12 minute read
High Fives
NIC ISABELLE
FROM EXPLORING INDIA AND CATCHING WORLD RECORD MAHSEER AS A YOUNGSTER, TO GROWING UP AND SPENDING HIS WORKING DAYS ON LOCATION WITH FLYCASTAWAY IN PLACES LIKE PROVIDENCE, ST BRANDON’S OR STERKFONTEIN, NIC ISABELLE HAS A PRETTY SCHWEET LIFE. BEFORE HE RETURNED TO PROVIDENCE FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE PANDEMIC HIT, WE CAUGHT UP WITH HIM FOR THIS ISSUE’S HIGH 5S.
Photos. Nic Isabelle, FlyCastaway
5 best things about where you guide?
1. Schools of tailing GTs on Providence Atoll, the most incredible saltwater fly fishing spectacle on the planet. 2. Skinny water fly fishing for enormous bonefish on St Brandon’s Atoll. This is quintessential walk-and-stalk sight fishing bliss. 3. Being part of our guide teams of three. I can proudly say that I work with some of the most professional and experienced fly fishing guides in the industry. 4. The MV Maya’s Dugong and its crew – trusty, reliable, and the perfect launch pad for a successful fly-fishing trip to Prov. 5. Dock beers on St Brandon’s Atoll. The re-telling of a fishy tale isn’t the same without an ice-cold yeast in hand.
5 fishing-connected items you don’t leave home without before making a mission?
1. My trusty Canon 80D. Four years of abuse and still shooting like she did on day one. 2. Hand sanitizer. Nothing cleans saltwater and sunblock from your sunglasses as effectively. 3. A pack or two of pocket tissues are your friends. Blow your nose, clean your sunglasses, dry a drowned dry fly and they’re there to help if a sudden urge to shed a pound occurs. 4. Patagonia Tropic Hoodies, making buffs a thing of the past. 5. Bose Sleep buds. We’ve all had to share a small room with a world-class snorer. Get yourself a pair, you’ll thank me for it!
5 bands to listen to while on a road trip?
1. Stick Figure 2. Rainbow Kitten Surprise 3. Dope Lemon 4. Lewis De Mar 5. Radiohead
5 things you are loving right now
1. Sapiens - A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari. 2. Anything written by Malcom Gladwell. 3. Bulgar wheat. This healthy, easy to make grain is a game changer. 4. Early morning exercise. We fishing guides aren’t known for our healthy habits but there is honestly no better way to start the day. 5. Maui Jim optics. If you can, try the rose lenses. Yes, you’ll see into the future with those!
5 indispensable flies for saltwater?
1. If there was one fly to rule them all it would be a Tan over White Clouser. 2. Merkin Crab. You can get creative with this fly and everything on the flats eats it. 3. Gotcha. It’s simple, effective and easy to tie. 4. Tan Brush fly. I’ve always liked drab-coloured flies while fishing the flats, especially if there is the chance of encountering a real giant. 5. Fleeing Crab. Tied small or large, this fly gets the thumbs up.
5 indispensable flies for freshwater?
1. Natural PTN in #14 2. Natural GRHE #14 3. Black Woolly Bugger #8 4. Dark Dun Shuttlecock #12 5. CDC and Elk Hair Caddis #14
5 favourite fly fishing destinations across South Africa?
1. Sterkfontein Dam. It’s a no brainer with gin-clear water, loads of targets, beautiful scenery and relatively easy to get to. 2. The Vaal River and its tributaries. If you’re in the right place at the right time you’ll experience some pretty
Like the pro he is, Nic Isabelle pulls off a perfect advanced Single-knee Bluefin Trevally Hangbal. Overall judges’ score 9/10.
world-class fly-fishing opportunities. 3. The Swartberg with its trophy still water trout and small unknown streams stacked to the brim with dry fly obliging rainbows. 4. A few private farm dams in northern Natal to catch huge largemouth bass and a healthy population of poppereating nembwe. 5. Dullstroom. The fishing might be a little tame but the town isn’t, especially after 9pm!
5 favourite fly fishing destinations globally?
1. St Brandon’s Atoll. As a sight fishing enthusiast, I can confirm that this is a fly-fishing destination everyone should visit at least twice! 2. India. Exploring the foothills of the Himalayas with a fly rod is the epitome of adventure (the fishing was pretty wild too). 3. The upper Zambezi River. Although now a shadow of its former self, I have fond memories of double-digit tigerfish and hangovers that lasted far too long. 4. Farquhar Atoll. This is a spectacular fly-fishing destination. Fishing and guiding it was a pleasure. 5. Providence Atoll. This is a place so fishy you can’t help but respect that you’ve entered the food chain the second you step foot on its flats.
5 of the most difficult guiding/teaching experiences so far?
1. Your Indian Ocean guide day one. Nothing will prepare you for that. 2. Trying to find fish on Farquhar in hot green water during the days leading to Cyclone Fantala in April 2016. 3. Trying to entertain my two non-English speaking guests while waiting for the tide to free us from the perils of being high and dry (boat not floating due to error of judgement). 4. Anchoring a boat off sand spits can be tricky. Let’s just say boats are heavier than they look. 5. Cleaning algae off the underside of our boats in the Farquhar slipway with the constant thought that one of the pet GTs might decide your feet are worth a nibble!
5 of the best things you have picked up from guiding?
1. A series of Excel spreadsheets that make packing for any trip fast and easy. 2. The appreciation of the natural world, especially those areas that have little or no human interference. Time spent in places like these is priceless. 3. The appreciation of time. Make the most of it. 4. An understanding of what influences fish to behave in the way we like them to. Whether it be Indo-Pacific permit, trophy largemouth yellowfish, or giant trevally, there is always a reason they’re in a certain area at a certain time. 5. A group of friends and connections that spend more time fishing than they probably should. If I don’t know how or where, I definitely know someone who does.
5 of the worst things you have picked up from guiding?
1. A serious mistrust for anything that claims to be waterproof or stainless steel. 2. This 12-month long racoon tan (sunglasses tan) is overrated. 3. Chain smoking on the water. My nerves! 4. I’m always up early even if I don’t need to be. 5. I do not eat anything unless I am absolutely sure I know what it is. Especially fish.
5 flies to pack (in the smuggler kit under your driver’s seat) to cover most species?
1. Tan over White Clouser 2. Black Woolly Bugger 3. Merkin Crab 4. Dark Dun Shuttlecock 5. Hotspot Natural PTN
5 people you would like to guide or fish with?
1. I’d love to spend some time on the flats with my old man. He introduced me to the sport as a six-year-old and the bug certainly bit. Thanks Dad! 2. Alejandro Vega Cruz aka Mr Sandflea. He has a rep for being a flats ninja that shoots laser beams at permit and gets them to eat. A lot. 3. Frank Smethurst. Running Down The Man and Eastern Rises are my two favourite fly fishing films. The man inspired a lot of adventure in my life. 4. Justin Miller. I could totally smoke ciggies, learn a bit of Russian, and pin a steelhead or two in his company. 5. Craig Richardson. Although we’ve spent countless hours fishing and guiding together he’s now US-based and a few weeks in the American West chasing brookies and rainbows would be epic!
5 fish on your species hit list?
1. Tarpon. There’s a reason it’s in the Sistine Chapel. 2. Blue tigerfish (Hydrocynus tanzaniae) – 20lb plus tigers on surface flies, are you kidding me? 3. Atlantic salmon. I love the history and traditions associated with this. 4. Golden dorado. Bolivia sounds like an adventure on a par with some of the others I’ve been fortunate enough to experience. 5. Clanwilliam yellowfish. They’re the last native yellowfish species left on my hit list.
5 shower thoughts that have occurred to you while fly fishing?
1. How many times have I actually caught the same fish? There are ways to track this, but it’ll put ghosts in my head that I may never recover from. 2. How often have I been within close proximity of a true giant of any species without knowing it? 3. Can bumphead parrotfish communicate with each other? I’ve watched these fish and there’s something strange going on there. 4. Why do people fish the same places during the same conditions expecting a different result? 5. Of all the species in the world why are Indo-Pacific permit the most useless at evading hungry sharks?! Talk about a fish trying to break your heart every opportunity it gets.
5 of the most underrated species in your book?
1. Sailfish. They’re acrobatic and very, very happy to eat a fly. 2. Milkfish. Nothing beats an end-of-day milkfish session. 3. Smallmouth yellowfish. The big old girls are incredibly strong and difficult to sight fish successfully. 4. Tigerfish. Nothing hits a fly quite like it. 5. Golden trevally. You have to take this species seriously. The whole process is the same as a permit except it likes to eat flies.
5 things that make where you fish so special?
1. The bits of nature you get to see if you frequent the farflung atolls of the Indian Ocean. Whether it be watching a turtle laying a clutch of eggs in front of your chalet or a tiger shark hunting turtles on the flats. It’s what you watched on National Geographic as a kid except now it’s in real life. 2. The people we get to share these fisheries with. They’re often enjoying the most exciting six days of their year. The mood and energy is always great. 3. The camaraderie we share in our guide teams during each season. There’s always someone that drops an absolute pearler to lighten the mood when things get tough. 4. The virtually unlimited photographic opportunities available to you. Finding fish forces our focus towards the water and the fish but if you take time to look around you there’s always something interesting happening near a body of fresh or saltwater. 5. The shared moments in the evenings while retelling the stories of the day or the interesting conversation inspired by the ambience of a fire and the odd Scotch.
5 destinations on your bucket list?
1. Location X. Sight fishing to migratory tarpon is definitely at the top of my list. 2. Tanzania. The African bush will always have a special place in my books. Spending time in this setting while fishing for large tigerfish makes me excited. 3. Bolivia. South American rainforest, various fly fishing scenarios available, giant golden dorado… Yip, sounds good to me. 4. Jurassic Lake. I watched a homemade film of this fishery when I was a teenager and it’s always stuck with me. Since then I’ve acquired the taste for delicious lamb and red wine. Oh yes… and there’s also a healthy population of enormous rainbow trout. 5. Henry’s Fork. I’ve met a fair number of people who have fished there. The stories, history, and community make it one of those places I have to visit.
5 things you would take up if you weren’t always fly fishing?
1. Wing shooting. Much like fly fishing, this sport allows us to spend time in good company outside, in places you would probably never consider visiting. 2. Overlanding – same as the above. 3. Multi-day hiking. I love a bit of a challenge. Why not hike for four days with your house on your back? 4. I would definitely become a droewors (dried beef sausage) connoisseur and make my own, perfectly. 5. Keeping and maintaining a bonsai tree or three. I appreciate this living piece of art.
5 essential ingredients for an incredible mission?
1. 2 cups great food 2. 1 Tbs better coffee 3. 2 Tbs kickass tunes 4. 3 cups of clean water and hungry fish 5. A pinch of good company
5 flies that to look at make no sense but that catch fish all the time?
1. Milky dream. It’s caught a long list of species including GTs, bluefin trevally, dogtooth tuna, big eye trevally, bonito, and also a few thousand milkfish. 2. The mop fly, erh. 3. The DDD. This thing really makes no sense but fish Hoover it. 4. Mrs Simpson. 5. Honestly, just about every fly. We go to great lengths to tie realistic patterns yet there is a giant piece of steel sticking out its underside…
5 things about fly fishing that you may never understand?
1. The fact that we’re often willing to risk life and limb to catch a fish. 2. Competitive fly fishing. Isn’t fly fishing supposed to be a relaxing sport? 3. Tenkara fanatics. I’m all for minimalism but this is just taking it too far. 4. Our need to have fly boxes that are completely filled to the brim only to fish two or three patterns consistently. 5. The absolute faith put into fluorocarbon tippet, especially in the freshwater environment.
5 common mistakes that most clients make?
1. Undervalue the importance of casting practice before a trip. The single most important factor between success and failure is your ability to deliver the fly to your target. 2. Although this takes practice, anglers often forget to keep their eye on where your fly is in relation to the fish. This is really the part that makes sight fishing so exciting. You can manipulate your retrieve according to the fish’s body language. 3. Showing little interest in catching anything other than the iconic species available. My two cents is - cast at everything, the practice goes a long way when the real deal is encountered. 4. Not cleaning your sunglasses regularly, especially while visiting a sight fishing destination. It’s important that you do everything you can to improve your vision on the flats, riverside, or lakeside. 5. Arriving in one of the most remote destinations on earth without the recommended flies and tackle. We’ve always got gear and flies on location for this reason but surely the pre-trip prep is half the fun?
Your last five casts were to….
1. Stillwater rainbow trout 2. Spring Creek largescale yellowfish 3. Vaal River largemouth yellowfish 4. Vaal River smallmouth yellowfish 5. Common carp
