NEWSLETTER OF 19 AUGUST 2012
HERMAN BOTES' PAPA ROACH 
Herman with a Largemouth Yellowfish
This celebrated pattern is covered in a posting this week by Gijsbert Hoogendoorn and Warren Van Rensburg. I think the Papa Roach could well lay claim to being the single most important South African stillwater pattern of the last decade.
http://www.tomsutcliffe.co.za/fly-tying/312-herman-botes-papa-roach
FACEBOOK PAGE
My lovely daughter Alison has persuaded her techno-fossil father to open a dedicated Facebook page. For articles and photographs on techniques, fly tying, fly fishing art, books and other interesting stuff, visit my Facebook page at your own risk at www.facebook.com/flyfishingfanatic.
THINKFISH FLYPAD FLYBOX SYSTEM
Fly boxes with interchangeable leaves are nothing new, but Thinkfish have brought out a modular fly box system that certainly raises the bar on fly boxes and fly storage systems, adding great structure to the way you carry and store your flies.
The system starts with the FLYPAD (R285.00), a strong, waterproof box with a clear lid so you can see the flies without opening the box.
Next are interchangeable Fly pad TRAYS (R100.00), an innovative system for selecting the set of flies appropriate to each fishing scenario, meaning you can choose trays with different interiors and different sets of flies depending on the occasion.
You can then store your FLYPAD and TRAYS in the FLYPAD BOX (R740.00), that can hold two fly pads and 10 trays, providing storage for more than 1200 flies in a strong and compact 20cm x 20cm x 11cm fully ventilated box.
A waterproof locking system is created by using 8 neodymium magnets and high density neoprene. The THINKFISH FLYPAD system carries a 3 year guarantee for technical manufacturing defects.
From:
Craig Thom
http://www.streamx.co.za/index.htm
+27 21 551 4248
NEWS OF PHIL HILLS
After fly fishing on a shoestring for the past 9 months or more from Argentina, through Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, Mexico and the United States, Phil Hills and his partner Caitlin, have reached Vancouver in BC. A note from Bryce Powell:
‘Just wanted to let you know that we had Phil & Caitlin stay with us this past week. Thank you so much for putting them in touch with us. We all got on so well and shared many a laugh and story swapping. They are a super couple and we were sorry to see them leave today. You can look forward to some interesting travel tales when they get back to South Africa!
Phil and Bryce fishing Green Lake, BC
I was able to take Phil fishing a couple times, but unfortunately there was not much action. He was able to give me some good fly tying pointers and I was delighted to watch him tying flies.’
VANCOUVER ISLAND SUMMER RUN OF STEELHEAD
Professional photographer David Lambroughton sent a few images of this magnificent place, its rivers and its fish.
I hope to have more information on the availability of David’s fly fishing calendar for 2013 in the near future.
CUTTHROAT ‘THROWBACKS’ IN SOUTH AFRICAN WATERS?
Cutthroat trout, native to western North America and particularly the Rocky mountains and Pacific Northwest, evolved into many subspecies some of which were inevitably (and probably inadvertently) mixed with Kamloops strains that years gone by were first used to stock rainbow trout the length and breadth of the fly fishing world as we now know it.
The rainbow trout above, taken two weeks back from Highland Lodge in the Eastern Cape, shows vestigial traces of some possible genetic link to cutthroats. Note the orange flare below its mandible, nowhere near as pronounced as in the genuine article (BELOW) of course.
It’s an interesting but not uncommon phenomenon to find trout like this in South African stillwaters.
A J THRAMER BAMBOO FLY RODS IN SOUTH AFRICA
Says Tom Lewin of Frontier Fly Fishing:
After a years’ wait I have just received 6 of AJ Thramer’s exquisite bamboo fly-rods. They are all the same spec, but being made from a natural material means that no two rods are identical – each one is unique. AJ and I had long discussions about suitable tapers, length and line weight for our typical conditions here in South Africa. I wanted an action that fly-fishermen who fished graphite would adapt to easily and we both agreed that a 7 ½ foot 4-weight would be perfect for trout streams and small ponds. AJ dug up a taper that he felt sure would fit the bill based on a Dickerson-style, dry-fly action. In the ways of a man who has been making bamboo fly rods fulltime for 35 years, he nailed it.
The rods easily turn over a leader with 6 inches of line out of the tip and at 30 feet their buttery smoothness comes into its own. Cosmetically the rods are what you would expect from one of the world’s greatest bamboo rod makers; understated and flawless. All rods are 3-piece and come with two tips. Hardware is blued and they have antique agate stripping guides. They come in a machined aluminium rod case and high quality cotton bag.
Now here’s the cool bit. Off his own bat AJ has given the rods the serial numbers SA12-1 through to SA12-6 which stands for the first rod made for South Africa in 2012, the second rod and so on.
(See also on my website, ‘Random thoughts on bamboo fly rods’ at http://www.tomsutcliffe.co.za/fly-fishing-diary/173-random-thoughts-on-bamboo-fly-rods)
LOCALLY MADE FLY FISHING GIFTS FOR CHRISTMAS – No, it’s not too early to think about them!
Christmas might seem a long way off, but ordering hand-crafted goodies like the ones I have listed here will likely need a few months for delivery. So think about it and if you are moved, make sure you get your cast in earlier rather than later.
Steve Boshoff nets and bamboo rods
A master of finishes and artistic understatement, Steve Boshoff’s bamboo rods and nets are well worth a look, probably are among the best in the world. I have one of each.
Steve Boschoff and his gear
Stephen Boshoff at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Chris Bladen sculpture
Judging by the number of international buyers he’s now getting, Chris Bladen’s work is a sound investment. But that’s hardly the point. His bronzes are also exceptional art pieces and extremely easy on the eye. 
Chris Bladen and an example of his art
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and http://www.chrisbladen.com/
Freestone Rods
Architect Steve Dugmore is generally known as a master of bamboo rod tapers. I have two of his pieces, including a delicate 000-wt and both perform like wands!
Steve Dugmore and my example of his work
Stephen Dugmore at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and http://www.freestonerods.co.za/
The Good Doctor’s Beetles in a presentation box
The Good Doctor’s beetles are renowned for fooling yellowfish in the Sterkfontein dam, but that aside, a box of them is pretty enough to frame!
Available from Andre Burger, Present-a-Fly, Bethlehem, Free State at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and http://www.presentafly.com/
Deon Stamer nets
Simply put, he’s right up there with the best. I have a beauty, pictured here on the Sterkspruit River, Eastern Cape.
Note the inlay in this Stamer net
Deon Stamer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and see http://www.tomsutcliffe.co.za/fly-fishing-diary/200-handmade-landing-nets-the-new-wave
Mario Geldenhuys nets
If pure enthusiasm made fine landing nets, Mario’s would be the best in the world. He turns a simple, functional piece of tackle into an exquisite art form.
Mario Geldenhuys and examples of his nets
Mario Geldenhuys at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and http://www.customflyrods.co.za/
‘Call of the Stream’ by Peter Brigg
Finally, if you can’t wait for any of these hand-crafted delectables and need more instant gratification, I recommend this sumptuously illustrated and well written book, one of the great works in our South African fly fishing literary stable. It also makes a magnificent gift, especially for overseas friends – especially any ex-pat South African fly fisher you may know who is currently languishing in a seething stew of terminal homesickness on some far flung foreign soil.
Peter Brigg at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and http://www.tomsutcliffe.co.za/index.php/my-friends-pages/peter-brigg-call-of-the-stream
ANGLING PRESSURE AND TROUT CATCHABILITY: BEHAVIOURAL OBSERVATIONS OF BROWN TROUT IN TWO NEW ZEALAND BACKCOUNTRY RIVERS
(North American Journal of Fisheries Management.)
By Roger G. Young a & John W. Hayes, Cawthron Institute in Nelson, New Zealand
These two scientists argue that with angling pressure increasing throughout the world the perception is that trout are becoming harder to catch. While agreeing there was little scientific evidence to support or refute this, they set out to test the hypothesis scientifically.
They measured the response to angling pressure in two South Island New Zealand rivers, one relatively inaccessible and little fished and the other a popular recreational venue. The most marked behavioural response to angling pressure was in the little fished river, where trout that had been caught and released or merely disturbed were rarely seen over the following few days. They went into hiding. No similar hiding response was seen in the trout in the popular river. However a learning response was evident in the fish in the popular river, indicating that trout in well fished rivers are more likely to be skittish and fussy. Young and Hayes were able to show that smaller, lower-profile flies were needed to catch them.
Leonard Flemming with a South Island brown trout
So it seems there are observed learning responses in fish that anglers can counter by improving their techniques. However, the hiding response observed on the little fished river seemed to indicate that controls on angling, such as access restrictions, may be required to maintain a quality angling experience in wilderness fisheries.
Of even greater interest to me was the age structure data for trout in these rivers, which indicated some of the browns were 12 to 15 years old. More than half of the trout from the more remote river were over 7 years old! News to me.
(See full article on http://dx.doi.org/10.1577/M03-177.1 )
IWANA – ONE OF THE FEW JAPANESE SPECIES OF TROUT
Think of Japan and trout don’t readily spring to mind. But fortunately David Kleyn, a South African fly fisher who has lived in Japan for years, keeps reminding me that Japan has vast expanses of wilderness areas, many beautiful fly streams and a few species of indigenous trout. Well, char actually, but who cares. They’re every bit as pretty.
A feeding Iwana (above) and the Himitsunosawa stream (below).All photos per David Kleyn. 
Hope you have a great week. Only two more to go before the season opens!
Tom Sutcliffe August 19, 2012
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