HIGH FIVES
TIM LEPPAN FROM THE MOUNTAINS OF LESOTHO AND THE BOKONG RIVER TO THE NUBIAN FLATS OF SUDAN, TIM LEPPAN’S GUIDING CAREER IS IN THE ASCENDANCY. Photos. Phillip Geldart, Brent Poultney
5 best things about where you guide? 1. The people you get to meet. I never thought I’d have the privilege of meeting the guys and girls that I have whilst guiding on location. Truly it’s been amazing. 2. Seeing angry GTs and happy triggerfish over the course of the last three months has been out of this world. Being able to walk out onto a gin clear flat every day has been a dream come true. 3. A fellow guide and very close friend, Brent Poultney, sat me down prior to guiding and ran me through what I could experience on location. What stood out the most for me was when he mentioned the friendships forged between guides and how tight a guiding team can become. It couldn’t be more true, I’ve felt a part of a family whilst on location and am incredibly grateful for it. 4. Lesotho and Sudan have been an absolute eye opener for me, not only from a fishing perspective but also from a cultural perspective. Being able to experience polar opposite cultures and countries has been one of the biggest highlights for me, hands down. 5. Lastly, the photographic potential on location has been second to none. I doubt I’ll ever get the chance to pull out my camera this much. Especially from a fly fishing perspective. 5 fishing-connected items you don’t leave home without before making a mission? 1. My trusty Nikon Z7. Leaving my camera behind on a fishing trip is criminal. A good photo means as much as a good fish to me and so having the opportunity to do both is a win-win situation. 2. It sounds clichéd, but sunscreen. Tanned skin is not something I’m familiar with and so leaving sunscreen at home usually ends up being catastrophic. 3. Tying materials. Often I’ve had days where fish have zoned into a specific colour, profile or weight, whatever it may be. There’s nothing more frustrating than running out of a successful pattern whilst away on a fishing trip. 4. Sweets. Sweets are a must. I’ll leave lunch and water behind before I leave the sweets. Orange-flavored Super Cs to be precise. 5. Blister plasters. The quickest way to ruin a great trip is a blister or three.
28
W W W. T H E M I S S I O N F LY M A G . C O M
