6 minute read
Chum
A NEW DRIFT, A SCHOOL YOU WANT TO ATTEND, PRESCRIPTION MEDS, BOOTS FOR AFRICA AND THAT DAMN CATFISH
GET A TASTE OF MONTANA
…IN THE MALUTIS with Mavungana Flyfishing’s new Ash River drift. Probably the only trip like it in South Africa (because most of our rivers don’t suit this kind of thing), this outfitter-style day-trip slinging streamers for solid rainbows in fast water sounds like the tits. Based out of adventure-village Clarens, your guide meets you at a local coffee shop for caffeine, croissants and a briefing. A 10-minute drive gets you down to the river on a private farm; you spend the morning fishing down braided channels and holes and across sandbanks; break for lunch under weeping willows; klap it again in the afternoon ending with a final session on foot fishing the evening rise on a tributary, before heading back to Clarens for drinks and dinner.
Head guide, Gareth Reid says, “Until now the Ash River has been spoken about in whispers and only attempted by a few. Restricted to walking the very high and unstable banks, fishing in the past has been largely ineffective, with access being the biggest hurdle. With the introduction of a state-ofthe-art, full-frame inflatable drift boat from our friends at NRS in the States, it’s now a completely different story.” According to Reid, the Ash River – which forms part of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project – offers the ideal situation for year-round fishing, because the flow is regulated 12 months of the year and water temperatures never go above 15 degrees. Throw fish of up to 8lb into the equation and you have all the ingredients for a phenomenal day out. Sounds perfect for a weekend away or bachelor party. flyfishing.co.za.
DOCTORS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA ARE… …TAKING A LEAF OUT OF FLY
ANGLERS BOOKS and prescribing national park passes to patients in an effort to combat rising rates of anxiety and obesity. Through a program called PaRx. eligible patients receive a free Parks Canada Discovery Pass (usually $72) to access the likes of Glacier National Park for a health fix from Mother Nature. It’s an idea we’d like to see rolled out all over the world, because the science is irrefutable - people who spend at least two hours in nature each week report significantly better health and wellbeing. According to our deeply scientific studies at Mission HQ (stokeometer readings of fly fishing friends and family), doing it with a fly rod is even better. parkprescriptions.ca
ENROLL AT… …FAR BANK FLY FISHING SCHOOL.
Sage, Rio and Redington’s parent company, Far Bank has stepped out from behind its famous brands and is now front and centre. One of their projects is the Far Bank Fly Fishing School, run by fly fishing and casting pro, Simon Gawesworth. Aimed at people new to fly fishing, episodes contain on-the-water hints, top tips and techniques, in-depth studio analysis, guest talent, and incredibly shot casting footage from the Far Bank Loop Lab.
farbank.com
RIVER SALT BOOT U-S-A! U-S-A!
A couple of years ago Patagonia teamed up with legendary Oregon boot brand Danner to make the brilliant River Salt and Foot Tractor boots.
FORRA BOOT - VIVA ITALIA!
Across the pond in Europe Patagonia have just released a new wading boot collab, with Italian mountaineering boot brand Fitwell. The Forra (‘gorge’ in Italian) are ultra-lightweight, with Vibram® Mars sole technology, high ankle support, a rugged toe box and quick drying abrasion-resistant Cordura uppers.
COURTENEY BOOT - WAKA WAKA AFRICA (with thanks to Shakira)
Assuming Patagonia are going continent by continent with their collabs (Australia would be either be Blundstone or R.M Williams), we’d like to weigh in with a suggestion for an African wading boot collab – Courteney Boots. As covered in Forbes, CNN, the BBC and elsewhere, Courteney Boots are one of Zimbabwe’s most famous and respected brands. Founded by the late John Rice, an English bootmaker from the age of 15 who worked for Clark’s (of Clark’s Desert Boots fame), the company is named after famed hunter Frederic Courteney Selous. Today Courteney is run by Gale Rice, John’s wife. Their gameskin boots made with leather from CITES approved sources are hugely popular among hunters and farmers. Bring together their African boot skills with Patagonia’s fly fishing clobber know-how (e.g. some waterproofing, perhaps a Vibram sole and a reinforced toe), and you just might have the makings of a wading boot designed for African conditions. Yvon, if you’re listening…
courteneyboot.com
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THE BABER SCOPE
YOUR FISHING FUTURE ACCORDING TO YOUR STAR SIGN AS READ BY BABERMAN, THE LEGENDARY GRUMPY CATFISH.
TAURUS (THE BULL): APRIL 20 – MAY 20
Hey you! Yes, you ya big cosmic cow. You stink worse than the corpse of that Highland heifer Liam Neeson climbed into in Rob Roy. It’s time to sluice the Aegean stables of your fishing and get out of your comfort zone. That same old, same old destination/species/approach you’ve been using to middling affect for years? It’s not going anywhere. What you need is a new challenge. Doesn’t matter if it’s sailfish off Sierra Leone or sawfin in the Cederberg, just set a few new goals and throw obsession at them.
GEMINI (TWINS): MAY 21 – JUNE 20
According to Mercury (your ruling planet) and Chiron (the touchy-feely centaur, not the Bugatti),you are under strict instructions to curb your inner-dickhead in the months ahead. When your friend is duffing casts on a perfect run packed with rising fish, encourage her or him, instead of calling into question their very existence. Do not comment on that newbie’s dumb Facebook questions, just tag a know-it-all. When Mars tickles your perineum and holding your tongue becomes too much, go for a solo session somewhere and scream all those negative thoughts into the valley so that they come echoing back.
