BIG CITY TROUT
THE ITCH
BIG CITY FISHING OPTIONS ARE HARD TO FIND. BIG CITY FISHING O P T I O N S T H AT A R E N O T B A S S O R C A R P A R E E V E N H A R D E R . F I N D I N G S O M E W H E R E T O C AT C H T R O U T, W H I L E D O I N G Y O U R B I T A S A D A D A N D TA K I N G C O N F E R E N C E C A L L S … I N G R E AT E R J O H A N N E S B U R G ? U N H E A R D O F. O R S O B R A N D S T R AT E G I S T J A D E D O S S A N T O S T H O U G H T U N T I L H E W O R K E D R E M O T E LY F R O M T H E H A R D -T O - F I N D X - FA C T O R T R O U T FA R M O N T H E E A S T R A N D . Photos. Luke Pannell
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hen I was younger, I would sometimes fish the Cape Streams over four times a week. Most often twice at least. I also used to take extended 3-4 week-long trips to the North Eastern Cape to indulge my fishing needs, to escape the eternal hustle and bustle of the city, and spend time out of contact with the world to quieten my mind and feel lost in the great big wilderness.
Well… not anymore. Nowadays you most often find me staring longingly at duck ponds in the greenbelts of Johannesburg while I take my daughter for a walk. As I scan the water instinctively, I find myself wondering, between work commitments and fatherhood, how I strayed so far away from something so close to my heart? Life is busy, but working dads need to be able enjoy a morning off. Without the lengthy piscatorial pursuits I once enjoyed, and especially with the Vaal River being out of action this whole summer, I now find myself trying to carve out a few hours to head to some close-by trout waters, which are so lacking in Johannesburg. A nearby day trip is a far more feasible option than driving three hours to go to Dullstroom for the weekend. Or I might as well just surrender and take up golf, right? Yeah… right. Dan Factor of X-Factor saw the gap, and through long and hard negotiations, gained access to a spot that could fill that void for many dads and workaholics up here at reef level. This is the story of how a working Dad can get away on a Friday and spend at least part of the day fishing while also working.
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5:48pm Alarm is set for 6:00am, but I’m awoken by loud screaming. Remove child from crib, insert in bed between wife and me. 6:12am Slept through alarm, awake with giggling child sticking finger in my nose. 6:18am Give bottle, have coffee, pack fishing and laptop bags into car, and try creep out the house before being noticed. 6:22am I refuse to walk around with one of those bright pink nappy bags, so I went and bought another Camo Range bag, the same as my fishing and hunting pack. Took nappy bag instead of fly fishing bag, so drive back home since I won’t be needing diapers where I am going, at least I shouldn’t. I was noticed.
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