Stream X - Stocked, not Wild.
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Being able to see how fish are reacting to your flies can be quite instructional, but finding such a place, (outside the two oceans aquarium) is quite difficult. Being allowed to fish in the abovementioned aquarium is almost impossible, and being invited to fish crystal clear still waters comes once a lifetime.

Lessons in clear water

Early August found ‘yours truly’ comfortably ensconced* on the bank of a pretty awesome piece of water, the crystal clear dams below the ‘uber’ comfortable lodge at Fizantakraal.
Yes, it’s ‘that’ Fizantakraal, the one you need to hock your Ferrari, and leave your wife &kids as surety in the banks’ vault to visit. Fortunately I was the guest of some generous hosts, so I still have my wife and children.

But I digress. Finding yourself faced by a good number of quite large trout, all plainly visible, makes you feel like a kid in a candy shop, thus the simple task of tying on a fly was made difficult due to the excited tremble in my hands. Choosing a fly was another matter, but I settled on the foam-backed damsel featured last month, with a bead head Charlie behind it.

After casting out a short-ish line, my fly settled down in ambush. Waiting till a fish was swimming towards it, a tantalising twitch had a trout suddenly accelerate, and without pausing, open it’s mouth and chomp the fly. Giving the fish a bit of head, it took that head towards an island, with the probable intention of going around or hiding behind it.
It was time to turn on the brakes. By now all free line was gone and the drag on my super-mega-extra large arbour of my new Wychwood reel was slowing it down.
Then, as in a lot of my fishing encounters, disaster struck as the fish turned. The line lost tension for a second as the hook came out, and then čárymáry!, there was a bigger stronger fish on the line.
Being a practical fellow, I ignored the how or why and settled down to tame this monster, impatient to get it closer and see how many meters it measured. Eventually after a bit of to and fro, the fish came closer, I got my net ready…..hauw!....this funny fish was swimming backwards towards me.
It seems that as the fish threw the hook, the point fly got it on the tail. It could of course, actually have been a different fish altogether, an ‘innocent bystander’ fish, caught by a speeding hook.

*Ensconced: To settle (oneself) securely or comfortably. (Yes, I did look this one up, because I knew the word fitted, but needed to make sure it was correct

Tip of the month

Watching how fish react to your fly in clear water is a real eye opener. I had imagined the moment years before next to a ‘no-fishing’ sign in the aquamarine rivers of the Azusa River in Japan. Watching large, very pretty fish interact and feed, thinking how they would react to my fly was torture in a way, but I enjoyed it anyway.

What I learned at Fizantakraal, was that different fish react differently to the same fly. If my fly was in a situation where three or more fish in its vicinity, there was no competitive rush for the fly. One fish might casually swim over and give it a once over before mouthing it. More commonly, the furthest fish (or one I hadn’t seen) would rush in and grab. The disinterest shown by the closer fish may have been because they weren’t hungry, or because they were aware of me, but I suspect it was my presence. However, one should bear in mind that while your fly may turn one fish on, that may not apply to the others in the same water. Thus, if you know there are fish and you have caught one and not more, it may be time to change fly, tactics or retrieve.

The second thing I noticed was how the retrieve affected their willingness to take a fly.
Many times a fish would follow the fly but not commit to it. If this happened, either slowing it down, pausing or speeding it up would get that commitment. But it wasn’t the same every time. Thus, the experts are not talking bull when they tell you to vary your retrieve, so it is advice best heeded. Often I will forget exactly what my retrieve was doing in the excitement of hooking a fish, and I think that once I start concentrating on this; my catch rate will go up.

“Always retrieve your fly as if there is a fish behind it”. Where exactly I heard this, or who said it has been lost to me, but it is advice worth heeding. Perhaps the retrieve is more important than the fly itself?
If you move your fly as though there is a fish behind it, ready to pounce when you get the retrieve right, you will catch more fish, guaranteed*

*Money back guarantee. If you fish with a varying retrieve and you can prove that it is less effective than a boring old strip-strip-strip-strip, then I will refund what you paid for this newsletter.

Best regards
Craig

News & Events

Coming Up

Thursday the 5th of August 7pm @ StreamX

Instead of Fly Tying, Conrad Botes will be telling us about his recent trip to Cuba with Liquid Horizons. He will be showing us pictures of his exciting trip, and will be bringing along his mauled flies. He was fortunate to have been paired up with Graeme Field, so there was no messing around, just serious fishing. Conrad caught many tarpon and bonefish as well as numerous other species. Having planned to visit Cuba next year I am 'amped' to hear more from Conrad. Snacks & Thelema wine will be on the house, but you will have to dig in your wallet for soft drinks. Please RSVP as we do have limited space.

Fly Tying Thursday 19th of August @ 6pm
We will be doing a number of CdC variations as well as working with the 'magic tool'.
No charge for attending, or for the Thelema Wine. Don't forget to tell us you are coming.

3-5 September Nymphing Masterclass (various venues)
An excellent way to start the river season would be to learn some nymphing 'secrets' from a pro. It's a great way to deal with the high water at the beginning of the season.
Join Korrie Broos as he teaches you the secrets to successful nymphing that he has learned from fishing with the best nymph fly fisherman in Europe. Numerous world champions and European champions have shared their secrets him and for the last 2 years, he has been teaching what he has learned in Europe. R800.00 secures you a spot. For more details and to book click here.

Other outings & events:

Provisional dates
14 Aug Bells Jonkershoek Festival
20-22 August Bovlakte weekend with the Jonkershoek Club
16 October Carp outing with StreamX & Sean Mills
12-14 November Yellowfish outing to the Klein Karoo with StreamX & Sean Mills
4 December Sand Shark (Guitarfish) outing with StreamX & Sean Mills

Feedback

On the 8th of July, Mark Krige showed us some fantastic flies he 'picked up' and some very interesting hybrid flies from his recent trip to Sovenia. We had a great turnout, and Mark was in best form. Thanks Mark, we appreciate your visit.

Xplorer Tigerfish competition
Only a few more days to enter this competition, where we are giving away a trip to the Zambezi for one lucky customer that buys either an Xplorer Guide II fly rod or Xplorer Original V boat. Ends August 31st. There are specials on these products.

Mega Shilton Sale

..all Shilton reels & spools up to 35% OFF

StreamX is clearing all Shilton stock to make space for a new exciting range.
There are reels with free spools (more than 30% saving)
Reels reduced by 25%
Spare spools reduced by 30%

This is the first (and probably last) Shilton sale ever, so dont let this chance slip by you.

For click here for details and purchasing online. You are also welcome to visit the store or view this pdf file.

Just landed..

Flytech fly boxes, waterproof green box with extra leaf, my favourite nymph box. R150.00

Sun Gloves (Mangrove) in various sizes R189.00 as well as Stripping guards (finger lappies) R90.00

Jim Teeny lines. We now have their floating line with their magic taper. R569.00

Float tube rod holder. Hand made in Empangeni, fits around the tube of your float tube or belly boat.
Nicely priced at R295.00

Flyfishing & Flying Magazine, June issue (we are a bit behind but will catch up next month.
The content of this magazine is excellent, and I am surprised that they do not sell better.
Drop me an email if you would like to try one out, at R55 they are far cheaper than other imported mags, and so much better.

The latest shipment of Xplorer breathable waders have landed at a much lower price than the previous, so the prices will be reduced from R1999.00 to R1450.00 (about a 30% saving)

The Xplorer Adventure pack has also arrived, with less orange, and more olive on the front. Pop in and have a look.

For the fly tyers, we received a shipment of Centipede Legs from Veniard, which were fine enough (0.2mm)to even impress Ed herbst, and most mobile we have ever seen. They lasted about a week in the shop, but we have more arriving this week. Colours are brown, Olive, Red & Tan. R50.00

Also in are magnum bobbin holders for large flies at R120.00