil natural environment.<br />
Website:<br />
http://www.sa-venues.com/visit/tillietudlem/<br />
Source: www.sa-venues.com<br />
SANI VALLEY FLY-FISHING<br />
AND GAME LODGE<br />
The main 260 acre lake is well stocked with trout and offers<br />
excellent fly-fishing opportunities with brown and rainbow trout<br />
ranging from 1 pound to 12 pounds.<br />
Sani Valley is the perfect spot for boating and swimming. The lake<br />
has a dugout edge so there is no need to wade through reeds and<br />
slush. There are a number of boats available for guests to use<br />
(fishing or leisurely cruises). Guests can either opt for a motor for<br />
their boat or they can utilise oars. (Boats & motors are an optional<br />
extra) If fishing boats aren’t for you, then you can try out one of the<br />
Kayak canoes.<br />
Go to www.places.co.za to read more about the Lodge.
2011 National Fly Fishing Championships:<br />
Salt water fly fishing in Barcelona (2011)
Fly Fishing Strawberry Reservoir September<br />
2011 for big cutthroat and rainbow trout :<br />
Salmon Fishing Scotland Salmon Fly<br />
Fishing on the Tay October 2011:
Albright Special:<br />
Surgeons Knot:<br />
Perfection Knot:<br />
<strong>Know</strong> Yo
ur <strong>Knots</strong><br />
Blood Knot:<br />
Photo By Franscois Botha<br />
Nail Knot:<br />
Dropper Knot:
October 2011 Vaal River Report<br />
On 14 October, Rick King, Steve<br />
James and Myself went to a<br />
venue about 10km’s down from<br />
Parys. A beautiful day at my<br />
favorite spot, probably in the world! Fish<br />
were very active, basically all over and the<br />
spawning of Yellowfish was evident, as<br />
thrashing tails and fins were seen in the<br />
rocky shallow runs. Awesome sight! Even<br />
the freshwater staffies (Mudfish) were<br />
abundant and doing their thing…<br />
We managed to catch quite a few Smallmouth,<br />
ranging between 2 – 4kg (good<br />
breeding stock) and even two Largemouth<br />
Yellows. All released quickly after a good<br />
observation. The water was fairly murky, about<br />
25cm visibility and did not smell bad at all that<br />
day, although there has been reports of bad<br />
water, probably due to the unmanaged<br />
sewerage plants…..<br />
It is great to report some positive for our beloved<br />
fish; however, there is still concern on the<br />
quantity of fish that remain and the condition,<br />
viewed closely. If I go back 10 years or so, on<br />
a day like that with 20 being the number I work<br />
off; 20 deg water temp, 20 cumecs water flow<br />
and 20cm visibility. Landing between 60 and 80<br />
fish in one day was common, for me anyway.<br />
14th Oct 6 – 10 years ago<br />
No Photoshop here, You be the judge?<br />
Fish Snares:<br />
I have often come across these things! That day I destroyed 3 in one area.<br />
We do try educate the locals if caught fishing with these but I feel for them,<br />
eating fish from this water. Hunger and thirst is another reason to make things<br />
right in this water system, as well as Yellowfish conservation and ethics.<br />
That day we managed to land around 18,<br />
losing a quite few on top of that.<br />
Then if I compare the condition of the fish<br />
between 10 and 6 years ago, caught during<br />
the same time of year, same venue, and<br />
now, there is a difference! Rick King says<br />
that he has never seen the Yellows look as<br />
black. Then, on the fins and body the red<br />
spots are evident; I still need confirmation on<br />
this abnormality? The black spots or cysts<br />
were also there on a few of them. I have<br />
older photo pictures but not very clear, these<br />
are the best ones I could find:
Trip Checklist<br />
If you plan to go on a Fly Fishing Trip, here<br />
is some valuable travel information that will<br />
make your fishing vacation so much more<br />
enjoyable. Always try to make use of a travel<br />
service that specializes in fishing and that they<br />
provide fishing guides.<br />
A fishing guide is essential, especially if you<br />
did not fish your destination waters before and<br />
therefore want to arrange for guided fishing.<br />
Check with your travel service what the fishing<br />
lodge will provide for the duration of your fishing<br />
trip.<br />
Does it include a fly fishing guide? Will it also<br />
include fly fishing equipment? I suggest that<br />
you buy some books with specific information<br />
concerning the fishing destination you intend to<br />
visit and familiarize yourself.<br />
Here is a checklist that you can use when<br />
preparing for your fishing trip.<br />
Essential Fishing gear<br />
• Fly rod plus a spare rod in the same weight<br />
for the intended fishing destination.<br />
• Fly reels plus the correct lines plus spare<br />
reels and lines in the covers for safe storage.<br />
• Fishing flies in Fly Boxes, Fly floatant plus a<br />
hook sharpener.<br />
• Leaders, tippets and super glue (make sure<br />
that you acquire fresh spools).<br />
• Well worn wading boots (remember to take<br />
spare laces).<br />
• Polaroid glasses to protect your eyes against<br />
glare.<br />
• Wide-brimmed hat ( long-billed cap comes<br />
highly recommended).<br />
• Landing net, stripping basket and wading<br />
staff.<br />
• Fly vest or fanny pack depending on the<br />
waters you intend to fish.<br />
• Clippers and a Fishing knife (I use a old<br />
Leatherman PST II).<br />
Additional Fishing gear<br />
Winter or Cold fishing:<br />
• Breathable waders.<br />
• Fleece, layered and quick drying clothing.<br />
• Waterproof or breathable jackets with hood<br />
and Velcro wrist locks.<br />
Summer or Tropical fishing:<br />
• Wading shoes and sunglasses<br />
• Light, quick drying uv protected clothing.<br />
• Water bottle plus sachets of sportsman drink.<br />
Source: http://www.flyfishinginformation.net/<br />
Fly_Fishing_Trip_Checklist.html
TCFF Sterkfontein Experience<br />
Date: 25 - 27 November<br />
Where: Sterkfontein Dam, Harrismith, Free<br />
State.<br />
Open to the public, limited to 60 anglers.<br />
Contact: Ivan Davidson, Tel: 012 371-3915<br />
1st Mpumalanga Fly Fishing<br />
Association AGM & Prize Giving<br />
Venue: Belfast Fly Fishing Ass. Clubhouse<br />
Date: Saturday, 12th November 2011<br />
Contact: Andre du Plessis<br />
E-mail: andredp11@yahoo.com<br />
Tel: 082 376 8150<br />
Haenertsburg Trout Assoc. Centenary<br />
Venue: Broederstroom River & 8 club dams<br />
Starts: Friday, 11th November 2011<br />
Ends: Sunday, 13th November 2011<br />
Contact: Zamps & Andre<br />
E-mail: gmzamps@mweb.co.za &<br />
loutrec@wo.co.za<br />
Tel: 082 445 8070 & 082 570 2782<br />
Matatiele Festival & Competition<br />
Venue: Matatiele Mountain Lake<br />
Starts: Saturday, 12th November 2011<br />
Ends: Sunday, 13th November 2011<br />
Photo By Franscois Botha<br />
Photo By Franscois Botha<br />
Contact: Shane<br />
E-mail: shane@sondelastore.co.za<br />
Tel: 083 299 4996<br />
RIO Expert Comes To South Africa<br />
Xplorer FlyFishing is bringing Simon<br />
Gawesworth, RIO Products'<br />
International Marketing Manager, to South<br />
Africa this November.<br />
Date: 14 November<br />
Where: Kingfisher Canoe Club<br />
Spey casting demonstration on the Umgeni<br />
River and presentation on fly line development.<br />
Open to the public.<br />
Contact: Jandi Trading, Tel: 031 564 7368<br />
Date: 15 November<br />
Where: StreamX, Milnerton Ridge, Cape Town<br />
Book signing.<br />
Open to the public.<br />
Contact: Jandi Trading, Tel: 031 564 7368<br />
Date: 17 November<br />
Where: Mavungana Flyfishing will be hosting<br />
Simon for a talk, followed by a book signing and<br />
dinner at the Illovo Square Centre.<br />
Open to the public. Seats are limited.<br />
Contact: Jonathan Boulton, Cell: 082 573 3624<br />
Date: 19 November<br />
Where: Mavungana/Xplorer/St Stithians<br />
Johannesburg Fly Fishing Festival held at<br />
St Stithians College.<br />
Open to the public.<br />
Contact: Jandi Trading, Tel: 031 564 7368.<br />
Photo By Franscois Botha
All fish species have different<br />
external characteristics that<br />
make them who and what<br />
they are. Many species of fish<br />
exibit remarkable variation in<br />
physical shape within a single species, like<br />
the smallmouth yellowfish, in which mouth<br />
shape varies considerably according to<br />
the fish`s individual food preferance and<br />
habitat. Other families of fish have two or<br />
more species that can barely be told apart<br />
by external characteristics, for example the<br />
dusky cob and its nearly identical cousin,<br />
the silver cob.<br />
FIRST, THE OBVIOUS<br />
Of the eight known species of black bass,<br />
largemouth and smallmouth bass are by far<br />
the most successful. While it is true that the<br />
largemouth bass sports the largest jaws of<br />
them all, the rest of the family have very<br />
similar jaw dimensions.<br />
THE FINS<br />
Fins are vulnerable appendages. They`re<br />
often worn and torn, and for this reason<br />
one of the more effective ways to ID your<br />
bass is often lost. If however your fish has<br />
been looking after his fins, you will be able<br />
to spot another identifying characteristic.<br />
Least conspicuous,<br />
perhaps, is the fact that the soft rayed portions<br />
of the fins are larger in smallmouths<br />
than in largemouths.<br />
COLOUR<br />
As mentioned, many fish show physical<br />
variations within the species. In terms of<br />
colour, black bass are no exception.<br />
Smallmouth bass are often referred to as<br />
Bronzebacks, or brown bass, while the<br />
largemouth, I guess for want of a better<br />
nickname, are sometimes called greenies.<br />
DOES SIZE MATTER?<br />
Most species of black bass have<br />
basically the same potential for<br />
growth. On average,<br />
black bass<br />
reach their<br />
maximum size at<br />
about three<br />
kilograms. Fish of<br />
this size are few<br />
and far<br />
between, though,<br />
and in most locations<br />
you<br />
earn bragging<br />
rights if you catch<br />
a fish of<br />
between one and<br />
a half and two kilos.<br />
The size any<br />
fish will reach is influenced by a great variety<br />
of factors, such as availability of food and the<br />
fish`s ability to catch it, the size of the population,<br />
the speed of the current it lives in and the<br />
actual size of the body of water it makes its<br />
home.<br />
THE CLINCHER<br />
The fact is, once you can recognise the most<br />
often overlooked, and yet the most distinctive<br />
physical difference between bronzebacks and<br />
their flabby cousins, you can forever ignore<br />
every one of the traits outlined above.<br />
Smallmouth on the left,<br />
largemouth on the right<br />
This fish shows the vertical striping<br />
only seen in smallmouth bass<br />
The next time you catch a bass, have a close<br />
look at his gill plates. If the scales on the cheeks<br />
are only slightly smaller than those on the rest of<br />
the body, you have in your hands a largemouth<br />
bass.<br />
The more you catch of both species, the clearer<br />
the differences become. You will even start<br />
noticing that, especially in rivers, you won`t often<br />
catch both species in the same kind of water, or<br />
off the same kind of structure.<br />
THE THIRD WHEEL<br />
Every rule has an exception. If one day you<br />
find that the fish you pulled out of the water has<br />
both a dark lateral stripe and fine scales on the<br />
cheeks, then you have caught a spotted bass,<br />
the third and apparently least successful of the<br />
black bass species introduced into South African<br />
waters.<br />
To read more and see more images click here<br />
http://www.flytalk.co.za/readArticle.php?p_id=51<br />
Source: www.flytalk.co.za
THE BROUGHTON<br />
REPORT ISSUE 6<br />
Brought to you by: The Institute Of Retail Risk<br />
Keeping The Sporting Goods Buyer In Touch<br />
Sports Goods<br />
Retailer<br />
e l a ta et R e l i a t e R a R a Reta ta tailer er<br />
ds d o oo Go s G s G ts rt or po S s d o o G s t r o p S s<br />
S s o o<br />
r o<br />
o po ds<br />
S s s<br />
Sports s<br />
Sports Goodss<br />
Tel : 011 789 2112 Fax : 011 789 2115 E-mail : info@thethamedia.co.za