My pilgrimage to tiger fish mecca began as a somewhat uneventful trip to the Parrs Halt border post in Botswana. Our routine stopover with friends in Serowe gave us the opportunity to recuperate from the drive and catch up with old friends. Over a hearty dinner and a few too many drinks the talk turned to tigers, high water levels and the chance of chasing a good run. During the September to November period flood waters from Zambia flow into the Kavango River, raising the levels in the Okavango pan-handle and providing suitable breeding grounds for Bulldogs and Imberi in the shallow floodplains. As the water levels subside the baitfish are forced into the deeper channels and seek shelter in the papyrus. Ever the opportunists, schools of catfish in the 3-5kg range form into massive co-operative shoals meticulously thrashing the papyrus, flushing baitfish out of the margins. Though relatively little research into Tiger behaviour has been conducted what astounded me was one of the figures I was informed of: Apparently some time back a few tigers were tagged in the delta as part of a telemetry study. They were followed for three days when the research had to come to an end due to the tigers having crossed into Zambia! The piscavorial ...
There is often debate about what constitutes fly fishing and what doesn’t. On the one hand there are the dry fly purists who disdain anything other than a dry fly on a stream or river. On the other side of the railway tracks are the blue water boys, who chum and tease huge fish into a frenzy and then casually lob a fly into the ensuing melee. While both extremes use fly rods, fly reels and flies the situation is far from clear cut, as there are no clear rules. It’s a kind of democratic anarchy, as the rules are largely followed, but every man fishes according to his own personal dictates. This situation has allowed fly fishing to evolve from the dry fly only chalkstream fishermen, to the various aspects it encompasses today. All species in the world are now targeted, some more successfully than others, but that makes it a challenge, which in turn makes it more attractive. These are the thoughts that occupied my mind as I wolfed down four cans of anchovies in the early hours one morning. It may seem to be a strange preparation for my first snoek (Thyristes atun) fishing trip, but prudence dictated that should a heaving sea cause a heaving stomach, my efforts would not be wasted. Thus my early morning brain stumbled upon the first question of fly fishing ethics. If I were to lose my breakfast, it wouldn’t really be chumming. Really! It could also be considered 'catch & release'. The second question was more complicated. ...
Hi, I have some Transkei Fly stamps and First Day Covers and Sheets, which I want to frame. I would also like to mount specimens of such flies in the frame. My problem is that I need salmon flies such as the Jock Scott, Green Highlander, Silver Grey, Silver Wilkinson, Alexandra, Blue Charm and Durham Ranger. I am a novice in tying (woolly buggers etc. ) nor do I have some of the fancy feathers such as jungle cock etc. that are required for these flies. Can anybody help with details of local tyer who tie to order or suppliers of such flies. Thanks
Hi, i am planning a trip to Ben Joh on the vaalriver in Octorber 2010. please advice me on the flies i should use in this time of year and is Ben Joh a good spot to fish regards
Being humbled is never a pleasant experience, but when you get three humbles in a day, well that's something to really cringe about. Saturday the 5th of June sees yours truly at Jonkershoek for a Bells event to raise money for the SA Team for the Commonwealths in Wales. Tagging along were some of the new Wychwood rods & reels to try out, and a while into the 1st session a few fish have been landed including one of the 10lb hogs that were stocked just before the event. Charl Hamilton of Jonkeshoek ambles over for a chat, and we are talking about the new kit and he asks how easy it is to change the cassettes on the new reel. So, I stop retrieving, pop off the spool, show how its done and don't put the the spool back on properly. It drops into the water, I pick it up, put it back properly, and finish retrieving my line which has just been lying in the water. The moment the line moves a fish takes the fly and my eyes go big. Yes, big with surprise... and big because they needed to be bigger to see the big fish. "Oh, thats one of the biggest ones" says Charl casually. The big fish shows its back and its really big, so massive I need to open my eyes even wider. Eish, then the sad part. It decides it wants to be at the other side of the dam in a hurry and I was not prepared. It pulled the rod almost flat and "ping", the 2x tippet gives way. My eyes kind of loose their shine, go dim. My stomach grumbles and I need to eat a humble pie. ...
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