Lifer

LIFER THE STALWART

AS FAR AS FISHING TOWNS GO, THERE ARE FEW PLACES IN SOUTH AFRICA THAT SURPASS DULLSTROOM. IF HE’S NOT OUT GUIDING CLIENTS YOU’RE LIKELY TO MEET LOCAL LEGEND JOHN THOABALA BEHIND THE COUNTER OF MAVUNGANA FLYFISHING’S DULLSTROOM STORE. BUY HIM A CUP OF TEA, THEN ASK HIM WHERE THE LUNKERS ARE BECAUSE, IF ANYONE KNOWS DULLSTROOM AND ITS FISHERIES LIKE THE BACK OF HIS HAND, JOHN DOES.

Photos. Mavungana Flyfishing

The first fish I remember catching on fly was a rainbow

trout at one of the syndicate waters just a couple of kilometres outside Dullstroom. This was early in my career. I got to fish after a long day spent brush cutting and picking up litter around the dams before the guests arrived for the weekend. That fish made my day and since then I have been hooked!

I have always been with Mavungana Flyfishing. My first job was here and I have helped with building the company from scratch. My tertiary level qualifications and other skills picked up from corresponding with other educational institutions also helped to build my career. Some skills you learn on the job, like getting a good understanding of fish, their habitats and how to target different species on fly. These are all things I have learned under the supervision and guidance of my friend, and one of the best flyfishing guides, Jonathan Boulton. A typical day for me starts with prayer, to thank God for the day and life. Then I have to have a cup of tea. I cannot do anything without it! I will then look at my diary, plan the day and give instructions to the rest of the team on what we need to do for the day or week. Then I move on to emails, setting up the shop and new orders.

My homewaters, where I fish the most, is Dullstroom’s

Birds of Prey dam. It’s a trophy dam that most people pre-judge just by looking at it from the road. Catching a fish or two there is a real reward. Even if you do not catch anything, a day out there will make you to go back again, as you are likely to have seen a really nice size fish feeding on a wind line out of your reach. I only ever fish a floating line, dries and nymphs on this dam.

The best advice I have ever been given came from both my parents and from Mr James Keaveney, an old Scottish man I used to work with. He was friendly, a very nice person to work with and I learned a lot from him about life and many other things. James and my parents taught me to love, respect, share and always tell the truth.

I am proud of the skills I have learned over the years working at Mavungana. I’m proud that I have got to meet different people in our retail stores and that I have had the opportunity to travel both locally and overseas with clients. Most importantly, I am proud of my loving and caring family.

Something I have had to work hard at in life was building up my career via correspondence, learning while working at the same time. I also had to work hard at fish farms doing river rehabilitation work as a fishery manager during winter when the waters levels are low.

What comes naturally to me is being patient and having love for my family, my colleagues and my friends. I never want to see someone struggling or battling. I am always willing to help where I can.

The most satisfying fish I ever caught was a salmon in

Norway. It was their slowest and driest season in years, there was no rain, and the water was very low. I had had great fun fishing almost day and night catching lots of brown trout on dry flies. Then I caught the ‘fish of 1000 casts.’ It’s a moment I will never forget.

There are a couple of places I would love to return to,

to fish, but Norway is the first on the list. Nice waters, friendly people and good fishing if you hit it at the right time.

In my opinion, it’s never okay for an angler to lie.

There’s no room for that in the fly fishing world and in life in general. Anglers should always tell the truth and be willing to share with others.

One of my favourite places to go to after church on a Sunday, if am off work and not out fishing with clients, is the Dullstroom municipal dam close to town. The surroundings are beautiful, there are playgrounds for kids and a mountain to hike up. When you reach the top there’s a view over the town and township. I like to take a slow walk around the dam with my family, watching the fish sipping dries on the surface and giving my girls a bit of understanding about the waters, the environment and the fishing as well. This will be followed by a family picnic lunch by the dam.

The biggest misunderstandings about fishing in

Dullstroom are the weather and people using wrong tackle or tactics to target trout. You also sometimes get someone new to the sport, who cannot cast but expects to catch fish. If they are not catching they will start complaining about the dams not been stocked. A word of advice to anyone wanting to fly fish in Dullstroom or elsewhere - book casting lessons, practise casting at home and read a little bit about flies and fly fishing before you go out for the first time. Ask as many questions as you can in the fly fishing store before you hit the water. Those guys behind the counter are there to give you all the info you need.

A skill I would like to master is fly tying. I started a while ago but stopped. I am ready to start again and cannot wait to catch fish with my own flies. It’s fun getting behind the vice and trying different patterns and colour combinations.

Locally, the biggest adventure I’ve ever been on

was when my wife and I visited the Forever resorts in Mpumalanga a couple of years back. We then booked speed slide and tube rapids; I was so excited and nervous at the same time, but we had lots of fun and it was a good experience.

Internationally, I had an incredible adventure two years

ago in the Amazon targeting peacock bass on fly. We visited Agua Boa lodge (amazonaguaboalodge.com) where the management, staff, setting and food were all out of this world. We were fishing poppers on the surface and bait fish imitations, catching so many fish each day I stopped counting, that’s how good it was. It was amazing. Each day you will catch fish ranging from 4lbs to 16lbs and amongst them you will also tick other species like Oscars, Piranhas and Arapaima. Piranha are very good at destroying flies. I nearly landed an Arapaima but it got off. What inspired me is to see the local guides going out of their way to keep their clients happy from anchoring the boat closer the edge to save one fly even if takes couple of minutes of your fishing time, to using a hand slasher to clear overhanging tree branches out the way so we can get to the fishing spot. The best way to face one’s fears is by trying hard, getting advice and not being shy to talk to your best friends about what it is you fear. Always face your challenges and make things happen by talking to people or seeking advice.

“ONE NEEDS TO LOVE FLY FISHING AND TO SHARE THAT LOVE. IT’S NOT ABOUT HOW MANY FISH YOU CAUGHT, BUT HOW THE FISHING WAS.”

The handiest survival skills I have include building a temporary shelter using sticks and grass, making fire, and cooking. But only my daughter will enjoy my meals. My wife not so much!

Before I die, I would like to visit a couple of overseas

fishing venues which are on my bucket/wish list – New Zealand definitely as I like their river fishing and the quality and size of their fish. I’d also like to do a family trip to Mauritius.

Since I started fly fishing, I have caught many species

on fly and in big numbers too, but small-scale yellowfish are a different story. They just don’t eat and they get spooked very easily. If I could change one thing in fly fishing it would be the attitude of those anglers who do not want to share with others. One needs to love fly fishing and to share that love. It’s not about how many fish you caught, but how the fishing was. This way we will see the industry growing and see more and more new participants join the sport.

What I get out of fly fishing has changed over the

years. A lot of new gear, brands, clothing and different tactics have come through. Most of the properties where I used to have friends, and where I could fish anytime, have now become private and I cannot get access anymore.

Looking back on my life, to be honest, I am happy where I am. I do not have any regrets.

The last fish I caught was a healthy rainbow in its spawning colours from one of the syndicate waters in Dullstroom. It gave me such a fight! The water was crystal clear, so I had no choice but to fish light. The fish took a dry on the surface and fought for a couple of minutes before I could land it.

DOOS

ALL. THE. FISH

POP QUIZ

POPPER OR DROPPER? BUCKNUT OR BUCKTIT? SUMMA CUM LAUDE OR SOMME CUM LOUDER? SEE HOW MUCH YOU PICKED UP FROM THE PAGES OF THIS ISSUE BY TAKING OUR POP QUIZ.

1. A Bloody Caesar is (page18)?

A. Canada’s national cocktail. B. Depicted on Italian banknotes. C. A term of endearment for a guide with dictatorial tendencies. D. What you qualify as if you cross your own personal Rubicon. E. The hit track from synth-pop legends, The Ides of March.

2. In philosopher and physicist circles, Zandvlei would be known as (page 62)?

A. Plato’s Peatbog. B. Le Bayou de Camus. C. Foucault’s Vlei. D. Hume’s Lagoon. E. Schrödinger’s Estuary.

3. “Don Questo” in Meredith McCord’s Nubian Flats story is (page 54)

A. The chef who invented Spaghetti à la Sudan. B. Former Sudan dictator Omar al Bashir’s Janjaweed/ Mills & Boon nom de guerre. C. How Spanish guide and fly tier David Fernandez signs off his emails. D. A 31-metre dive boat.

4. If Andre van Wyk had a film named after him, it would be called (page 74)?

A. Seffrican Beauty. B. Surf & Turf 6: Aioli Edition. C. Driving Mr Joe. D. Pride & Poodle Pubes. E. Finding Emo.

5. For Jazz Kuschke, zip-front waders are a bit like which small kitchen appliance (page 96)?

A. Kettles, because they get steamy. B. Air-fryers, because you’ll never understand how you survived without one. C. Handheld vaccum cleaners, because they suck. D. Bread-makers, because you’ll never use them. E. Pressure-cookers, because they are great for stewing.

6. Freshwater ecologist Dr Jeremy Shelton, our main profile in this issue, is a member of which band?

A. The Wild Coast Cows. B. The West Coast Wolves. C. Jazz Flautists of Doom. D. Pennywhistle Tea. E. The Overberg Onanists.

Answers: 1. A, 2. E, 3. D, 4. A,B,C & D, 5. B, 6. B

KAROOLSKRAAL

EVERY YEAR ON THE BREEDE RIVER, FROM SEPTEMBER INTO OCTOBER (AKA KOBTOBER) AND NOVEMBER, THE KOB FISHING MOVES INTO ANOTHER GEAR, WHILE THE SPOTTED GRUNTER ALSO COME OUT TO PLAY.

HAVING CONSULTED THE LOCALS, EVALUATED THE TIDES AND SACRIFICED TO THE GODS, LUCKY BASTARDS HAS SECURED THE PRIME WEEKS AT KAROOLSKRAAL FLY FISHING CAMP OVER THIS PERIOD.

ACCOMMODATION IS IN COMFORTABLE SAFARI TENTS (YOU CAN STAND UP IN THEM) AND ALL MEALS ARE INCLUDED. ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS ROCK UP AND FISH TO YOUR HEART’S CONTENT.

BOOK NOW TO JOIN LUCKY BASTARDS FOR SOME OF THE BEST SALTWATER FLY FISHING IN SOUTH AFRICA.

EMAIL INFO@THEMLUCKYBASTARDS.COM TO SECURE YOUR SPOT.