COMPLETE FLY FISHERM STERKFONTEIN DAM TROUT NUBIAN FLATS 6-PACK OF DEADLY CLOUSERS SELECTIVE TROUT & YELLOWS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW TO FISH A E

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1 Issue 230 August 2014 T COMPLETE FLY FISHERM H A E N AFRICA S FRESH AND SALT WATER FLY FISHING MAGAZINE FOCUS ON TROUT DESTINATION NUBIAN FLATS 6-PACK OF DEADLY CLOUSERS FLIES FOR SELECTIVE TROUT & YELLOWS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW TO FISH STERKFONTEIN DAM South Africa: R33.00 (vat incl) Other Countries: R28.95 (tax excl)

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) Fax: ILLUSTRATOR & GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jeff Holbrook MARKETING & ADVERTISING SALES Thor Blewitt Marianne Marais Tel: (012) Fax: SUBSCRIPTIONS MANAGER & PRODUCTION COORDINATOR JP Koekemoer Tel: (012) Fax: DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS 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 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 Life is short, fish while you can If Andrew Levy s piece this month doesn t leave you in stitches, you are in serious need of a fishing trip or two. Tell your better half you got the advice on good authority, and if she (or he) still doesn t believe you, quote John Gierach: The solution to any problem work, love, money, whatever is to go fishing, and the worse the problem, the longer the trip should be. Seriously though, there is nothing better than taking some time off with fly rod in hand. Sanity is soon restored, and as Gierach says, the problems won t go away, but they soon seem a lot less important in the grand scheme of things. On the subject of fishing trips, Jannie Visser s unsolicited article of his experiences on the Nubian flats carries this message: life is short; fish while you can. I ve heard anglers say they find little value in reading about offshore trips when they can hardly afford them, but the truth is far from that. Reading about places you think you may never visit will, at the very least, keep the dream alive. More often than not, apart from stunning photographs of fish and vistas, it will also probably teach you a trick or two that you can employ when fishing at home or a more affordable venue. My salt water fly fishing career got off the ground mainly because I read about it and for years drooled over exotic flats destinations across the planet. Every single piece of information that I gathered through reading countless magazine articles and whatever books I could lay my hands on related to far-off shores which I could not afford. Still, I put the knowledge so gleaned to use in local conditions and it stands me in good stead even to this day. Reading (and dreaming) about fly fishing is second best to actually doing it, but it is a very good alternative. Keeping the dream alive is also part of what fuels our sense of adventure and longing to be outdoors, and magazines and books have done it for me for decades, and continue to do so. Also remember, nothing is impossible if you put your mind to it. My first excursion to an offshore salt water venue many, many years ago was fuelled by reading extensively about the species. I got to know so much about tarpon I could comfortably keep a conversation even with a seasoned expert. One day I decided I just had to go and experience it for myself. Only problem was, I couldn t afford it. Well, necessity is the mother of invention, they say, but in my case the answer was much simpler: I loaned so much money the banker insisted on an invite, ostensibly to ensure that his heavily indebted client would come back to meet his obligations. I went (minus the banker), had the time of my life, caught what was probably the first flats tarpon caught by a South African on fly not that that means anything other than the memories which were awesome and never made a better investment in my life! Years later, the debt is paid but those memories still remain, strong as ever. This also is another message you will get from Jannie s article. A final word on the subject. A fly fisher can only really become competent if his field of reference grows on par with his technical expertise. If you can t afford to go on that trip of a lifetime right at this moment, at least read about it with an open mind. You may be surprised how much enjoyment and insight this will provide. The technical tips and advice you will garner are free, and sooner rather than later you will be grateful for it. P J See you out there. TCFF AUGUST

www.completeflyfisherman.co.za www.completeflyfisherman.com AUGUST 201

Reviving and Releasing Fish Knowing more about catch-and-release and the principles behind properly handling your quarry will go a long way to ensuring an adequate revival and ultimate survival of

24. Guide Fly Box: MSP Gerhard Laubscher discusses the origins of his go-to fly for largemouth. 26.

4 AUGUST 2014 ISSUE FEATURES & FLY-TYING 14. Tackle Shop Survival Guide by Jan-Hendrik Hugo. 20. Reviving and Releasing Fish Knowing more about catch-and-release and the principles behind properly handling your quarry will go a long way to ensuring an adequate revival and ultimate survival of your released fish. Ian Couryer reports. On the cover: Releasing a Nubian flats GT Photo by: Richard Morton 22. Guide Tips and Tricks: The GT Shuffle Tim Babich explains a neat trick to fool wary GTs. 24. Guide Fly Box: MSP Gerhard Laubscher discusses the origins of his go-to fly for largemouth. 26. The Magnificent Trout: Chapter I This month, Fred Steynberg and Mario du Preez look at some of the trout s favourite food sources: mayfly, caddis and midges. 32. Grunter on a Surface Fly Reader Dustin Kemp believes the most successful way to catch grunter on fly is on the surface. 34. Clouser Culture What do blacktail, bonefish and GTs have in common? They all like Clousers! Contributor Conrad Botes looks at how the Clouser has evolved. 40. Sterkfontein: Why We Keep Going Back TCFF s annual Sterkfontein Experience offers anglers the opportunity to sight-cast to cruising yellowfish. TCFF Editor PJ Jacobs takes a look at how to make the most of your day on the water. 54. Life s too Short not to go Fishing Trips to far-off and exotic fly fishing destinations often cost more than we care to admit (to our spouses), but Jannie Visser takes the plunge and has the trip of a lifetime. 62. David & Goliath Fly-Tying Field Editor Murray Pedder suggests a handful of patterns that will stand you in good stead when fish become selective feeders. 82. Last Cast: The Baby Elephant Walk By Andrew Levy. REGULARS 3. Editor s Cast 6. Editor s Inbox 8. What s Up 10. On the Shelf 12. Gear Bag 16. Product Focus 18. Talk to Tom 52. Sterkfontein Directory 68. Travelling Angler 72. Specialised Services 76. Outventure Guide 4 AUGUST 2014 TCFF

EDITOR S INBOX E-mail your letter to editor@completeflyfisherman.co.za LETTER OF THE MONTH Trophy rainbow I wanted to send you this picture of my hubby who caught a 12-pound trout in the Berg last week.

We think it worthy of a prize, so you are the lucky recipient of our Letter of the Month prize, a top-quality Horizon fly rod worth R2500, compliments of TCFF.

Enjoy, Ed. Support from New Zealand I missed your wide-brimmed hat in the tussocks at Mavora last summer with Lizelle ready with camera to capture the action.

6 EDITOR S INBOX your letter to editor@completeflyfisherman.co.za LETTER OF THE MONTH Trophy rainbow I wanted to send you this picture of my hubby who caught a 12-pound trout in the Berg last week. Amanda Salton. (Letter shortened.) And what a fish it is, Amanda! We think it worthy of a prize, so you are the lucky recipient of our Letter of the Month prize, a top-quality Horizon fly rod worth R2500, compliments of TCFF. It is up to you to decide to either give it to hubby, or maybe, even better, take up the fine art yourself. Contact our offices on Tel: (012) , and it will soon be on its way to you. Enjoy, Ed. Support from New Zealand I missed your wide-brimmed hat in the tussocks at Mavora last summer with Lizelle ready with camera to capture the action. Just wanted to commend you on the quality of magazine you produce, and many thanks for sending me copies. I was interested in the furore over the DEA s intention to classify trout as a pest fish. There has recently been some press here in Otago from DOC about trout driving indigenous galaxiids to near extinction. Luckily for us, DOC still manages the Taupo trout fishery, a high tourist income earner, and is therefore not in a position to advocate for trout removal. Over 40 years experience as a Fish & Game officer tells me that eradication of such a hardy species will not be as easy as it sounds, unless drastic methods like poisoning and blanket netting are used. Even then, you would only thin them out. Let s hope common sense prevails and it is recognised what the fishery is worth to local economies, and that turning a river or lake eco- system s clock back 200 years is nigh on impossible. Stu Sutherland, Fish & Game New Zealand, Southland Region. Let s not forget our roots Just my two cents worth on the issue. Fly fishing is steeped in tradition, and tradition is something that is worth upholding. Among other things, it embodies the founding principles that have made fly fishing endure as a sport, art, pastime call it what you will for more than 400 years. Those new to the pursuit will be well advised to look to the roots before they think of themselves as fly fishermen. Ethical behaviour in trout (and other species) fishing is synonymous with good manners, and I find a disturbing lack of it onstream these days. On a recent outing at a popular and upmarket venue, a very good piece of river was ruined by anglers not having the common decency of allowing others a bit of space to fish. Carefully stalking fish only to find the run barren, evidently a result of young anglers around the next bend thrashing around in the river, one in shorts and bare feet, certainly takes away from what is considered the quiet pursuit. Adam Greaves. (Letter shortened.) A friendship rediscovered The name Jono Shales has certainly been causing a buzz in salt water fly fishing circles in the last few years. For me, the name means something completely different. He is my oldest friend. We grew up on the road in Bryanston and, sadly, were separated when my family relocated to Cape Town when I was five. In August 2012, I took the opportunity to travel to Exmouth in Western Australia to see Jono and rekindle our 33-year-old friendship through a shared passion of fly fishing. Oddly, we had never fished together before. In fact, the last time we had seen each other was nine years previously over two turntables in our other shared passion of DJ-ing. I knew that the eight days together were going to be something special. We targeted numerous species, but for me the thrill of it all was sightcasting to queenfish in gin-clear flats water. We camped for three days on a disused pearling factory site, and from sunrise to sunset I was perched on the bar constantly scanning for long black shapes cruising the flats. This queenie was different, however. As the boat gently glided past a mangrove log, there it lay in ambush mode. I dropped the Clouser no less than 4m away and we both saw the fish turn without hesitation, Jono screaming at the top of his lungs, He s gonna eat, he s gonna eat! The queenie swallowed the fly and rocketed across the flats, jumping and tailing on every run, my 8-wt being put solidly through its paces. The fight was electric, the fish was a supreme specimen, and for me it was the catch of a lifetime. This was a special moment, shared with a very special old friend. Simon Arenhold. White Waters article At long last a quality article on local venues. I sincerely hope that we will now see monthly articles about the local scene and venues of the quality of Sean I Ons White Waters (TCFF May 2014, issue 227 ). He has covered most of the ground excellently. Raymond R Tyler. (Letter shortened.) 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 AUGUST 2014 TCFF

hat s Up on the fly fishing scene E-mail us your news to whatsup@com

The venue, situated close to both Johannesburg and Pretoria, will provide anglers with a day s fishing out in the country.

The cost of R395 for adults and R265 for children includes coffee/tea and snacks on arrival, entry fee to the event and an accuracy and distance casting competition, as well as

za Queenstown Fly Fishing Club annual gathering: report-back The 2014 Queenstown Fly Fishing Club s annual gathering was held on 13 and 14 June on various trout waters around

In contrast with last year s event when over 200 fish were landed (the largest being 72cm), this year only 30 fish were caught (the largest being 62cm).

The event has proved extremely popular over the years, so diarise it now if you wish to attend in June 2015.

8 hat s Up on the fly fishing scene us your news to whatsup@completeflyfisherman.co.za Kloofzicht Winter Challenge Kloofzicht Lodge has postponed the hosting of its winter fly fishing competition to Sunday 31 August. The venue, situated close to both Johannesburg and Pretoria, will provide anglers with a day s fishing out in the country. Proceedings will kick off at 6:30am and end at 12:30pm with a prize-giving ceremony. The cost of R395 for adults and R265 for children includes coffee/tea and snacks on arrival, entry fee to the event and an accuracy and distance casting competition, as well as a buffet lunch. The competition is limited to 40 anglers. For further information contact Wayne Sinclair on Tel: (011) or Cell: , or sundownercorporate@ gmail.com or info@sundowneradventures.co.za Queenstown Fly Fishing Club annual gathering: report-back The 2014 Queenstown Fly Fishing Club s annual gathering was held on 13 and 14 June on various trout waters around the town. Fly fishermen battled against high winds gusting up to 70km/h, and very few kickboaters had the leg strength to stay on the water. In contrast with last year s event when over 200 fish were landed (the largest being 72cm), this year only 30 fish were caught (the largest being 62cm). Despite the bad weather though, everyone had a good time and expressed their intentions to return next year. The event has proved extremely popular over the years, so diarise it now if you wish to attend in June Kariba Invitation Tiger Fish Tournament Amatola Fly Fishing Club On 6 September, the Amatola Fly Fishing Club (AFFC) will be holding its annual fundraising competition on the scenic Gubu Dam near Stutterheim. The day, open to the public, will include a trout fishing competition, the first prize being a guided trip with Tourette Fishing on its Three Rivers experience in Lesotho. There will also be casting competitions (distance, accuracy and broomstick distance casting). The AFFC manages and administers the fishing in Gubu and Maden dams set in the foothills of the Amatola Mountains and offers quality trout fishing within proximity of Port Elizabeth, Grahamstown and East London. For further details, visit The 53rd edition of the popular Kariba Invitation Tiger Fish Tournament will be taking place from October at the NAUZ Charara site, Lake Kariba. Entry is by application, qualification or invitation, and is open to all clubs, societies and their members who meet the organisers requirements. Entrance fees are US$360 per team (minimum of two and maximum of four anglers per team). For entry forms, visit or contact the tournament director Rod Bennett on Tel: or , or kitft@iwayafrica.co.zw 8 AUGUST 2014 TCFF

TCFF Sterkfontein Experience 2014 With everything set and ready to go, bookings are open for our 14th Sterkfontein event, scheduled to take place from 21-23 November.

Africa s prime fly fishing destinations, is a must-do event on the yearly fly fishing calendar.

Anglers will be guided by some of the finest yellowfish guides in the country, there will be great prizes for each participant at the prizegiving, and the spitbraai on Saturday evening promises to

Anglers of all skill levels are invited to attend the Transkei Trout Open from 11-12 October, at Mabheleni Dam situated 42km from Mthatha.

A cash bar will be available on Friday and Saturday evenings, and there will be braai packs for sale. For further information, contact Jurie Venter on Cell: 082 653 2503.

However, at some point or another, almost every stillwater becomes prone to problems such as poor water quality, weeds taking over, or breaking or bursting its banks, and a lack of knowledge on how

With accurate information about dissolved oxygen (DO), ph, temperature, water depth, flow rate, aquatic insect life and cover, you will be able to determine your individual piece of water s carrying

9 TCFF Sterkfontein Experience 2014 With everything set and ready to go, bookings are open for our 14th Sterkfontein event, scheduled to take place from November. Fondly referred to as the Sterkies Experience by those who have attended in previous years, this annual happening, which focusses on sight-fishing for small- and largemouth yellows at one of South Africa s prime fly fishing destinations, is a must-do event on the yearly fly fishing calendar. Numbers are limited to ensure that each participant has a quality experience and that the venue is not overcrowded. Anglers will be guided by some of the finest yellowfish guides in the country, there will be great prizes for each participant at the prizegiving, and the spitbraai on Saturday evening promises to live up to its legendary status. To book your space now, contact Nicolette Raath on Tel: (012) Don t miss the Transkei Trout Open Water management problems? Anglers of all skill levels are invited to attend the Transkei Trout Open from October, at Mabheleni Dam situated 42km from Mthatha. There will be prizes for the heaviest bag and the heaviest fish, as well as for ladies, juniors and teams. The entry fee is R440 per angler and R220 for juniors under the age of 16. A cash bar will be available on Friday and Saturday evenings, and there will be braai packs for sale. For further information, contact Jurie Venter on Cell: A well-balanced and correctly stocked piece of water will ensure hard-fighting, healthy and fast-growing fish. However, at some point or another, almost every stillwater becomes prone to problems such as poor water quality, weeds taking over, or breaking or bursting its banks, and a lack of knowledge on how to manage the dam will ultimately result in poor fishing. With accurate information about dissolved oxygen (DO), ph, temperature, water depth, flow rate, aquatic insect life and cover, you will be able to determine your individual piece of water s carrying capacity of trout. For more on this, you can contact Simon Barnes from Trout Water Management on Cell: , or simonb@handmadecc.co.za Thomas & Thomas acquired by CNS Outdoor Technologies LLC CNS Outdoor Technologies LLC, the Massachusettsbased company owned by Albert-Neville Orsmond, recently announced the acquisition of fly rod maker Thomas & Thomas owned by Mark Richens. CNS has purchased both the Thomas & Thomas brand and the extensive rod-making facility in Greenfield (Massachusetts), and will continue the long-standing T&T tradition of manufacturing premium bamboo, glass and graphite fly rods in the USA. Orsmond will replace Richens as president and CEO of the business. Commenting on the sale, Richens said that T&T is well positioned in the market but I feel on-site leadership is essential for the brand to really fulfill its potential. As a serious fly fishing enthusiast, a devotee of T&T products and an experienced businessman, Neville Orsmond will provide this in abundance and I wish him and all associated with Thomas & Thomas a happy and prosperous future. Travel dinner showcasing trips On 3 September, Flyfishers Unlimited plays host to an evening dinner and presentation showcasing their various travel trips on offer, ranging from those suitable as family getaways, father-and-son trips, groups and individuals. The venue is the Kyalami Country Club in Johannesburg and the cost is R250 per person, which includes a welcome drink, meal and presentation. For further information, murray@flyfishers.co.za, or hylton@fly-leaders.com TCFF AUGUST

ON THE SHELF new books and dvds of interest to fly fishers Above: Gary Borger.

A fly fisher since 1955, he has taught at fly fishing schools and lectured worldwide since 1972 on all aspects of fly fishing.

Flies series. Gary designed the industry-standard Ultimate wading shoe for Weinbrenner, as well as numerous fly designs, fly lines, rods, reels and other products.

He has received many awards, among which was the first Lew Jewett Memorial Life Membership in the Federation of Fly Fishers in 1979 for his conservation efforts.

This award-winning author has written several books, including Nymphing, Naturals, The Borger Color System, Fishing the Dry Fly, Designing Trout Flies and Presentation.

Instead of reprinting the book, Borger has embarked on expanding it in a series of books, which started in 2010, with a new issue added each subsequent year.

FISHING THE FILM This book of Gary s still holds the greatest attraction for the fly rodder in any water type.

10 ON THE SHELF new books and dvds of interest to fly fishers Above: Gary Borger. The name Gary Borger is well known both locally and in the international fly fishing arena, and Gary has contributed several articles to TCFF over the years. A fly fisher since 1955, he has taught at fly fishing schools and lectured worldwide since 1972 on all aspects of fly fishing. He pioneered instructional fly fishing videos with the release of Nymphing in 1982, and there have been many additional titles in the internationally acclaimed Skills of Fly Fishing and Designing Flies series. Gary designed the industry-standard Ultimate wading shoe for Weinbrenner, as well as numerous fly designs, fly lines, rods, reels and other products. In 2001, he was inducted into The Outdoors Best VFS Fly Fisherman Readers Poll Hall of Fame. He has received many awards, among which was the first Lew Jewett Memorial Life Membership in the Federation of Fly Fishers in 1979 for his conservation efforts. Gary is Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin in Wausau. This award-winning author has written several books, including Nymphing, Naturals, The Borger Color System, Fishing the Dry Fly, Designing Trout Flies and Presentation. The latter is his brilliant, groundbreaking book, which is long out of print, and good second-hand copies are changing hands nowadays at ridiculous prices. Instead of reprinting the book, Borger has embarked on expanding it in a series of books, which started in 2010, with a new issue added each subsequent year. The series will eventually encompass 20 books. To date, there are four on fishing, and the next books will cover fly gear and casting. FISHING THE FILM This book of Gary s still holds the greatest attraction for the fly rodder in any water type. Fish feeding at the surface film are not necessarily eating dry flies; they might be feeding on emergers, nymphs, minnows swimming near the surface, mice or frogs swimming in the film, and other organisms utilising the uppermost layer of the water. Gary covers the skills necessary for successfully fishing the film, including an understanding of what fish see when feeding at the surface. The book contains a host of tactics, including both dead-drift and actionpacked presentations. Throughout the book, the how-to is animated with stories that stretch back over half a century of Gary s fly fishing life. Complementing all of this is a collection of black-and-white illustrations by his son Jason Borger, also a regular contributor to TCFF. Hardcover, 192 pages, READING WATERS This topic has wide-ranging angling implications, for reading waters is much more than just finding likely holding spots for fish it s really a holistic angling strategy that combines a broad array of elements into the bigger picture. In this book, Gary defines the characteristics of the fish s three types of lies and shows how to identify them. He then embarks on a tour covering little streams to massive rivers. Along the way, he defines and discusses riffles, pools, rapids, runs, flats and more, pointing out the locations of sheltering lies, feeding lies and prime lies. Then there s the secret river that few fly fishers know, and fewer still fish. There s also a careful look at lakes, as well as ocean flats and more. Hardcover, black-and-white photographs, and illustrations by Jason Borger, 192 pages, LONG FLIES: STREAMERS, BUCK- TAILS & OTHER BIG FISH FLIES Big fish target the food sources that provide the greatest amount of energy. These are the long-fly organisms such as minnows, leeches, eels and mice. Gary covers the origins and development of long flies in their many forms, from bucktails to streamers, muddlers to divers, strip flies to collared leeches, etc. In this book you will find a historical exploration of long flies, from their earliest, simplistic days to 21st-century techno flies. You will also find a discussion on effective ways to fish them, from basic cast-and-strip retrieves to more evolved methods that have their roots in other fly fishing and all-tackle disciplines. Eighty example imitations are shown in full colour. Hardcover, black-and-white illustrations by Jason Borger, 192 pages, THE ANGLER AS PREDATOR Gary Borger explores the angler as predator, discussing the how-to and whyto of the tactics of hunting and stalking fish, of predatory casting techniques such as the sidearm roll cast, the elliptical stroke, the C pickup and many others. There are thorough discussions of the fish s environment and the way they detect predators with their vision and hearing. Fishing after dark is an excellent predatory tactic, and Gary covers this topic in detail. In addition, understanding the many ways of setting the hook allows the fly fisher to take the fight to the fish in a positive way. Hardcover, black-and-white photographs and illustrations, 192 pages, For further information, contact Netbooks on Tel: (021) , books@netbooks.co.za, or visit 10 AUGUST 2014 TCFF

South Africa: R190 (vat incl)

South Africa: R190 (vat incl) introduction By pj jacobs Published by: Tight Loop Productions (Pty) Ltd Editor: PJ Jacobs Contributors Volume I: Brendan Becker Derrick Beling Jonathan Boulton Graeme Field