Fly Fishers Association

The Fly Fishers Association (FFA) applauds the efforts of the triumvirate, namely Andrew Savides, Andrew Mather and Ian Cox in “rescuing” the Southern African Fly Fishing magazine and producing a world class product. Members of FFA were heavily involved in the initiation and early production of the magazine which was envisaged as a mouthpiece of FOSAF at the time. Angler Publications took over the production of the magazine and produced an excellent magazine, but in the end it was too much for them, and it looked like the death knell of the magazine, until our triumvirate came to the rescue.

Prior to the magazine, the FFA had provided one of the few avenues for budding writers of the angle with their monthly newsletter, The Leader, at a time when the only available fly fishing magazines were from overseas, at considerable cost. The editors included the likes of Jack Blackman, Robin Fick, Dean Riphagen, Derek Thomas, Rob Brett, Gillies McDavid and Laurence Davies. Dr Tom Sutcliffe, the FFA President, had written his book, My Way with a Trout, using selected weekly articles which he had produced for The Natal Mercury.

He offered the FFA the balance of the newspaper articles for The Leader, but the FFA editorial team felt that these articles deserved more than this and suggested to Tom that we could produce another book using these articles. And we did, producing Reflections on Flyfishing, together with NFFC (Tom was an NFFC Vice president). Rob Brett and Marc Basel and family, printed books for the two clubs to market, with all funds being shared between the two clubs, as was the good doctor’s wish.

The FFA is but a shadow of its original might, with emigration and relocation, in the main, taking its toll on membership, but we still have bi-monthly social meetings, invariably with a guest speaker or demonstration, at The KZN Hunters and Conservation’s premises in Pinetown, on the second Tuesday of the month. All are welcome. Paul (Croc) McLaughlin is the current chairman and any club queries can be addressed to him on 0828975629. Dr Tom Sutcliffe is our President and Jake Alletson and Bob Crass (RIP) our Vice Presidents, three gentlemen who provided tremendous support and inspiration to the club, especially in its efforts to spread the gospel of fly fishing. Laurence Davies