GUIDES Mark Yelland's Flyfishing & Guiding Academy

Where, What & When

Mark has a passion for our indigenous yellowfish and specialises in guiding for the various species. He has guided on the Vaal River and Sterkfontein Dam for more than thirty years and knows both venues like the back of his hand. He has fished and guided throughout Africa and the world and his skills span from trout to saltwater species. Mark’s guidance and instruction will add huge value and enhance your enjoyment of the wonderful world of flyfishing. Contact Mark or one-on-one, group or corporate events.

Contact

Contact Person: Contact Number: Email: Facebook:

Mark Yelland +27 (0)83 616 0505 mark.g.yelland@gmail.com Mark Yelland

Other Information

Mark has been flyfishing for close on forty years and has fished in more than 28 countries on 5 continents, pursuing both fresh and saltwater species with the long rod. His name is synonymous with the flyfishing community and industry having spent 28 years in flyfishing retail. Mark has represented South Africa at the highest level and is the only senior Protea flyfisher to win a medal at a World Championship in South Africa’s 20 years of participation in the 41 year old event. In 2001 during South Africa’s inaugural participation Mark won silver, finishing ahead of 3 times individual and multiple team gold medal winner Pascal Cognard.

Mark is undoubtedly one of South Africa’s leading fly casting instructors and is well known for his ability to identify and rectify casting faults. He has taught many his easy to follow techniques for both fresh and saltwater applications, specialising in single and double haul techniques. Both past and current Protea flyfishers are among his students. Mark’s guidance and instruction will add huge value and enhance your enjoyment of the wonderful world of flyfishing. Contact Mark or one-on-one, group or corporate events.

"I met Mark as a young man back in the mid-80s when I was so impressed with his keenness and his friendliness that I gave him a job as a member of the Fly Fisherman staff in Maritzburg, KZN. It was a wise move and for many years he did remarkably well at client relations and in building his knowledge in fly fishing products and his expertise fly fishing itself. From this long working relationship I also learned that Mark is a man of singular integrity and honour. I have obviously had many opportunities to fish with Mark. He is a competent angler to say the least and an amazing caster, probably the best I have watched. In this arena he is this country's leading casting instructor by virtue not only of his skills, but his ability to transfer his knowledge to anglers in ways that remove the fear and challenges of learning and yet still remain highly effective. In so far as river and stream fishing is concerned Mark is a world class fly fisher having achieved notable success at the World Championships in the 90s, where on his first entry into the international stage of competitive angling he achieved a silver medal, a feat now almost unheard of. His skills in river and stillwater fishing obviously borrow heavily on his superb casting abilities, but his ability to read water and see fish is what makes him such a competent professional guide. He is a master and I don't use this term lightly. In summary, Mark Yelland is a thoroughly good person, an incomparable all-round angler of deep experience in salt and fresh water, and one of the most companionable people I have ever had the pleasure to fish with."