In the Loop Fly Fishing Magazine - Issue 32

Profile of a Fly Fisherman:

Christiaan Pretorius

Christiaan Pretorius is another rising star on the South African fly fishing sky. Well, by now, he has long-since left South Africa and – in the process – has made a name for himself as a skilled fly fishing explorer, journalist, and photographer. Christiaan has worked as a fly fishing guide, booking agent, and fly fishing host, and he has seen more remote fisheries than most – from the Kamchatkan wilderness rivers through the atolls of the Seychelles to the pristine mountain rivers of the Amazon jungle.

BY the Editorial Staff

Name: Christiaan Pretorius

Born: 14 Sep 1990

Country: South Africa

Occupation: Fly Fishing Host, Booking agent, Guide

Website: www.christiaanfishandhunt.com

SoMe: www.instagram.com/christiaanpretorius/

We’ve sat down with Christiaan for a talk about his experiences as a fly fisherman, how it all started, where he’s hoping his fly fishing career will take him, what species he is itching to target next, and lots more…

How did you get started fly fishing and why?

I was one of the fortunate ones who had a father that is a very passionate outdoorsman. Funny enough I tied a fly before I could cast a fly rod. It was at the age of six years old when I got to pick up a fly rod for the first time. I remember we were at some trout lodge, but I was only allowed to cast on the lawn outside our cottage. I was completely invested in the motion of the rod and what effect that had on the line. Minutes turned into hours and hours turned into blisters. That’s the day when a spark went off inside me. So, to keep it short it was my dad who introduced me to this amazing sport, and I am to this day still very thankful.

What is it about fly fishing, specifically, that fascinates you?

I always loved being outside as a kid, I never really got into tv games or owned a PlayStation or anything like that. Coincidently I was also very creative from a very young age and come from a family with a strong creative gene. The combination of being able to be outside, while having to continuously be able to be creative and adapt to what you are seeing was my perfect idea of a hobby I could fall in love with.

Before I could pick up a fly rod, I was also obsessed with normal fishing by that stage, but there was something specific with fly fishing that I could resonate with straight away. I knew at a very young age that I wanted to spend all my free time doing something fly fishing related. I am not quite sure how many thousands of hooks I have wasted over the years trying to create new patterns, or some supposedly “game changing” ideas which instead ended up looking like something your cat coughed up on the carpet. The obsession was real, and I think my parents knew that this was a different kind of addiction.

What characterizes the most special and memorable moments in fly fishing?

Often when I think back to some of the memories that stands out above the rest it’s the ones where I got to spend it with some special people. I have to say the people I have met along the way while pursuing a career in fly fishing is truly remarkable. I have a legitimate Fly-Fishing family who I end up spending more time with than my actual family.

And then of course there are all the amazing pristine places that one gets to travel to and experience, places that I would have never seen if it was not for fly fishing. Then also the specific fish we end up targeting, most of the time I start preparing for trips months in advance. Tying flies, online research, reaching out to fellow fly fisherman for advice etc. And then when everything finally comes together and you get to crack the code on a trophy fish, that really gets me fired up.

What is the most important thing you’ve learned along the way as a fly fisherman?

That you will never be able to know it all and that makes me so damn excited. The fact that you can dedicate so much time to one specific thing but then learn something new every day you go out, that’s cool.

Every day on the water is different, from the moon phase to the tides to the smallest of insects hatching you name it you constantly must adapt to be successful. Every piece of water is like a book. You just need to read it to understand what you need to do to catch the fish but then also in saying that the more and more I travel and fish the actual fish itself plays a very small part of the overall experience of a trip.

What is it that motivates you and drives you towards new fly fishing adventures?

It was always my dream when I started guided to be able to travel and fish for as many different species as possible. I don’t consider myself a saltwater fly fisherman nor a freshwater specialist but instead a passionate fly fisherman.

I truly still find it a huge rush to catch small wild trout on a 2-weight rod but at the same time a huge laid up Tarpon on an 11wt is hard to beat. Even though I have been very fortunate to have ticked some bucket list boxes the list is still very long of things I want to experience

What’s your favourite species of fish to target – and why?

This is no doubt one of the harder questions I frequently get asked. There are so many species I am thinking about while typing this but somehow my fingers are still typing P-er-m-i-t. This fish demands your A-game and I love that.

What’s your dream destination and why?

There is something about New Zealand that has been fascinating to me since I was just a kid looking at pictures in some fly-fishing magazines. I think the style of fishing is very appealing, you really need to hunt those big browns. It’s also a fish that demands a bit more skill and finesse than for instance a GT or Peacock Bass. I mean the landscapes are not too bad either.

What’s been your most memorable fly fishing trip/experience so far?

What’s with all these difficult questions amigo? Let’s try to narrow it down to one that stands out for me. I think the one trip that comes to mind is my first trip to Baja with an absolute Rockstar group of friends.

Fishing for Roosterfish from the beach is a pretty difficult thing to do and it takes a certain kind of person to try it. Like many good fishing stories my trip also ended with a fish of many lifetimes on the last day of our 10-day trip. Holding that Roosterfish in the water was a moment that I will never be able to let go of. Roosterfish are damn special.

What are your ambitions for the future?

Working towards having a more balanced lifestyle and make more time to be home while still doing cool trips with my clients. So just to structure my life a little better to accommodate not only for myself but for the people close to me as well. Apart from that I would also like to be able to contribute more of my time towards conservation and to be a voice to keep the special places special, to make sure these places are still there for the next generations to enjoy. I have also been itching to really try make an effort with a Youtube channel that will serve as an information portal for people traveling to remote places to fish.

Any cool trips or projects coming up?

This year is looking good now that Covid is slowly starting to disappear. There are a lot of things to get very excited about. I’ve already visited Gabon, Oman and next Berry Islands, then Mexico, Canada, Bolivia, Tanzania and then back to Mexico again. So much for the balanced lifestyle and more time at home…

Any advice for readers who would like to carve out a niche for themselves in the fly fishing industry?

This is a passion driven industry, and you really need the passion to fuel you every day. The obvious initial choice should be guiding to really get your hands dirty and get an appreciation for what guides actually do, and to see that most of the time it’s not all about the “fishing”. From there, there are a lot of avenues that one can follow to try and make a career, from photography, to writing, to managing or to be a voice for conservation.

Most importantly you should want to do it because you love it and not for money or fame, otherwise this is really not the right industry for you. Something that I think set me apart from when I started was my drive to document everything with photos and videos. I wanted to be able to show people all these amazing places without knowing the value of quality content. Now I truly value all the years of carrying heavy camera gear around with me.

In terms of the environment, what has most concerned you as you’ve traveled the world?

The one obvious one that really upsets me on a daily basis is the pollution around the world. It’s at a point now where the world really needs to make a stand against single use plastic. It’s hard but I try and play my part in being a voice for this cause.

Another concerning factor is why should people try and make the environment better if 99% of the world population will never get to see what a pristine environment looks like? Flip Pallot once told me, “you know Christiaan, there is only one problem in the world and that is that there are just too many people”.

Having been able to travel quite a bit over the past couple of years I couldn’t agree more. I think it’s just very important to not stop educating and keep on fighting a good fight. Never give up. The potential of what we can lose is just too precious.

Do you have any advice for fellow fly fishermen who would like to make a difference on behalf of the environment and our precious fisheries?

I think first of start within yourself, then your household and then slowly expand your efforts. I think if everyone starts making a little effort it will go a long way. Be respectful to your resources, know when enough is enough or when it is sometimes better to just put the rod down instead.

We have a responsibility as fly fisherman to protect what we love. Don’t ever stand back for something you believe needs protecting.