Africa’s fresh and salt water fly fishing magazine TACKLING UP FOR KZN’S TROUT STREAMS DECIPHERING YELLOWFISH LANGUAGE CRUISING FOR GOLDEN DORADO FLY-TYING THE POWER OF ANTS TROUT VENUES DOORNKOP & HIGHLAND LODGE RARE GIANTS OF MONGOLIA ISSUE 264 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2019 South Africa: R40.25 (vat incl) Other Countries: R35 (tax excl) www.completeflyfisherman.co.za / www.completeflyfisherman.com Superior insulated polyethylene iceboxes THE WORLD’S STRONGEST ANCHOR! EVAKOOL OFFERS 19 models ranging from 10 - 200 litre A comprehensive range of products, all designed and manufactured to withstand and operate in the harshest of South African conditions As pioneers in the icebox industry, EvaKool continues to set the benchmark in icebox design, development and performance The demand for EvaKool iceboxes is overwhelming and the range has been expanded to include styles and sizes to suit users from all walks of life www.evakool.co.za Cell: 083 630 7282 | Fax: 086 656 9914 E-mail: info@evakool.co.za © TCFF 01/04/2018 CONTENTS www.completeflyfisherman.co.za | www.completeflyfisherman.com FEBRUARY/MARCH 2019 | ISSUE 264 40 22 48 REGULARS FEATURES & FLY-TYING 20 22 28 34 Life is Short, Fish More! Ian Couryer talks crippled insects, hatch breakers and trout’s feeding habits Cruising for Golden Dorado Does slowly cruising down a river and catching plenty of fish along the way sound like the perfect fly fishing trip? Jonathan Boulton says it does Up Close: Chris Bladen TCFF talks to Cape Town sculptor Chris Bladen about his love for nature, his art, and of course, fly fishing Tackling Up for KZN’s Trout Streams “What fly?” is normally the first question asked when fishing new waters Actually, there are other things much more important you need to know Andrew Fowler explains 40 Deciphering Fish Speak Fish don’t talk but what their body language says is well worth knowing TCFF Editor PJ Jacobs advocates learning the language 48 The Rare Giants of Mongolia Dreaming of untouched water where no Westerner has gone before? Contributor Tom Boyd makes the journey to remotest Mongolia 58 64 The Magic of Highland Lodge The fishing can be hard at times, but this venue has the potential to offer a stillwater trout fishing trip of a lifetime Field Editor Murray Pedder is a believer, and talks tackle and tactics Editor’s Cast Letters to the Editor 12 Gear Bag 80 Product Review: Korkers BuckSkin Doornkop Fish and Wildlife Reserve Looking for a venue to spend some quality time fly fishing with the family? Webber Marais recently found just such a place 68 The Power of Ants Having an ant pattern in your fly box is a no-brainer Hans van Klinken explains why 74 The Hackle Stacker Technique Contributor Arno Laubscher discusses the hackle stacker technique used in both trout and yellowfish patterns 76 Entomology Demystified: Part V – Odonata Continuing our series on basic entomology, Dionne Crafford and Morne du Plooy look at dragon- and damselflies and popular imitations for them 90 Share and Share Alike We all have a duty and responsibility to welcome newcomers to the fold, says Andrew Levy Wading Boots 82 Specialised Services 83 Travelling Angler 85 Outventure Guide ON THE COVER: Taimen – Mongolia’s rare giant PHOTO BY: Amara Simms TCFF | FEBRUARY/MARCH 2019 | EDITOR’S CAST New happenings at TCFF W ith the staff well rested after a deserved break over the festive season and our first issue of 2019 on the shelves, it’s all systems go here at TCFF, and we’re looking forward to an exciting year! We are also hard at work on The Complete Book of Fly Fishing for Yellowfish as well as The Ultimate Bucket List Volume 2; launch dates will be announced soon, so keep an eye out on our Facebook page and in future issues of TCFF One new development for 2019 is that we have pleasure in announcing that Hans van Klinken has joined our editorial team as International Field Editor-at-Large Most of you will be familiar with the name as Hans is well known in the fly fishing industry The creator of the Klinkhamer Special (and many other deadly patterns), well published in many international magazines and TCFF, Hans’s contribution to fly fishing has been immense Accompanied by his wife Ina (a great photographer and fly fisher), they are also dedicated conservationists who revel in nature, and this shines through in his articles His inclusion at TCFF will result in the publication of many more exciting articles about his piscatorial adventures across the globe Good news is that Hans and Ina will be visiting our shores in November this year and will attend our annual TCFF Sterkfontein Experience, as well as appearing at prominent tackle shops and fly fishing clubs where Hans will demonstrate tying some of his famous patterns and give talks on fly-tying, fly fishing and related subjects Dates will be announced through our Facebook page and future issues of TCFF On the magazine front, we have a great line-up for you in this issue, a good mix of local and international stories and happenings Tom Boyd’s article on Mongolia is especially interesting and an eye-opener as to why even in such a remote location, fish species are in need of protection and conservation in order to survive Other good news is that his latest book Trout Salmon and Char, fresh off the press, just landed on our desk and if I can manage to pry it away from the staff, a review is on the cards in our next issue On a more serious note, in our travels to New Zealand, especially over the last few years, we are seeing a lot less fish in those rivers than we used to Without trying to sound full of it, my wife and I are really good at spotting fish (we’ve had more than 20 years to perfect the art) and few, if any, escape our two pairs of eyes as we stalk the riverbanks We know most of those | FEBRUARY/MARCH 2019 | TCFF PUBLISHER: Tight Loop Productions (Pty) Ltd EDITOR: PJ Jacobs editor@completeflyfisherman.co.za EDITOR-AT-LARGE: Tony Biggs INTERNATIONAL FIELD EDITOR-AT-LARGE: Hans van Klinken FIELD EDITORS • Andy Coetzee • Andrew Levy • Ian Couryer • Murray Pedder • Marcus Janssen (UK) • Turner Wilkinson • Dan Blanton (USA) • Steve Starling (Australia) CONTRIBUTORS rivers intimately and are very familiar with how many fish they used to carry, as opposed to present day With the exception of one or two rivers (one very famous river actually has more fish in the headwaters now than it did 20 years ago), fish numbers were at an all-time low in December Things have changed quite a bit in New Zealand, and the advent of large-scale dairy farming is undoubtedly having an impact as does other farming, including the spraying of pesticides and nutrients that eventually end up in the rivers The worrying thing is that even in some backcountry rivers deep in bush country, far from farming activities and people, fish numbers seem to be shockingly low compared to what they used to be I’m still trying to make sense of it Global warming and higher water temperatures are high on my list of suspects, for as I look back on our 20-year diary of all the trips we have done to that part of the world, one thing stands out clearly: it’s getting a lot warmer down there in summer And it’s happening in our own backyard too I’ve always believed that fly fishermen experience nature more acutely than most, and I don’t like what’s on the cards as far as global warming is concerned What is especially concerning is that in an ever-increasing pursuit to make more money, some commercial industry players (and even governments) continue to deny the existence of this well-documented and scientifically proven fact I am reminded of the following quote: “When the last tree has been cut down, the last fish caught, and the last river poisoned, only then will we realize that one cannot eat money.” Now that’s a sobering reality if I’ve ever heard one PJ Jacobs - Editor • Jonathan Boulton • Leon Links • Keith Clover • Webber Marais • Dionne Crafford • Malcolm Meintjes • Miles Divett • Rasmus Ovesen • John Dreyer • Ben Pretorius • Horst Filter • Keith Rose-Innes • Andrew Fowler • Richard Schumann • Bill Hansford-Steele • Rob Scott • Arno Laubscher • Fred Steynberg • Gerhard Laubscher • Tom Sutcliffe COPY EDITORS • Anne Haarhoff • Chris Whales ADVERTISING & PRODUCTION MANAGER Lizelle Jacobs info@completeflyfisherman.co.za Tel: (012) 371-3914 ADVERTISING SALES Dylan Isaacs adsales@completeflyfisherman.co.za Tel: (012) 371-3915 ACCOUNTS DEPARTMENT Tracey Ann Grobbelaar accounts@completeflyfisherman.co.za Tel: (012) 371-3916 SUBSCRIPTIONS Tracey Ann Grobbelaar subscriptions@completeflyfisherman.co.za Tel: (012) 371-3916 POSTAL ADDRESS PO Box 1777, Ifafi, 0260, South Africa DIGITAL PLATFORMS www.magzter.com DIGITAL MAGAZINE STORE FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM thecompleteflyfishermanmag completefly PATRON Cyril Ramaphosa All rights reserved, reproduction of contents of this magazine is prohibited without the written consent of the editor Editorial opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher The publisher does not accept responsibility for advertising content Publishing and editing of material received will be at the discretion of the editor Editorial contributions must be directed to: The Editor, via e-mail: editor@completeflyfisherman.co.za TCFF does not pay for unsolicited material letters TO THE EDITOR Win a Sage Pulse 9ft, 5-wt fly rod valued at R7250, if your letter is chosen as “Letter of the Month” E-mail: editor@completeflyfisherman.co.za SPONSORED BY Tel: +27 11 463-9048/9 www.frontierflyfishing.co.za LETTER OF THE MONTH Homeward bound I recently received the Dec/Jan issue of TCFF from our friends who just returned to Canada from a Christmas trip to SA Family and friends that have visited us here over the years know that the only gift I ask for when they come over, is the latest TCFF and at least one bottle of contraband Bovril I always look forward to much-needed quiet time reading my TCFF magazines in my poor man’s “mancave”, reminded of home by our SA-themed sign wall The local Canadian/USA literature just doesn’t cut it Honestly, even though the articles cover some of the places us Saffas only dream of, none of them come close to providing the sense of anticipation and excitement I get from reading the articles you guys publish Since arriving in Canada six winters ago, my wife and I have been so fortunate to see and things which two Durbanites rarely get the chance to experience (I count our time here in winters passed, as anyone who has experienced -40ºC and below would understand.) I have managed to save up and tick off bucket-list trips to catch trout from Yellowstone Park to Montana and Alberta, caught salmon near the Alaskan coast, and wild steelhead in BC But through all of this, I still miss my days of fly fishing for trout in Rosetta stillwaters and Drakensberg rivers, catching shad on fly from the rocks in the wild Transkei, kingies off the beautiful beaches from Durban to Mozambique, or yellows in various KZN rivers after seeing crocs in the pool we had just waded through I want to let you know that the fishing and natural beauty which SA has in abundance, rivals anything we have seen overseas, from the Canadian Rocky Mountains to Hawaii But even more special than the natural beauty is that of our people The passion of SA’s people is just not found elsewhere We are not naive to the fact our country has serious problems and the number of people leaving SA is testament to that We not judge those who are leaving, but in the same breath, nobody must judge those of us who are coming back As for our family, we have made up our minds and started the process, and we cannot wait to be back home (with two new fly fisherwomen in the clan) Scott McNeill Well Scott, as a welcome-back present I am awarding you “Letter of the Month” status! A great Sage fly rod to the value of R7250 compliments of TCFF and the guys at Frontier Fly Fishing will be yours as soon as you set foot back in the good | FEBRUARY/MARCH 2019 | TCFF ol’ RSA I am sure everybody will be happy to see you Enjoy and safe travels back home Ed Lamentations of a piscatorial nature I’m always amazed, humbled and somewhat belittled by the array of language used by people of our shared pursuit and how they can become completely and self-indulgently intoxicated with it when it comes to writing about fly fishing Truth be told, formulating that previous statement cost me a week of misspent office hours I love how fly fisher folk roll around in the language like a pig in the mud when it comes to a description or report of their favourite pastime But I recently attempted reading a linguistically self-indulgent fly fishing book by a local author and, if I’m honest, it was completely exhausting to read I get that ours is an ancient pursuit and I adore that we attach poetic licence to our fishermen’s tales, but just because one can identify a hatch, select a self-tied fly, and cast a semi-decent line, doesn’t mean one needs to express oneself in a thesaurus-ridden crow’s nest of Shakespearean idioms to tell you about it If I can’t understand you, you’re wasting your ink Donovan Honeyborne (Letter shortened.) The wannabe In my nine years of fly fishing, I have been trying from dawn to dusk in search of a single mullet Yes, I have never officially caught a mullet on fly Many may have the dream about you and dad going at some trout in a small spring creek, but for me that was too easy Catching trout on 5X tippet is easy; in the bay I use a 20ft leader ending in a 7X tippet This, however, still scares the bejeezus out of mullet on presentation When I get a good presentation, the mullet are not interested, even when chumming bread (believe me when I say I’m chumming against my will) So you get the picture A salty with a big “small dream” Little did I know that my luck was about to change I set out on my bicycle early morning, and by sunrise I stood hip-depth in water armed with my mother’s 27-year-old 4-wt and a #14 RAB We have a little water station next to a spot I know the mullet are fond of The station creates a vacuum, almost forming a little river on low tide With my first cast “upstream” a mullet came up and ate the fly just like a trout would! I used the common trout strike and, for a moment, while watching the fish jet off with my line, I was frozen like a statue, realising that I spent almost ten years on one fish For what? For a title, a name? Then it came to me It was not done trying to be cool or sit with the top dogs even when they catch tarpon and I mullet; I did it out of sheer determination TJ Jacobs (Letter shortened.) FOR YOUR NEAREST DEALER CONTACT FRONTIER DISTRIBUTION Tel: (011) 463-9048 www.frontierflyfishing.co.za NEWSWORTHY ’ UP WHATS TCFF’s 2019 Sterkfontein Experience Bookings are now open for TCFF’s 21stst annual Sterkfontein Experience, held at Qwantani Berg and Bush Resort from - 10 November Our event promises not only the best yellowfish guides in the business to show you the ropes, but also includes a lucky-draw prizegiving amounting to several hundred thousand rand Everybody gets to draw for quality prizes, often far exceeding in value what participants pay to attend the event What’s more, Hans van Klinken (the originator of the Klinkhamer Special) will be our guest speaker at the event, and participants will get to rub shoulders with him and see first-hand how Hans ties his world-famous Klinkhamer and other deadly patterns We are already booking up and entry is limited, so secure your spot early this year Contact Dylan or Lizelle on (012) 371-3914/5 Rapture of the River The Eastern Cape is a special place where the Drakensberg mountains bleed out the most magical of wild trout rivers, including the Wildebees, Pot and Tsitsa It is here that the Maclear Fly Fishing Club will be hosting its popular Rapture of the River Festival Registration will take place at the Maclear Country Club from 4pm on Thursday May Fishing will be on 10 - 11 May, with a Friday evening steakhouse supper and a Saturday evening spit braai with a prize-giving ceremony Sunday social fishing is optional The cost is R1200 per angler, and bookings should be made by the latest end of March Contact Dean on 082 417 4469 or Melissa on 060 508 2072, or e-mail: maclearffc@gmail.com Visit us at the Hobby-X show this year! Get to Hobby-X at the Ticketpro Dome in Johannesburg from - 10 March to check out the books, tools, techniques, know-how and gadgets to take your hobby to the next level Or, if you like, find a whole new hobby! Fly fishing comprises many things, including being a hobby, so be sure to visit TCFF’s stand at this year’s show Call 0861 Hobby-X or visit www.hobby-x.co.za for more information Kloofzicht Winter Fly Fishing Competition The 8th Annual Kloofzicht Winter Fly Fishing Competition, hosted by Sundowner Flyfishing Adventures, will be held on Sunday 28 July Once again, this event will be held at Kloofzicht Lodge & Spa in the Cradle of Humankind – an easy half-hour drive from either Johannesburg or Pretoria Bookings are now open and space is limited to 75 fly fishers Categories include: juniors, open ladies and open men Participants will be targeting trout and other species | FEBRUARY/MARCH 2019 | TCFF The grand prize for overall top position is a three-night tiger fishing package to Sundowner Zambezi Lodge for two people Total value of prizes is in excess of R175,000 Funds will be raised in support of CANSA and the Yellowfish Working Group For further information and bookings, contact Cell: 083 414 0391, e-mail: info@sundowner.co.za, visit the website www.sundowner.co.za or Facebook: SundownerFlyfishingAdventures Photos by Arno Laubscher (ScientificFly) LIFE CYCLE Now that we have the bigger picture in terms of life cycle as well as general morphology, we are ready to take a closer look at commercially available fly patterns to adequately suggest or imitate the various stages mentioned We also like using damsels when sight-fishing to cruising smallmouth in bays and backwaters That said, we have also employed weighted damsels (bead chain eyes) in rapid sections with great success The naturals are around 20mm to 30mm long, so we like fishing these patterns in #10 to #12 With reference to dragonflies, the well-known Papa Roach pattern does a splendid job of imitating dragonflies from the family Aeshnidae • Males use terminal appendages to grasp a female in the thoracic region and may fly around in this tandem position before settling to mate • After mating, the females of most dragonfly families lay eggs directly in the water by tapping the water surface with their abdomens to help withdraw protruding eggs from the genital pores • However, females from the dragonfly family Aeshnidae, as well as female damselflies, use spiny, sheathed ovipositors to make slits in the stems of plants (above or below the water surface) in which they lay eggs A transitory pronymph hatches from the egg, but soon develops into a normal feeding nymph • Young nymphs feed on small animals in the water, the larger nymphs on insects, tadpoles, worms and even small fish • The nymphs undergo ten to 15 moults and there is no pupal stage • The mature nymphs climb up stems of vegetation such as reeds and grasses or other structure such as rocks, trunks or branches, until they are above the surface of the water, where they shed their last skin to become soft, teneral adults • When their wings are dry enough to allow flight, they find shelter to rest until the wings are hardened, after which controlled flight allows them to catch prey and evade predators Remember that damselflies from this family (Coenagrionidae) are slow-moving swimmers (employing sinuous movements of the abdomen) and prefer vegetated areas on the edges of streams All these patterns employ long marabou tails that allow a lot of movement in water and a great job in imitating this swimming movement, especially when fished on a floating line with slow but fairly long, intermittent strips Carry patterns in green and brown (or even black for discoloured water) and fish them adjacent to bankside vegetation BROWN AGGRAVATOR OLIVE AGGRAVATOR BLACK AGGRAVATOR STILLWATER DAMSEL OLIVE PAPA ROACH BROWN PAPA ROACH Adults: Personally we’ve never fished adult damselfly or dragonfly imitations for yellowfish We have successfully tied and fished larger foam versions for bass, as well as smaller versions employing deer hair for trout The smaller versions will likely also work for yellowfish However, since these patterns are not commercially available, we will not discuss them further Nymphs: Four commercially available patterns that effectively imitate Coenagrionidae damselfly nymphs are the Red-Eye Damsel, Deep-Water Damsel, Stillwater Damsel and Aggravator Aeshnid nymphs walk or swim in bursts as water is propelled out of the body Retrieves can vary between fairly long, slower strips and fast, erratic, 5cm strips As the nymphs live under stones in slow or fast streams, you can fish this imitation with confidence under a variety of conditions, eg a drag-free drift in a current, or a deep retrieve in pools or backwaters Aeshnid nymphs vary from 25mm to 60mm, so make sure you carry a range of sizes, in colours varying from green to brown and black Once again, use black in discoloured water Gomphids are burrowers and therefore prefer sand or mud substrate Thus, when you encounter such areas, you can fish smaller dragonfly imitations on or as close as possible to the bottom, employing short, erratic strips We hope you have found this short piece helpful Next time, we will look at some of the terrestrial insect patterns that we like to fish on the Orange River To familiarise yourself with the taxa at leisure, you can download the following macro-invertebrate field guide: www.dwaf.gov.za/iwqs/biomon/aquabugsa/Aquatic_Invertebrates_of_South_African_Rivers_Field_Guide_s.pdf 78 | FEBRUARY/MARCH 2019 | TCFF www.xplorerflyfishing.co.za/product/korkers-darkhorse/ NZ backcountry and, as such, the Korkers were part of the gear we packed for the trip New Zealand has outlawed the use of felt soles, so we were only able to test the rubber outsoles, but not being fond of felt soles, this was fine with us Felt definitely has its applications, especially in our country in rivers like the Vaal, but we’d rather go with rubber all the way and work with its limitations in such situations day My partner’s boots left telltale signs of our day’s activity, the Korkers dry as a bone As for evaluating the boots’ ability to dry out quickly, we don’t believe in leaving boots in the sun, so back at our digs, they spent the night on the porch Next day, same story Partner’s boots still wet, Korkers almost dry That certainly put a smile on my face they lasted after several weeks of hard use showed no real noticeable wear at all In fact, cleaned up, they still looked pretty new As there was no occasion to swap out the rubber sole for the felt one, we cannot speak for the durability of frequently removing and attaching the outsoles, but the fit is good, so we not foresee a problem there The rubber soles latched to the footbed with reassuring solid clicks, finally latching onto a button holder at the back of the boot They fit pretty snug, but, as can be expected, there is still a small gap between the sole and the boot This, however, did not prove to be a problem and apart from one tiny piece of gravel that wormed its way in under the sole, we experienced no problems, even after five weeks of hard fishing In the wading department we were also satisfied Rubber has its limitations in the water, but grip was as good as can be expected, and, in some rivers, really good The drainage system also works a treat, the boots shedding water almost immediately as you exit the water Ankle support and comfort while hiking and in the wet were also great, so no complaints there either “TRUTH BE TOLD, IN A WADING BOOT WE WANT THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS AND THAT IS NO EASY TASK FOR ANY BOOT MANUFACTURER.” With the Korkers shaping well during our testing, we turned our focus to other less talked-about issues with wading boots, ie, how easy they are to take off at the end of a hard day and how quickly they dry out In the first instance, they are a breeze to take off The laces undo quickly, allowing enough space to pull your foot out effortlessly We have worn some wading boots that make getting your feet out a chore, but not so with the Korkers The laces seemed pretty hardy too, being in an almost new condition even after weeks of work The only wear that was evident was where the gravel guards latch onto the laces, but that wears out even thicker laces That said, if you are going to use gravel guards, a spare pair of laces might not be a bad idea As for the ability to shed water, the Korkers are up there with the best, and evidence of this was walking into a grocery shop at the end of a long fishing Two questions still remain One, obviously, how the Korkers fared when hiking, and then, of course, their durability Regarding the hiking, we put some hard miles on them, hiking into various types of terrain, lots of it riverbed covered with round and even sharp stones in places We also trekked on relatively even terrain and basically went where most hikers go, so they had a full workout In the end, to be honest, I wouldn’t trade the Korkers for a dedicated pair of hiking boots, but that said, being a dual-purpose boot they fared amazingly well On some of the longer hikes I could feel my feet at the end of a long day, but that may have been more as a result of not being as young and fit as I once was I noticed no discomfort, however, and was pretty pleased with their overall performance Finally, as far as durability is concerned, an objective evaluation of how To a thorough review of a wading boot there is no alternative but to put them through their paces for an extended period of time, which is exactly what we did in some of the most challenging terrain you could imagine We were impressed, maybe even a little surprised at how well these boots fared In conclusion, if you look for faults you will always find them, especially in something as specialised as a wading boot After several decades of experience with wading boots from many manufacturers we believe our opinion to be honest and to the point In essence, the Korkers BuckSkin is a good wading boot, period And, until the ultimate wading boot is invented, this pair will just fine Well done, Korkers! SRP: R3700 For a retailer near you, contact Jandi Trading for more details on Tel: (031) 564-7368 TCFF | FEBRUARY/MARCH 2019 | 81 Qwantani Berg and Bush Resort – KwaZulu-Natal Tel: (031) 717-7593 | E-mail: firstres@firstgroup-sa.co.za | www.qwantani.co.za Situated on the shore of Sterkfontein Dam, three hours from either Johannesburg or Durban ACCOMMODATION: The venue offers 52 luxury chalets, all strategically situated overlooking the vast expanse of Sterkfontein Dam The fully equipped chalets feature three bedrooms each; one double en suite, and two sharing a full bathroom and feature two single beds each The kitchen is fully equipped for self-catering Indoor fireplaces and outside braais make for cosy evenings All chalets are serviced daily Enjoy sundowners at Arthur’s Bar overlooking the pool area, and The “Marshall” Eagle Restaurant provides home-style meals, banqueting, sumptuous buffets and regular specials THE FISHING: With its crystal-clear water, Sterkfontein Dam is South Africa’s premier sight-fishing venue for both small- and largemouth yellowfish The fishing season is generally from October until the end of April each year, and fly fishermen can ply their trade from either the extensive shoreline on foot, or bring their own boat (fuel available onsite) OTHER ACTIVITIES: Horse riding, tennis, adventure golf, games room, swimming pool and barge cruises La Vita Spa provides world-class treatments, a relaxation area, Jacuzzi and sauna Qwantani is also ideal for conferences, weddings and private functions The conference room can cater for up to 120 delegates (theatre style) Invermooi Estate – KwaZulu-Natal Situated in the KZN Midlands, Invermooi Estate is located in the foothills of the majestic Drakensberg Mountains, just 22km outside of Nottingham Road ACCOMMODATION: Invermooi Estate has numerous luxury self-catering lodges offering views of the Drakensberg and fishing dams Please enquire about respective rates and visit the website • Rainbow Lodge sleeps eight in four bedrooms • Mooi Lodge sleeps four in two bedrooms • The Cabin sleeps two in one bedroom • Quiet Waters Lodge sleeps 12 in six bedrooms (incorporating Wagon Wheel and Dam Rondavels) • Eland Villa sleeps 16 in eight bedrooms and has a swimming pool THE FISHING: Invermooi Estate is a premier trout fishing destination with numerous dams, most popular being McNab and Malachite, and about 10km of river frontage The dams are well stocked with rainbow and brown trout OTHER ACTIVITIES: Set on a working farm, Invermooi Estate is a great place to enjoy the countryside and wildlife in abundance There are numerous paths and trails to explore either on foot or mountain bike Horse riding, kayaking and bird watching are some of the other options to enjoy during your stay The local Nottingham Road village offers many restaurants, pubs and craft shops The Estate also offers a wedding venue along with a portfolio of service providers to help plan your perfect day Tel: (033) 266-6416 Cell: 064 870 2457 E-mail: lodges@invermooi.co.za www.invermooi.co.za Goodersons Kloppenheim Country Estate Hotel Tel: (013) 256-9148 | e-mail: klopres@goodersons.co.za | www.goodersonleisure.co.za.co.za/kloppenheim The Estate is situated in the heart of the Highlands Meander, near Machadodorp and just outside Dullstroom, only two to three hours either Pretoria or Johannesburg, with good roads leading to the venue ACCOMMODATION: The Estate offers luxury accommodation with beautiful views, ideal for a family vacation or business travellers Options include 14 twin lakeside suites; 20 twin estate rooms; and 10 elegant two-bedroomed, six-sleeper self-contained lodges Each beautifully appointed room has a magnificent view of the rolling hills Enjoy culinary delights from sumptuous breakfasts served in the enclosed terrace to delicious dinners in The Triple Twigs, 60 seater dining room – or private dining room for something more intimate Light meals are available in the Teddy and Tankard Pub THE FISHING: The Estate offers six dams, of which four are stocked with sizeable trout weighing up to 2kg Catch-and-release is encouraged, and kept fish are charged at R100/kg No rod fees apply OTHER ACTIVITIES: The Estate offers three conference rooms, a wellness centre, and also a wedding venue The energetic can enjoy outdoor activities ranging from golfing, hiking trails, archery, volleyball, mountain bike trails, horse rides, tennis, swimming and outdoor Jacuzzi A small library and the large colonial furnished lounge offer restful spots to relax and unwind Bird spotting and a petting zoo We also boast 300 head of game, including zebra, wildebeest, red hartebeest, blesbuck and rhebuck Highland Lodge – Eastern Cape Highland Lodge is situated on a working cattle and sheep farm, 30km from Dordrecht and ± 700km from Johannesburg The last 7km to the lodge is a dirt road for which a high clearance vehicle is recommended It is also the ideal stopover between KZN and Cape Town ACCOMMODATION: Accommodation is offered in a sevenbedroom, self-catering lodge that sleeps 14 people in total It is fully equipped and serviced by two domestic workers daily Highland Lodge is an eco-lodge, operating on solar and gas (no Eskom power) Rates: Self-catering – R450pp/night Catered for: R1000pp/night A minimum charge of R1800/night applies for the lodge Children under the age of 12 years stay free of charge The lodge offers free wifi and has one indoor fireplace, as well as an indoor and outdoor braai Checking-in and out times are very flexible THE FISHING: Highland Lodge has stillwaters ranging in size from 1ha - 11ha These are stocked with brown and rainbow trout at least once a year Float tubing on all the stillwaters is permitted Ten dams are situated within 15 minutes’ drive of the lodge, of which three are within walking distance A further five are on other properties, but still exclusive for the use of Highland Lodge guests only The largest rainbow caught to date weighed in at 5.7kg and a brown trout of 7kg holds the record Catch-and-release only Fishing is charged over and above the accommodation at a fee of R400/angler/day, or R200/angler/half day Flies are for sale at R5.50/fly OTHER ACTIVITIES: Wing shooting in season Tel: (045) 941 1001 e-mail: bellvl@telkomsa.co.za www.highlandlodge.co.za DESTINATIONS • GAUTENG • NORTH WEST • FREE STATE • CAPE TO ADVERTISE YOUR VENUE OR PROPERTY HERE, CONTACT OUR OFFICES ON TEL: (012) 371-3914/5/6, OR E-MAIL: adsales@completeflyfisherman.co.za Aqua-Via Club Angling Resort RiverStill Guest Farm Situated 6km from town on the Groot Marico River Four rustic self-catering cottages, equipped with electricity and gas stoves, fireplaces and outside braai areas • Situated on the banks of the Vaal Dam offering 4km of water front • Ideal base to explore the Vaal and surrounding yellowfish rivers • Self-catering rondavels and wendy houses • 110 camping sites • Ablution facilities Visit our website www.riverstill.co.za Fly fishing for bass and yellowfish in the Groot Marico River Contact us on Cell: 082 252 4547 (o/h) or 071 210 0204 (whatsapp only) Contact Santa at the Information Centre 083 272 2958 or (014) 503-0085 or info@marico.co.za WWW.AQUAVIA.CO.ZA PUZZLES GUEST HOUSE guest suites 084 420 1989 | karen@kalm.co.za Michelle 083 440 3480 Elsie 082 375 4560 puzzles.gariepdam@vodamail.co.za Newly built units, each with its own entrance, featuring two 3-quarter beds, as well as a double sleeper couch and large en-suite bathrooms The rooms are equipped with guest house bouquet DStv and air-conditioning Semi self-catering facilities, including a small fridge, microwave, kettle, cutlery and crockery Ample open parking is provided behind high palisade gates Situated in the quaint town of Clarens, the area offers some great trout fly fishing waters self-catering suites sleeping a couple each, within easy walking distance of town Visit our website www.kalm.co.za Perfect for the fly fishing enthusiast or for a peaceful getaway Highlander Trout Lodge Exclusive self-catering accommodation in individually furnished cottages on a working t farm All units have lounges with DStv, door fireplaces and outside braai areas uated 8.4km on the Hartbeeshoek road, only 45 minutes’ from Pretoria and Johannesburg Cell: 083 453 1564 / 083 251 6833 highlander@highlanderlodge.co.za www.highlanderlodge.co.za Booking is essential No day visitors allowed Situated on the banks of the Vaal River, ideal for targeting yellowfish! Accommodation: 18 fully equipped, self-catering chalets sleeping people each, as well as a campsite for tents and caravans with electricity and ablution facilities Activities: Volley ball • putt-putt • trampoline • swimming pool • kids play area AND MUCH MORE! 082 571 2015 | 083 306 3877 | oordnebo@lantic.net | www.oordnebo.co.za DAY FISHING ACCESS CATCH & RELEASE INTRODUCTORY FLY FISHING CLINICS WINTER FLY FISHING COMPETITION SMALL-STREAM YELLOWFISH CLINICS • • • • • • • • • TEAM BUILDING CORPORATE EVENTS ACCOMMODATION SPA AND HOT AIR BALLOON PACKAGES Prime fly fishing destination in Gauteng! Situated in the Cradle of Humankind, Kloofzicht Lodge & Spa is a comfortable 40 minute drive from Sandton and Pretoria The lodge’s luxury accommodation overlooks four fly fishing dams and the Blaauwbank Spruit Sundowner Fly Fishing Adventures manages the catch & release fishing for trophy trout (rainbows, browns and golden), bass, carp and smalland largescale yellowfish Limit on the rods per day to ensure a private experience Fly fishing clinics are available for beginners and experienced fishers Our value fly fishing package is offered for people that fish regularly Advance booking required SFA reservations 083 414 0391 or (010) 549 1736 / info@sundowner.co.za / www.sundowner.co.za The accommodation options range from thatched chalets to serviced campsites All chalets are self-catering We offer an excellent onsite restaurant and bar Situated 22km from Villiers, 1.5 hours from Johannesburg The lodge has spectacular views and abundant fauna and flora with plains game and varied birdlife Over and above having access to the Vaal and Waterval rivers, we also offer five dams stocked with several species, including smallmouth yellowfish and bass This ideal setting has earned us two top-ratings: for the best location and also the best value-for-money in Wilgefontein! Guided day trips to the Vaal River near Parys Bookings with Rohan Koegelenberg Cell: 079 874 7380 | www.rapidhunter.co.za f ed o am at ks D ti u ban ruit S e sp th rst on kho on Br Contact us on 087 802 0822 / 082 584 5004 or e-mail: info@lekoalodge.com, or visit www.lekoalodge.com KAIA MANZI RESORT • Variety of accommodation options • Camping • Dam access • Super tube • Mountain bike trails • Conference facilities www.kaiamanzi.co.za (013) 932-3140 TCFF | FEBRUARY/MARCH 2019 | 87 “Share and share alike” continued from page 90 I am pleased to say that I have always had an open approach and have been very happy to share intelligence on the spots where monsters lurk – that is, if I know the water Furthermore, I have always found that my fishing friends and acquaintances equally share their knowledge and, certainly, they derive as much pleasure from seeing others take good fish, especially if it is after their recommendation Without being judgemental (which of course I am), I think secrecy of this sort shows a certain meanness of spirit If you believe that there is a close family of fly fishers, what would prevent you from sharing information? Phil’s second example is a little more difficult to deal with He suggests that those who go away on fishing trips take some newcomers with them, so as to share their knowledge That, however, may not be so easy when all is considered If you are like me, living too far away from any water to a day’s outing, then a fishing trip usually means going with a few friends as I have done since my student days, albeit that now we take spouses along at least twothirds of the time Under those circumstances, it is usually a somewhat closed group, often of old friends, and it is not just a question of your agreement to an extra head as the others in the party need to agree as well This, understandably, is not always that easy, so I will own up to Phil’s observation If I take my own fishing buddies, the Woolly Worms, for example, we are a group who have been fishing together for time marked in decades not years, and despite the fact that we have visiting Worms from time to time, it is not a common practice Usually the visitor will be well known to two or three of us, at least, so it would be difficult for a total outsider to fit in I suppose, too, that if I am brutally honest, there are also questions of personality to consider If one is away for three days or so, there is always the possibility that either the guest or the hosts may not really enjoy each other’s company, and that would put something of a damper on the outing – possibly for both parties Nevertheless, I recognise the problem, but am not sure what to suggest as a solution mentors to whom I am greatly indebted Surely the way to discharge the obligation is by doing the same for others myself? There are, of course, many guided trips that one can go on with experts – a great way to learn, but not inexpensive Perhaps Phil’s first steps could be to join a club and link up with some like-minded fly fishers Equally, I am sure that if you put the position to your local tackle dealer, he would be happy to help if possible After all, the more loyal custom he can attract, the better off he will be I have always found the guys in the fly shops to be most helpful, and only too willing to offer assistance Perhaps some readers might have suggestions If so, I am sure we would all like to hear them you enjoy fishing wet or circumstances suggest it, then why not? I have an oftrepeated rule in life and that is I don’t tell other people how they should fish, although whenever I can, I try to encourage variety But anyway, there I was, trying to classify myself in terms of George’s divisions I have at some time or another been a practitioner of almost all of his groupings Obviously, I would not be keen to be classed as one of the Wrench-it-Back Savages – although, if you are fishing in the sea or for tigers, this is the way to go most of the time I favour a floating line for most of the fishing I do, but I would not call myself a member of the Floating Line Elite I hope that there is nothing elite about me I am but a common fly fisher George talks about the Imitative Impressionists, and I would regard myself as being comfortable with this style, which I take to be nymphing I think that a nymph in the hands of an experienced fly fisher is one of the best ways of taking fish Perhaps I am also one of the Figure-of-Eight Gentlemen, since this is the way that I retrieve my line, whichever way I am fishing However, I am not sure what is “gentlemanly” about this It’s just my habit – unless I happen to be among the Wrench-it-Back Savages because an ultra-fast retrieve is necessary But other than salt or tigers, my standard way of controlling my line is with the figureof-eight method, which I really thought was something that we all Perhaps it’s not so common after all, and something that possibly marks you as someone who learnt their craft many years ago – but then you can usually deduce that just by looking at their appearance I don’t think I look like someone in my twenties any longer “I THINK SECRECY OF THIS SORT SHOWS A CERTAIN MEANNESS OF SPIRIT IF YOU BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A CLOSE FAMILY OF FLY FISHERS, WHAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SHARING INFORMATION?” Everyone needs mentors in life, and I certainly had a number of fly fishing The second piece I found was a letter from George Harris who wrote about the stages of a fly fisherman – a most entertaining notion He suggests that fresh water fly fishers can be categorised into classes defined by the way in which they fish They range from the Woolly Bugger Brigade, through the Floating Line Elite to the Figure-of-Eight Gentlemen Of course, as soon as one finds a classification like this, you want to see where you fit in It’s human nature Now in my case, and I suspect that of many others, it is not that straightforward as I vary my approach and technique somewhat, depending on the waters I am fishing and I try not to be a one-trick pony That said, I can confess to not really being a fan of the sunken line – the Sinking Line Destroyers in George’s taxonomy A sink tip or an intermediate is usually as far as I go, but it’s not a hard-and-fast rule We all tend to the things we enjoy, and if Anyway, I found George’s lighthearted letter most entertaining, as I am sure that you did too Perhaps when meeting other fly fishers we should say, “Hi, I’m Andrew, and I’m a Non-Tube Stealther.” Rather like Alcoholics Anonymous – or so I’m told George ends his letter with some thoughts that we should all take to heart, no matter how we fish And that is, we should treat our quarry and environment with respect, and be open to change and learn from each other I say Amen to that TCFF | FEBRUARY/MARCH 2019 | 89 LAST CAST Photo by Lizelle Jacobs >> Share and share alike We all have a duty and responsibility to welcome newcomers to the fold, says ANDREW LEVY E very edition of TCFF that I read contains lots of articles, ideas and thoughts that resonate with me Over the years, these have opened new doors and added greatly to my fly fishing pleasure and knowledge It is hard to single out any particular feature but the letters to the editor can always be relied on to give me something to reflect on It is a great forum for our fellow fly fishers and it is always good to see an engaged readership The Oct/Nov issue of 2018 was a case in point, and, in fact, there were two letters that gave me pause for reflection The first was from Phil Hadleigh who specifically deals with two aspects I would like to pick up on The first relates to keeping your venues secret He raises the point about whether or not fly fishers, generically, are a secretive lot, keeping their best spots undercover and well hidden from other anglers He also brought up the fact that some fly fishers – usually the experienced ones – formed a “golden circle” that kept locations and other knowledge to themselves, and which could have the effect of driving newcomers away from the sport I found the thought rather distressing because the more fly fishers we have, the better the future of our pastime and the more secure the livelihood of all those who depend on the anglers for their daily bread This is a belief that I hold most strongly: the more folk we have in the fly fishing community, irrespective of discipline, the better off we all will be I think therefore all established fly fishers have some sort of duty and responsibility to welcome newcomers and whatever lies within their control to allow them to feel at home and find the same sense of satisfaction we all get from our pastime Happily, I don’t think this has ever happened to me, although it is not easy to be sure that someone has not shared information with you After all, how would you know if you were never told anyway? Unless attitude and response give it away continued on page 89 90 | FEBRUARY/MARCH 2019 | TCFF Vehicle specifications may vary for the South African market Images used are for illustrative purposes only ... info@evakool.co.za © TCFF 01/04/2018 CONTENTS www.completeflyfisherman.co.za | www.completeflyfisherman.com FEBRUARY/ MARCH 2019 | ISSUE 264 40 22 48 REGULARS FEATURES & FLY- TYING 20 22 28 34 Life is Short,... the fly and you will have to time the retrieve so that the fly passes just over the face of the structure Not close enough and the presentation will not elicit a strike Get it wrong and the fly. .. during the fight I also love the sheer diversity in the way they hunt, from strength in numbers, their pack mentality, literally driving baitfish to throw themselves onto the mud banks to avoid the