COMPLETE FLY FISHER BOGAGRIP DO S AND DON TS T A H N E AFRICA S FRESH AND SALT WATER FLY FISHING MAGAZINE TIGERFISH.

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1 Issue 241 August 2015 M T A H N E AFRICA S FRESH AND SALT WATER FLY FISHING MAGAZINE COMPLETE FLY FISHER TIGERFISH BOGAGRIP DO S AND DON TS South Africa: R35.00 (vat incl) Other Countries: R30.70 (tax excl)

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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 Chris Whales ADVERTISING & PRODUCTION MANAGER Lizelle Jacobs Tel: (012) PRODUCTION COORDINATOR JP Koekemoer Tel: (012) MARKETING & ADVERTISING SALES Marianne Marais Tel: (012) SUBSCRIPTIONS (HARD COPY AND DIGITAL) Tel: (012) OTHER DIGITAL PLATFORMS Anthony Krüger Gerhard Laubscher Malcolm Meintjes Jolyon Nuttall Rasmus Ovesen Ben Pretorius Keith Rose-Innes Richard Schumann Rob Scott Tom Sutcliffe Steve Thornton 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 TCFF does not pay for unsolicited material. EDITOR S CAST Use the right tools for CAR Fly fishing, like most things in life, comes full circle. Somewhere in the middle, I would guess, is the time when you chase big fish only, the trophy fever allconsuming and belittling anything in its path. Thinking back, they were exciting times, for landing a trophy on fly is something that all fly fishermen aspire to. Those that tell different, lie. Period. It s just that, once you re past the trophy stage in your career as a fly fisherman, the enjoyment of catching a trophy remains but, importantly, the drive to target them to the exclusivity of all else will be largely gone. And that s a good thing, for there is much more to fly fishing than catching just big fish, but I won t try to sell that. It will come to you of its own accord, and by the time it does, you will be ready. Still, there s a lot to be said for a photograph of a good fish. For one, it symbolises success and a certain degree of skill with the long rod. This magazine is no exception to the lure of publishing such photographs, but we do strive to keep a balance. With big fish also comes big(ger) responsibility. They are harder to handle, both in and out of the water, and subsequently more difficult to revive properly before release. It becomes imperative for you to learn more about the quarry, especially from the point of view of the stresses imparted on it as a result of capture. Not knowing or understanding what it takes to revive a particular species could very well mean a death sentence for it, irrespective of the best intentions of the angler. I well remember my first fly-caught sailfish. It was a big one, close to 100lb, and took a long time to bring to the boat. Big sailfish truly deserve their denomination as a billfish, and once they go over 70lb or so, they can be a real handful on a fly rod. At the time, I had no bar to measure that first fish against, apart from the fact that it fought like hell. Once the adrenaline had subsided though, my only concern was to get it back in the water and revive it properly for a successful release. So focussed was I that very few photographs of that fish were ever taken, something that I feel sorry about but don t regret; it was stressed out and needed my best efforts to survive. I knew little about release procedures for sailies at the time, and ended up hanging over the gunnels, holding the fish by the bill, while my wife took the helm and gently steered us into the current. It was uncomfortable, but I hung on to that fish for a very long time. In fact, at one stage I thought it could not be revived, for it showed very little improvement in regaining its posture. When I eventually let go, my back felt like it was broken in three places, and the fish slunk away into the depths in a manner that appeared to be much less vigorous than I d hoped for. Only later did I learn that some sailfish will do that, let you hang on to them even after they have revived enough to have a good chance of survival. Still, it is always better to err on the side of caution. The point though: taking the time to learn more about the quarry and the best CAR practices for the particular species can go a long way to improving its chances of survival. Some time ago, a reader requested more information on CAR for local species, and as stated, we intend featuring articles on the issue in future publications. What is also important are the tools best suited for CAR, from species to species, especially those that are armed with teeth and other protrusions that can be dangerous to your health if not handled properly. CAR is not only understanding the best resuscitation principles P J applicable to the quarry, but also the impact of the tools we use to do that. If you are not sure what that means, read the article on BogaGrip do s and don ts this month, and I think you ll see what I am driving at. See you out there. TCFF AUGUST

4 AUGUST 2015 ISSUE FEATURES & FLY-TYING 16. Forum: Reflections on a River It s time to take stock of how we really impact our fisheries. Ian Couryer reports. 20. Guide Fly Box: Shuttle Cock Tim Babich shares an easy-to-tie pattern that works for both stillwater and river fishing. On the cover: Tiger time! Photo: Mark Murray 22. Guide Tips and Tricks: Essential Knots Leader/Tippet to Fly In Part II, Ryan Hammond demonstrates his go-to knots when it comes to attaching tippet to fly in a salt water environment. 26. Patagonia Adventure Accompanied by his fiancée, Gerhard Laubscher explores a fabled Patagonian fishery. 36. Beating the August Winter Chill Fishing in comfort is possible even in the depths of winter. We offer some tips to make sure the cold weather doesn t limit your opportunities. 42. Gearing Up for Largies August is prime time to target largemouth. Field Editor Turner Wilkinson spells out what works for him. 48. BogaGrip Do s and Don ts Used the wrong way, a BogaGrip can be a lethal tool. Keith Clover looks at how to correctly use a Boga on tigerfish. 52. Becoming a Trigger Junkie Conrad Botes travels to Sudan to find out why trigger fishing is highly addictive. 56. Fly Shops of the World Part I: Stu s Fly Shop TCFF Editor PJ Jacobs kicks off our new series that gives an inside look into the world s most famous fly shops. 60. Dragons and Damsels Fly-Tying Field Editor Murray Pedder talks dragons and damsels. REGULARS 3. Editor s Cast 8. Editor s Inbox 10. What s Up 12. Gear Bag 18. Talk to Tom 66. Product Focus 68. Specialised Services 70. Travelling Angler 74. Outventure Guide 82. Last Cast 4 AUGUST 2015 TCFF

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6 ALPHONSE FISHING CO SEYCHELLES Destinations: Alphonse Island, Desroches Island, Astove Atoll Lodge and Cosmoledo Liveaboard The best fly fishing destinations in the Seychelles, run by fly fishermen for fly fishermen. The best guides, boats, tackle, infrastructure, logistics and fly fishing. Fish with Alphonse Fishing Co and be assured that we will direct you to one of our four operations that will suit your fly fishing requirements best. Keith Rose-Innes

7 ALPHONSE ISLAND DESROCHES ISLAND ASTOVE ATOLL LODGE COSMOLEDO LIVEABOARD SA mobile: Alphonse Island:

8 EDITOR S INBOX your letter to: editor@completeflyfisherman.co.za LETTER OF THE MONTH An FFRP for fly fishermen? While on a nostalgia trip to my old school in South Devon recently, I came across something that made me think. It was a caravan park for retired people only in other words, a facility for retired persons (FFRP). The owners of the park, themselves retired, made sure that the fees and the facility were the kind of place that people on pension could afford and enjoy. With my pension coming out to around one-third of my final salary, I was wondering why we could not do something similar here in SA, for example at trout fishing resorts? Here I m referring to the enormous rates being charged by resorts nowadays. One I saw was over R2000 per person per night! Add the cost of the fishing itself plus the cost per kilogram of fish that was kept, and a weekend for myself and my wife, including petrol, would therefore amount to nearly R10,000. A place, I suspect, that caters more for the overseas visitor who can enjoy the favourable exchange rate. This is but one example. Many charge less, but not by much, putting them all out of reach for the average pensioner. Some even claim to have pensioners rates but they are still way out of reach for most. The advantages of catering only for retired people, said the caravan park owner, were that they tended to be more mature, almost always left the place in a spotless condition, were respectful of those around them, and were more likely to honour their bookings. No vandalism, noise, general disobedience, no-shows and failure to pay. Here I was reminded of the time we were at a fishing resort where a group of so-called adults drove in with the thump-thump pounding, all of them shouting at the top of their voices to make themselves heard, and drunk and disorderly for most of the time. This continued for the entire weekend. When asked to turn the noise down, they responded that they wanted to teach everyone how to appreciate good music. It wasn t music, it wasn t good and it was certainly not appreciated. Could we not have a trout resort in SA that caters for retired people our own FFRP? Reasonable cost, peaceful and, by all accounts, a lot easier and more pleasant to run. Something for an owner of a trout fishing venue who is more interested in helping others enjoy the pastime than making as much money out of it as possible to the exclusion of those who possibly deserve such a thing in their twilight years. Brian Stockton. Hi Brian thank you for the thoughtprovoking letter. I cannot but agree with you; fly fishing caters for all ages, and as one nears retirement and even well into it, the desire to fly fish does not diminish, although one s earning capacity certainly does. Although most establishments base their tariffs on what is profitable seen from a percentage occupancy over the financial year, I am sure that catering to a specific segment of the market could see those occupancy rates increase, thus allowing for reduced rates. Or perhaps, set aside a certain portion of the accommodation for pensioners, and charge accordingly. As you rightly state, there is a lot to be said for having considerate guests, as opposed to uncouth and inconsiderate ones who may have an impact on future occupancy. Some weigh-in from the industry would be appreciated, and if any do cater specifically for this category of patronage, let us know and we ll publish your letter. Brian, you win our Letter of the Month prize, a great Horizon float tube to the value of R3250 that will be on its way to you as soon as you contact our offices on (012) with your details. Tight loops. Ed. Once-in-a-lifetime trout bonanza A friend and I recently spent a weekend at my property at Teal and Trout just outside Machadodorp. The fishing has not been that good of late, so we decided to have a laid-back weekend and not take the angling too seriously. After a late night around the fire on Friday, we eventually got to the first dam at around 10.30am on Saturday. The water was clear and there was a moderate breeze. What happened in the next two hours was amazing. Almost every second cast was a rainbow, all ranging between 500g and 1.5kg, and all taken on Arno Laubscher s Pancora Woolly Bugger. After releasing about 20 fish, we decided to go to the next dam just below where we were fishing. This dam proved to be a bit slower, but we persisted with the same fly. After two good-sized ones of about 2.5kg, we were really chuffed with ourselves. So, one more cast before returning to the house. Then bang, we were both into the biggest trout of our lives. Each measured 54cm with a condition factor of about 120. I believe they would have weighed above 10lb. The next day, we released another 20-odd fish, and wow, again two of over 10lb. We were so excited about our catches that we decided to stay an extra night. What happened the next morning was incredible. I hooked a massive 15-pounder (see photo). This was definitely one of those once-in-a-lifetime weekends that will remain with us forever. Gary Larkan. Wow, Gary, what an experience that must have been. Almost sounds like a fairytale, but as is clear from the photographs, one cannot doubt the evidence. Pity we can t publish them all. Well done! Ed. WIN THIS TCFF will award the writer of the Letter of the Month a HORIZON Trout Stalker V-boat valued at R3250! Tel: /9 8 AUGUST 2015 TCFF

9 HIGH QUALITY JUST GOT AFFORDABLE HORIZON GUIDE BREATHABLE WADERS FEATURES INCLUDE Articulated seam cut away from the inside knee area to reduce wear and abrasion. Constructed of three-layer fabric on the upper surface and four-layer fabric on the lower surface for puncture resistance. Neoprene suspenders ensure all day comfort. Zippered external chest pocket. Reach-through, fleece-lined, hand-warmer pocket Built-in webbing belt with flush-fitting belt loops. Integrated gravel guards to prevent gravel and sand from entering wading boots. Repair kit included. Colour is medium olive/ dark olive. * Price: R2750 (Best price guaranteed) Contact Frontier Distribution for your nearest dealer Tel: (011) info@frontierflyfishing.co.za

10 FORUM: WHAT S UP Send your news to: info@completeflyfisherman.co.za SA Guide-Dogs Charity Event The annual South African Guide- Dogs Association (SAGA) Charity Fly Fishing Event will be held on 29 August, with 35 anglers fishing private, syndicated waters in Dullstroom on a catch-and-release basis only. First prize for the angler landing the longest fish is an all-inclusive international trip of a lifetime. The main sponsor, Nedbank Private Wealth, will ensure an array of hand-outs and prizes, as well as a major contribution to a very worthy cause. For further information, contact Sarah Boulton by sarah@flyfishing.co.za. Women s Fly Fishing Festival The 18th annual Women s Fly Fishing Festival will be held on the waters around Maclear and Ugie from October this year. Registration costs R1100/person, which includes two days guided fishing, lunch packs, dinners, a goodie bag and a prizegiving ceremony (excludes accommodation). Nonanglers are welcome to attend at R600 per person. For further information contact Jacky Lamer by jsteytler@gmx.ch or Gerhard Pretorius by umqfin@mweb.co.za. Senior A Fly Fishing Championships This year s Senior A Fly Fishing Championships were hosted by Western Province on the Cape streams, as well as stillwaters in the Cederberg mountains. The three-day event comprised two sessions on the first and second day and a single session on the last day. Nine fly fishing provinces are currently affiliated to SAFFA, with each permitted to enter their top five anglers to contest for a team medal. An invitation team which performed best in the previous B National event was also entered to ensure South Africa s top anglers do not slip through the ranks of the selection process. Local experience had the upper hand on day one, with Western Province leading the way, Northern Gauteng in second and Boland in third place. Conditions on day two were perfect; there was no wind, which made for ideal dry fly conditions. On day three, each team had their game plan on how to entice the extremely wary trout, but Western Province solidified their dominance and took first place, Northern Gauteng came in second and Free State sneaked into third place. Ronald Smith (NG) took gold in the individual round, Luke Baker (WP) silver and Daniel Factor (NG) bronze. A total of 443 fish were caught, measured and released over the five sessions. Tourette Fishing has moved office Tourette Fishing has moved from Hilton to new, roomier premises at 25 Montgomery Drive, Athlone, Pietermaritzburg. There is a dedicated retail space, fly-tying area and plenty of room to drink coffee, tie flies and talk fly fishing, so feel free to pop in anytime during business hours to discuss your dream trip, get advice on tackle, pick up some flies, or simply for a quick catch-up. For further info, contact Tourette on Tel: (033) Our Father s Day competition winners The lucky readers of our two Father s Day competitions were the following: Willie Jacobs and Jac Aldous whom each receive a 20L IceKool Icebox valued at R690, kindly sponsored by Evaport Outdoor. Sandy Mackay is the recipient of a softcover edition of Fishing Stories for Africa, valued at R250. Please contact our offices on Tel: (012) to arrange for the collection of your prizes. 10 AUGUST 2015 TCFF