26 AUGUST 2012 NEWSLETTER
FLY RODS GET EVEN BETTER – IS THAT POSSIBLE?
Seems so from what I’ve just been reading. The Orvis Helios range certainly pushed the fly rod bar to Olympic gold medal level when it came out, but the new Helios 2 appears to do even better. 
There’s no indication on the weight of these new rods (surely it’s hardly possible to make the lightest rod Orvis ever designed any lighter?), but the performance is up considerably, presumably by grafting yet more new space age technology into the Helios’s almost flawless original tapers. Due out in November this year, Orvis is dubbing their arrival as akin to the ‘Second Coming’.
http://www.orvis.com/intro.aspx?dir_id=758&subject=10438
GETTING THE BEST FROM CANADIAN FLY FISHING
Al Spaeth and I used to fish together on lakes in Impendhle KZN long before steam was invented. Lately we’ve been soaking our brains with the endorphins you release when you plan an off-the-wall fly fishing trip, even if it’s all still in-our-heads, proto-type day dreaming. Our object is to do the ultimate trip to Canada next year. That suggested steelhead, of course, but beyond that, maybe trophy brook trout in Labrador and wild Westslope cutthroats in the Canadian Rockies – on dry fly. Here’s what our research has come up with so far.
Cutthroat on dry fly in the Rocky Mountains
Canadian ace David Lambroughton recommended Beckie Clarke of Fernie Fly Fishing as the outfitter of choice. Fernie is a town in the south-east corner of the British Columbia Rockies approximately 60 km from the Alberta and U.S. borders and not that far from Calgary. See http://fernieflyfishing.com/. Her company offers:
Elk River
Located in the Kootenay district of British Columbia, the Elk River drainage is a diverse river system offering incredible fly fishing opportunities for cutthroat and Bull trout.
The cutthroats in the Elk River are big and beautiful with vibrant, highly coloured backs and deep bellies.
They average between 14 -16 inches and it’s not uncommon to hook into cutts of over 18 inches.
The Wigwam River 
Located deep in the backcountry, this is a very cold, gin clear mountain stream that flows swiftly over a riverbed covered with colourful rocks. The river is home to some healthy cutthroat, cutt-bows and migratory bull trout. Hatches can be very productive, apparently giving amazing dry fly fishing right in the heart of the Rocky Mountains.
Brook trout at Three Rivers in Labrador
The Three Rivers Lodge seems the pick of the bunch to me. To quote from their website http://www.trophylabrador.com/
‘We are a successful sporting camp because first, we’re located on a remarkable fishery – the Woods River Wilderness in Labrador. Second, every member of our staff is fully committed to our philosophy, and that is to give our best effort to excel in all things that are within our control.
At Three Rivers Lodge, the brookies are river fish; strong, classically-proportioned and beautifully colored throughout the season. They are true trophies, averaging 3 to 5 pounds and running up to at least 10 pounds with 6, 7, and 8 pounders abundant.’
Say no more.
Steelhead in the Dean River
April Vokey is now a household name in steelhead fly fishing circles, running a premier guiding service focussing on the steelhead of BC, most particularly those in the famous Dean River. http://www.flygal.ca/
From their website:
‘British Columbia's Dean River steelhead are world renowned as the strongest fish of their kind and inhabit one of the last pristine and untouched environments within their native range. The season begins in late June and fishes strongly until the last days of August. This is one of the only places on Earth where an angler can land a trophy fish while surrounded by waterfalls, epic mountains and emerald blue water...all while only minutes from the ocean!’
Well, that’s as far as we have got. We will need a week at each of these three venues so it won’t be a cheap holiday. I will be passing a collection cap around shortly.
WATERLOG
In latest issue of Waterlog magazine I came across an amusing cartoon by G.E. Studdy from H.T. Sheringham’s book, Fishing, It’s Cause, Treatment and Cure (1925).
It concerns fishing ethics and depicts two anglers baited with worms squaring up on the banks of a stream and the following caption, ‘ If two members of a fly fishing club are caught using natural bait, the gentleman with the larger worm should apologise first.’
My copies are generously sent to me by a friend on London, Frederick Mostert. I read them cover to cover and pass them on. They say trout are too valuable only to be caught once; Waterlog magazine is similarly too valuable only to be read once.
http://www.waterlogmagazine.com/
FROM RITCHIE MORRIS ON THE ZAMBEZI
‘Here are some photos from the recent trip to Ilombe on the Zambezi with Upstream Flyfishing (http://www.upstreamflyfishing.co.za/trips/sekoma.php ).
It was very cold. 7 degrees C most mornings with some difficult fishing, but we got fish, including two tigers of 16 pounds. John got a 13 pounder with a few teeth missing that we nicknamed Gums.’
KEY WEST AND HURRICANES
From Sharland Urquhart
‘We have just departed Key West in the rain as the news of hurricane Isaac is not great for Cuba and the Keys. As you know, it is only 90 miles from Cuba to Key West. I was eleven miles out in a small single engine boat yesterday when the first bit of action started. A gentle breeze suddenly dissipated into nothing...all became so very still and quiet and out of nowhere the clouds changed from high and white to heavy, hard grey real scary clouds.
In a matter of seconds the wind and waves got up – a breath-taking experience, but all things considered, when your guide says “Hell, I do hope this stops soon ‘cause this is real dangerous...”, well, it was time to put away my little underwater Canon and pray like hell! We made a desperate run for it and finally found some shelter the closer we got to the flats between two tiny islands. As suddenly as this ferocious weather started, it abated. But it took a while – and some of my precious fishing time!
All in Key West are packing up their boats, placing metal shutters on windows etc. The drive out took a very long time as so many people were leaving. Most of the road out is a single lane. We are back in Palm Beach and depart for New York in the morning. Am rather tired from driving so shall end on this note. Much prefer fly fishing for trout!
Just been informed it is now a hurricane and will be hitting Cuba and Key West so our decision to not continue our stay in Key West was the right one.’
TRITE TRUISM
The older I get the better I was.
Anon.
AJ THRAMER BAMBOO RODS
In last week’s newsletter I reported that Tom Lewin at Frontier Fly fishing had just imported six AJ Tramer bamboo rods. This week he informs me he only has one left. That should tell you something about the way fly fishers value good products from the ‘dark side’.
DAVID LAMBROUGHTON’S FLY FISHING COMFORT CALENDAR FOR 2013
If you are in need of some comfort viewing in your office or at home in your study, Dave’s calendar is a must. Order directly from him off his website http://davidlambroughton.com/#.
CURRENT FLY FISHING CONDITIONS IN KZN FROM JAN KORRUBEL
‘Those who have braved the stillwaters in the weeks after the snow found them on the chilly side! This slowed the fishing somewhat, with only a few catches reported among blank sessions. Successful flies moved down in scale from the Papa Roach dragon, to small nymphs, bead heads and hotspots.
I did, however, get to some water recently when I ran an introductory fly fishing clinic for the remaining contestants on the forthcoming reality TV show “The Ultimate Braai Master” (13 episodes in all, it starts airing on Thurs September 13 at 8pm on SABC3. My episode will be #10, airing in November).
I am happy to report that water temperatures are climbing fast and fish are back on the prod. All contestants caught fish, with olive and brown patterns (like small Woolly Buggers and Rob Karssing’s Kamberg Nymph) being the order of the day.
While the snowmelt provided good input for the rivers, water levels are dropping again. But I am hearing reports of rising fish from landowners with streamside access.
Less than a week to go: Roll on 1 September! Have pre-planned that I will suffer an attack of that mysterious lurgy that suddenly strikes fly fishers this time every year… ‘
Pied Kingfisher. Ritchie Morris image.
Tom Sutcliffe
26 August 2012
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