6 minute read
Lifer
LIFER MR WHISKERS
A LOVER OF UNFASHIONABLE FLY TARGETS LIKE CATFISH AND GRASS CARP, IN HIS FLY FISHING AND FLY-TYING TASTES, VETERAN GAUTENG GUIDE TERRY BABICH MARCHES TO THE BEAT OF HIS OWN DRUM.
Photos. Terry Babich
The first fish I remember wasn’t a fly-caught fish. I was probably about ten years-old and caught an 8kg catfish on bait. That started the obsession, I guess.
I have lived mostly in Gauteng, Johannesburg and
Boksburg. But I also lived near Nelspruit for a short time and went to boarding school at Settlers Agriculture High School in what was then the Far Northern Transvaal.
After school I worked as a print machine apprentice then
a die cutter machine operator. I worked as a production planner then as a manager in an envelope and stationery manufacturing company. Then followed production manager in two automotive companies and five years as a fishing tackle shop manager between those. Currently I work as a self-employed fishing guide and fly tier.
A typical day starts with me making my wife coffee in
the morning so I can go fishing. Otherwise, it’s an early start to meet clients near the best fishing water, a day spent guiding and then a long trip home. If I am not fishing, I will be on social media first thing in the morning then tying flies for the rest of the day.
I fish all over but the Vaal dam would probably be
where I spend the most time. I like to stalk the shallows of this huge expanse of water searching for catfish disturbing the water surface or looking for signs of carp and grass carp between the grass on rising water levels surrounded by grassland or ploughed fields.
When it comes to the best advice I have ever been
given, two things come to mind. “Surround yourself by the best” and “take a walk around yourself “. I guess I use those two as an excuse to go fishing, always trying something different or looking for someone to fish with.
I would say I am most proud of qualifying for the senior
Protea fly fishing team for the first time back in 2009 and winning a session this year at the Masters World Fly Fishing Championships.
My party trick is to do a disappearing act and go fishing.
It’s very difficult to get me to a party unless it’s a funeral or a wedding and at my age few of my friends are getting married.
I believe things come through hard work so nothing
comes naturally. Even today, I practise my fishing, casting, drifts whatever I think needs working on. As for the rest of life, just paying attention requires a conscious effort. I have SASS - Short Attention Span Syndrome.
It’s hard to say what the most satisfying fish I ever
caught was, but I appreciate every grass carp I catch. Each one is special and hard earned.
When not balanced by a fly rod you will only find Coca Cola or coffee in my hand.
I don’t have any survival skills that I am conscious of, but I do not fish when there is lightning (ed: a handy skill if you live on the Highveld).
I would love to become a better dry fly angler, but being as blind as a bat doesn’t help. Normally my much younger brother, Tim, has to spot my bites for me on a long cast or in fading light. When it comes to my technical fishing skills, I am a bit of ‘bull in a china shop’ type of fisherman. The best way best to face one’s fears is to just do it head on. Don’t wait.
Before I die, I want to live a lot longer doing what I am
currently doing. I have to be one of the luckiest people in the world.
Fishing has given me so much. The wealth of travel and experiences has not changed, but I used to be besotted with high numbers of catches. I still like to catch a lot but I like to teach others what I have learned and see them get a little bit of what I get from fishing. My dad always said he progressed from the quantitative stage to the qualitative stage of life as he got older.
If I could change anything in fly fishing, it would be to make it affordable to all, to let all facets of fly fishing think equally of each other and to make people protect what we have. The days of our fishing waters and stocks are numbered. It’s scary.
Looking back on my life, if there is anything I would have done differently, it is that I would have played more sport and studied further.
Things I have changed my mind about include tackle, drifts, flies and everything else. Fishing is a moving target and my views and opinions change all the time as influences and knowledge changes. Life is the same - you can’t get stuck on who and what you were when you were young. It’s normally all about the money and then you die before you have lived. Live now, enjoy your life and when you’re old, at least you will have the memories, because material things lose value as you age.
The last fish I caught was a smallmouth yellowfish of over 4kgs two days ago.
POP QUIZ
SECRET AGENT OR FALL GUY? PHILOSOPHER OR FOOL? PITCH PERFECT OR TONE DEAF? TAKE OUR RAPID-FIRE QUIZ TO SEE IF YOUR WITS ARE AS SHARP AS YOUR HOOKS.
YOU CAN DO EEEET! Stu Webb gives Ron Jeremy a Wayne Haselau-inspired pep talk (page 24).
1. Aside from creating James Bond, author Ian Fleming is also responsible for (page 12)?
A. Editing The Telegraph. B. Modernizing the cricket bat. C. Using fly fishing principles to fool Nazis. D. Writing Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang. E. Saying, “I say” before saying something.
2. What was Garden Route guru LeRoy Botha offered in return for divulging his intellectual property on local waters? (page 22)
A. A pub lunch at The Bell in Belvedere. B. A guided day out on his own waters. C. A handjob and a garage pie. D. A day pass to Monkeyland.
3. What did fellow guide and mentor Wayne Haselau have to say to Stu Webb? (page 24)
A. “If no mistake you have made Stewie, losing you are. A different game you should play.” B. “Stewie, happiness is the feeling that power increases - that resistance is being overcome.” C. “The unexamined life is not worth living, Stewie.” D. “Stewie, remember your strength is your weakness.” E. “Man is born free, Stewie, and is everywhere in chains.”
4. When invited to a Korean karaoke evening, 6’6” Stephan Dombaj sang, (page 52)?
A. PSY’s Gangnam Style. B. Alphaville’s Big in Japan. C. Johnny Cash’s Tall Man. D. Korn’s Freak on a Leash. E. Radiohead’s Creep.
5. Shadrack Malimbo was (Page 40)?
A. Tanzania’s first restaurant reviewer for The Citizen newspaper. B. Mayor of Dar es Salaam from 1993-1998. C. The legendary Taifa Stars striker of the 1980s. D. The “Prophet” of Dodoma.
6. The Bokong Flyathlon involves which disciplines (page 96)?
A. Running, mountain biking and swimming. B. Donkey racing, Euro Nymphing and zol smoking. C. Motocross, wife-carrying and gurning. D. Beer drinking, trail running and fly fishing. E. Poohsticks, snorkeling and the beer mile.
