COMPLETE FLY FISHERM RICHTERSVELD ICONIC JAM FLY TROPHY TROUT WHAT S NEW RETURN TO THE NUBIAN FLATS WATERS FOR 2014 YELLOWFISH EXPEDITION TO THE A E

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1 February 2014 T COMPLETE FLY FISHERM H A E N AFRICA S FRESH AND SALT WATER FLY FISHING MAGAZINE STORY OF THE ICONIC JAM FLY ADVENTURE RETURN TO THE NUBIAN FLATS DESTINATION TROPHY TROUT WATERS FLY-TYING WHAT S NEW FOR 2014 YELLOWFISH EXPEDITION TO THE RICHTERSVELD South Africa: R32.95 (vat incl) Other Countries: R28.90 (tax excl)

2 you ll know when you ve arrived EXPERIENCE LIFE WITH STYLE OUR COMMERCIAL RANGE: MOBILE BUSINESS AND COURIER SERVICE Nose cone Side sliding windows Lockable rear door 1-year warranty on mechanical items 2-year warranty on canopy shell Hi line, low line and full door canopies for small/medium or large business 52 BEEKMAN AGENTS NATIONWIDE NATIONAL HOTLINE 0861 CANOPY ( ) WE ARE F i n d u s o n Disclaimer: Photographs may depict optional extras. Standard canopies do not include optional extras. The manufacturer reserves the right to change specifications without prior notice.

3 PUBLISHER Tight Loop Productions (Pty) Ltd EDITOR PJ Jacobs Tel: (012) Fax: (012) EDITOR-AT-LARGE Tony Biggs FIELD EDITORS Andy Coetzee Murray Pedder Marcus Janssen Turner Wilkinson Andrew Levy Dan Blanton (USA) Steve Starling (Australia & Pacific) FIELD CORRESPONDENTS Ian Couryer Graeme Field CONTRIBUTORS Gerard Barnardt Conrad Botes Jonathan Boulton Keith Clover Dionne Crafford Phillip de Moor Miles Divett John Dreyer Horst Filter Leonard Flemming Bill Hansford-Steele COPY EDITORS Janet Nowers Anthony Krüger Gerhard Laubscher Malcolm Meintjes Jolyon Nuttall Rasmus Ovesen Ben Pretorius Keith Rose-Innes Rob Scott Richard Schumann Tom Sutcliffe Steve Thornton Chris Whales ADVERTISING & PRODUCTION MANAGER Lizelle Jacobs Tel: (012) Fax: MARKETING & ADVERTISING SALES JP Koekemoer Tel: (012) Fax: HARD COPY SUBSCRIPTIONS Marianne Marais Tel: (012) Fax: DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS POSTAL ADDRESS PO Box 1777, Ifafi, 0260, South Africa PATRONS The Cape Piscatorial Society 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 and editor 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, TCFF, PO Box 1777, Ifafi, 0260, South Africa, or via All editorial, photographs, manuscripts and drawings will be handled with reasonable care, however, the editor and publisher assume no responsibility for their safe return. TCFF does not pay for unsolicited material. EDITOR S CAST Time to start galloping Well, 2013 was a blast, thank you, but it did seem to require more effort to achieve the same goals, not only in business, but life in general. And I ve heard the same comment from almost everybody I ve asked. The Chinese called it the Year of the Snake, which meant steady progress and attention to detail requiring focus and discipline. And while I m not much of a believer in that sort of a thing, my annual stint in New Zealand in December did require a lot more focus than usual. NZ trout are, in the main, opportunistic and, provided your presentation is spot-on, not too fussy. Spring creek trout can be the exception to this rule and usually are, but not only did I find them more difficult than usual, even trout in some rivers that are normally easy proved to be a challenge. As a result, I spent a lot more time analysing conditions, hatches, tippet diameter and matching the hatch. Even then, I recall fish that took more than a dozen fly changes before they would finally eat, but that s fly fishing for you. In what may sound like a contradiction, I have to say I loved every moment of it! Fly fishing is a thinking man s pursuit, I like to believe, and 2013 had me putting on the cap a bit more than usual. Back to 2014 and we re in the Year of the Horse, I am told. Yes, I know there is a film of the same name by Jim Jarmusch documenting Neil Young and Crazy Horse s 1996 tour. However, I am referring to the Chinese zodiac calendar that starts on 31 January and lasts until 18 February Apparently there is to be much more energy this year than last, and while I do not subscribe to horoscope predictions and such, here at TCFF the energy is indeed high. In hindsight, I should have started this editorial by saying Welcome to 2014 and the new-look TCFF! By now you would have noticed what is, in our opinion, a fresh and improved look, while, we believe, still staying true to our core principles. Aligning with the times, a new, modern approach is sure to find appeal with our readers of both printed and electronic versions, the latter which has proved to be very popular, especially with our offshore readers. At TCFF, the use and portrayal of photographs has always been a priority, and this is further expanded on in our new template. Design makeovers for some of our forums, as well as the addition of new forums (see Tom Sutcliffe s exciting new one on page 14), are all on the cards for this year. Expect more from us in the future, because continuously improving TCFF is what we strive for. We value constructive comment, so please feel free to drop me an if there is anything you would like to see in the magazine, or have other suggestions as to how we can further improve. Before I go, in line with my approach that this is a thinking man s pursuit, Andrew Levy is on top form this month, as usual. Who would ve thought that Albert Einstein ever offered fly fishing advice? And it s not because fish are exceptionally clever. Quite the contrary, it s the reason why apologies to Andrew and Albert we love this sport so much. P J See you out there. TCFF FEBRUARY

4 FEBRUARY 2014 ISSUE FEATURES & FLY-TYING 12. Forum: Adapt or die Thinking out of the box will ensure you reap the rewards when the Vaal River flow rates are still high. Ian Couryer reports. On the cover: Richtersveld largemouth. Photo by: Katryn Fick 16. Trophy Trout of the Eastern Cape Highlands The Eastern Cape hosts some of our country s best stillwater trout fisheries. Ewan Naude extolls its virtues, and takes a look at a few prime venues. 24. Discovering the Richtersveld The Richtersveld is a veritable pot of gold at the end of the rainbow for those brave enough to make the journey. Those who do soon realise why this venue is on the bucket list of the serious yellowfish angler. Paul Fick and Sean I Ons made the trip and found out why. 36. My Obsession Rasmus Ovesen faced severe challenges to catch his first trophy Danubian salmon on fly. This month, you can read about how his dream came true. 44. Journey to the Nubian Flats Part II: What we Found Rob Scott and Keith Clover return to the Sudanese coast to further explore a location they have been plotting and planning in search of their ultimate salt water fly fishing destination. 56. The Story of the JAM Fly The JAM Fly is an iconic salt water fly pattern with a huge following in the Western Cape. Contributor Conrad Botes tells the story of how it all began. 62. New for 2014 Fly-Tying Field Editor Murray Pedder checks out what s new on the fly-tying scene for Last Cast: An Enquiring Mind Andrew Levy muses about what sorts the men from the boys, piscatorially speaking. REGULARS 3. Editor s Cast 6. Editor s Inbox 8. What s Up 10. Gear Bag 11. On the Shelf 14. Talk to Tom 68. Product Focus 70. Specialised Services 74. Travelling Angler 76. Outventure Guide FEBRUARY 2014 TCFF

5 NUBIAN FLATS - EXPLORATORY SEASON This exploratory season offers the chance to be part of the pioneering edge of fly fishing, to partake in the adventure of discovering new flats for the first time. A truly rare fly fishing opportunity in this day and age. We are running 7 dedicated exploratory trips over the 2014 season. Unlocking the potential of one of the most diverse and pristine marine habitats on the planet, against the completely different backdrop of the Nubian Desert, is a recipe for a world-class fly fishing adventure. TRIP DATES: 23 March 31 March (FULL) 30 March 7 April (FULL) 6 April 14 April (3 rods) 13 April 21 April (1 rod) 18 May 26 May (FULL) 17 May 2 June (FULL) 1 June 9 June (3 rods) To join us on these ground-breaking exploratory trips, contact: Tel: (033) , Cell , or rob@tourettefishing.com

6 EDITOR S INBOX your letter to editor@completeflyfisherman.co.za LETTER OF THE MONTH Finding destiny I am new to fly fishing but, believe it or not, TCFF hooked me many years ago. I d got hold of a copy of TCFF that my dad had obviously bought and, when I opened it, the first two images I saw were a silver fly reel and a black fly reel next to each other with a giant brown trout at the top of the page. I must have stared at that picture for close on five minutes, totally mesmerised. Then I started nagging my dad to take me fishing, and kept at it until eventually he bought me a spinning setup. I caught a few bass, and since then it has been bass fishing. But the speciesvs-technique battle kept raging, with mates laughing off my desire to fly fish. I started winning local tournaments and mastering every single technique and skill known to bass fishing. Then it happened; I woke up one morning and, there and then, decided I am over this. Just like that perfect day, birds chirping I am over this and will cast my first fly today. Period. Thanks to you guys, something as small as a magazine lying in front of a bored kid triggered a desire in me to get me started on what I now call the greatest time of my life. TCFF was my destiny. It has taken me some time to get onto the right track but I did, and the crystal-clear streams and mountain ranges are waiting for me. Mathys Smit. (Letter shortened.) Dear Mathys I always enjoy welcoming new members to the fold. I am awarding your letter our prize of the month, and a great Horizon fly rod to the value of R2500 will be on its way as soon as you contact our offices on Tel: (012) with your details. Enjoy! Ed. Looking for the JAM Fly I am on my way to Buffelsbaai, and I generally fish the lagoons around the area looking for garrick and particularly grunter. I have caught a few, but last year I was spectacularly unsuccessful! The prawns found in the Sedge lagoon are not the typical brown mud prawn, but beigecoloured chaps with orange egg sacs. Can anyone recommend a pattern that I can try? I also see in TCFF s November issue 222 you mention the JAM Fly. Have you featured this fly before? Henk van der Westhuizen. Hi Henk we featured the JAM Fly and its tying instructions in our April 2007 edition, which you can order from our website. Also on the website, in the flytying section, is the recipe for this fly. It just so happens that this month we are publishing an article (see The Story of the JAM Fly by Conrad Botes on page 56) on the history of this pattern and how it has evolved. Enjoy. Ed. More grunter madness We own a guesthouse on the banks of the Kowie River in Port Alfred and are very lucky to have such a healthy estuary right on our doorstep. A couple of weeks ago, we had some guests arrive with fly fishing gear. However, this was their first time fishing salt water. Being confident in my newly honed fly fishing skills, I was keen to get them into some fish, as I know salt water has a reputation of being hard on fly fishermen. The first evening produced two nice garrick off our jetty for the older chap, which had them hooked. I decided to show them our secret kob spot, which unfortunately was not holding many fish that evening. The same guy who caught the two garrick did manage to get a small kob of approximately 1kg, which was now driving his younger adversary crazy. This poor guy was beating the water to a froth in an attempt to get a fish to take his Charlie. Just as the final rays of the sun were slipping behind the distant hills, I heard a commotion coming from the jetty. I was pleased to see the younger chap had finally got himself a fish and was playing it nicely. I was convinced it was a small garrick; however, it was fighting very deep for a garrick. When he finally got it up I couldn t believe my eyes. He had hooked the elusive spotted grunter, the one fish I was yet to catch on fly! Green with envy, I helped him photograph his prize and he safely released the fish to fight another day. Armed with the knowledge that it is possible to catch a spotted grunter on fly, I ve been trying and trying for the elusive flats cruiser. Just the other evening, I was finally rewarded with a beautiful specimen (left) in the same spot that the young chap caught his. Dale Humphrey. Dear Dale many thanks for your letter, which unfortunately reached us too late for entry into the Catch of Note Competition. However, it is currently of interest, as grunter is fast achieving the same status that permit has, being an elusive but extremely desirable species to catch on fly. Unfortunately, few anglers manage to catch them consistently but the good news is that next month we will be publishing an article on tactics for grunter, and after reading that, you will no doubt be better prepared for your quest. In that vein, I am sure that Conrad Botes s article as mentioned earlier will also be of interest to you. Ed. Advice on vise What make of vise is Martin Bawden sitting in front of in the photo at the beginning of Murray Pedder s article in TCFF s Dec/Jan 2013/2014 issue 223? George Broekhuizen. Dear George Murray tells me it s a Peak Vise. If you need more details, you are welcome to contact him directly by murray@flyfishers.co.za WIN THIS TCFF awards the writer of the Letter of the Month a HORIZON fly rod (weight of your choice) valued at R2500 each month! Tel: /9 6 FEBRUARY 2014 TCFF

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8 WHAT S UP on the fly fishing scene us your news to whatsup@completeflyfisherman.co.za Rhodes Stoepsitfees Saprotex, spinner of Elle, Fiesta and Mirage quality hand-knitting yarns, has agreed to provide wool and knitting needles for this year s Rhodes Stoepsitfees taking place from February. Participants will find the knitting wool and needles on all of the participating stoeps, where they can knit and go, ie start a blanket square, and if it is not finished, leave it for the next visitor to complete. At the end of the event, the squares will be sewn into blankets, which will be auctioned at the Wild Trout Festival in March The proceeds will be used to buy even more blankets that will be donated to the needy in the community. While the ladies knit and natter, the Stoepsitfees is a great opportunity for the gents to go fly fishing on the Wild Trout Association s waters in the area. There is a wide variety of beats from which to choose, on more than 200km of running water within an hour s drive of Rhodes. For further information, contact@rhodestourism.co.za Rendezvous weekend Emhlangeni Archery & Fishing will host its first Rendezvous weekend on 21 and 22 March. The venue is a 20-minute drive from the East Rand, Middelburg and Pretoria, in the Sundra and Rietkol area close to Delmas. Activities will include fly fishing, heli flips, bow hunting, off-road bikes and quads, 4x4, outdoor, camping and agriculture, and live entertainment. Gates will be open between 9am and 5pm on both days, and you can purchase tickets at the gate (R70 per adult and R35 for kids under 12). There are also limited exhibitor stands available; Annelie Geldenhuys can be contacted in this regard on Cell: Maclear River Festival Maclear s Rapture of the River festival is scheduled for the weekend of May this year. Fishing will take place on Friday and Saturday on the various waters situated around the Eastern Cape towns of Ugie and Maclear. Included in the entry fee are personalised guiding for the duration of the festival, a lunch pack, and dinner on Friday and Saturday. Organised activities will be on the cards for nonfishing partners. There are lots of prizes up for grabs, and since entry is limited, book your spot early to avoid disappointment. Visit for further information. Record Karoo trout The source of the Little Fish River is on the Somerset East (southern) side of the Coetzeesberg, the mountain range that runs between Cradock and Graaff-Reinet. The river begins as fountain water seeping out from the bedrock of Mother Earth. Most of this limestone water runs underground and stays cool enough for trout to tolerate those blistering hot Karoo days. Trout have been stocked in the Little Fish River since the 1960s and, in sections of the river, seem to be thriving. According to Alan Hobson, guide and owner of the Angler & Antelope guesthouse: The growth rate of these fish is a phenomenon, as catches show growth rates of over 200g a month. And this is au naturel. One can t even force-feed trout in a hatchery to grow that quickly! Typically, 40g - 60g growers or yearlings up to 18cm are stocked in these pools, about 25 to 40 fish every year, depending on the size of the pool. Only four to six fish grow out, as they are left to fend for themselves. We saw two fish in one of the nine pools a few times and estimate that they were close to 70cm and around the 9lb (4.1kg) mark, and another big fish in one of the tributary sources of the Little Fish River in the neighbouring valley. I guided clients there two weeks ago and, while we stood chatting about these monsters, one of the clients unhooked his fly and flicked it into the pool to sort out his leader before casting. Lo and behold, as he lifted the fly to start casting, we both saw this creature come up to his fly, and were jellified to jabbering idiots as it turned no more than a metre from us once it saw us. A week later, I went back to try my luck. After a couple of presentations, I noticed something move near the fly and saw the leader stop. I struck. Suddenly all hell broke loose. She thrashed her head from side to side and darted for the razor edge of the rocky ledge. Having successfully avoided the guillotine of the rocks, she dived for the depths and then shot back towards me. I finally managed to get her onto a small ledge, but then missed her with the first opportunity of getting her into the net. She was just too big! On the second attempt, she came to the net to shrieks of disbelief and respect a massive 6.48kg in all her glory. Way to go, Alan! 8 FEBRUARY 2014 TCFF

9 Oak Lane B&B MACLEAR All our rooms are en-suite, equipped with DStv, electric blankets, wall-mounted heaters, fans, electric kettles, fridges, microwaves and irons. One room is wheelchair friendly. Contact: Lettie Olivier Cell: Maclear on Fly Guided Fly Fishing on the magnificent rivers of the eastern slopes of the Eastern Cape Highlands Your soul awaits in the mountains For info or bookings contact Theuns Botha COSY CORNER All rooms with private entrances and en-suite bathrooms. Secure undercover parking, full DStv. Contact: Andre Vorster Cell: Tel: (045) Murray Street, Maclear Gateway to the Eastern Cape Alpine tourism experience. Situated in Maclear, tucked away in the foothills of the great Drakensberg range along the R56 route. Our facility offers a homely and safe environment. Spacious rooms, DStv, Wi-Fi connection, heaters, electric blankets, undercover parking, and reasonable rates. Contact Ria Vermaak Cell: Tel: (045) bookings@alpinebnb.co.za GPS: E, S Maclear River Fishing Festival 20 spacious units with seperate entrances / DStv / en-suite bathrooms ENTRY FEE: R1200 NON-ANGLERS: R600 Lots of prizes up for grabs! CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES: 15 April 2014 Festival is limited to 50 entries. ENTRY FEES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: Personalised guiding 2 fishing venues Lunch pack on each fishing day Dinner on Friday and Saturday (country style!), braai packs for sale on Thursday night Fishing on Friday and Saturday (Thursday optional) Organised activities for non-anglers Please Note: Accommodation is NOT included. Visit for information on accommodation options in the area. Contact Jeff Sing on Cell: or singinsa@gmail.com Theuns Botha on Cell: or maclearfly@gmail.com Visit for more information and an entry form. BANK DETAILS: Maclear Fly Fishing Club, Standard Bank, account number (Please enter your name and surname as reference with deposit.) Vrederus Wild Trout Eastern Cape Maclear River Festival (Maclear & Ugie Rivers) May 2014 Contact: Shannon Sparks Cell: Tel: (045) declan@xsinet.co.za GPS: S / E For healthy meals and great company. Contact: Wayne Schenk Cell: The Butcher s Diner Tel: (045) schenkwayne@gmail.com 1 Kort Street, Maclear 8km of the Bell River and 10km of the Luzi / Swith stream are available for fly fishing, as well as three stillwaters that are annually stocked with rainbow and brown trout. Two self-catering cottages: Stonefly Lodge (sleeps eight). Boatman s Cottage (sleeps four). Contact: Juan-Marie Naude Tel: (045) Cell: juan@vrederus.co.za Situated 14km from Maclear towards Rhodes. Centrally located to the nearby Mooi, Little Pot and Big Pot rivers, as well as stillwaters which guarantees a fly fishing paradise! Tranquil surroundings, luxurious rooms with en-suite bathrooms, cosy fire place, DStv, fully equipped self-catering farm kitchen and lapa with indoor braai. Meals available upon request. A truly refreshing experience, with nature s best! Contact: Erlank van der Merwe Cell: fairbairnfarm@telkomsa.net Website: Maclear Fit for a Lord Comfortable and affordable. All rooms with private bathrooms, equipped with DStv, microwave, fridge and electric blankets. Undercover parking. Contact: Tel: (045) Cell: maclearmanor@maclear.co.za Website: S E 9 Schmidt Avenue, Maclear

10 GEAR BAG new tackle and gear The press releases featured are solely the material of the manufacturers and agents concerned, and are printed as being of interest to fly fishers. TCFF in no way underscores the correctness or validity of these claims, nor have any of the products mentioned been tested by us. LIGHT BUT WATERPROOF This ultra-lightweight, supercompact rain shell is the latest offering from Montana-based Simms Fishing, the company that many consider makes some of the finest fly fishing apparel in the world. The Hyalite Rain Shell is completely waterproof and breathable, and features water-resistant YKK zips, a three-point adjustable storm hood, adjustable Velcro cuffs and zippered hand pockets. Just the ticket for South Africa s summer rainfall season. For further information, contact Frontier Fly Fishing on Tel: (011) /9. STAY IN TOUCH VOX (voice activated transmission) detects your voice the sensitivity is adjustable and transmits without the need to press any buttons, freeing up your hands for other tasks like changing flies. The Cobra MT975 has many applications, and when you are not out fishing, you can put it to good use as a baby monitor; it scans two channels simultaneously. Sold in a twin pack, the radios come complete with rechargeable batteries and drop-in charger. For further information, contact Imtech Marine South Africa on Tel: , or info.za@imtechmarine.com THIS ONE S GOT YOU COVERED It is also Wi-Fi enabled to communicate instantly with smartphones. Combined with the Drift Mobile App, you can preview and line up a shot remotely from your phone, and change camera settings, shot recording, photo capture and playback, directly through your mobile device. You can even download content from the camera to your smartphone instantly and share content wirelessly across your favourite social media platforms. If that is not enough, get this. While you are recording crystal-clear HD video in a variety of resolutions (ranging from 1080p, 960p, 720p to WVGA), you can simultaneously shoot still photos without interrupting filming, so you never miss a moment. The Drift HD Ghost features an improved design allowing the camera to be 9ft (3m) waterproof out of the box. So whether surfing in Durban or fishing the Vaal River, this camera has you covered. Neat, to say the least. The Drift HD Ghost is available for purchase at various stockists nationwide. For further information, visit CLASSY BUT NOT PRICEY The Cobra MT975 is a top-quality two-way radio, a great choice for camping or sports enthusiasts who need to keep in touch with each other in the outdoors. It is especially handy when fishing a river where you and your buddy fish opposite banks, one spotting for the other. Convenient and easy to use, the MT975 also enables you to stay in touch with other radio users up to 12km away (depending on terrain and conditions) with no licence fee or call charges. This nifty two-way radio features eight channels and 121 privacy codes, providing a total of 968 combinations. The silent vibrate alert for incoming calls is ideal for noisy or all-quiet environments. Drift Innovation recently launched its most feature-rich and intuitive action camera yet the Drift HD Ghost. Its unique features include an industry-first, two-way LED remote control with on/off indicator light, video recording/tagging capabilities in continuous loop mode, and an integrated two-inch Gorilla Glass LCD screen, all of which make this camera, the company says, the best all-in-one solution on the market. Unlike other point-of-view cameras that require aftermarket accessories and peripherals for functionality, the Drift HD Ghost has everything that action-sports enthusiasts need to capture professional-quality video immediately. And the intuitive interface is easy to use, navigate and set up, so users everywhere can begin recording moments after opening the box. Sage says its new 2250 fly reel offers great value for money. Featuring a large arbor with a rugged, machined, die-cast frame, a generous concave spool surface, whisper-smooth carbon drag, and unexpected finishing touches like the fully machined drag knob and handle, the Sage 2250 fly reel is real class at an affordable price. For further information, contact Frontier Fly Fishing on Tel: (011) /9, or visit 10 FEBRUARY 2014 TCFF