QUOTE FOR THE WEEK:
And there’s a small canyon in Wyoming some friends and I fish that is, in fact, crawling with rattlesnakes. They’re not seven feet long, but I could wish they were so they’d be easier to see. There’s a mythology to canyon fishing that’s always just true enough.
John Gierach – Still Life with Brook Trout
My website
Work on my new-look website is nearly complete and the reports I have received from many readers and friends have been very favourable. If you have any comments or suggestions I would be glad to hear from you and thanks to all the folk who gave invaluable advice during the redesign.
New Themed Gallery on Gates, Fences and Posts
I have just added a new Themed Gallery titled Gates, Fences and Posts. You will now find all the themed galleries under the menu item PHOTOGRAPHY and in a strip at the bottom of the HOME page.
Apology for the delay
My apologies for the delay in sending this newsletter. It was occasioned by my putting my back out, for no reason that I can think of. But in a few moments my spine felt like it had been used as cover in a serious shootout. Doctors, X-rays and a bunch anti-inflammatory meds later I am at last able to sit in front of a keyboard without wincing every few seconds. You might have been there yourself, given the omnipresence of back problems in this world.
News from Robin Fick
Says Robin:
‘My wife and I went up to the Diepspruit ( Barkly East District, Eastern Cape Highlands) on the 20th November 2012 and stayed until the 25th. We experienced the lowest water I have found on the river and we were blasted by high winds to the extent that that I was unable to fish on several days. I concentrated on the Yellowfish as I have never been on the river in summer. Using a Derek Smith custom Sage 8 foot 9 inch 3 weight, I was able to hook several Yellows among the Rainbows after long stalks to present yellow bodied hopper and simulator patterns on very clear and slow moving water.
I had one exceptional evening on the water above the road bridge using a 6foot 10 inch Derek Smith custom Sage and a modified Deer hair Caddis pattern taking about 20 Rainbows and a Yellowfish. I found the Yellowfish up to the junction of the Pitlochrie Stream which must be 18kms from the Kraai River. I wanted to fish the Kraai as it looked perfect from the bridge at Barkly East but the wind made it impossible and just as well we did not go as we experienced a thunderstorm and a puncture which turned out to be a piece of fencing wire. The joys of riding over farmlands.
We stayed overnight at Mike and Candy Ferrar on our way back from Sterkfontein and it was a very pleasant with great company and excellent food. It started to rain while we were there and they were very grateful for the gentle rain that fell throughout the night. Their river is looking good.
Stream on Mount Melsetter in the middle of the Karoo!
(Mike and Candy have Mount Melsetter 44 kms from Middelburg in the Karoo. I wrote about my stay there this October and there splendid stream on my website. SEE http://www.tomsutcliffe.co.za/fly-fishing/my-fly-fishing/item/305-barkly-october-2012-part-1.html )
From Jan Korrubel of KZV
The weather continues to play games here in KZN – after two beautiful days earlier in the week it turned on its head with a 27mm downpour on Friday afternoon. The Mooi River was clearing nicely and now it’s back to a mudslide. The upper Bushman’s is, however, still looking fine and fishable.
With the uncertain weather, anglers have been slow in coming out to play, but some colleagues braved the rain on Friday and fished a local stillwater and reports were that big fish were on the prod, some were hooked none actually came to hand. The fly of the day was the Papa Roach, in olive livery. With the holidays in swing now, I expect the anglers to appear in force very soon.
Reports are that the scalies are also starting to move – although with the inclement weather patterns, not yet in any great numbers, but some good fish have already been brought to hand. For some great live yellowfish action, see the video clip on Vimeo at http://vimeo.com/53939577. With Friday’s downpour however, reports from yesterday are that the river is heaving chocolate right now, and will take a few days to settle.
Having never yet been lucky enough to clap eyes on it, I was recently loaned a copy of B. Bennion’s “The Trout are Rising in England and South Africa” (2nd Edition), and I have been royally enthralled by the chapters regaling the fishing in South Africa of the time.
I leave you with a quote from the book: “One hint may here be given to the youthful fly-fisher: watch for all you are worth, the experience fly-fisherman: study his easy, finished methods. His performance will make you wonder how it is done; you will wish you could only throw a fly like that, and strike your fish so imperceptibly but so effectively.”
News from Murray Peddar of Flyfishers Unlimited
Says Murray
‘Flyfishers Unlimited has undergone some major changes. Ricko has left us to pursue other interest and I am handling the retail store at Cedar Square Fourways. The store will undergo a revamp in January to provide more space for planned stock purchases and layout.
The shop has been stocked up for Christmas with a huge range of Columbia clothing, a full range of Renzetti products including the all new Black Traveler vice and a large range of Wapsi Fly tying materials. Custom Fly tying and Rod building still remain a large component of Flyfishers Unlimited. Our travel calendar next year includes trips to Sekoma Island, Highland Lodge, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Argentina, with new destinations being added early in January.’
From Jonathan Boulton - OmniSpool LineMan – fly line storage made simple.
Says Jonathan, owner of Mavungana Johannesburg and Mavungana Dullstroom
‘Tired of having your spare lines lying around and collecting dust? Need a system that can Store, Clean and Assist in changing over with relative ease? Omnispool has brought out a product called Switchbox. It is robust, clear and comes in 2 different colours. Select the lines you need for each outing, clip them together and throw them in your gear bag, it’s that easy! Key functions include: Compact octagonal design, Smooth non abrasive line aperture in lid, transparent boxes for easy identification of lines. Optional extras: Colour coded crank handle and Line Care/Cleaner Box.’ See link to Mavungana below:
http://www.flyfishing.co.za
Tom Sutcliffe
