If you cannot read the email below please go to www.archerfish.co.za/news/jan_sx.htm

Dear [fname]

If you aren't sick of it yet, complaints of the season to you, and may 2010 be a plentiful year, both piscatorial and fiscatorial.

While researching Japanese methods of flyfishing, I came across these gems, courtesy of Google Translate,
and just had to share them with you.

"This DVD was taken to disturb you at your home"
"Tying to stimulate your mind and live with a sense of delivery and plenty of neat conjuring."
"Described confusing while I repeat, step by step, we'll roll."
"Tying is so close-up shot from the perspective of teachers and can be found in the feeling of being wrapped around yourself like a fly."

Ok, I guess its just as funny the other way around.

Best regards, Craig Thom

Stream X
Fly fishing extremes, from freshwater streams to extreme salt water.

News

Rhodes Wild Trout Festival, 18th to 21st March 2010
R 1 950,00 per flyfisher and R1650,00 non-flyfisher includes 3 days fishing, guide, if required, dinner & lunch-packs but not accommodation. This can be arranged for you at a venue of your choice in Rhodes
Contact: dave@wildtrout.co.za or telephone 045 974 9290 or Tony Kietzman – 082 894 3946

New Sole for Wading Boots
Rocksole (Upper Whale Street, Cape Town) have informed me that the new Vibram Wading Sole (Aqua Rubber) material has arrived. This is the first time they have received the Aqua Rubber for wading boots. Ballpark for a pair of boots is in the R550 range which includes stitching of the front. Contact Raj or GK Jaga on 021 424 3858

Jonkershoek Saltwater Mullet Day
Saltwater action, with specific emphasis on targeting mullet on fly! In preparation, they will be doing a fly-tying session to tie some flies for mullet. The trip is planned for the 6th of February 2010. Booking is essential - space for 10 rods. The cost for the trip is R250.00 per person. To make a booking, e-mail jflyfish@iafrica.com or phone Charl on 072 459 7750.

This Months Tip

Creating a Hatch

I think it was Lee Wulff who was the exponent of this kind of fishing, the object of which is to get a resting fish into a feeding mode by constantly drifting a fly over it. Well, it seems like this is nothing new, as it is a method that has been in use in Japan for a long long time. They call it "Sutebari". The translation is "showing off the fly", but a literal word for word translation goes like this "throw away fly hook". The latter won't get us any fish, but the Sutebari technique will.
Not only is the technique different, but the tackle and flies are as well.

On the left is a typical 'Tenkara" fly (picture compliments of Yoshikazu Fujioka). You can find more examples and a description of the "Sutebari" technique on his website.

And now to the point. Sometimes you come across a big fish in a river, and you want to make sure that a. you catch it, and b. you don't spook it. The above technique comes in handy at this point.
Start by presenting your fly in line and next to the fish, reasonably far off. This will also help you get your casting distance right. Then gradually lengthen your cast and slowly move each cast nearer to the fish, so that the landing fly describes an arc. After a few casts, you will be ahead of the fish and drifting your fly right through the prime zone.
OK, so you ask why you shouldn't bung it into place the first time. A few reasons. One. You could duff it and spook the fish. Two. Using this method you get your aim right. Three. You are creating an artificial hatch, and the fish being more familiar with the flies just outside his feeding zone but within sight, is more likely to have a go at the fly.

Travel

Maldives
2010, 14 - 20 March $1900 (4 spaces)

Contact us for more details

New Products

Stroft Tippet now available in Fluorocarbon

After a lot of preparation and Tests, STROFT has launched two new fluorocarbon lines onto the market, STROFT FC1 and STROFT FC2. Both have been been tested by the EFFTA and carry the EFTTA seal of quality. Both versions have the highest breaking strains that the EFTTA have as yet been able to confirm for fluorocarbon lines. Sensitivity, feed-back, low memory and abrasion resistance are qualities of both lines, with the FC1 version has been designed for higher knot strength, and the FC2 for suppleness. The lines feature all the advantages of fluorocarbon, like low rate of absorption, high density, durability and invisibility.
Wholesale enquiries welcome. Buy online

Orvis Tippet

Orvis 12 Foot Leaders

With the majority of tapered leaders available in ZA being the standard 9 foot, those who have wanted longer leaders have had to tie their own. It just got easier to do a perfect delicate dry fly presentation as StreamX has brought in the Orvis Super Strong tapered leader in a 12 foot length. Available in 4X, 5X, 6X and 7X, they are just the thing for streams all around the country, as well as for spooky fish on calm still waters, and for small nymph fishing in broken water. Available at a competitive price, the Super Strong nylon fly fishing leaders excel in the widest range of fly fishing conditions because the material balances three crucial elements better than any other fly fishing leader material: elasticity, knot strength, and suppleness. The combination of high breaking strength, softness and suppleness in all temperatures as well as low memory, make this an excellent choice. Buy online

Magazines

Fly Fishing & Fly Tying November & December issues now available, stocks limited. Buy online

Hatches Fall '07 to Fall '09 available Buy online

Flexcoat products for rod building are now available,
and due to customer demand we now stock Maxima Ultragreen

Orvis Mini Nippers
High-quality with precision-ground hardened stainless-steel cutting jaws,
moulded into a compact non-flash housing.
Handy, durable, precise.

New Orvis Hydros Rod

The finest fly rod technology Orvis has ever introduced, at a price level far below its performance level. Will make you smile twice, once at the extraordinary response and accuracy of the rod and then at the remarkable price for a rod so light and powerful. Using graphite design technology based on the Helios, this series is finished with lightweight chrome snake guides, brushed and anodized two-tone skeletal reel seats, and super-grade cork handles. A Cordura® rod tube with protective internal dividers is included and is covered by the Orvis 25-Year Rod Guarantee. You will find no better fly rod in the world at this price. They are built on the exact same tapering and scrim technology as the Helios rods, with many of the exact same mandrels used as forms. Orvis managed to cut a lot off the price by eliminating a lot of the expensive hardware like the recoil guides and the ultralight light reel seat. Rather than pushing the price envelope ever further, Orvis have consolidated technological advances to put more high tech rods in more hands. Available in ZA initially in 5wt 9ft (at a mere 74grams), more models will become available soon. Demo rod available, so come and give it a throw.

Specials

Stealth Fly Rods & Reels, TFO Rod, Xplorer Reels

Please remember that we will match any price on Xplorer or Stealth stock

Details here

Email us or call 021 551 4248 to order.

Fine print: Specials valid while stocks last

Fly of the Month

Moustique
At this time of year, rivers in the Western Cape start producing slate black mayflies in abundance, especially when there is a light upstream breeze blowing. Recently, we estimated at least 50 fish in one pool launching themselves at the egg laying females. Sometimes there were six fish in the air at once, doing some serious acrobatics. Catching them was a no-go until we matched the hatch. In this case, a black Moustique with an X-Twhat on the dropper, both flies catching equal amounts of fish.

Moustique by Craig Thom

Step by step tying instructions are here

Book of the Month

Oliver Edwards' Flytyer's Masterclass -Oliver Edwards
R399.00
Flytyers Masterclass describes and illustrates the tying of a series of "essential" patterns. Oliver Edwards has achieved international acclaim not only for his flytying talents but also for his extra ordinary ability to convey his knowledge on paper. Both dry and subsurface patterns are presented in life-size, step-by-step progressive drawings, making them easy to follow. Included are informative histories of where the patterns can be found as well as what materials are necessary to duplicate their appearance. Many new tying techniques are clearly explained and entomological information about each insect is presented without being overly technical. Flytyers Masterclass provides the flyfisherman with a concise overview of the fundamentals required for successful flytying. By learning the art of flytying, the flytyer will enjoy outsmarting even the most elusive trout with a fly created by his own hand.
Hardcover, 246pgs, 286x236mm 2009 Buy Online

Fly Tying Tip of the Month

Klinkhamer Without Tears

Klinkhamer tip

This tip was found in a old issue of Trout & Salmon Magazine, an easy way to get a hackle onto a Klinky without the frustration normally involved with tying parachute hackles. After giving it a try, I was sold.
Tie your klinkhamer body as usual. Leave the post for last, but before you do it, cut a strip of 1-2mm foam and tie it on as shown in the 1st image. After that, tie in your post material, followed by the hackle.
Now all you do is wind the hackle under the foam and tie it off and trim. Easy as pie! Next, trim the foam without trimming any hackle. Trim the post to desired length and its done. As you can see there is hardly any foam visible.
If you like, you trim less of the foam, which will act as a 'sighter' and also help float the fly. You could even leave out the post.

New for the fly tiers

Wing and body cutting service.
We have acquired a number of sets of wing and body cutters. If you come in an buy foam or body material, you are welcome to use these cutters on site to cut out any patterns you desire. Wings, hoppers, beetles, dragonflies and more!

Silicone sheets for 'Jam' flies
Chenille - tinsel, holographic cactus, ice, varigated
Beads - dazzle & faceted tungsten
Eyes - large sea eyes, black & fluorescent bead chain, dolls eyes.
Wing material - Clear wing, thick wing, thin wing, web wing. Medallion & mirage sheet
Foam - furry foam, frog, adhesive, parachute posts, float foam, bee bodies, ant bodies.
Griffin Tools, Zap-a-gap products, Quick descent dubbing, Super hair, 100's hackle & saddle packs,
damsel bodies, krystal eggs, snowshoe rabbit feet, fine rubber legs.

Visit www.netbooks.co.za for a large range of Fly Fishing Titles

For the latest releases go here