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Stream X - Stocked, not Wild.
021 551 4248 sales@streamx.co.za

Dear [fname]

If I use the term 'Team Work' in the context of fly fishing, what goes through your mind?
Perhaps a bunch of testosterone fuelled men, flogging away at the water a huge ego's distance apart from each other?
Perhaps the question, how do fly fishertrons* fish as a team?
Whatever comes to mind, its not what I have in mind today. But before I get to the point (fly) my 1st statement couldn't be further from the bank. Competitive fishertrons are usually found less than an arms distance apart in a cramped inflatable, and while there are some huge egos, its not the norm. And (don't ask me how) they do fish as a team with a strategy.

Back to the point. When I refer to 'team work' it means using flies as a team. This is much neglected technique, especially amongst those new to the sport. We are all familiar with a 'dry and dropper', but have you ever tried a 'dry and dry' or reversed the 'dry and dropper'? On the UK stillwaters, fishing a single fly is almost unheard of, as flies are usually fished in teams of three, sometimes even more (This is not restricted to stillwater, as a team of wets or soft hackles can be deadly in the local streams). Dries are mixed with wets, floating flies are fished on sinking lines and all kinds of blasphemy occurs. If you want to learn more, a good source is 'Trout Fisherman' Magazine as well as our book of the month below.

So [fname], if you are not catching, experiment a little, live a lot.

Best regards

Craig Thom

PS. Thanks to those who attended the CPS family day, it was nice to see you. Thanks also for the RSVP's from those who couldnt make it.

PSS. The Boland and Western Province fly fishing teams are looking for ladies or young women to field a combined team for the nationals. If you are interested or would like to know more, please reply to this email and I will pass your name onto the relevant person

*waiter - waitress - waitron therefore fisherman - fisherwomen - fishertron. It beats 'Fisherperson', even though it sounds robotic, but sometimes fishing can look that way.

News& Events

Jonkershoek Flyfishing Festival
5th of June at 7am, limited spaces.
R250.00 per person includes entry fee, morning coffee and a packed lunch
Contact Charl on 072 459 7750 or charl@jonkershoek.co.za

There are still three places left on the second
Maldives Couples luxury trip,
please contact me if you would like more info.

Fly Tying Classes
Commence on the 3rd of June at StreamX,
please let me know if you will be attending.

This Months Tip

Tangles are a way of life... or are they?
In the introduction I mentioned the use of multiple flies or teams. One of the reasons why people hesitate to use these is the risk of tangles. The best method to avoid this is to open up your loop when casting. You can also slow your cast down slightly. The other way is to get your knot setup correct. Here is a tip from Paul Procter, a UK pro.

Do a surgeons loop knot to tie on a dropper (left). Loop the dropper around the line (point side) and back through the loop created (centre). Pull tight (right) and the dropper now sits at 90 degrees to the line, preventing tangles. Fly line has been used instead of leader material for clarity.

Just landed..

Anchors for Float tubes and Ark's
0,87Kg and 1,5Kg at R90.00 and R165.00 respectively

Tungsten beads in new colours
Blue, Dark Olive, Light Olive, Lime, Metallic Green, Metallic Pink, Metallic Red, Purple & White
Sizes 2.4, 3.0, 3.5 & 4.0mm. Packed in 10's prices range from R20.00 to R43.00

DMC Thread 4012 for Zak Nymphs R40.00

New stock due early June

Wychwood Vuefinder Competition Box
Wychwood VueFinder Huge Competition Box

You have seen clear boxes in all shapes and sizes, but nothing like this. It is capable of storing up to 1,000 flies, which means that at 300x210 mm (A4 size) this box will definitely not fit in your fishing vest, but is ideal for your bag, boat or float tube. This box is double sided with clear lids and features a unique locking clip design which allows competition fly anglers to measure fly size.
The clear high-density polycarbonate lids also provide fantastic durability, handling and water resistance when coupled with the rubber seals. They are available in three configurations, featuring ripple or slot foam inserts to suit any of the fly angler’s demands. Configurations are Double Ripple Foam, Ripple / Slot Foam and Double Slot Foam. R390.00

Wychwood Truefly Reel
Winner of "Best new fly reel" at the 2009 EFFTEX show, and a "Must Buy" award from 'Trout & Salmon' Magazine the Wychwood Truefly SLA Reel is certain to turn heads. The largest arbor and the lightest reel in its class.
The reel features a concealed Rulon drag system, a hidden counter balance system, and is packaged in a custom built EVA protective case, complete with two spare polycarbonate spools. Colours available are Black or Warm Grey. It has a capacity of 100 yards backing with a WF7 line. R950.00 for case with reel & two spare spools.

Wychwood Aura Rods

The Award Winning Aura range will arrive soon, initially in the following models:
9ft #5 4 piece R 1560.00
9ft #6 4 piece R 1560.00

The Wychwood Truefly 3 piece Rods will also be available
7ft    #3/4 3 Piece R 780.00
8ft    #3/4 3 Piece R 780.00
8ft7 #4/5 3 Piece R 845.00
9ft    #5/6 3 Piece R 910.00
10ft #6/7 3 Piece R 1030.00

Also on the way

Leeda Intrepid Regular Reel #7/8 , Profil Reel #5/6, #7/8
Truefly Tippet retainer
Wychwood X-Strong boat Net & Scoop River Net
Wychwood Adjustable Drogue & International Para-drogue

Fly of the Month

Lady McConnell

This fly was designed by Brian Chan in the 80's for stillwaters, and was recommended to me by Sean Mills. It is representative of emerging chironomids, but in different versions and colours it can represent anything. The grizzly and antron tail represents a trailing shuck, and the hackle allows it to float high. Left static with an occasional twitch, is deadly, and it can also be skated easily (use small strips). Traditionally tied on size 10-16 dry fly hooks, I have done this one on a Hanak Nymph hook. You can also tie the 'tail' further down the bend to help keep the hook out of the water.

Step by step tying instructions are here

Book of the Month

This is one of our evergreen best sellers that is packed full of info.

Trout Rigs & Methods
All you need to know to construct rigs that work for all types of trout flies & the
most effective fishing methods for catching more & larger trout - Dave Hughes

Dave Hughes' clear and simple instruction and explanation describes 18 trout rigs and 81 methods to fish them. In moving water: rigs and methods for dry flies and emergers, nymphs, wet flies, streamers, and dry flies and droppers; in stillwater: dry flies and sunk flies. Fly fishers learn the specifics of the rig - types of fly line, lengths and tapers of leader and tippet, the flies, and split shot, putty weight, strike indicators, droppers, point flies, and indicators - and the full array of methods to present the rig to the trout. Hughes' lucid text is teamed with hundreds of instructive illustrations. The more rigs you learn to construct and the more methods you learn to apply, the more situations you'll learn to solve, and the more trout you'll catch. Paperback: 322 pages 8.8 x 5.9" Stackpole 2007 R199.00 Buy Online

Fly Tying Tip of the Month

This is a first for the newsletter, a video. After wracking my brain for a way to show this in pictures, I had to concede that the only way to do it was on video. This neat trick that I discovered quite by accident will show you how to trap hackles on a rotary vice.
You know the problem, you wind the hackle and either you let it go, or it slips out of the hackle pliers as you hang them, before you can fix it down. Now, using a rotary vice, you hold the hackle and turn the vice while holding the thread out the way. As your hackle gets to the finishing point, you move the thread so that it traps the hackle as you turn.
It can be used for any kind of palmering.

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

For the latest book releases go here