Editorial

What a week it has been for South Africa. The positive news on the sportfields has lifted the country. We have been badly in need of some positive energy.

Over the last two months I’ve been exploring our beautiful country. The first trip was to the Richtersveld where the Orange River cuts a green swath through the arid landscape. This is a special place made even more special by the awesome fishery. As an urban dweller one realises in this environment how expansive the country is. No cell phone reception to interrupt ones fishing. Brute yellows to do battle with. It was a week that will live on in my mind. I’ve said this before and it bears repeating. We have worldclass fisheries right here in SA so before you blow your cash on exotic foreign destinations, do the local ones first.

I also managed two weekends fishing the Cape streams. Well... one was washed out but that didn’t worry me, as it was great to meet and catch up with new and old friends at the Cape Piscatorial Society River festival. Oh the clarity of these streams! I love the challenge of getting a fly in the right place, land the fly gently and manage micro-drift. Getting it all right yields the reward in a stream where 12” fish are trophies!

This month cover is rather different to the normal image we put up. It’s an image I and I guess many others can relate to. As a motorcycle rider/flyfisher and part time oil painter, it is just up my street. It bring up images of getting on my bike and just heading out into the country to ride and flyfish without a care.

The only thing missing from the image is the owner’s art work. But that’s taken care of as we feature the bike’s owner later in the magazine.

Finally as this will be the last edition before the holiday season, the editors would like to extend their sincere thanks to all the contributors whom have taken time to pen articles. The magazine has been richen by your contributions. To those thinking of writing or submitting an article, just do it. This is after all a non-profit community magazine.

We have much to be thankful for.