23 minute read
High Fives
HIGH FIVES SCOT DE BRUYN
WHETHER IT’S GUIDING FOR SALMON ON THE ÅRØY IN NORWAY OR PUTTING CLIENTS INTO FISH ON THE FLATS OF THE SEYCHELLES, AFTER 16 YEARS IN THE GAME SCOT DE BRUYN (@CARTEL_FLYFISHING) HAS SEEN IT ALL. WE CAUGHT UP WITH HIM FOR A RAPID-FIRE HIGH 5S.
Photos. Scot de Bruyn Archive
5 best things about where you guide?
1. Undoubtedly the food at our Årøy River lodge in Norway is the best by far. Thanks Knut! 2. The clients I have met on location who have become good friends. 3. My guide teams in the Seychelles from both FlyCastaway and Alphonse Fishing Co. You know who you are. 4. The knowledge I have acquired over the past 16 years at different destinations (you can’t buy that online). 5. And lastly, the amazing scenery I get to take for granted on a daily basis.
5 fishing-connected items you don’t leave home without before making a mission?
1. Top of the list would be my Costa sunnies. I can’t work without a great pair of polarised shades. 2. My @axisgo X housing for my iPhone. Amazing for underwater images. 3. Blue Steel Sports Anti-chafe Cream. Life saver! 4. Bovril spread for those early morning breakfasts. 5. And, as always, a good old bottle of Havana Club.
5 bands to listen to while on a road trip?
1. The Black keys 2. ODESZA 2. Kygo 4. Hippie Sabotage 5. PNAU
5 things you are loving right now
1. Spending time at home with my wife, Sherrilee, and son, Reef. 2. Not getting sunburnt on the flats. 3. Watching the Monster Energy Supercross season kicking off. 4. Generous clients who have helped my family financially during Covid. Thank you guys. We will forever be in your debt. 5. My forever youthful looks, as my wife should have left me by now after the shit show of a year I have had.
5 indispensable flies for saltwater?
1. Wayne Hasselau’s Pillow talk. 2. James Christmas/Alec Gerbec’s original Flexo Crab. 3. Sempers, great for geets/poons and my pocket. 4. Alec Gerbec’s WMD triggerfish fly. 5. My secret weapon - The OJ Simpson (convict surgeon pattern for GTs).
5 indispensable flies for freshwater?
1. Can’t go wrong with a good dragon pattern. 2. Elk wing caddis. 3. GRHE. 4. Sex dungeon. 5. Rhuan Human’s foam frog (deadly for fall trout).
5 favourite fly fishing destinations across South Africa/ Africa?
1. My home river in South Africa, the Mooi River, Natal. 2. Lower Bushman’s for KZN Yellowfish (scaly). 3. Lesotho DIY missions. 4. Orange River, Kalahari Outventures conservancy. 5. Swartberg, for stillwater trout.
5 favourite fly fishing destinations globally?
1. Cosmoledo in Seychelles. 2. The Delger River in Mongolia. 3. St Brandons off Mauritius. 4. The Alta River in Northern Norway. 5. Gabon for tarpon (holy F#$%).
5 flies to pack (in the smuggler kit under your driver’s seat) to cover most species?
1. Clouser Minnow. 2. Wooly bugger. 3. Parachute Adams. 4. Sunray Shadow. 5. Red Francis.
5 of the most difficult guiding/teaching experiences so far?
1. Having only half a day’s orientation on Farquhar Atoll and guiding guests the next day. 2. Trying to learn The Årøy River in three days by myself, and guiding guests having never caught an Atlantic salmon myself. 3. Came close to losing a leg thanks to a coral infection in 2014. 4. Risking my job by almost punching a baron from Belgium over a dispute to stop killing the fish I’m trying to protect. Luckily my boss has my back! 5. Never partake in fines meetings when orchestrated by a safari lodge owner. I nearly drowned in my own puke.
5 of the best things you have picked up from guiding?
1. How to deal with dickheads and Karens. 2. Being in a daily routine. 3. As a guide it seems I have acquired the ability to make quick decisions when it counts. 4. Having the patience to help people when I don’t feel up to it. 5. A tolerance for alcohol. All you need is a NDE (Near Death Experience) and one more season to perfect your Buffalo game (drinking with your left hand only).
5 of the worst things you have picked up from guiding?
1. A VD… No wait, my wife might read this. Just kidding babe. 2. A tendency to smoke more when I’m stressed. 3. Not realising that the normal world continues and I should stay in contact with people more often. It was slightly more difficult ten years ago without WIFI. 4. The habit of wearing flip flops when I’m in the shower just in case someone has jizzed on the floor. 5. Thinking that we are still in school and calling the clients by their newly acquired nick names.
5 people you would like to guide or fish with?
1. Definitely my late father who passed away just before Covid. Miss you Dad!!! 2. My son Reef, when he’s old enough to appreciate it. 3. Jako Lucas. Holy shit we used to laugh a lot when we were guiding together. Good times my mate. 4. Donald Trump, because it’s harder to cheat in fly fishing than golf. 5. Lastly I would like to fish with Gary Loomis. Legend!
5 fish on your species hit list?
1. Sakhalin taimen. 2. Yellowcheek. 3. Broadbill swordfish. 4. Goliath tigerfish. 5. Mako shark.
5 shower thoughts that have occurred to you while fly fishing?
1. Why can dogs lick their balls but we can’t? Doesn’t seem fair! 2. If I had been born ten years earlier would I have been more successful? 3. Shame, I hope this dude isn’t as bad at having sex as he is at fly fishing. 4. I have always wondered if some of the fish I see on a regular basis recognise me? 5. How much longer will our fisheries last until they are completely toast? Microplastics/water temps increasing/ over-fishing etc. These are all major issues that we should be worried about more every year.
5 of the most underrated species in your book?
1. KZN yellowfish. If these things regularly grew over 10lbs it would be a great problem. 2. Carp, the mud permit. 3. Bonefish. They are the most honest and well behaved fish you can catch on a fly. 4. Milkfish. If you haven’t caught one you should. They are hectic. 5. Yellow lipped emperor. These little guys are the turtle grass kings of the flats.
5 destinations on your bucket list?
1. Tugur River, Siberia. 2. Chinko, Central African Republic. 3. Malindi, Kenya. 4. Mauritania, Banc D’Arquin. 5. Hokkaido, Japan
5 things you would take up if you weren’t always fly fishing?
1. Polygamy. 2. Eating. 3. Golf. I had a hole in one the day the Springboks won the 2019 Rugby World Cup. The pub had 80 people in it
so I disappeared like our Covid relief fund. 4. Crime. 5. Bodybuilding. I could have been the next Frank Zane.
5 essential ingredients for an incredible mission?
1. Good people that like alcohol or locally sourced cupwinning marijuana (food is non-essential at this point). 2. Music from 1960-1990. 3. A destination with fewer than ten people per 5 km, including our group. 4. A reliable vehicle. 5. A sense of humour.
5 flies that to look at make no sense but that catch fish all the time?
1. Blob. 2. Sunray shadow. 3. DDD. 4. Crazy Charlie. 5. Girdle bug.
5 things about fly fishing that you may never understand?
1. Why do Atlantic salmon take flies but don’t actually eat? 2. Why do we torture ourselves as fly fisherman when spin fishing is much easier? 3. Why doesn’t my wife get as excited as I do when I pull out a new rod/reel that I have hidden from her for a few weeks? 4. How did fly fishing reach the point where we have to broadcast our fishing abilities to complete strangers on social media to seem relevant or appear virtuous? 5. Why is the feeling of hooking a fish so addictive? Growing up, I was never meant to be a fisherman but somehow it found me and has never let me leave.
5 things that make you unique?
1. I’m a smallish person but have the sound carrying capacity of a loud hailer. 2. My head never stops moving, so I’m sure I was a meerkat in my previous life. 3. I’m very particular in everything I do. Border line OCD. 4. I like people that are easily persuaded. Let’s just say that my sister in law is quite stubborn. 5. I’m addicted to Ginger Ale.
5 common mistakes that most clients make?
1. They get sold trips to the wrong destination for their skill, age, fitness level, previous injuries etc. I had a guy rock up in Seychelles with a broken arm in a cast, and he complained that he could not cast! 2. Not being able to cast effectively for the species they wish to target. Practise before you go. I still practise in the garden. 3. Bringing the wrong gear: eg. 30lb Dacron backing for geets; or only bringing 9-weights to Cosmoledo expecting to fish for bonefish all week. 4. Not listening to their guide when a plan is made. You won’t see me offering legal advice to an attorney. 5. Managing their expectations. It is what it is, so appreciate the experience. I’m a guide not a spiritual entity. I can only make miracles happen on my day off… sometimes.
Your last five casts were to….
1. Brown trout. 2. Carp. 3. Largemouth bass. 4. KZN yellowfish. 5. Zululand trevally.
BEHIND THE SCENES IN GUYANA
THE REWA RODEO
WE CATCH UP WITH TRAVELLING GUIDE, JOHANN DU PREEZ, ON THE SUBJECT, THE LOCATION AND THE CHALLENGES INVOLVED IN HIS LATEST PROJECT, A SHORT FILM ABOUT FLY FISHING FOR THE STRANGE, MASSIVE, AIR-BREATHING ARAPAIMA (ONE OF WORLD’S LARGEST FRESHWATER SPECIES) AT REWA ECO-LODGE IN GUYANA.
Photos. Will Graham, Johann du Preez
What’s Guyana like?
The most notable thing about Guyana is the noise in the rainforest. There is a constant ensemble of birds, insects, and animals. Between the deafening roar of the howler monkeys and the screeching macaws, the jungle is flooded with beautiful noise. You get the sense that there is life everywhere. Unlike other parts of South America, where the jungle seems void of life, the Rewa River sustains an incredible amount of life. The people are friendly and welcoming and it really feels like a home away from home.
How much of a process is it to get to Rewa?
Getting to Rewa is a straightforward but tedious affair. You will fly to Georgetown, the capitol of Guyana. From there you will board a small aircraft to Apoteri, a small airstrip where the Rupunini and Esequibo rivers converge. You will be collected from the Apoteri airstrip by boat and driven upriver to the lodge. There you will be greeted by the friendly staff at the beautiful Amerindian-style lodge.
How involved are the locals in the project? What has Indifly’s impact been?
The people of Rewa own and manage the entire eco lodge. They are the guides, the cooks, the cleaners, and the driving force behind it. Indifly plays a small but crucial role in this project. We provide guidance in terms of hospitality and the management of the fishing programme. Indifly, along with Costa sunglasses, has injected substantial funding into research and protection of the arapaima. My role, as an Indifly representative, is to help identify needs within the community and liaise between them and the non-profit company’s board of directors. Indifly will then either provide funding to cater for these needs or help the people of Rewa to find a solution themselves. Our vision is to reach a point where we no longer assist the eco lodge; we want the eco lodge to be entirely self-sufficient. To teach and enable the local community is much more valuable than any donation.
Do you sight fish for arapaima (watching for bubbles) or is it just blind? The water looks quite dirty, can you see anything in terms of visibility?
Well, this is an interesting question because in some ways you are sight fishing and in other ways you are fishing totally blind. Some of the ponds have clear tannin-stained water. We call these blackwater ponds and others are murky with lots of suspended sediment. In both types of ponds you can sometimes see fish just below the surface, almost like laid up tarpon. But 95% of your fishing happens based on very visual signs. You will see muds where fish are stirring up the bottom with their tails. You will often see bubbles or bubble trails as the fish exhale, or you will see them rolling on the surface when they come up to gulp air. We base most of our fishing around rolling fish. They must come up for air every eight to twelve minutes so you can target a specific fish by waiting and watching an area until you get a clear shot. The way the fish roll also tells you a lot about their mood and feeding behaviour. A speedy roll or splashy roll often indicates an unsettled fish, whereas a slow roll usually means that the fish are happy. As a fish dives down after it rolls, we will track the bubbles to determine which way the fish is moving and how far ahead you need to place the fly. So, in essence, it is sight fishing to the signs of the fish without actually seeing the fish.
How many kilometres of river do you fish there? Do you ever fish for arapaima in currents/flowing water or just in pools and billabong ponds?
There is a massive stretch of river that we cover to get to the various ponds. However, we hardly ever target arapaima on the river itself. We do target other fish species like arowana, payara, peacock bass and catfish in the main river. The arapaima will migrate into ponds or ox-bow lakes during the highwater season when the river floods into the jungle. They then get trapped in the ponds as the water recedes. As the water level in the ponds goes down, the arapaima become more accessible and this is when they become a viable species to target on fly. To target an arapaima in the main river is nearly impossible.
Do these fish react to vibration?
Oh yes, they do. They have a very prominent lateral line and are very responsive to water displacement. Bulky flies that push water are great, but they are more than happy to eat a plain old brush fly too.
How different are these fish to all the other species you have caught before?
Arapaima are totally bizarre fish, from the way they look to the way that they breathe air. They way that they engulf a fly is a thrill that every fly angler should experience. They feed by flaring their gills to create a strong suction. In fact, they will suck in a fly with such force that it will rip fly line out of your hands and the eat is clearly audible. They are also the hardest fish to hook that I have fished for. Their bony mouths are so hard that it is nearly impossible to get a hook to penetrate; you literally have to set the hook so furiously that tackle failure seems certain. It is like having an encounter with a dinosaur.
What is your typical set-up for these fish?
We target arapaima with 12-weight set-ups, but rods and reels are of secondary importance. Your lines and hooks will make or break your trip. A low stretch tropical intermediate or floating line in 12-weight is a must have. We fish 80100lb fluorocarbon leader, something with good abrasion resistance and low stretch. Typically, we tie our flies on #6/0
hooks that have a wide gape and razor-sharp tip. There are a few flies that seem to out-perform time and again, but you will have to pay for those secrets. Three to five inch long baitfish imitations in light natural colours do very well; peacock bass imitations are a solid favourite and, as with most fish, a pure black baitfish normally does the trick.
How long is a typical fight? How do they behave?
The fights are short and volatile. We try to fish as hard as we can to prevent the over-exhaustion of the fish. A hard fight gives them a much higher chance of recovery. They are acrobatic for their size and breach the water’s surface several times during the fight with violent head shakes. It’s spectacular to see fish of their size come clear out of the water. The fun part of the fight happens when the fish has to be landed. The guide will get into the water, grab the leader, and grab on to the fish. This is much easier said than done. Arapaima can grow up to 90 inches of pure muscle. Many people have been seriously injured by arapaima during this part of the fight, but the Rewa guides are experts at wrestling these beasts into submission.
How much pressure does the water get?
We split the season into two parts, October – November and February – March. This way the fish are well rested between seasons. We also don’t put more than four rods on the water at a time. There is only one angler on the bow, so the water is effectively only fished by two people at a time. There are over twenty ponds that we have access to, and we are constantly searching for more in order to keep the pressure as low as possible.
How much tagging research has been done on these fish at Rewa? What are some of the results you can share?
More than 380 fish have been tagged over the last ten years with only four confirmed mortalities resulting from a fishing. Only a handful of fish have been recaptured, which indicates a rise in the population. Of the fish that have been recaptured we have learned two interesting things. Firstly, the arapaima will move several kilometres during the high-water season and find different ponds. Secondly, an arapaima can grow as much as 12-inches per year (that is pretty impressive).
There seems to be quite a process with handling them (several people in the water etc). Do you ever have fatalities when these fish are caught? What is the biggest danger?
There have been a few fatalities in the past. The two main causes were heat and lack of oxygen. Because arapaima are obligatory lung breathers, they must supplement their oxygen supply by gulping air. Thus if a fish is released too quickly it won’t be able to come to the surface for air and will literally drown. To combat this the guides will cradle a fish just below the surface for five to ten minutes, allowing it to rest and take breaths. Depending on the size of the fish they will be given three to four breaths before being released.
The second method is ingenious. A bobber on a long mono line will be attached to the fish with an elastic band that goes around the fish’s body. So when the fish swims off the research team will be able to follow the fish and track its progress. They will follow a fish for about an hour, counting each breath to ensure that the fish is alive and well. They will also defend the fish against black caiman that try to take advantage of the exhausted fish. The level of commitment towards the survival of these fish is truly astounding.
Do the locals fish the same area? Are arapaima seen as a food source?
The locals do fish the same areas, but it is illegal to kill arapaima even for subsistence purposes. Other fish like peacock bass, arowana, surubi and pacu are sought after table fish. These fish are also sustainably fished either with a single hook or by bow and arrow.
Do you ever witness natural predations on the arapaima, e.g. cayman or cats or something else eating them?
I haven’t seen it myself, but I have been told that during extreme low water black caiman and packs of giant river otters will predate on arapaima.
Is there interesting bycatch in the same areas as the arapaima or is it pretty focused on this one species?
There are a multitude of other fish to target: two species of peacock bass, two species of payara, two species of piranha, a variety of catfish and arowana to list a few. The top water fishing for these other species is a world-class fishery in itself.
How often to you see other big game like jungle cats?
We often see jaguar tracks on the beaches and riverbanks, but these cats are much too shy to be seen. We often encounter giant river otters on the river. They are very vocal and inquisitive creatures and they always put a smile on my face. We see a variety of monkeys on a daily basis. Capibara are a fairly common sight as well as other small mammals.
What’s the fishing success rate like when going for arapaima at Rewa? Do most people catch or do you blank often?
As with most places I guide, I like to under-sell and overdeliver. Arapaima fishing is challenging. It is as simple as that, but I have never had a client blank a trip. It is a patience game; you will be rewarded handsomely for your efforts. A realistic expectation is that you will land five to seven fish during your trip, and trust me, that is a world-class result.
Tell us a cool tarantula story.
Well… there was this one night at our fly camp when we had enough Frigate Reserve Rum to sedate a dozen donkeys. We found a pink toed tarantula hiding in the thatched roof above the dinner table. Jay Epping told us about his arachnophobia. So, the obvious next step
Above: “Tell me honestly babes, does the handlebar moustache suit me?” Below: Christiaano Bonaldo, Rewa Eco Lodge’s 17th best footballer goes for goal.
was to poke the tarantula out of the roof with a fly rod. As it dropped down all hell broke loose, Jay nearly soiled himself. I grabbed the spider and let it walk around on my hands. Slowly but surely, everyone calmed down to panic and we proceeded to have a full-on photoshoot with the hairy critter. The poor spider had no say in the matter as it got passed round between Christiaan Pretorius and myself. Then it was Jay’s turn to interact with our eightlegged friend. We started off by placing it gently on his hat. Laughing turned to shouting and shouting turned to full blown panic screaming when the tarantula crawled over the brim of Jay’s hat and onto his face. Needless to say, that shut down the spider-games pretty quickly.
What was the filming process like? Was it you on your lonesome or did you have some help? What challenges did you face?
The filming process was a huge learning curve for me. It was the first time that I’d filmed with the intention of creating a F3T feature, so I felt a bit of pressure to create quality content. That being said, I was very lucky to have some great anglers on my boat during the filming process. Jako Lucas and Christiaan Pretorius not only hooked an obscene number of fish for me to film, but they also assisted with the
creative process. Arapaima are difficult fish to film; because of the dark water it is nearly impossible to anticipate when and where they were going to roll. I spent countless hours staring through the viewfinder of my camera to capture a minute’s worth of B-roll footage, but that is what it takes to create a proper film. Once the arapaima were hooked they became quite easy to film, their massive jumps and headshakes made for some incredibly dynamic footage. With the exception of the beautiful drone footage that Will Graham captured, I shot the entire film by myself. I did all the postproduction and editing on my ace but called in the help of Ryan Janssens to assist with the final colour grading and sound design. Without the help of these guys the film would not have been nearly as good as it turned out to be.
All in all, it was an empowering experience, and I am grateful for the amazing people of Rewa that made this story possible in the first place. Catch Johann’s film, The Rewa Rodeo, at this year’s Fly Fishing Film Tour (flyfilmtour.com). Visit rewaecolodge.com for more.
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GUYANA AT A GLANCE
PART OF SOUTH AMERICA AND THE WEST INDIES? WE KNOW VERY LITTLE ABOUT GUYANA EXCEPT FOR THESE THREE THINGS.
1. BAD – Jonestown
As in the scene of the 1978 ‘Jonestown Massacre,’ which is where the phrase ‘drink the Kool-Aid’ comes from. Spare a thought for Kool-Aid, because the cyanide-laced cooldrink the Reverend Jim Jones gave to the 900-odd followers of his Peoples Temple cult was in fact another brand, Flavor Aid.
2. BETTER – Unity Village
The home village of Shivnarine Chanderpaul, one of the West Indies’ best cricketers of the 1990s and 2000s. He holds the record for the 4th fastest test century off 67 balls, he registered a double century on debut as test captain and he has a nifty surname that sounds like a directive to a drunk, queasy friend.
3. BEST – Rewa Eco Lodge
The world’s largest scaled freshwater fish, deep in pristine jungle, plus peacock bass, arawana, payara and more in a sustainable community-led camp. What’s not to like?
