12 JUNE 2011 NEWSLETTER

FROM ANDRE BURGER: TRIP TO THE KARNEMELKSPRUIT AT LUPELA LODGE!

Present a Fly is putting together a three day trip to the exclusive Lupela Lodge close to Lady Grey from 6-9 October 2011.  This venue offers 7kms of the Karnemelkspruit and regularly produces rainbow trout of over 20 inches.    

A typical Karnemelkspruit rainbow

This package will include:

A slide show that will be presented with details of the river’s entomology, structure, depth and techniques used

Fully catered accommodation in the spacious lodge.

Catering will include English breakfast, lunch packs and goody packs (snacks and juice, lip balm); dinner will be a three course meal.  Alcohol will not be provided.  Please bring your own.

The trip is limited to eight guests. Total cost is R3900 p/p (this excludes transport to the venue). Please see the Lupela Lodge website for directions (www.lupelalodge.co.za).

The Karnemelkspruit just below Lupela Lodge

Contact Andre on 058 3033168, 0836328729 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The Clarens Club dam was properly stocked on Tuesday and the fishing is great at the moment.  Rod fees are R90, 00 per day and are available from Clarens  Xtreme  Adventures .   More good news is that the farm De Molen will keep its stretch of the Small Caledon River open during the winter.

FISHERIES BIOLOGIST LEN OLYOTTS ON OPENING THE FLY FISHING SEASON IN RHODES ALL YEAR ROUND

Says Len, ‘To add a fisheries biologist’s perspective, given the fact that trout probably spawn over a protracted period and we can more or less find ripe fish from April through to September (I even caught fish in spawning colours in the Tongoriro in November), a closed season probably doesn’t do much protecting.

Unmistakeable spawning colours

Lots of countries have no seasonal closure on part or all of certain rivers – e.g. USA, New Zealand and it doesn’t seem to do much damage. The justification for a closed season is probably more of a social one – fishermen get used to the idea of a closed season and some may take a dim view of rivers remaining open. On the flip side, it does offer regions that rely on river fishing, the option of some extra visitors, notably those seeking out “something different”. This will work for a few a seasons until the novelty wears off. I think having it as some kind of adaptive management strategy that changes for each stream and depends on prevailing water conditions is a good move. With summer fishing often being a wash out in the NE Cape, late rains that sustain the rivers through winter can actually result in good fishing if it doesn’t get too cold too quickly.

The other obvious question is how does having a closed season sit with NEMBA? I haven’t kept track of how trout are listed but it would seem that there is no legislative protection of trout anymore and it’s up to each landowner to develop their own strategies?

Anyway, I think it’s a good idea and won’t do any damage.’

TACKLE TIP OF THE WEEK FROM TOM LEWIN AT FRONTIER FLY FISHING

Ever tried to land a fish and he runs? You have a rod in one hand and a net in the other. Well, with the Locking Net Retractor manufactured by US company Gear Keeper you just release the net – it puts itself back and you can deal with the fish! The 110cm nylon coated stainless steel cable provides ample reach and the locking mechanism allows the unit to be locked while hiking through the bush. It’s as easy as grab your net, use it, and let it go. No more fumbling with magnetic catches or lost nets.

ED HERBST AT SHERWOOD HOUSE AND THE RELEASE OF HIS DVD

Ed is now at Sherwood House, a care centre in Kenilworth Cape Town. He has had his fly tying desk moved into his room along with his Jay vice and fly tying materials, his pc is connected to an ADSL line, he has a wide screen TV and a bookcase filled with his favourite volumes. He is in excellent spirits and I have never seen him happier since his illness began a little more than a year ago. Jeanne, his partner for the last nine years, saw to every detail in the room before Ed was allowed to move in. He has a good flow of visitors and is keeping up his work editing Piscator and writing magazine articles between tying flies.

Ed at his tying desk in his new home, Sherwood House

Ed’s roots in South African fly fishing and fly tying go back over 30 years and he has fished extensively in this country. His personal library of angling books is certainly the biggest in South Africa and there isn’t a living soul in this country that can hold a candle to him when it comes to a really deep grasp of the science of fly fishing and fly tying. Here’s a brief glimpse of some of Ed’s fly fishing life.

With the first Orvis 2 WT in the country

At the fly tying corner at Stonefly cottage, Vrederus, purpose built for him by the Donie and Juan-Marie Naude

Triumphant on an Eastern Cape mountain stream

Fly tying on the banks of the Holsloot River

This background has positioned him well to make a DVD on fly tying South African patterns and to trace the early roots of our fly fishing. Along with Andrew Ingram, a professional photographer, they have spent an exhausting year filming Ed’s detailed and meticulously researched script for the first DVD in the series.

At a celebratory function in Sherwood House this week a small group of us filled champagne glasses and toasted Ed and Andrew on their magnificent achievement.

Ed with Andrew. Reason to celebrate!

The DVD, A South African fly tying journey with Ed Herbst and friend, is now available through NetBooks and from leading fly tackle dealers.

FROM JAN KORRUBEL IN KZN

This weekend saw Leg 1 of the 10th annual WildFly Corporate Trophy Challenge, with as dismal a weather as you can possibly imagine for the first morning’s session on Friday – gale force winds and driving rain kept quite a few competitors off the water and in bed.  There was also plenty snow on the upper 'Berg, which added a razor-sharp chill to the gale. Must say that I was pretty glad I wasn't fishing this one.

The rain backed off somewhat for the Friday afternoon session, but the chill factor remained.  Saturday was bright, clear and still - a sharper contrast to the previous day’s weather you couldn't imagine! - putting the anglers in  better spirits and back on the water.The weather notwithstanding, the CTC record for the number of fish caught in the first leg was smashed, with over 500 fish being brought to hand and measured.  With a bring-to-weigh-in limit of 65cms, no fish were brought to the scales - the longest fish recorded was however a very respectable 63cms or 25 inches.

Chris Bladen at his Kalk Bay studio

I also had the pleasure of meeting sculpture artist Chris Bladen (see www.chrisbladen.com), and photographer Gerrit Redpath whose magnificent pictures grace this website and our local fly fishing magazines.  I am happy to report that their individual skills extend into the fly fishing realm, their team "The Pink Panthers" earning themselves a spot in the top third and in the CTC finals, so I will be seeing them again at the end of July.

Accomplished fly fisher and photographer, Gerrit Redpath

I haven't been to see myself, but reports are that due to the recent weather, the Mooi River is up by a good nine inches, and not looking too clear.