HIGH FIVES
MIKE DAMES A R E N O W N E D H E AT H E N -WA R E A N G L E R W H O H A S D I V E D I N T O F LY F I S H I N G G U I D I N G O V E R T H E L A S T F E W Y E A R S W I T H M AV U N GA N A F LY F I S H I N G A N D A F R I CA N WAT E R S , W H E N M I K E DA M E S I S N O T W I T H C L I E N T S W R A N G L I N G TA R P O N I N GA B O N , T I G E R S AT P O N G O L A O R Y E L L O W S O N T H E O R A N G E , YO U ’ L L F I N D H I M CAT C H I N G H I S FAV O U R I T E S A LT S P EC I ES A L O N G T H E S O U T H A F R I CA N C OA S T. Photos. Mike Dames Archive
5 best things about where you guide? 1. Feeling like I’m in a BBC nature doccie on the beaches of Parc National de Loango in Gabon. 2. Watching tarpon roll into the lagoon and hordes of jacks on a killing spree in the waves – just shows how much we’ve plundered our oceans elsewhere in the world. 3. Experiencing the ever-changing Mavungana-Pongola tigerfish seasons. Each one is different to the last, so it’s always engaging and never gets stale. 4. Being surrounded by the red cathedrals of the mountains along the lower Orange River. Damn, we are not made to survive in that place, but I feel alive every second I am there. 5. The ability to spend the majority of my time on the water with like-minded souls and to show them what makes me tick. 5 items you don’t leave home without before making a mission. 1. Spool of .77mm Maxima Ultragreen. Barbed hook in the body? No worries, come here. 2. Obviously you cannot go anywhere without a Leatherman. I like the Wingman model, nice and cheap because they sink like a tungsten jig fly. 3. Jonathan Boulton’s Orvis Helios 3 Blackout 8-weight 8’5”... 4. Savage Gear Splitring and Cut Pliers. Cuts anything, keeps my digits from getting cut, and doesn’t stop working. 5. Assassin Spinmaster backpack. I’ve had it for years; it carries more than you need and it has never been washed or taken care of. If you were to take a genetic sample swab it would expose a plethora of species. 5 bands to listen to while on a road trip? 1. Rainbow Kitten Surprise. 2. Bakermat. 3. The Blaze. 4. Metallica... when big fish need hurting [sad face]. 5. Amadou & Mariam.
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5 things you’re loving right now. 1. Stranger Things. So many of our spots are named after references to the series. 2. Zane Grey’s books on hunting and fishing from back in the day. 3. One-minute long fly ties on the ‘Gram. 4. Russian Fishing 4 [A simulator game with RPG elements – Ed.]. When I can’t fish I do it on the PC. Super-realistic, so expect hours in between bites. 5. Darling Brew JUST Beer... it’s jas, bru. 5 indispensable flies for saltwater? 1. A South African version of the Clouser Minnow, obviously. 2. Richard Wale’s Stella, from tigers to leeries on top. 3. Skinny Surf Candies. 4. LeRoy Botha’s Ironman. 5. Bulkhead Hollow Fleye... Dre [Andre van Wyk], you are a god. 5 indispensable flies for freshwater? 1. Tuscan Bunny. 2. Game Changers of any flavour. 3. Muddler Minnow (add Loon Aquel and you are a dry fly, larney). 4. PTN vibes for when they don’t want meat. 5. Phlexo Crab. 5 favourite fly-fishing destinations across Africa? 1. Pongola. It’s by far the most underrated tiger fishery. It’s technical and not short of handing out a “PK”*. 2. Gabon. When you want big, angry saltwater fish, this place is next level. 3. The lower Orange River – a place that resets the soul. 4. Thrift Dam, Winterberg. Ice cold, with trout that behave like wannabe saltwater fish. 5. My home waters in the Eastern Cape for my true love – rock and surf fishing.
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