Flyfishing 201804 by Angler Publications

AFRICAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ORIGINAL

MAGAZINE

www.africanangler.com

OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF FOSAF

April/May 2018 Vol. 31 No. 166

LEARNING CURVE

Adventures in Alberta

LIVE STREAMING

New ideas for the Orange

FIRST FLY Tools & prep

LILYDALE LOCALS A top class South African venue

CONTENTS

Volume 31 Number 166 April 2018 COVER: River Treasures Gavin Erwin with a fin-perfect Bushman’s River brown trout. Photo by Jan Korrubel. See page 34.

FEATURES

Expert vs Egomaniac If you can tell the difference I’ll buy you a Lotto ticket — by Andrew Savs

Learning Curve Exploring the trout streams of Southern Alberta — by Warwick Hastie

Lilydale Locals Making the most of this top class venue — by John Gavin

Xplorer Big Fish Competition Devan Lagendyk’s kob earns him a T-50 fly-rod worth R5 000

My First Fly Part 1:Tools and preparation — by Peter Brigg

Simple is Sexy Easy-to-tie flies that work — by Gordon van der Spuy

Gavin Erwin A multi-faceted man of talent — by Anglerfish

Live Streaming New ideas for tackling the Richtersveld — By Ed Herbst

Gariep’s Gold East to west in search of yellows — by Arthur Cary

Prepping for the World Arena 2018 Ladies’ and Masters’ Nationals — by Cheryl Heyns

Living the Life There’s more to fishing than just fishing — by Gertrude Babich

Blast from the Past: Elevating Jelliman

When fact is stranger than fiction — by John Beams

DEPARTMENTS 6 7

From the Editor — by Sheena Carnie Items of Interest to FOSAF members

58 58

Directory Adverts Ad Index

FLYFISHING April 2018 • 5

Publisher: Erwin Bursik Editor: Sheena Carnie Advertising Executive: Mark Wilson Editorial Assistants: Vahini Pillay Advertising Consultant: Joan Wilson Administration Executive: Anne Bursik Accountant: Jane Harvey Contributors: Gertrude Babich, Peter Brigg,Arthur Cary, Ian Cox, John Gavin, Warwick Hastie, Ed Herbst, Cheryl Heyns, Jan Korrubel,Andrew Savs and Gordon van der Spuy. Advertising – National Sales: Angler Publications cc Telephone: (031) 572-2289 Mark Wilson cell: 073 748 6107 Joan Wilson: adverts@mags.co.za Publishers: Angler Publications cc PO Box 20545, Durban North 4016 Telephone: (031) 572-2289 Fax: (031) 572-7891 e-mail:

angler@mags.co.za

Subscriptions to FLYFISHING The digital version of FLYFISHING magazine is available free of charge via <www.issuu.com>

Full production is done in-house by Angler Publications on Apple Macintosh hardware and software.

FLYFISHING, ISSN 1011-3681, is published bi-monthly (six times per annum) by Angler Publications cc, Registration No. CK 88/05863/23.

• Copyright is expressly reserved and nothing may be reproduced in part or whole without the permission of the publishers. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the contents of this magazine, the publishers do not accept responsibility for omissions or errors or their consequences. • The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publishers, the editors or the editorial staff.

6 • FLYFISHING April 2018

FROM THE EDITOR

N recent weeks there’s been a lot of concern about the Department of Environmental Affairs’ official announcement that they intend to list brown- and rainbow trout as invasive. On the opposite page Ian Cox gives some background to this and explains why it’s going to be legally challenged. There’s still a big fight ahead and no trout angler can afford to be apathetic about the issue. Representatives of FOSAF and Trout SA recently Sheena Carnie met with other affected parties and Ian Cox has drafted a 55 page objection to the Draft AIS Lists and Regulations which will be sent to the Minister. Regular updates are posted on Trout Talk’s Facebook page, among others, so keep an eye on that to find out how you can help. In the meantime, if you haven’t already done so, please join FOSAF and pledge to support Trout SA, organisations which are working hard on our behalf. If you’re bored of hearing about this issue and think it’s being blown out of proportion, read the piece below which is a reprint of Andrew Fowler’s article in the latest issue of The Creel — official journal of the Natal Fly Fishers’ Club. Andrew puts the fight in simple terms that make sense ... “Are you bored of the Trout Wars/NEMBA/FOSAF thing? Me too. It’s been going on forever. It’s complicated. Sometimes it sounds like some of the guys are getting a bit rabid. Is it really that bad? Here’s a quick lowdown from my perspective: The DEA maybe aren’t such a devious, dishonest, conniving bunch of morons as some would have us believe. Their deputy director is a man held in high regard in environmental circles, and he has done some great work. “But, DEA’s Working for Water, in our neck of the woods, never got beyond the word ‘working’, and is a bit of a bugger-up. Unfortunately. And working for water is DEA’s baby. So they makes mistakes like all of us. I think they are making a mistake on the listing of trout as alien invasive for the following reasons: “The risk assessments they had done on the two trout species, which are endorsed by some top academics, are deeply flawed in that they refer to one or two local studies in niche environments only, and for the rest represent just a review of foreign academic literature. That literature is a lot less relevant than most realise because of another flaw in the ‘assessments’ — a major one. The assessments carry a neat little coloured map, on which they state that the green areas are the areas into which trout could invade. The green areas are patently wrong in that they are built on annual average air temperature, and average winter air temperature. In reality trout’s limiting factor is highest summer water temperature. There is a huge difference, and these green areas shrink to something like the current distribution of trout in an instant if you apply the right criteria. “Once you understand this, you realise that by listing trout the DEA is taking a gattling gun to a wrestling match. They are about to plunge the trout industry into having to get permits for everything, based on a misconception that there is a huge risk. So what, you might ask. We’ll just apply for permits. The permits are valid for ten years, and DEA has displayed reasonableness in many areas. Well, consider this: • Hatcheries may get ten year permits, but I doubt you will get a ten year permit to stock your dam, and permits require convoluted, expensive risk assessments. • The law says that invasive species must be eradicated where possible. • DEA seems reasonable, but if their premise for requiring permits is wrong, their premise for declining permits probably will be too. • Ian Cox tells me that the legislation that allows you to appeal permit declines was repealed in 2013. • I’m told that in Mpumulanga, where the provincial authorities have jumped the gun and imposed permitting requirements, trout farmers are having a lot of trouble. • In some areas of the country there are zealous anti-trout academics who have the ear of the DEA and who have vowed to kill every last trout. “Now I am going to get a little philosophical. At one point in the apartheid era the railways employed, at some time in their career, 40% of the white males alive at the time. The railways were, in many ways, a bastion of apartheid. If I were a victim of apartheid or colonialism or whatever, deep in my psyche, I wouldn’t like trains. “Under the new government of people who were previously disadvantaged, the railways are a complete neglected mess. “Is trout fishing, with all its associations of Britain and deerstalkers and whiteowned farms and all that stuff, not about as appealing in South Africa as an old ‘verkrampte’ SAR railway dining coach with white linen and servants standing at the doors with napkins over their arms? Why else would bass and carp, the (highly invasive) fish of many a common man, be under less threat? “Much as I don’t like getting embroiled in all this stuff that detracts from a day’s flyfishing, I think we have to be involved. Every last one of us.” Happy reading.

Sheena Carnie

FOSAF NEWS

THANK YOU Dear FOSAF committee, I write to thank you for the prize I won recently in the members’ draw. It turned out to be a wonderful weekend spent at Riverside Trout Cottages. There were two really beautiful self-catering cottages that were available to us and we invited friends to join us. There was a large amount of fishing water available — one smaller dam close to the cottages and a big dam some way from the cottages which, apart from providing excellent fishing, also provided beautiful Berg scenery. Both of these dams were a great pleasure to fish and proved to be very rewarding from a fishing point of view. Kind regards Jeremy Horne

ONCE MORE INTO THE BREACH By Ian Cox

HE Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) published a notice in the government gazette on Friday 16 February 2018 inviting the public to comment on its intention to list brown and rainbow trout as invasive species. This follows a letter from DEA’s Dr Guy Preston in July 2017 advising that DEA was reneging on the agreement reached with the trout value chain, at Phakisa Ocean Labs conference that took place in July 2014, that trout would not be listed as an invasive species in areas where they already occur. The trout value chain has successfully opposed various attempts by DEA over the last ten years to list trout as invasive because trout are not actually invasive as the term is defined in law and because listing trout as invasive will destroy South Africa’s 125-year-old trout fishery. This fishery is important because of the billions invested in the value chain and the thousands of jobs it supports. It also provides valuable ecosystem services both through the investment that is made in the fishery and as a result of the environmentally friendly conditions (untransformed or rehabilitated land/habitat) that trout require in order to survive. The idea that trout must be invasive despite the fact that the fishery to a large extent only survives because of constant restocking is one of the crazier realities of the fundamentalist biotic nativism that informs DEA’s thinking on the subject of biodiversity management. We had hoped that Constitutional values and the rule of law would temper some of the more extreme consequences that flow when environmental management is informed by this thinking. DEA has shown that it is prepared to ignore the law when it gets in the way of what environmental officials want to do. Indeed, DEA is presently putting the finishing touches on a new biodiversity law that will nationalise all biological resources that are privately owned on terms that will enable officials to manage the resource as they please without having to account to South Africa’s people. This is the ugly reality that lies behind DEA’s insistence that trout be listed as invasive. This disdain for human rights and the rule of law has con-

sequences. One of them is that much of what DEA does is unlawful and is liable to be set aside if legally challenged. The process that is presently under way to list trout as invasive is no exception. It is fatally flawed, as has been the case with many other such processes, on account of DEA’s failure to comply with the rules that govern the consultation process. Many trout anglers have already written to Dr Preston complaining about this and demanding that DEA put it right. There is also good news in the fact that we are no longer fighting alone. Game farming, aquaculture and the broader community of organised agriculture are also worried about the threat implicit in what DEA is trying to do and they are standing alongside the trout value chain. Increasing numbers of ordinary people are also worried what will happen if people have no rights and all power is vested in the State. But, as we did in 2014 when DEA last attempted to list trout as invasive, we need to make a stand. We need to once again tell DEA that we will not let government destroy our fishery; we will not let them list trout as invasive. This means that we must again support FOSAF and Trout SA’s efforts by submitting representations to DEA opposing the listing of trout as invasive. We need to encourage our friends and family to do the same, even if they are not trout anglers. This is, after all, not just about trout; human rights, the Constitution and the rule of law are all under threat. We can and will win this fight. We will do so not out of a selfish desire to protect our fishery regardless of what happens to our environment; we will win because trout are environmentally friendly in the South African context. Their presence benefits human health and wellbeing. We will win because winning this fight is the right thing to do. It may be that this will end in court, but this is unlikely if the new president means what he says and government is serious about restoring law and order, rooting out corruption and rebuilding trust in government. Politicians support those who are willing to fight for themselves; it makes them look good without putting too much effort into it. We need to show South Africa’s politicians that helping us save the trout value chain is the politically correct thing to do.

JOIN FOSAF NOW

ECOME a member and make a contribution to FOSAF’s most important projects, thus assuring the future of flyfishing in South Africa. For further information refer to the FOSAF website. In addition, members may purchase our FOSAF Guide to Flyfishing and the Favoured Flies books at extremely low prices. These items make ideal gifts for a friend or a newcomer to the sport. To join and for more details visit <www.fosaf.co.za> or contact Liz on (011) 467-5992 or email <fosaf@icon.co.za>. FLYFISHING April 2018 • 7

FIRST BITE

EXPERT EGOMANIAC

If you can tell the difference I’ll buy you a Lotto ticket

By Andrew Savs <anotherwordforit.wordpress.com>

NCE a week The Solicitor and I meet for coffee before work. It’s nothing fancy, just a few tables in the back of a petrol station shop, but the coffee is fair, the company is great and the break from the mind-numbing tedium of the working week is always welcome. The Giant joins us frequently and he inevitably interrupts our earnest discussions to ask sarcastically whether we’ve solved the world’s problems yet. No, we tell him, and it’s not that we couldn’t, it’s simply never occurred to us to try. We focus our conversation instead on the pressing pisco-political issues of the day and we debate these with a fervour that would make the most fiery Southern preacher appear timid. On one such occasion The Solicitor apologetically extricated himself from the current debate and headed off to an appointment. Having some time before my day began I ordered a third cup. A guy walked in and our eyes met briefly. I saw a look of opportunity flash across his face and I regreted it immediately. You can tell from a mile away a guy who earns his crust in personal finance. 8 • FLYFISHING April 2018

His shoes have a bright, dustless glint and are pointy enough to kick a snake in the asshole. He walks over to greet me casually while trying his best to look like an average Joe. His jeans must have cost what a guided trip in the Seychelles does and his shirt is so crisp that you can hear it crack as he sits down. Not a nose hair protrudes inelegantly beneath his titanium frameless spectacles and his eyebrows are impossibly neatly groomed. His hands are the colour of wedding cake icing and are as soft as orchid petals. His watch is roughly the size of an RDP house. In short he is testament to a life of unfettered privilege in the same way that a stained overall and steel-capped boots are to a life of honest work. He’s an expert on matters financial. I know this because it’s what he told me as he pushed a gold-leafed business card towards me. “A registered financial expert” I read aloud to myself as I fought the urge to roll my eyes. Let’s be honest here, any guy who can use the future-value function on a financial calculator is met with a certain level of distrust by those of us who struggle with long division. He is a snake-oil salesman in the grandest tradition of the occupation.

His decaf mocha soy latte soon arrived and, as he stirred an aspartamefree sugar substitute into it, he leaned in towards me and whispered in a conspiratorial tone. “Bitcoin,” is all he said before leaning back, nodding. “Cryptocurrencies are the future,” he opined. “You have to be taking strong positions before, as in the case of those who bought into Steinhoff late, you’re left behind,” he added while tapping a magnificently manicured finger on his business card. He reeked of Old Spice and bullshit as he went on to quote percentage returns on investments and some more nonsense about elevators and getting in on the ground floor. Instantly cauterizing the membrane on the inside of my throat I downed my coffee in an inelegant gulp, slapped a note down onto the table and excused myself. I spurned his expert advice and later that day invested part of my annual bonus across a diverse portfolio of alternate investments: a case of Heineken quarts and a quick-pick for the R100-million Lotto jackpot — the rest of it I just wasted. I like social media, it’s the fetid mud hole in which the proclaimed experts and the garden variety idiots can wres-

tle without a winner ever having to be declared. It’s like the colosseum of old, the great levelling ground where everyone is a gladiator and they’re all equal. There’s a lot to learn there if you have a mind to, and I suggest that over time you will, but the point is that you don’t have to if you don’t want to. There’s something very rock ’n roll about that, and I love it. Perhaps my perspective on and characterisation of social media and its participants is unfairly condescending. The point is that it doesn’t really matter either way. I mean, it’s just my opinion, it’s not an expert opinion. Sure, to be better fishers we should be heeding the experts, reading Walton through LaFontaine, practicing our casting to flags on the lawn, learning the encyclopedia of knots and memorising the Latin names and life cycles of common aquatic bugs. In an age where the shelves of the average bookshop are dominated by self-help books, the average angler is looking for a safe, noncompetitive place where he can wear his tatty hat, play with expensive toys, drink strong spirits from a tin cup and share some sort of intimacy with friends. And that’s where social media communities have become relevant. They extend this sense of human connection (you don’t need to point out the irony

of that statement) from the river bank to the living room. The growing group of people that I consider to be fraternal brothers I almost exclusively met online. Most of them are experts in one way or the other, but you’d never know it to talk to them. I’ve been involved in a social media group of several thousand members for some time now and if there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that sincerity defines the member. If someone is insincere they need to be put on a stool and pelted mercilessly with rocks until quite dead. Using hashtags to create the impression that you’re a member of some “proteam” or that your efforts are in some way endorsed? Get up on the stool. Chastising people for keeping fish where the rules allow it? Get onto the stool. Mocking first attempts at flytying? Get onto the stool. Looking down or being disparaging towards users of entry level, cheap or old gear? Get onto the stool. Contemptuously dismissing other opinions? Get onto the stool. Dispensing advice like a sage but not admitting to making mistakes? Get onto the stool. Taking yourself overly seriously? Don’t be shy, jump up on the stool — there are plenty of rocks to go around. When all is said and done, you’re going to be judged by the company that

you keep. If you take your advice from fools you’re likely — and not altogether unkindly — going to be judged a fool. But the way I see it that’s your own business and by now you should know how I feel about things that make you happy. Just be mindful of the nature of expert advice. I’ve seen enough print articles on “Ten indispensable flies for summer streams” being dispensed with by the same writer a year later. Changes in opinion are fundamentally what keep magazines in print. Find me two experts that agree on most stuff most of the time and I’ll eat one of them. Honestly, in the world of flyfishing if you can separate the expert from the egomaniac you’re a giant leap ahead of the game. Oh, and as for my investments, I got three numbers on the Lotto and won my money back. The deposit on the empties from my case of quarts was substantially more than I would have been left with had I invested the same sum in bitcoin — and I got to drink the beer. P.S. The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Nymph Fishermen will be available as soon as a decision is made as to whether it belongs in the sport, hobbies, science, philosophy or personal growth department.

FLYFISHING April 2018 • 9

PLACES

Blue-winged olive from the Bow River.

Dogpound Creek.

By Warwick Hastie

E’VE probably all been a big fish in a little pond at some juncture in our lives, confident that we know what we’re doing when we’re doing it. But what about when we drop into a big pond, a new job, a new direction or a new continent? I think flyfishing, or any angling, puts us in that space frequently because no two days on the water are ever identical. As a result, the learning curve in a new environment can be steep, long or both. The learning curve for me has not just been about adjusting to my new life in Calgary, Canada, but also figuring out the fishing. All things considered, figuring out the fishing is not going to put a roof over my head or bring about world peace, but because in South Africa I was fortunate to have cast a fly in many amazing places for many different species, I wanted to make a connection with the fishing and the environment here in a meaningful way. To most anglers Calgary means one thing — the Bow River. Referred to simply as “The Bow” by locals, it flows invitingly through Calgary, from the mountainous wonders of Banff National Park in the west, through the city, and eastwards across the prairies. The Bow is famous in the flyfishing fraternity for its powerful rainbow trout that are understood to contain some steelhead breeding stock. These rainbows consistently exceed the North American benchmark of 20 inches, and cohabit with similar sized brown trout. The fame of this river, at least in part, makes it intimidating and difficult to fish. My first few trips to The Bow were not encouraging, as I’d set out time and again in search of the legendary 20+ inch fish but ended up feeling overwhelmed, stuck in a cloud of confusion and self-doubt, debating what or where to try next. It seemed to boil down to being in the right place at the right time, which is especially difficult if one doesn’t have the deep pockets needed to hire a guide or drift boat. Fortunately though, this cloud does have a silver lining… 10 • FLYFISHING April 2018

A 16-inch cutthroat from the Elbow River.

Bow R

River.

Jumping Pound Creek.

An 18-inch brown from the Elbow River.

FLYFISHING April 2018 â&#x20AC;¢ 11

Many anglers in Calgary have said,“Well, if The Bow is too tough, try one of the smaller creeks.” Part of this was upsetting because the narcissistic fisherman in me really wanted to be “that” guy, posing with a 6 lb brown trout from The Bow. Nevertheless, my adult brain knew that the odds were better on a smaller stream, so I set off in search of friends, books, web articles and anything else to help me find a good starting point outside of Calgary to wet a line. My first experience with backcountry streams was on the slack waters of the Dogpound Creek, about an hour northeast of Calgary. It’s a deceptive little spring-fed creek, easily walkable and barely 5m across, but with well-vegetated banks and some sections too deep to wade. It was mid-May, the snow had finally gone, and I was glad to be outside flicking out a size 16 caddis pattern with the accurate casts needed to get a decent drift past each undercut. The little caddis drifted cheerfully through some great spots while I focussed on being ready to strike at any careless fish. After a fruitless hour of fishing I stepped out of the water at the tail of a pool to untangle my leader and tippet and contemplate the drizzle that was starting. Then I heard that sound — the gurgling breach of the water’s surface that only a fish can make; a sound that carries perfectly over the sound of the stream itself. I turned to see the very end of the rise, with the tell-tale buttery colours of a brown descending back through the foamy ripples it had left behind. It was tight against an undercut, and between the bank and my position was some timber and an old metal fence post. “Great,” I thought,“typical of a nice brown to pick such a tricky lie.” It’s easy to over-think such a fish and rush to get a cast in, but fortunately my tangled line forced me to watch the fish rise a few more times before I was able to fix a size 16 Parachute Adams to the tippet. One decent drift was all I’d realistically get through that lie, so there was no time for anything too fancy. It took more casts than I’d hoped, but finally the fly landed well above the lie, between the timber and bank, and the brown sipped it down, followed by mild cardiac arrest as it took off towards some sunken trees. My wife had to toss me the net to land this feisty fish once I’d encouraged it into the timber-free pool below. Writing about it now it seems like pretty standard stuff, but I remember feeling exhilarated and relieved to have gotten the monkey off my back. I do know how to catch trout, and I’d caught a decent one at that, on an unfamiliar spring creek. 12 • FLYFISHING April 2018

The rain came in that afternoon, along with a hatch of blue-winged olives, at a perfect juncture for a quick walk back to the car, deep in thought about what had happened, and the rest of the spring and summer season that lay ahead. To a flyfisherman, the creeks and rivers that ultimately drain into the Red Deer River can be considered the northern boundary of Southern Alberta. This area includes the legendary North Raven River and other spring creeks such as the Dogpound Creek, Fallentimber Creek and the Little Red Deer River. These rivers and creeks are typically 5–6m wide, but are known to harbour 6 lb brown trout in hard-to-reach undercut banks, vegetated above with enough bush to gobble up an entire box of flies. Further south are some phenomenal freestone streams such as the Elbow, Highwood, Jumping Pound and Sheep Rivers, to name a few, that drain into the Bow River. These are the most accessible streams from Calgary, with wily cutthroats, rainbows, browns and bull trout as little as 40 minutes’ drive away. Finally, in the south and touching on the northern borders of Idaho and Montana is the Oldman River system, which itself is a renowned rainbow trout fishery. The Crowsnest River enters the Oldman system from the west and is widely considered to epitomise a perfect trout stream: it fishes well with streamers and nymphs, and the hatchmatching dry fly fishing is unmatched in the region. Oh, and it commonly produces trout in excess of 22 inches. Other than how good these streams are, there is little consensus about when the fishing is best. Southern Alberta begins to thaw properly in about June, but with meltwater from the glacial catchments comes rising river levels and generally murky water. As a result most anglers brave the pre-melt of spring for some early season fishing with midge patterns or streamers, or they wait until late June or early July before setting out. I’ve found the spring fishing on both the Crowsnest River and Dogpound Creek to be exceptional, partly because the fish have not yet had time to overfeed on the hatches which predominate in summer. Interestingly, the Bow, Crowsnest and North Raven rivers do not freeze over entirely in winter, and fishing is permitted in certain sections year-round. Of importance too are the warm Chinook winds that blow in from the west and can lift day time temperatures from –20°C to +5°C even in mid-winter, making a day outside a welcome break from being stuck indoors. I put this to the test in January 2017 and got my first ever fish in Alberta

The Bow River just south of Calgary in the spring.

on an egg pattern drifted slow and deep. Other anglers focus on swinging big streamers during the winter and spring months, and they certainly catch some big fish. Once summer is in full swing and water levels drop, the streams come alive with stoneflies, caddis and pale morning dun hatches in the afternoons. On the Crowsnest, the salmonfly hatch at the end of May is so renowned that many anglers pencil in leave from work around this time. I was fortunate to fish “The Crow” around this time in 2017, and did some damage with a weighted stonefly nymph. The rainbows there take softly and barely make their presence felt until they realise they’ve been hooked. It’s best to have your line clear and be ready to mobilise when they do! Once July rolls around most rivers are in a state of lowflow resulting in the fishing being something of a mixed bag, and it remains as such until the end of September. The low and relatively warm water can put fish down, but if one gets on the water at the right time, powerful rainbows will cartwheel out of the water to eat big bushy dries (although many will prefer a nymph fished below the dry). On the backcountry streams it is best to walk past any water that looks too skinny, staying focussed on pools, outturned banks, undercut banks and the deep shoulders of riffles that dump into deeper pools. This was highlighted to me on the Elbow River, about 45 minutes southwest of Calgary. The Elbow is a fast, clear and cold freestone stream inhabited by rainbows, cutthroats, browns, bull trout and whitefish. It’s hard to beat as a neophyte stream, given that it’s possible to take trout species on dries and learn about nymphing with the typically compliant whitefish. The rainbows are noticeably reluctant to feed, which is not that bothersome because the cutthroats seldom refuse a size 8 or 10 stimulator bumbling down the fast water that empties into well-oxygenated pools below. One pool on the Elbow that is burned into my memory sits slightly outside the main stream, formed by some large collapsed trees and a bed of boulders. It wasn’t more than 2m wide and 4m long, but was seriously deep. “Good spot,” I thought, as I pitched a big stimulator into the pool. Within seconds I watched a very large, dark shape make for the surface and perform a textbook roll as it took the fly — but I just froze. I didn’t even retrieve or strike, I was too captivated by the largest cutthroat I’ve yet laid eyes on happily accept my offering. I fish that pool every time I go back, but I haven’t seen that fish again.

Bow River in January.

Rainbow from the Crownsnest River. FLYFISHING April 2018 • 13

Brown from Dogpound Creek.

An 18-inch Bow River rainbow trout.

Subsequently I’ve been able to tie into the odd 16- to 18-inch brown or cutthroat on the Elbow River, mainly on stimulators, although the browns prefer a size 16 or 18 Pheasant Tail Nymph fished below the dry, referred to as the “hopper dropper” in this part of the world. Some of the cutthroats are actually “cutbows”, a rainbow-cutthroat hybrid that has the cutthroat’s characteristic slash of orange on the lower jaw and is just as pretty as each of the individual species. You may wonder if I gave up on the Bow River. The short answer is nearly, not just because it’s tough going, but also because of the fantastic fishing on the streams outside Calgary. My first few fish on The Bow, unusually, were some small but beautiful brown trout caught on golden stonefly nymphs in early spring. I took more trips to the river as the water levels dropped and the watershed moment finally came on a day when I was walking the river without a rod. I’d walked part of this section of Fish Creek Provincial Park before, but further downstream than I’d previously been was a section of deep runs punctuated with riffles, weed beds wafting in the current and decent undercut banks. There were quite a few fish rising and moving along the banks, even though it was nearly midday.

16 • FLYFISHING April 2018

I had to wait a week to return to this section with a rod, but the wait was worth it. Early in the morning the water felt freezing, even in waders, but the feeling of cold dissipated with each rising fish I spotted. For once I silenced the thought of matching the hatch as that had failed too many times, and I chose instead to fish a size 16 PTN about 1 metre below a small indicator. For the first time I felt in tune with this river and its inhabitants, catching numerous small browns and rainbows, punctuated by the odd 18-inch fish that tore off downstream, many of them not making it to the net. By the end of that day my flies were almost destroyed, along with my nerve endings, evidence of a quality day of fishing. Since then I’ve had some more days like that on The Bow — getting a reel stripped by a large rainbow, or slogging away to bring a massive brown to the net. At the end of each of these days I smile and think about how lucky I am to be able to fish this famed river so frequently, and to know that I’ve climbed maybe a few steps up the learning curve. Most importantly though, is that I’m able to put the Bow River into perspective for myself — and others too perhaps. It is not the whole story of fishing here in Calgary, but instead it bookends a lifetime of flyfishing opportunities in Southern Alberta.

FLYFISHING April 2018 â&#x20AC;¢ 17

PLACES

MAKING THE MOST OF THIS TOP CLASS VENUE FLYFISHING April 2018 â&#x20AC;¢ 19

By John Gavin

OST of my day is filled with thoughts of flyfishing — the trips I want to make to those bucketlist venues, a new stretch of water that I need to still visit, new fly ideas that pop up because of some strange colour yarn I saw at a haberdashery shop ... the list goes on. Although my mind is filled with a variety of thoughts, one thought pops up every single day — sometimes two or three times a day. That’s the thought of one of my favourite haunts to catch yellowfish — Lilydale Lodge near Kimberley. Why exactly this venue has such a draw on my soul I cannot say, but it feels like a longing to be home, that feeling you get when your soul is at rest and you’re surrounded by family. It 20 • FLYFISHING April 2018

may be a strange thing to say about a river, but after many years of fishing this venue that is exactly what it feels like. I can’t remember the exact date I first fished it, but I have been frequenting the waters there for at least the past 17 years. So, what makes this such an awesome venue? Constant f lows and almost gin-clear waters for much of the year, coupled with stunning views and a river of endless riff les, rapids, rockstrewn banks and pools holding some decent size smallmouth- and largemouth yellowfish. The river is fed by a canal system that originates at the Vanderkloof Dam. The canal system splits into many smaller canals that bring water to the area around Jacobsdal, and these canals eventually empty into the Riet River

just outside Jacobsdal. This is what feeds the Riet River, and although the smaller canals are often not running, there is a main canal that always carries water and thus Lilydale always has flow. THE RIVER There are six main areas that are fished on this stretch of river. Grootbek: This is quite a large pool at the upper end of the lodge property that is flanked by reeds on either side of its banks. Access is down a steep, rocky road and the river here can only be fished by boat or float tube. In most places the river bed is solid, f lat bedrock and often fish can be seen cruising over these areas. There is good structure around with fallen trees and rocky outcrops that make this a very good area for targeting

John Gavin with two beautiful Lilydale yellows and (opposite) another fat smallmouth yellow.

largies, as the name “grootbek” suggests. There is only one rapid on the upper end of the section that sometimes holds some good smallies. Lodge Pool: This is the area in front of Lilydale Lodge itself and stretches from the bottom end of Grootbek to just below the last chalets. The upper part of this section is very rocky and water cascades down into deepish pools and fast runs where it then enters the bigger pool of the section. The bigger pool then tapers through a reeded channel to form another pool just below, and that’s where you’ll find some of the best fish in this stretch. Below this second pool is a very nice rapid for some Czech-nymphing. Kleinbek: This area can be reached by walking downstream of the lodge section, but the banks are lined with

boulders and thorn trees and bushes that makes the walk quite tough but doable. The other option is to take the 2km drive from the lodge to Kleinbek. There you will find big, deep pools linked by faster rapid waters. It’s not a large fishing area, but the main pool has produced some good smallies and largies. The rapids on the bottom end of the main pool fish well, but due to brilliant clarity and the shallowness of the rapids the fish can very easily spook if you are not super stealthy. Big Bend: Just a short drive down from Kleinbek, where the small road running parallel with the river ends, you’ll find Big Bend. When you get out of your vehicle there you are immediately aware of the roar of the water. There is a big rapid with a steep gradient that plunges into a deep pool that

churns and makes an almost 90 degree bend and then breaks down into a nice set of small rapids that are great for nymphing. This section is very hit-andmiss — it’s either very good or produces very little. Kareebos: Between the lower part of Big Bend and De Kranz lies this tough section. Boulders cover almost every inch of the river bed around here and pools are flanked with thick reed bushes. There are, however, some spots that you are able to access and they are well worth the effort as they hold some really big fish. De Kranz: A 5.6km drive from the lodge down a rough, rocky trail takes you to the magnificent De Kranz. Flanked on the opposite bank by towering rocky cliffs, this beat has it all — deep pools, shallow pools, an abunFLYFISHING April 2018 • 21

Anglers walking down the road to De Kranz. Only high clearance vehicles will manage the steep, rocky section. It’s worth the trouble, though because De Kranz beat (right) is very productive and offers everything from deep pools to rapids (far right).

dance of rapids and riff les and big schools of fish. In my experience it has produced some of the best fish in the area as well as some of the biggest largies. The variety here is endless and whether you want to cast a dr y or nymph or maybe even strip a damsel pattern through the water, this is the section that allows for it all. THE APPROACH Over the years I have learned where fish hold at Lilydale and how their body language tell you a lot about their feeding habits. I find most people walk straight to the water’s edge and start casting into a likely pool, not realising

that very often fish were lying close up on the bank, and if you stopped to observe properly you would see them feeding amongst the rocks literally at your feet. I always scan the water from a distance, starting as close to me as I can and then looking towards the other parts of the water. In places where fish were on the edges and in the very shallow sections of the river I found them very keen to take a fly; those fish don’t hesitate to pick up a dr y landed near them. Usually the larger schools of fish congregated in slightly deeper waters are less likely to take your fly. My strategy is generally to find the

loners in the river or a group of at most three to four fish together. I have proven numerous times that these are the fish you’re most likely to catch and that casting to larger schools can often be a futile and frustrating exercise. Another thing that you notice with these fish is that once they have spotted you they don’t always dart away for cover but merely continue about their business — all the while ignoring any offering you might provide. These fish are the ones that always get the newbies to stand for hours hoping to get one to take. The golden rule is if he does not take your offering after maybe five casts, then move on and try

John Gavin with a largemouth yellow caught on Kleinbek beat.

Grootbek beat is a large pool at the upper en some beautiful largemouth yellows like this 22 • FLYFISHING April 2018

a new section. Do not spend too much time changing flies and thinking that will get them to take. Yes, a change of fly can work if you go from a dry to a small nymph or streamer, but the likelihood that they will take something else after a few refusals is not great. It all comes down to moving around — stealthily that is — and finding the right fish. That is one big key to catching them in good numbers. The John Gavin’s incredible water favourite fly clarity usually for Lilydale. means that once you catch a fish in

a section that area is spooked for some time, but you can always return there a while later and have success again. THE FLIES I am not a technical fisherman when it comes to Lilydale in that I first walk to the water to read the conditions and then decide on a fly. Nowadays I always put on a dry fly and then start my walk. I have found over the years that the technique or fly used is not as important as finding the right fish to catch. Even when

the water is slightly murkier I find there is enough water to offer good dry fly fishing. I’m not saying throw a size 4 Woolly Bugger or something, but what I mean by saying that the fly does not matter that much is that when it comes to dries, for instance, although I have a favourite (a yellow Humpy), basic patterns like Adams, DDD, Goddard Caddis and Elk Hair Caddis all do well. I have not often fished beetles there but the times I did I found the fish less responsive to them. Hoppers, however, do work very well. Natural mayfly and even caddis patterns also work beter than say the normal orange beaded flies

nd of the lodge property and produces s one (right) caught by Johan Marais. FLYFISHING April 2018 • 23

There’s a walkway leading down from the lodge and chalets to Lodge Pool which offers some lovely pools and rapids.

so often used in the Vaal. I have used black cactus patterns, damsels and GRHE patterns in the past to fish that were holding slightly deeper and did not want to come up to the dry fly, but generally the water is shallow enough for the fish to see the dry and rise to it. This holds true for the other sections of river mentioned above too. Only once visibility is such that I really cannot see any fish in the shallows or upper water columns then I will resort to nymphing this water. I believe many people overthink Lilydale as it is not a typical Vaal or Orange River nymphing type water but rather a Sterkies in flowing form. The fact that you see the fish and see how they refuse your f lies can make any sane person question his abilities when all it really comes down to is reading the behaviour and knowing which fish will take what offering. Then you need to know how to position yourself so that you do not spook the fish either by them seeing you or you casting your very visible fly-line directly in their line of sight One negative about Lilydale is the abundance of river grass, especially in drought times like we have experienced lately. Many of the big pools are choked up with the grass which is less than ideal for fishermen. I have, however, come to realise that the grass is a very good form of protection for the fish and is filled with food sources for them to feed on. It also offers us some competition in landing a fish in these areas as they usually dart straight for this cover and your tippet size and knot strengths are tested to the max with these well conditioned, fat and fast fish. ACCOMMODATION The park has changed hands a few 24 • FLYFISHING April 2018

times in the recent past and of late it has been taken over by SANParks and forms park of Mokala National Park. I can confirm that SANParks are doing a fine job with the park. The number of tourists has increased significantly due to the huge array of wildlife that is now found in the park and there are great accommodation options from camping to chalets and even a treehouse. Despite the great accommodation options Lilydale Lodge itself remains the better option for fishermen as it sits high on the banks of the river with a pathway from the lodge down to the water. Fully equipped for self-catering with aircons and bedding, these units each have their own braai area and the bigger units each have a big bonfire pit. ESSENTIAL GEAR Water, water, water. If you forget anything in this harsh area do not forget the fluids, and loads of it. With summer temperatures easily reaching 45°C

along the river bank with its black shinny rocks you will quickly find yourself consuming way more fluid than you might anticipate, and in many cases you end up quite far from the vehicle where you have supplies and dehydration is a real threat. You must also have a hat and I would recommend a buff too; during the heat of the day it is refreshing to dip the buff in the water and place it around your neck to cool down. A good pair of wading boots or even hiking boots with good ankle support is also a must as you will be clambering over quite a lot of rocks and boulders along the river side. Snakes are a reality although in all the time I have fished there I have only come face to face with three or so but if you want to be safe then a pair of gaiters will not be overkill. With all the rocks and suitable hiding places it’s possible you’ll end up on the wrong end of one of them. Keep your eyes peeled and be aware that they can be there. As consistant as Lilydale can be, choosing the right time of year to go is essential. In the last few years the start of the Lilydale season has moved up from the years when August produced well. Nowadays October seems to be the magical month when it really starts picking up and the season runs to around the end of April, all depending on the arrival of early winter fronts and rain. All told, this venue is certainly one to add to your fishing bucket list. It offers one of our favourite indigenous species in an unbelievable setting with incredible fishing conditions. And in the end, even if the fishing is not what you expected, the park and all it offers will be worth the trip.

THE

BIG FISH CATCH AND RELEASE

COMPETITION THIS ISSUEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S WINNER DEVAN LAGENDYK - KOB

A friend and I were fishing Swartkops River in Port Elizabeth in January. It was midmorning when I decided to fish a weighted bucktail baitfish fly in deeper water. On my fifth cast I had an incredibly hard bite on my fly. My initial thought was that I had foul-hooked a diamond ray as they frequent the area. With the foul-hooked diamond in mind, I fought the fish very hard. I was very surprised when a big kob surfaced about ten minutes later. Needless to say, I fought the fish very gently for the last five minutes. The kob measured 87cm which gave a converted weight of 7kg. It was subsequently tagged and safely released. Congratulations, Devan. Please contact Xplorer Fly Fishing on (031) 564-7368, or e-mail <jandi@netactive.co.za> to arrange collection or delivery of your prize.

WIN T-50 ROD A

WORTH R5000

In EACH ACH ISSUE OF FLYFISHING MAGAZINE, Xplorer will be giving away a oice (retail value is R5000) to one lucky angler wh T-50 rod of your choice who er BIG FISH competition. has submitted an entry to the Xplorer

Submit a photograph and short story of a big fish you successfully caught and released. Include your name, address, contact number, email address together with your photo of the fish, itsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; weight and length, where and when it was caught and released. Please include details of the Rod, reel, line and fly used. The fish must have been caught within 12 months of the submission date. Send your entries to: XPLORER BIG FISH PO Box 20545, Durban North, 4016 Alternatively, entries can be e-mailed to angler@mags.co.za. Clearly mark your mail XPLORER BIG FISH together with the above information. If submitted digitally, photographs MUST be in highresolution jpeg format. This requirement is unconditional.

BACK TO BASICS

By Peter Brigg

LY-TYING is a wonderful and rewarding pastime that can be enjoyed by anyone who has the interest and a little patience. Be warned that it can be addictive, but unlike certain harmful substances that have a similar effect, this one is definitely worth the trip. Fly-tying can be done simply to fill your fly-box with enough flies for your own use — and some for those flyfisher friends who are inclined to raid your fly-box from time to time — or it can be an art form in its own right. This five-part series will hopefully start you off on the right track and help you learn some of the basic techniques needed for tying your own flies. Do not be discouraged by the odd failure, for I’m sure as you progress there will be a few frustrating moments. It is from these failures that you will learn and gain the experience needed to become a proficient fly-tyer. Probably the most rewarding aspect of all in pursuing this pastime is the development of your own patterns. The high point will be the day you deceive that unsuspecting fish with one of your own creations.

26 • FLYFISHING April 2018

Be creative in your designs; experiment and make modifications which you believe will improve the fly’s success. Use your powers of observation while fishing to take note of the creatures you will be imitating — size, form and colour, where they occur and how they move. You can then apply this to the design of the pattern and, ultimately, to how you present and fish the fly. I will elaborate on this later in the series. The internet provides access to thousands of websites, videos and the like on any and every conceivable aspect of fly-tying, and that can be very useful. However, I would still recommend that any beginner get involved with a local flytying club. The face to face interaction and sharing of experience and knowledge with likeminded people, will be invaluable in your journey on many levels. THE FLY-TYING KIT When starting out you should decide, firstly, what you can afford to spend and, secondly — with the assistance of your local tackle dealer — maximise this amount on the right equipment and materials. Whilst a number of the kits offered for sale to the beginner might at first appear to be attractive, their practicality in the longer term can often be questioned. My advice, based on many years of experience, is to make a start by selecting a few standard materials to satisfy the initial learning period. These materials should be suitable to produce a range of basic flies that will help you master the various tying techniques. Rather spend a little more on the vice and important tools that will serve you well in the longer term. I have so often seen new fly-tyers wanting to upgrade their vices after only a few months of use. The variety of specialist gadgets can be acquired as you progress and as their use becomes necessary. The same applies to the vast array of materials, and collecting them over a period of time is part of the fun. The initial outlay should therefore include a good quality vice, scissors, bobbin holder, hackle pliers and deer hair stacker, as well as a selection of fly-tying materials such as: • a few spools of tying thread • a small selection of hook types and sizes • lead wire for weighting flies • copper wire for ribbing • brass and tungsten beads • chenille for bodies and eyes • a selection of dubbing materials • peacock herl • a patch of natural deer hair • partridge breast feathers • marabou feathers • hackle feathers • krystal flash or flashabou • head cement for finishing the fly TOOLS OF THE TRADE The Vice It is recommended that you buy the best vice you can afford. This is one piece of equipment that should last you a long time. The problem with the really cheap vices is that they are often made of poor quality steel and, apart from rusting easily, do not do the job that is expected of them — and that is to hold the hook securely during the tying process. Bearing this in mind, I suggest you consult your local tackle dealer who will assist in the choice of a vice within your budget, but also one that will serve you well. Some vices provide for a useful rotary action in certain application. Whilst this is useful, it is not absolutely essential. Therefore, select a vice to suit your particular requirements. Make sure that it has a good, solid table clamp or base and that the jaws, when tightened, do not allow for any movement of the hook.

Scissors Here again it is recommended that you buy a good quality pair of scissors, rather than relying on the cheap models often offered for sale. Select a pair that has fine points; this helps when trimming and finishing neatly. Treat them well by not using them to cut harder materials such as wire and lead; rather use an old pair for this purpose. The Bobbin Holder Although an essential tool, you need not use one of the expensive types. Most bobbin holders on the market will do the job of holding the reel of tying thread and dispensing the thread smoothly as required. When you get around to tying small flies which require very fine thread, bobbin holders with ceramic inserts at the mouth of the tube are better. They provide a smoother operation and there’s less chance of thread breakage. Once the reel is secured between the two arms of the bobbin, as shown in the sketch below pass the thread through the tube and pull out about a 10cm length. The easiest way of doing this is by using a threading tool as shown below. Another way, and one used by many tyers, is to push the end of the thread into the base of the tube, provide a short length of slack and then suck firmly on the spout end. The thread will be pulled through in this way. This is just one of the many tricks you will learn as you go along. Experience will add many more.

Hackle Pliers This tool does what its name implies — it holds the tip of the hackle feather to enable you to wind it around the hook in various ways which will be described later. One frustrating aspect often experienced by beginner flytyers is the breaking off of the feather whilst using this tool. To overcome this you need to apply just the right tension, something which is only learnt through trial and error. In this section I have covered the basic tools that are considered essential to begin with. I have no doubt that you will eventually want to extend your tool and material collection as you become more adventurous and undertake more complicated and specialised tying procedures, but be patient; get the fundamentals right and the rest will come in time. FLYFISHING April 2018 • 27

Nymph

Shrimp/emerger

Dry Eye Shank Long shank/streamer/lure Gape Business end

Bend

Barb

Hooks The diagram above is designed to help with a basic understanding of some of the hook types that will be used for various patterns. It also shows the terms used for the various parts of the hook. Linked to this are the respective sections of the fly. You will encounter these terms in the descriptions and fly recipes, so it is important to have an understanding of the commonly used words. TYPES OF FLIES AND WHAT THEY IMITATE The patterns you need to concern yourself with initially will cover nymphs, dry flies and streamers. Most flies are intended to imitate insects, either aquatic or terrestrial, at a particu-

lar stage of their life cycle. The wet flies and nymphs represent the organisms that we find below the surface of the water in our rivers and stilwaters. The dry flies — which are designed to float on the surface or in the surface film — imitate the flying insects that emerge from their underwater nymph, larva or emerger stage. This adult stage is the shortest period in the insect’s life when mating and laying of eggs takes place, and then sudden death as it completes its life cycle. Some of the dry fly patterns are also designed to imitate terrestrial insects such as locusts, beetles, spiders and ants which get blown onto the water.

Damsel fly nymph

Damsel fly

Dragon fly nymph Midge pupa

Midge larva Cased-caddis Midge

Cased/sedge

Mayfly

Blood worm 28 • FLYFISHING April 2018

Head Wings Wing case Thorax Legs Abdomen Gills

Tail

Streamers are attractor patterns which are usually used to trigger the natural predatory aggression of the target species. Having said that, streamers are also used, at appropriate times, to imitate small fish, frogs and tadpoles. The diagram on the opposite page shows a small selection of the insects that form a part of the fish’s diet. These are linked to the typical flies we tie in an attempt to imitate the insect in its natural form, at various stages during its life cycle. It is also important to understand the anatomical sections that make up the insects, as these will often be referred to in the fly recipes. In the sketch above I have shown just two examples that cover most of the parts of the insects you will encounter whilst learning the basics. These are distinctive and familiar features that are needed in the fly design to stimulate an interest and, hopefully, trigger a response by the fish. PREPARATION AND TECHNIQUES This section deals with the steps you need to take in preparing the hook for dressing, and also some of the basic techniques needed for attaching the materials. Step 1: Secure the hook firmly with the shank parallel to the table-top and firmly in the jaws of the vice. A good test is to use your fingernail to clip the eye of the hook. If it is firmly secured it will have a ring similar to that of a musical tuning fork. Do not over-tighten the vice jaws, and be careful also of flexing or bending the shank of the hook as you dress it, as this could weaken the metal and perhaps spoil your chances of netting that trophy fish. If the dressing requires extra tension, support the hook shank between the thumb and index finger of your left hand (if you’re right-handed) to prevent too

much movement up and down as you wind on the material. This applies in particular to the longer-shanked hooks and those made of fine wire. Step 2: The next step is to dress the shank of the hook with tying thread. Start this process by pulling a 10 to 15cm length of tying thread off the bobbin, then making the first turn over the shank as shown in the sketch below, left. Trap the first wrap of the tag-end (being held in your left hand) by taking a few wraps of thread around the shank. Now wind in touching turns from immediately behind the eye towards the bend of the hook. Step 3: In order to achieve a neat, well-dressed hook, hold the tag-end of the tying thread up above the shank at a 60 degree angle and make each turn of thread against this. As you tighten each turn it will naturally slide down onto the shank touching the previous wrap. See the sketch below. Practise each of these steps a few times before starting your first fly.

The dressing should finish opposite the barb of the hook. Do not take the thread beyond this point onto the bend of the hook as this can result in the wraps slipping down. The correct finishing position of the dressing is also important for ensuring correct proportions. It is at this point that you will begin the tying process, working back towards the eye as you add the materials and build up the form of the fly. The purpose of using thread for dressing the hook is to prevent the materials from slipping on the metal surface of the shank as they are tied in. The only exception is when you are purposely spinning deer hair, such as in the DDD dry fly, but I’ll discuss that further in the next issue. Until then, keep practising. FLYFISHING April 2018 • 29

30 â&#x20AC;¢ FLYFISHING April 2018

FLY-TYING

SIMPLE IS

By Gordon van der Spuy

DON’T know if it’s an age thing or what, but the older I get the more I find myself avoiding flies which are overly complex or complicated to tie. Of course this doesn’t extend to tying salmon flies which is an art form not merely a means to an end — different ballgame. Look, I’m not saying I’m old per se, because frankly I can run as hard as any of the young dogs can. What I am saying is that time has taught me a few things. The younger version of myself would spend plenty of time tying pretty f lies with wally wings and the like. Now I just ask myself:Why? Why would I want to tie a fly with a wally wing. Yes, they look pretty, but they’re inclined to twist the finer tippets I like to fish and they don’t exactly get top marks in the durability department. One small trout with razor sharp teeth is all it takes to render those wally wings toast. I’m also not convinced they give me an added advantage over the more standard stuff that I fish. A CDC wing makes far more sense to me; it’s translucent, highly visible, highly bouyant and presents as soft as an angel’s kiss. Oh, and did I mention they’re as easy as pie to slap onto that hook too? That makes sense to me — the stuff is just user-friendly on a host of levels. This makes me think of one of Pascal Cognard’s Tabanas flies. Pascal is

Sexy EASY-TO-TIE FLIES THAT WORK commonly referred to as “The Heron” in flyfishing circles because he is somewhat of a trout whisperer. Take a peek into his fly-box though and you’ll get the skrik of your life. The flies in there give you the distinct impression that they’re tied by some ten-year-old kid. That said, he catches fish on those things and will probably outfish anyone who actually has the guts to challenge him to a fish off. Pascal ties those flies to perform or fish in the way he wants

A Royal Wulff tied with Jack Russel fur; apparently it’s perfect for wings, but they’re cumbersome flies to tie.

them to. He believes in them and hence, klaps fish on them; they are purpose-tied flies. My pal Billy ties the most unconventional flies you’ve ever seen and he really smaaks Royal Wulffs. “Best fly I’ve ever used for smallscale yellows,” he tells me. “Leonard also didn’t believe me but then I took him to my spot in Phalaborwa. Papa het ons daai geles geroer op Royal Wulffs!” I’ve never really been a fan of Royal Wulffs but after a few glasses of Billy’s red wine I was happily wrapping away at them. Admittedly they’re damn pretty, but they’re cumbersome to tie. Intoxication helps, I might add. That said, they do make sense. Think about it — you have a body consisting of two separated segments of peacock herl with a thin red waist in the middle. Red is a great trigger and peacock herl is just magic stuff. That thing screams ant. The wings are a pain to tie but are highly visible in the drift. Billy uses hair from his dog, Malley. “Jack Russels have lekker hair for wings on Royal Wulffs,” he tells me. FLYFISHING April 2018 • 31

Apparently Billy ran out of calf body hair one day whilst tying his beloved Royal Wulffs and Malley was in close proximity. This got Billy thinking and one thing led to another. Malley is now Billy’s prime source of winging material for Royal Wulffs and sports a bald patch on the side of her neck whenever Billy is filling up flyboxes. Belief in something is a very powerful thing. It is possible to tie an ugly fly, even a downright badly tied fly, that utterly hoovers fish. Conversely, it is also possible to produce a beautiful, welltied fly that hoovers fish. Any fly that fulfils the purpose it was built for and that instills belief in its creator/user is a winner, regardless of what it may look like. I recently had to tie up a large quantity of tiny CDC Klinkhamers to use on a fishing trip I was hosting on the Bokong River in Lesotho. “Pack in tiny black CDC Klinkhamers,” I was advised by head guide Johann du Preez. “The fish lock onto tiny midges in the evenings and they won’t take anything else.” Johann wasn’t the only person who had told me that; Ed Truter had mentioned something similar. “Ja boet, pack in tiny black things for the evenings, #18s will be lekker but 20s will be even better. I’m kak with that sort of thing but you’ll probably klap it! Ja, pack ’em in!” And so I tied those small klinks. They ended up becoming my go to flies. I didn’t only use them during hatches either, I used them whenever I found fish that were difficult. If fish wouldn’t eat my hopper or ant I would chuck a mini klink at them. The cool

32 • FLYFISHING April 2018

A tiny, simple, sexy Klinkhamer — super easy to tie and very effective. thing about that tiny klink is that it’s easy peasy to tie and is also highly visible — a perfect example of a simple, winning fly. Oh, and it happens to look sexy too. It’s a simple, good looking fly. I’ve also started tying my hoppers differently. My current hopper (opposite) can be tied in under five minutes and requires three different materials — four if you want to get fancy. It’s economical from a time and money perspective. Most importantly, fish like it. I used to tie hoppers way more complex — they worked, but they took too much time to manufacture. I’m also not that sure that fish care about whether the legs are knotted or not. Based on current “research” done by testing the fly on the fish, I don’t think it makes much of a difference, if any. Why spend 30 minutes tying a hopper when a five minute jobby will do? Simplicity works, and nowadays I find myself trying to simplify flies. I try to subtract as much unnecessary stuff

as possible without affecting the pattern’s effectivity. You’ll be surprised how little you actually need; my whole fly-box has gone on diet. It’s funny how cyclical life is. I started out tying simple flies but eventually I progressed to the point where I could create weird and wonderful things at the vice. I was tying flies which took ages to tie and which looked fantastic, or so I thought, only to realise years later that simple works wonders. Trout are not rocket scientists. Wolf Avni once told me:“Tie flies which fish like. What you think is cool and what a fish thinks is cool is not necessarily the same thing.” I thought he was speaking rubbish at the time, but 20 years later I’m inclined to agree with him. My most effective trout pattern this season was a fly which I initially almost cut up after tying. It’s certainly not much of a looker. It consists of 4-6 fibres of Coq de Leon for a tail, a black thread body, a wing of fine natural deer hair and a CDC parachute “hackle”. That thing out-fished all my other flies this season in the Western Cape. Initially I didn’t have much belief in it, but once I started using it I realised how good it was. And to think, I almost cut it up at the vice! I find myself getting more patient as I mellow with age. In the past I wouldn’t have given that fly a second lease on life, but I’m way more sympathetic to kak looking flies nowadays. I’ve come to realise that even a simple, bland looking fly can catch a fish. More often than not they end up out-fishing everything else, hence my new-found sympathy towards them! It’s just sad it took over 20 years for me to figure this out.

TYING THE EASY PEASY HOPPER 1.

10.

1. Tie in thin variegated rubber as feelers. 2. Run thread down to the end of the hook shank; I’ve used Danvilles 6/0. 3. Cut an inverted V-shape into a strip of foam and singe quickly with a lighter to round off edges. Use your fingers to shape it. 4. With a flat thread tie in the foam as shown. I’ve used larva lace foam but any closed cell foam will also work. 5. Carry on creating body segments like this until you’re left with about a third of the hook shank. 6. Tie in golden pheasant fibres as an underwing. This colour acts as a trigger. 7. Tie klipspringer fibres on top of this. 8. Fold the remaining piece of foam strip over this and tie in. 9. Tie in rubber legs on either side. 10. Trim off excess foam and apply head cement to all thread parts on the fly, note the bottom view and profile created. FLYFISHING April 2018 • 33

PEOPLE

A MULTI-FACETED MAN OF TALENT

34 â&#x20AC;¢ FLYFISHING April 2018

FLYFISHING April 2018 â&#x20AC;¢ 35

by Anglerfish

FIRST came across the name of Gavin Erwin when I attended the 2010 Wild Trout Association Festival in the Eastern Cape village of Rhodes, where a most unusual print of a rainbow cockfish, in what appeared to be an electrical storm on a bed of pebbles, struck my eye and captured my fancy. But alas, it was not to be, and sadly my bids on the piece at the event’s fund-raiser auction were topped each and every time. That being said, I know where it now resides, so I may yet put together a SWAT Team to go and “rescue” it. (I hope you aren’t reading this Mark.) Fast-forward to 2014 and next time I saw mention of Gavin was through the birth of the Vagabond Fly Fishing Lifestyle website, with Gavin as their first local artist featured in 2015. Gavin says that he was “born with a fishing rod in one hand and a pencil in the other”. His father, an avid angler himself, exposed Gavin and his two brothers to the outdoors and fishing waters from an early age. Many weekends and holidays were spent camping with his family, from which he learnt how to appreciate and respect nature. He recalls: “I became obsessed with fish and fishing as soon as I could hold a rod. I started tying my own f lies when I was about six years old, using hair I cut from our pet dog which was less than happy with her numerous bald patches. I painted my first fish at the age of 13.” These two passions grew, and after leaving school Gavin decided that rather than entering the traditional working world, he would try to forge a

36 • FLYFISHING April 2018

career out of his two favourite hobbies. He’s now merged the two, thus creating the passion that is now Fish ART — catching fish and painting them and anything else fish related. With the recent spate of attention his work has received, one could be forgiven for thinking that Gavin’s art has only just burst onto the scene. In reality Gavin has been tirelessly laying a foundation over the last decade, working hard to improve his skills across a spectrum of styles and media, right from oils on canvas to sharpies (koki) on paper. The recent notice his artwork has received is a direct result of this groundwork, and Gavin now finds his art is getting more and more popular, not only locally, but also around the world. He has received commissions

from as far afield as the United States and Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia, to the point where he is struggling to keep up with demand. Gavin is particularly fond of species commissions, as there are no limitations on what fish species is next on the request list, and he loves the challenge of capturing the character of each and every one. His line art is also particularly sought after and a recent commission saw him submit designs for his artwork to appear on the side of a reel. Think artistic creativity with a fish running off it — who could say no to that? The dynamic artist has even had a number of requests for his artwork to be used as the basis for tattoos, and a tigerfish illustration recently found its way onto local fly angler Richard Simpkin’s calf! I finally got to meet Gavin and his lovely fiancée, Mickey, at the Natal Fly Fishers Club fund-raising gala dinner in May last year, when he successfully bid on an accommodation and guided river fishing voucher that my wife and I had sponsored. It was a fantastically wellattended busy evening, so our post bid discussion about the “when” was brief: “February, March and April are about the best three months to come and fish the Midlands rivers,” I told Gavin. “By then the winds have abated, the summer rains are pretty much done, and the rivers are fining off nicely. All this, along with a crisp autumnal air, makes it a special time to be on the river.” As the saying goes, “The best laid plans of mice and men oft go awry,” and it was a mid-January when I received a cryptic Facebook message from Gavin: “Looking forward to seeing you on Friday and fishing with you this weekend.” There was no enquiry as to how

the rivers were looking or having a peek into the crystal ball for a gander at the weekend’s weather. Add into the mix the fact that I had guided some ten days before and the river was low and crystal and tough going. We’d spooked a couple of fish and had a couple of onoffs, but that had been it. Many river anglers are drawn to the KZN Midlands to sample the country’s two premier wild spawn brown trout streams, The Mooi and The Bushman’s, so here I was expecting the worst for a “showcase” day. But that is Gavin, as I was about to discover. The term “off the cuff” is about as close a descriptor as you can get for the man! I chose to take Gavin to the upper Bushman’s River as you won’t find a more scenic piece of wild brown trout water within easy access of Nottingham Road Village. On the way there I discovered that Gavin had in fact visited the Midlands some years back with the aim of bagging himself a brown trout, but was unsuccessful on that occasion. So it was with a somewhat nervous anticipation that I headed out to Giant’s Castle Reser ve, the source of the Bushman’s River. We tackled up in the reserve’s comfortable day visitor’s park, using the concrete table and benches to sort out the tackle for the day ahead. I wonder what stories they could tell of the gen-

erations of fly anglers that preceded us. My usual prescription for these crystal clean upper waters is for the dry fly. This will be no surprise to anyone whohas fished with me. However, as I reached into my box to offer up my faithful Para RAB emerger, I was pleasantly surprised when Gavin declined my offer in favour of fishing one of his own flies. Now here’s an angler with confidence in his own work, I thought. Maximum points to you, sir! On the path down to the river one is able to survey the river from on high. Looking again at the low water conditions below, I opted to head a couple hundred metres downstream from the usual start at the footbridge in order to find some deeper pools offering better holding water in these conditions. A wee jaunt through the “Elephant Grass” ensued — you wouldn’t see an elephant standing right next to you in that grass!. We eventually hit the stream below a likely looking run. Gavin politely enquired about the strategy, and I briefly pointed out the run and potential lies, ending with the all important tenet of river fishing: “Follow the bubble line.” As a guide, one is never sure of the calibre of the angler one will be dealing

with for the day until you get streamside; those initial casts usually say it all. It turns out, however, that Gavin is an accomplished angler on both conventional and fly, but we will make no further mention of “The Dark Side” in this illustrious magazine. I can report that my guide duties (such as they are) were done and dusted within the first five minutes on stream. From Gavin’s opening casts, I could see it was game on from the get go. As expected in these conditions, the fish were somewhat slow in coming with a couple of likely looking runs yielding no interest from Gavin’s perfect presentations. Perseverance is king, though, and the first fish, a beautifully coloured 10-incher, came to hand just a run or two further along. Thankfully as we moved upstream in the course of the morning, the fish activity increased and I was pleased to see Gavin’s f ly being assailed by a plethora of fish at the smaller end of the scale — just a quick flash of colour followed by a showy slash at the dry, and gone again. It was a sure sign that there had been a good spawn last year, something we have missed in the last couple of seasons under the drought. After a number of such instances, but attuned to my penchant for fishing the dry fly (and for those that know me only the dry fly!) Gavin very politely enquired if he might hang a nymph below the dry. After receiving my blessing (Guide Rule #1: Thou shalt appease

FLYFISHING April 2018 • 37

Happiness is ... Gavin Erwin and his fiancée, Mickey de Souza, enjoying a day out on the Bushman’s River, KwaZulu-Natal. the client), he proceeded to tie on what he referred to as a Sunken Ant variation of his own making. This resulted in an immediate increase in the number of takes, albeit from the smaller fish. When pricked, they tended to bounce around the river like high-octane rubber balls, mostly unhooking themselves in the process. The hook-up rate skyrocketed and it was only a matter of time before a better specimen found itself on the end of the line, this time a solid 11-incher from a deeper run. We celebrated with a streamside picnic lunch before tackling up and moving upstream; there was more fishin’ to be done after all. Not long afterwards Gavin’s efforts were further rewarded. After thoroughly working his way up a long pool, Gavin got stuck into a good fish at the very head. The fish made a series of solid runs across and down the pool,

interspersed with a few spectacular aerial acrobatics that sent the adrenaline across the red line, but it stayed stuck. A magnificent 12-inch Bushman’s brown finally came to hand, a great catch in the testing conditions. The large-mouthed cockfish had also fallen for the Sunken Ant and both Gavin and I commented on how such a fish was fooled with a small f ly. I recounted a memory I had of a day on the Bushman’s with Peter Brigg and Shaun Futter, where Peter had caught a fish of similar proportions to this one and how the fish had coughed up a partly digested frog of matchbox size. I often wonder about fishing bigger flies that would perhaps better grab the fish’s attention. As we wandered up the final stretch to the junction with the Twee Dassie Spruit and made the short climb out from the river to the contour path, we

were once again able to survey the river from on high, taking in the path we had followed to fish its length. Thoughts of Henry David Thoreau sprang to mind: “Many go fishing all their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.” We all agreed that it’s as much about being in the environment as it is about the fish. Gavin Erwin is a multi-faceted bundle of talent — artistically with a paintbrush, pen, pencil and Sharpie on canvas or paper, and in fishing terms with a conventional or fly-rod. Best of all, he is a real down-to-earth individual with none of the airs and graces found in some other “talented” individuals. Most days you will either find Gavin creating in one of his two studios (his “happy place”) or throwing a line on the Vaal River (his home water), or a nearby stillwater. Inbetween he keeps himself busy tying flies.

Left: One of Gavin’s drawings now appears as a tattoo on Richard Simpkins’ calf. Right: Gavin in his happy place — his studio. 38 • FLYFISHING April 2018

Despite the difficult conditions in mid-January the Bushman’s still yielded up this perfect brown for Gavin. FLYFISHING April 2018 • 39

Benguela 1450cc

Bass Sprit 16

Yamaha 90hp (powertrim) 2-stroke motor. Galv. trailer, MinnKota bow-mount foot control sneaker, Lowrance f/finder. Now only R229 995! With a Yamaha 130hp powertrim 4-stroke motor: Now only R299 995!

Galv. breakneck trailer, s/s kit, livewell, easily manageable and towable. 2 x Yamaha 30hp motors: R239 995 Yamaha 40hp motor (electric start, power trim): R209 995

Seacat 520 CC/FC now available

465 L Laguna

Explorer 465 centre console 2 x Yamaha 40hp (powertrim, 2 cyl, electric) motors on a With a single galv. b/neck trailer: Now only R249 49 4 9 995! 995! 9 95 Yamaha 60hp powertrim t i motor: t : Now only R199 995!

40 â&#x20AC;˘ FLYFISHING April 2018

2 x Yamaha 50hp (power trim) motors on a galvanised ncluding many e breakneck trailer. Including extras. Now only: R409 995!

TACTICS

LIVE STREAMING New ideas for tackling the Richtersveld

By Ed Herbst

LTHOUGH a balance problem has ended my fishing days, fortunately I am still able to retain a link to the sport by tying flies for friends. Each winter Dawid Rossouw and his sons, Daniel and David, make a trip to the Richtersveld and I provide experimental patterns for them to try. I have recently been working on the flies I’ll give them to try when they head out there this July. Competition flyfishers are a valuable source of information because they’re at the forefront of experiments with new tackle, tactics and flies. I approached MC Coetzer for his ideas on flies and tactics for fishing the Orange River in the Richtersveld and what he told me was surprising — to me at least. When fishing there, he has largely abandoned tight-line, short range Czech-nymphing in the rapids in favour of fishing streamers down and across on a six-weight rod and an intermediate line. MC says he catches fewer fish but bigger fish, and without the fatigue of fighting the current in the rapids. This increases the chances of catching the bigger largemouth yellowfish.

I then spoke to Darryl Lampert who has fished the Orange River in all seasons and gleaned another piece of information which seems logical but was also surprising to me. He said that on one trip he was catching yellowfish after yellowfish on a #12 Zak nymph and was initially puzzled as to why it was proving so successful. The answer came when he waded to the bank and realised that the shallower water was teeming with platanna tadpoles. Nowadays dumbbell eyes are commonplace, but it wasn’t always so. Tom Schuemaker of Wapsi Flies had the necessary knowledge of centrifugal lead

casting to produce the first dumbbell eyes in 1985. He sent samples to Bob Clouser and Lefty Kreh who named the resulting pattern the Clouser Minnow. The rest is history. By placing the eyes on top of the hook shank, the fly inverted to a hook point-up position which made it less like to snag on the bottom. The greater availability of thin fur strips — mink, squirrel and rabbit — and an increasing variety of dumbbell eyes from glass and plastic to metal, led me to design the Lakenvlei Dragon (below) which was described in the April/May 2015 issue of this magazine. In the February/March 2018 article

Ed’s Lakenvlei Dragon tied Zonker style.

FLYFISHING April 2018 • 41

42 â&#x20AC;¢ FLYFISHING April 2018

The combination of Semperfli Nanosilk and Jay Smit’s heavy dubbing twister add a new dimension to tying imitations of dragonfly nymphs, tadpoles and baitfish that have exceptional movement in the water. Tadpole Conundrum, I explained how Alan Hobson of the Angler and Antelope B&B and flyfishing shop in Somerset East had defined the platanna tadpole as the staple diet of our dam trout. This tadpole has a broad, f lat head and I realised that a mini tungsten Sculpin Helmet in olive, with its prominent eyes, perfectly mimics this feature. Although the palmered fur strip Lakenvlei Dragon with its prominent eyes was very successful, the fur tended to project upwards rather than backwards. The answer was to capture the fur strip in a Nanosilk dubbing loop, cut away the hide, and then, with each turn, force the fur backwards. They key to this technique is the 18/0 Semperfli Nanosilk for the dubbing loop. The arrival of 18/0 Semperfli Nanosilk, which was introduced to this country by Morne Bayman’s mail order company, the African Fly Angler, has been a beneficial revelation. It is very

thin and very strong and this enables one to use the dubbing loop technique on everything from #16 CDC patterns like Darryl Lampert’s Hi-Vis Midge to #6 streamers. Barry Ord Clarke has two videos on his Feather Bender website <thefeatherbender.com> demonstrating tying the Bunny Bugger and the Opossum Worm, which demonstrate how to make fur streamers using the dubbing loop technique. He uses a heavy dubbing spinner which he twirls counter-clockwise to create his dubbing loops and Jay Smit of JVice fame replicated this tool for me. Jay will produce more if there is sufficient demand for them. The ideal furs for this design are black-barred or black-tip zonker strips and you can see the full range of colours on Cliff Rochester’s Fishient website. The barring creates the impression of movement and I finish the fly with a collar of barred marabou

Ed uses lead wire flattened into an oval shape and covered with superglue to fill the cavity within the Sculpin helmet.

which, like the rabbit fur is very soft and mobile and has the same broken colour-spectrum effect. At the moment barred marabou is only available from Veniard. My preferred hook is a #6 Hanak H950 BL, a straight eye, heavy wire, long shank, barbless model. I use flat lead on the shank to assist the hook in turning over into a barb-up position. To fill the cavity within the Sculpin helmet, I use lead wire f lattened into an oval shape and covered with superglue and I insert that before the tungsten head is slid into place. The sculpin head is placed over the hook eye and, to keep it in position, you can use a wire or thread dam between the tip of tungsten head and the eye of the hook (see below). I cover the head with Loon Fluorescing Hard Head which is like Sally Hansen’s Hard as Nails but with a f luorescing element which gives a

This baitfish imitation uses black-barred white zonker strip fur and barred olive marabou for the body. Red UV dubbing mimics the gills. FLYFISHING April 2018 • 43

Daniel Rossouw with a Richtersveld yellowfish. Nowadays it seems streamers on a down-and-across swing against the bank are catching bigger fish than can be caught fishing nymphs in the rapids. blueish glow to the head in sunlight and provides a little extra durability. There are lots of photo sequences and YouTube clips available online to show you how to tie streamers with the Sculpin Helmets. The helmets themselves are available from Craig Thom at Stream-X, Morne Bayman at the African Fly Angler and from Cliff Rochester at Fishient. To increase the movement I use a swept-back collar of marabou, also captured in a dubbing loop. A friend made me a triangular wooden block with slits of various widths which helps double the feather — be it marabou, chickabou or CDC. It can then be captured in a Mark Petitjean clip or a bulldog clip. The idea of a weighted head combined with a marabou tail to create sinuous movement on the retrieve is decades-old. The principle was utilised by Trevor Housby in England on his Dog Knobbler and by Russell Blessing

in the USA with his Woolly Bugger, and adding a tail of zonker fur or marabou makes a lot of sense. To prevent it wrapping around the hook shank, I place a small piece of foam rubber at the hook bend. I have tied another version with a wire-core mohair brush created on the JVice dubbing brush machine. It is also soft and mobile and can be combined with a curly Slow Rolla tail made by the Flyskins company. The Sculpin Head Bunny Bugger with its marabou hackle will pulse with life in the water. The barred white fur can be combined with white marabou to mimic minnows and the olive and brown barred furs with their black barring or black tips — or mohair in these colours — can imitate dragonf ly nymphs or tadpoles. With a few rubber legs added, it would even make a plausible crab pattern which would be appealing to dam

Barred rabbit fur and barred marabou in olive combine in a Sculpin Helmet streamer which could be taken for a dragonfly nymph or a tadpole. 44 • FLYFISHING April 2018

trout as well as yellowfish. Obviously the combination of a fur body cloaked with a collar of marabou can be combined with a wide variety of dumbbell eyes ranging from the plastic bead chain that Herman Botes uses on his Papa Roach to tungsten versions with pearlescent eyes such as the Pseudo Eyes which I order from Frontier Fly Fishing. I add red nail polish to bead chain and then cover everything with UV light-cured resin. In the USA, flies made with rabbit fur are called “bunny flies” and I can already picture the combination of fur and marabou pulsing with life in the Orange River when Dawid, Daniel and David visit the Richtersveld in July. The eyes in the Sculpin Helmet have a holographic sparkle, so perhaps I should give the sinuous Richtersveld streamer a more provocative name — how about the Velvet Bunny?

Side view of the Richtersveld streamer tadpole.

PLACES

By Arthur Cary; photographs by John New and Stephen Brand

IX members of the South Coast Fly Anglers (SCFA) Club undertook a much anticipated trip to the Richtersveld in September 2017 in search of the fabled largemouth and smallmouth yellowfish, as well as the odd barbel and possibly even a carp or two. Months of planning had gone into the preparations and the expectant band left the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast on a cool morning excited for what lay ahead. WHY THE RICHTERSVELD? Living on the KZN south coast has many advantages for the flyfisherman. We have great weather most of the time and we also have a very active fly-

46 • FLYFISHING April 2018

fishing club in the SCFA. Although the club does not have any “club waters” as such, we do get to fish many of the local farm dams for bass and tilapia and of course the surf and estuaries are always available. We regularly visit the trout waters near Kokstad, as well as Mountain Lake in Matatiele. In recent times the club members have been successfully targeting KwaZulu-Natal yellow fish (Barbus natelensis) in the Umzimkulu River in the Paddock area and wanted to test their skills on some other yellowfish species. Since there are no known KZN rivers holding largemouth and smallmouth yellowfish, the fabled Gariep (Orange) River in the Richtersveld became the venue of choice. Reports on angling in this region have emphasised that while fishing

improves as the weather warms up, conditions in December, January and Februar y can become unbearably warm. Hence our decision to head there in September when we were blessed with perfect conditions — warm days and cool nights with some wind but no howling gales. The group comprised Neil Scott, Stephen Brand, John New, Rob Nicholas, Stan Park and Sakkie McKay. Leader of the expedition, Neil, is an organiser of note, a fly-tyer extraordinaire and owner of a well-travelled Mitsubishi double-cab and a self-built off road trailer. Stephen farms sugar cane and macadamia nuts in the Bushy Vales area and supplied the second vehicle, a newish Ford Ranger, also towing a trailer. Because of the rugged terrain of this area, 4x4 vehicles are a necessity.

View from the camp site.

John is Chairman of SCFA, while Rob is a fellow chorister, where they, together with others, sing the praises of hops-brewed beverages at a local watering hole on Friday afternoons. Octanagerian Stan is an ex member of Haenertsburg Angling Club and Sakkie came in through the back door when one of the original party had to pull out at the last moment. Stan and Sakkie are both extremely wary of snakes and as a precaution, take along copious quantities of antisnake serum on all fishing expeditions. This serum, specially brewed in the Scottish Highlands, is consumed to ward off these critters. The ploy seems to be effective, because in all the many fishing trips they have undertaken over the years, no snakes have been encountered!

A well-organised camp.

FLYFISHING April 2018 â&#x20AC;˘ 47

Below: John New with a smallmouth yellowfish.

Right: Neil Scott with a 2.5 kg smallmouth yellowfish.

THE ROUTE The Richtersveld is over 2 100km by road from the Natal South Coast; it’s impossible to complete in one hit, so the route via Harrismith and Bloemfontein was selected. The first night would be spent in Kimberley, while the second day would see Upington, a quick deviation to the Augrabies Falls and Grobelaarshoop, and then an overnight stop in Port Nolloth. De Hoop Camp was a mere 250km up the road from there. On the return trip, Keimoes was the first stop, and then a long haul to Bloemfontein, Bethlehem and over the Olivier’s Hoek Pass to Drakensville in KZN. There are many excellent B&Bs available along the chosen route and those that Neil selected, proved to be clean, comfortable and reasonably priced. In Kimberley they stayed at Newlands Country Lodge, in Port Nolloth at Mc Dougall’s Bay Caravan Park, in Keimoes at La Palma and then Drakensville Holiday Resort.

Above: Sakkie McKay with a mudfish taken in slow flowing water.

THE TRIP, THE CAMP AND MEALS The roadtrip, although tiring, proved to be surprisingly uneventful and when the De Hoop Campsite was sighted just after noon on the Sunday, passengers congratulated drivers and themselves on Sak a job well kie done. ma Mcka gni y fi The De Hoop fice shi camp is a long way from nt ng m wa the closest Woolworths, ter ore . Builders Warehouse and fishing tackle outlets, so campers and anglers 48 • FLYFISHING April 2018

have to be totally self-sufficient. Cell phone contact is also very sketchy, to say the least, and our group had taken the precaution of hiring a satellite phone in case of emergencies. Fortunately it was not called into use. Neil is an excellent cook and he had prepared a menu for each evening, resulting in the group eating like kings for the duration of their stay. To say that the De Hoop camp is rustic is a truism, not a criticism. After all, this is a fishing camp out in the bundu, surrounded by truly amazing scenery. The pictures of the river from the camp site at dawn, at midday and in the evening attest to this; stunning scenes whichever way you look. There are also amazing rock formations in the area, one of which is “The Hand of God”. Legend has it that after God created life on earth, 700 million to a billion years ago, He was tired and leant against this schist rock face for support, leaving the imprint of His hand.

Below: A selection of the successful flies used. Top to bottom: Copper John complete with double split shot; Hot-head-two-tone Caddis; Black Cactus Caddis complete with single split shot; Bloodworm.

The

Evening view

of and

God

This is definitely 4x4 country, as anyone who has travelled the aptly-named Akkedis Pass knows. This is a road along which even a lizard has to be wary. De Hoop camp is right on the banks of the Gariep (Orange) River which means that the silt deposited after many floods has built up and this fine sand blows into everything with the slightest breeze and many of the days produced more than a “slight breeze”. Apart from the acacias around the camp, which provided welcome shade, large trees are nowhere to be seen and the surrounding scrub vegetation and “halfmens” succulents (Pachypodium namaquanum) provide ample proof that this is arid country indeed. Lose your water bottle at your peril! THE FISHING Water conditions were superb for the duration of the group’s stay. According to the FOSAF website, the flow rate was about 20 cumecs, sufficient to give a good ripple over the rapids, but not strong enough to sweep one off one’s feet when venturing out mid-stream. The water was crystal clear with temperatures just over 21°C. Raw numbers of fish caught do not tell the whole story, and exact numbers of landed fish were not tallied up, but the six rods accounted for about 80 fish over the period. It must also be emphasised that while the group fished hard, it was not a case of fishing all day every day. All the anglers also lost more fish than they landed, either through an imperfect hook-up or a snapped tippet. Most of the fish were in superb condition, although one smallmouth yellow had an open wound on the underbelly, but whether that was from a predator (otter, water monitor or sharp-toothed catfish) or some other source could not be determined. Orange-Vaal smallmouth yellowfish (Barbus aeneus) made up the bulk of the catch, with only one largemouth yellowfish (B. kimberleyensis), one common carp (Cyprinus carpio), a few Orange mudfish (Labeo capensis) and river sardine (Mesobola brevianalis) accounting for the rest. Surprisingly no barbel (Clarias gariepinus) were caught. Many were to be seen in the water, but they could not be induced to take the #6 and #8 flies that were cast their way. Half-Chicken flies and large Woolly Buggers were ignored with equal disdain. The larger yellowfish (in excess of 2kg) seemed to prefer the faster flowing water but, having said that, a few fish of over 1.5kg were caught in the quiet water immediately down-

Nei lS dif cott t ficu ryi lt c ng h ond ar itio d in ns. p.

p cam

gu Settin

stream of the camp site. Anglers lost count of the number of 1x tippets that parted under the onslaught of supposedly large fish. Many fish were also caught just next to the rapids; these were presumably holding station in the rapids and would dart out to snatch the fly as it swept past. In the faster rapids anglers resorted to using split shot, as well as tungsten-beaded Copper John flies in order to get the flies down to the zone. Any fly that was not at the correct depth was ignored. The single largemouth yellow was caught in the proximity of a clump of reeds and, following this success, various members of the group who tried the same spot were broken off by big fish, but failed to land any. The rods of choice were 5-wt and 6-wt, while floating, intermediate and sinking lines were tried with varying degrees of success. The sinking line had the advantage of getting the fly down to the bottom in deeper water, but often Left: Rob Nicholas with a mudfish taken in fast flowing water.

Stephen B rand smallmou with a wounded th yellow fish.

snagged on the underwater rocks and structure. A floating line was the line of choice in the shallower water. Czech nymphing was again the preferred method and it was found that using only one fly resulted in fewer snags on the numerous rocks in the rapids, but did not seem to reduce the number of strikes. The New Zealand rig with as many as three flies including a heavy dropper, was also effective. As is always the case with fly anglers, many flies were taken along and only a few were used. The most successful f lies were tungsten beaded Copper John, Pheasant Tail Nymphs, Hot Spot Nymphs (red, yellow and orange versions), Green Caddis and bloodworm. The size of fly ranged from a #8 control fly down to a #20. All in all it was a very successful trip, due in no small part to excellent preparations and, of course, a spot of luck now and again. For anyone who’s thinking of undertaking a trip to this area but is worried about the costs, do not be deterred. The total cost per angler for accommodation, food and fuel (excluding personal snacks and liquid refreshments) came to a tad over R5 500 and was worth every cent. A truly magical experience in a Magnificent water truly magical part of the world. FLYFISHING April 2018 • 49

COMPETITION

Tournament organiser and Chairman of Mpumalanga Flyfishing, Lyle Smith, shared the delight of Jeanette Harvey and Belinda Enslin from Eastern Cape Fly Fishing. By Cheryl Heyns

ULLSTROOM in February — hot, stormy, the possibility of hail and lightning… Why on earth would SAFFA be hosting tournaments at this time of year on the Highveld? Many frustrated anglers were asking themselves the same question as they scratched for fish on five venues in and around Dullstroom and Belfast from 8 to 11 February 2018. Twenty-six anglers had gathered to participate in a joint SAFFA event — the Ladies’ Nationals and the inaugural SAFFA Masters’ National Championships. The reason for this “dry run” is that the men’s and women’s Masters’ World Championships will be hosted by South Africa in Dullstroom in February 2019. We are expecting ten international teams to to compete, and had to be sure it was possible to host a decent tournament in that area at that time of year. For ease of reference, a “master” is over 50 and this is a new event in SAFFA’s stable of competitions. The women Pouring rain and gusting wind really tested the Masters.

50 • FLYFISHING April 2018

competed as provincial teams in the Ladies’ Nationals, but the masters — both men and women — entered as individuals. Venues chosen for the 2018 Nationals’ events were: Long Final at Walkerson’s, Jurassic Pond, Upper Town Dam, The Lochs and Schoonspruit Falls. Walkerson’s and Jurassic waters were bank sessions, fishing from beats that anglers rotated through every 45 minutes for the three-hour sessions. To be sure, the fish were everywhere. They were leaping and swirling, splashing and moving, in fact they were doing just about anything except eating flies. The water temperatures were high and it was scorching in the sun, but then the mist would roll in, thick and comforting and the temperatures dipped right down to 11 degrees for a few hours, but by the afternoons the heat brought thunderclouds again. Confusing conditions indeed. There were some serious buses hooked and lost. Fish over 60cm with backs as broad as loaves of bread spat out flies and broke off tippet. The fishing pressure and tippet-shy fish had anglers trying to get away with tippet as thin as possible, but a big, feisty Dullstroom trout will treat 5x with disdain, probably not even acknowledging that it has been hooked. Jurassic’s owners, Debbie and Robbie Vink, allowed wading by the competitors and some anglers took full advantage of that to try to get into the cooler channels. It paid off for Marlize Heyns who landed a beauty of 530mm. At the end of the competition Marlize Heyns was top rod yet again. This young woman is a real talent and she will be heading off to Ireland in September as part of the women’s Commonwealth Flyfishing team. It will be her fourth CWFFC. She will be joining her mother, Renthia de Waal, a veteran of women’s angling in South Africa who will be heading to her sixth international. Gauteng North Ladies won the Nationals for the

umpteenth time. The girls in blue are seemingly unstoppable. The surprise team of the event was undoubtedly the girls from the Eastern Cape. They managed an individual silver, a team silver and a fourth placing in the Ladies’ Nationals, and that with only a two-woman team. Belinda Enslin and Jeanette Harvey were filled with trepidation at the opening dinner, but those doubts soon disappeared as they netted fish after fish. Belinda also won the gold medal in the Masters’ tournament. The Inaugural SAFFA Masters’ National Championships followed the same format as the Ladies’ Nationals. The women entrants dominated the medals table with Belinda Enslin winning the gold, and Beth Grobbelaar getting the bronze. Silver was taken by Steve Benbrow from Mpumalanga with Fred le Roux from KZN in fourth place. Dullstroom’s locals came out in their numbers to support

the event. Debbie Vink organised marshals and controllers and the anglers were most appreciative of the time and effort that these wonderful folks put into making the event so successful. After the Nationals events, SAFFA conducted trials to choose teams to travel to the Masters’ World Championships in Spain in April and for the Ladies’ Commonwealth team traveling to Ireland in September. Anglers were assessed on a number of skills and the selectors made team proposals to the SAFFA Exco for approval and ratification. SAFFA will be sending the following teams to compete internationally during 2018: A Masters team to Spain, a Youth team to Poland, a Youth team to the Czech Republic and two teams to the Commonwealth Championships in Ireland in September.

Marius Grobler, Renthia de Waal, Maureen Britz, Marlize Heyns, Beth Grobbelaar, Amy Trembling.

Deep concentration as Jonina Fourie, Greer Leo-Smith, Pat O’ Brien and Alison O’ Brien tie flies for the Selectors.

FLYFISHING April 2018 • 51

LIFESTYLE

By Gertrude Babich

ISHING changed my life — really. And only for the better. Since I started fishing I’ve broadened my horizons and become a lot more aware of nature and the beauty surrounding us. I used to be the go-to shopping girl for any information on what to buy and where, and I spent more time in shopping centres than anywhere else. I only started fishing after I realised that I could either fish or never see my darling husband Terry. The decision was very easy, so I hung my shopping shoes and got me a pair of wading boots. Best decision of my life. I’ve been to the most amazing places on my fishing trips, seen the most amazing things and learned to appreciate what nature has to offer, but it’s not just about the fishing itself.

52 • FLYFISHING April 2018

FLYFISHING April 2018 â&#x20AC;¢ 53

Being married to a fishing-crazy maniac I soon learned that I wouldn’t be able to keep up and I had to look for something else to keep me occupied when I was tired of fishing. I don’t mean bored with fishing but physically tired. Terry started off teaching me to catch barbel which can be a real workout. He is quite happy leaving home early on a Saturday morning, fishing straight through and getting home late at night. I love it but I’m forced to stop when my arm feels like falling off! I always joke and say I go to work to relax because Terry kills me on weekends and holidays, and trust me there is nothing relaxing about working in the motor trade! We jam pack our weekends with fishing, but I’ve also realised that there is lots a girl can do on the sidelines when going on a fishing trip with her man. When I reach my limit for the day I usually sit in the quiet of nature and read a book. I’ve also taken up bird watching. When I met Terry my birding knowledge was limited to differentiating between big bird, small bird and pretty bird. I could basically identify a parrot and an ostrich. I now know a few names and love playing around on my birding app trying to identify the birds we spot. I like to take walks and always try to find something new to appreciate like a pretty stone or a tiny perfect flower. I don’t put in the same hours on the water as Terry does (very few can keep up with him), but I come home refreshed after every trip not just with fishing memories, but also memories of new birds species I can add to my list and photos of the smaller things. I am the girl who goes to the Kruger Park to spot the little five because everyone always races to see the big five, the girl who drives past the rhinos in search of a honey badger, jackal or rhino beetle. Having said that, fishing is still the central tennet for Team Babich and whenever we plan a trip we always make sure we can cast a line or two on the way there and back. Terry is brilliant at finding things to do at every place we go to; we don’t stay somewhere to keep the accommodation company. If we go to a place with 100 things to do we will do our best to make sure we do them all — with some fishing in-between. Such was the case on our most recent trip away. Terry, being the perfect husband, gave me a trip to Bhanga Nek for Christmas. After doing some research we saw that the best time to go would be February. I’ve always wanted to see the baby turtles hatch on the beach and we missed that when we visited the area three years ago. This time we planned better and I literally counted the hours until our holiday. Everything about the area looked amazing — turtles hatching, palm nut vultures and an 11km sand-dune ride — plus amazing fishing opprtunities. On our first day at Bhanga Nek we walked kilometres on a turtle tour but found nothing. I felt like crying; walking on the beach is not as easy as those Baywatch babes makes it out to be — the sand is soft and funny and it makes the walk so much harder. A bit disappointed, we decided to fish the next day just to lift our spirits a bit. We did some fishing from the beach and 54 • FLYFISHING April 2018

fished the lake in the late afternoon adding two more species to our list; our moods improved dramatically. That evening we booked another turtle tour. Our guide gave us a short talk before the tour which reminded me how selfish humans can be. Walking on the beach at night is an experience on its own; looking up and seeing the stars in all their glory while the waves washed my feet, I could not help but reflect on what our guide said. When I’d read about Bhanga Nek and the turtles I saw posters about plastic and rubbish and the impact it has on these creatures, but that information didn’t have as strong an impact on me as walking the beach in search of baby turtles did. We were told that about nine turtles out of every 1 000 eggs laid will reach maturity. The survival rate for these innocent little creatures is ridiculously low. As if having to fight their way to the sea with birds and crabs preying on them is not enough, they then have to try and survive being shark bait once they reach the ocean. We found a bunch of little turtles making their way to the ocean and words can hardly describe the experience. This should be on everyone’s bucket list. Tiny perfect little creatures, fighting their way to the ocean; I could not help but feel sorry for them. Having never met their parents, they somehow hatched and knew exactly which direction to go in without being shown. Nobody to teach them what to eat, what not to eat, what to be scared of, who to trust — nothing. They just hatch and somehow know how to turtle. I don’t think we will ever understand the full beauty and magnitude of nature and what God entrusts us with. With such a small sur vival rate we as humans add to their demise by not responsibly controlling our waste. Terry and I made a conscious decision to start recycling and trying to live a more plastic-free lifestyle, something I urge everyone to consider. Google is great with ideas on this subject. We use something for a few minutes and it pollutes the planet for thousands of years. What are you doing to make your footprint greener? On the Wednesday we fished at Kosi Mouth. We weren’t geared up for bigger fish, but we fished our 6-weight rods in the lake after the tide pushed us off the rocks. We had loads of fun adding quite a few new fish species to our flyfishing lists. We seldom get a chance to target saltwater fish, but it is so much fun and will always be one of my favourite things to do. Fishing the Vaal you almost know what you’ll hook before you get there, but this is different. Each cast is like a lucky dip where each time you feel in you get something so amazingly beautiful that you almost don’t want to put it back. We walked the beach at Bhanga Nek on Thursday and fished from the beach catching juvenile large spot pompanos in the waves. We later saw a few palm nut vultures in the area and turtles swimming in the waves; this was a first for us and that alone made the trip worthwhile. Fishing opened a whole new world for me, something I would not exchange for anything. Best of all, I get to spend quality time with my husband doing what we both love — at my own pace.

BLAST FROM THE PAST “Blast from the past” celebrates our local flyfishing heritage. It takes us back to a time when life — and flyfishing — were far less complicated than they are today. Flyfisher folk are a weird bunch. Although we’ll never admit it, superstition and flyfishing go hand in hand. The notion of the magical fly exists — the fly that simply outfishes anything and everything else. This is John Beams’ account of it. This story is taken from the Winter 1981 issue of the Journal of the Natal Fly Fishers’ Club.

ELEVATINGJELLIMAN When fact is stranger than fiction By John Beams

E had been flogging away for nearly three hours. Apart from a small shadowy shape six or so inches behind the fly a couple of hours ago, neither of us had seen or touched a thing. The day was beginning to heat up with not so much as a zephyr to cool the rivulets of perspiration running down over our eyes. “Whew,” I said,“how about a cup of tea?” Bob nodded and we reeled in, returned to the car and broke out our thermos flasks, then relaxed gratefully on the grass. “Remember Dick Jelliman?” Bob asked. “Yes,” I said, “Haven’t heard of him for a couple of years.” “Had a letter from him last week,” said Bob,“he’s living in Tasmania. Seems happy but he’s given up fishing.” I glanced at Bob.“How come? He was one of the most enthusiastic fishermen I’ve ever met; one of the worst but certainly the most enthusiastic. In 20 years or more I doubt he’s ever taken more than a couple of fish over two pounds and from the waters around here of all places.” Bob nodded.“I know what you mean, I’ve never seen a chap lose so many fish.” “He had plenty of stories but always about the one that got away. And boy could he exaggerate!” I said. “I remember one fish he lost up on the Eerste when we were hoping to find a few sea run trout. That was in the days when they still moved up from False Bay to spawn. Dick was about 50 yards downstream when I heard him shout. A few minutes later he came stampeding up the bank hollerin’ blue murder that he’d just been busted by a threepounder. I didn’t think much of it at the time except that it was par for the course for poor old Dick. Three pounders were rare in those waters even in those days, but they weren’t extinct. It occurred to me however that it

54 • FLYFISHING February 2018

had to be a fish not over endowed with native wit to be fooled by one of Jelliman’s self-tied monstrosities. Did you ever see him fish a dry fly?” Bob grinned.“Quite a few times. He used to belt that fly down on the water so hard, he actually had to hit the fish and stun it or it would be halfway back to the spawning ground before the fly surfaced.” “Well”, I said,“that three-pounder grew and grew in the retelling. It reached the stage where he had forgotten who it was he was fishing with and told me the story a couple of times before I tactfully reminded him that I was there at the time. When I last heard him recount the saga, that rainbow was close to seven pounds and it fought him for half an hour before circumstances ‘beyond his control’ caused him to lose the fish.” I sipped my tea and gazed moodily across the brassy water. “Still,” I said, “it seems strange for him to have packed it in. Whatever else he might have been he was certainly the most enthusiastic trouter I have ever met. Did he say why he’s given it up?” “That’s the funny part,” Bob said,“in his letter he said he had lost all interest after his last season over there. ‘Too easy,’ he said it was; got ‘fed up’ going out time after time and catching his limit in the first half hour or so and all monsters at that, no tiddlers, nothing under five pounds. The trout run big there, he said, but even by those standards he broke all the existing records then started to improve on his own. Reckons he is now a living legend; says while it’s doing his ego no end of good being called the ‘master’ it’s no longer any fun as every fishing trip is as boring as hell; a dead certainty that he will have his bag before his pals have one apiece, then he either has to tag along with a heavy creel or cool his heels by the car until they return at the end of the day.” “Go on!” I said. “You don’t believe all that codswallop do you?” Bob frowned. “That’s another funny thing, his letter contained some newspaper cuttings. There was one showing old Dick doing his best to hold up two brace of trout weighing around 75 pounds total. Then another where he was posing with an enormous henfish close to 35 pounds. There were others too, all in the same vein. Some of the cuttings were reports of the most incredible bags, all taken by Maestro Jelliman. They’re obviously genuine.” I finished my tea and packed everything back into the coolbag. “There must be a catch,” I said.“It can’t be more ’n a couple of years since he left these parts. He can’t have improved to that extent, not after a 20 year track record of almost total incompetence. Did he give you any reason for

his sudden elevation to ‘master’?” Bob shook his head.“No, his first season there was by all accounts a total disaster, sort of typical Jelliman. He mentioned tr ying some new patterns for the local Tasmanian waters, but you know what his flies were like, if they didn’t disintegrate inside a couple of casts they would put the fear of God into any trout which was still around and had the misfortune to lay eyes on one.” I nodded. “He did mention though,” continued Bob, “that he had come across a fly pattern which took his fancy. Said he’d discovered it written down in some old exercise book pages. He had tied a couple before chucking the paper away. Reckoned it was a good pattern a real killer-diller for the local trout population.” “All sounds fishy to me,” I said. “If old Dicky used grasshoppers or worms he’d never have had much more success. Wasn’t cut out to murder trout old Jelliman. Wonder what the real truth of the story is?” “It seems as odd to me as to you,” Bob shrugged,“but I don’t think he’s exaggerating this time. After all, there’s all those clippings. I’ll let you have a look at them when we get home.” We returned to the water and waded out into the shallows once again. It was the wrong time of the day, that we knew, we also knew it was the wrong day. The sun was almost unbearable, the water lay like a sheet of molten lead, nothing stirred either below or above the surface except a couple of idiots going through the motions of cast and retrieve, cast and retrieve. But we were there and, having come all this way, we were going to stay until darkness sent us packing. After another fruitless hour we took time off for a late lunch. Finishing my third sandwich, my thoughts were still on Dick Jelliman. “Must be the fish over there,” I said. “Probably the local hatchery dumped all its old spawning stock in the river.” Bob hunched his shoulders and started to pack his old pipe again. “Could be,” he said,“but why should Dicky be the only one to catch ’em?” There was no answer to that. Just then a swirl roiled the surface not ten feet from where I had been fishing half an hour ago.“Hey,” said Bob, “did you see what I just saw?” I didn’t bother to answer but made a grab for my rod and started down to the water’s edge with Bob hard on my heels. As we took up our original stations the swirl showed again just in front of me. I dropped the Wooly Worm a couple of feet to one side of the disturbance hoping I’d chosen the right direction. Nothing! But then the fish moved again 30 feet to my right and away from Bob’s position. I hauled too long a line off the water and tried, by changing direction in mid cast, to cover the fish a second time. Excitement is dangerous in this kind of situation. Somewhere behind me the Wooly Worm sought out a snag and parted company with the tippet. Cursing, I reeled in and rummaged for my fly-box. In the excitement of spotting the first rise I had left it behind. “Bob,” I called,“lend me a fly, this fish won’t hang around for ever.” Now I prefer to use my own particular brand of fly pattern and many of my friends use concoctions, but Bob is not numbered among that enlightened company. He had his own ideas and, what’s more, he did very well with them; it was just that I couldn’t get excited over his “special” patterns. However, this moment had left me a beggar without choice. I picked something I thought might do the trick and, with fingers not quite steady, tied it firmly to the tippet. “Thanks!” I said and turned to where the last ripples were dissipating into the glassy surface. Nothing moved. Then it happened, this time the fish humped about 50 yards away, well out of my reach. “There

he is,” called Bob. “I know, I can see him,” I answered sourly. It was plain the opportunity was gone. I gave a mental shrug, it was my fault for losing my cool, I should know better. I cast in the general direction of the movement, watched the fly drop quietly about halfway and commenced my retrieve. Something bunched under the surface from where the fish had last shown itself. Straight as an arrow and twice as fast, an enormous bow wave launched itself at the spot where my fly had entered. There was no doubt, it was coming for my fly! I froze. My jaw sagged. My eyes popped and my reaction time made even rigor mortis look like disco dancing. The next second the fish thumped the fly and turned, showing a broad flash of silver and magenta. A huge tail appeared, thrashed the surface once then it was gone, taking with it the fly and three feet of tippet. “Ghrrarrgh!” I squawked. “What was that, the owner’s pet porpoise?” asked Bob. I regained some sort of control of my vocal chords. “That fish saw that fly 25 yards off. I can’t believe it!” I said. It took me all of half an hour to regain something akin to normality. Needless to say, that was that. We never saw another thing; then the sun went down. The experience had left me in a strange mood — nothing to say! We hardly exchanged a word over the first five miles of the journey home. Finally I said,“That fish came for my fly from 30 yards away, what do you think of that?” Bob took his eyes off the road to turn and grin. “That was one of my patterns; I must try some more. Which one did you take?” I thought back. “I’m not sure,” I said,“it’s all a bit hazy in light of what happened. It had a furry body and was a sort of translucent amber colour.” Bob was quiet for a moment, concentrating on the winding road in the glow of the headlights and trying to picture which of his flies caused the miracle. Then, without warning, he jammed on the brakes, bringing the car to a screeching halt amidst a shower of dust and stones. “Hey!” I yelled, “What’s that for?” Bob turned to me and even in the meagre light of the dashboard I recognised an unusually strange expression on his face. “That fly,” said Bob in awe, “was the one old Dick Jelliman sent me in his letter. Said it was the other one he had tied from the dressing he found written in that old exercise book. He lost the first one on the last fish he hooked before giving up fishing for good. Said I should try it sometime. Never gave it much thought at the time and stuck it in my fly-box. I remember now, that furry body and unusual colouring — nothing like I ever tie.” I looked at Bob for a long time. “Let’s call in at the pub on the way home” I said, “I feel like getting blotto type drunk.” We did and I did, and so did Bob!