Rhodes – the guided experience

by Tony Kietzman

I discovered fly fishing when I studied Fine Art at Rhodes University in Grahamstown between 1975 and 1978.

My mentor was Martin Davies of the JLB Smith Institute of Ichthyology who I assisted during my vacations while he was working on an eel research project.

I fished mainly on dams in those years, both in Grahamstown and in places like Dullstroom.

What changed my life was a decision in 1992  to attend the first fly fishing festival organised by the then Barkly Wild Trout Association in Barkly East – later to  become the Wild Trout Association.

The inaugural address was delivered by the late Dr Willie van Niekerk who, at the time, was chairman of the President’s Council. His speech was recorded by Mike Proctor Sims, a television news reporter with the SABC. He rushed the material through to Port Elizabeth and it was aired the following night.

At the festival I met people who were to become friends in the ensuing years; Tom Sutcliffe, Ed Herbst, Neil Hodges, Basie and Carien Vosloo, Margy Frost and many others.

I caught a six pound trout in the Kraai River on a Connemara Black, one of the two biggest fish caught during the festival and I vowed to return.

In the following 17 years I visited Rhodes as often as I could afford. In 1995 I assisted in the administration of the annual Bells Festival in Rhodes and in 2000 I started running the fishing side of the Festival, arranging guides and beats.

Between 1995 and 2003 I ran fly fishing courses on the Karnemelk stream near Lady Grey and by 2005, I was guiding a lot, mainly for yellowfish on the Vaal River and at Sterkfontein Dam near Harrismith.

My big break came in 2007. My work as a landscape gardener in Johannesburg had led to an increasing interest in the indigenous wild flowers in the Rhodes area and, on a small scale, I was growing these flowers and selling them to local nurseries.

It was then that Dave Walker, (prompted by his partner Susan Koelz) owner of the Walkerbouts Inn in Rhodes and chairman of the Wild Trout Association, alerted me to the Senqu Pelagonium project. This was to be run by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry. The objective was to grow essential oil and medicinal plants in Rhodes to facilitate job creation and skills transfer. I successfully applied to run the project and moved to Rhodes.

The project has gone from strength to strength and I also have the time to take flower enthusiasts on guided tours on a flower route that I have pioneered between Rhodes, Lady Grey and Maclear. To an increasing extent, word of mouth recommendation has enabled me to use my knowledge of the area in guiding fly fishers and flower lovers alike. I am also now heavily into photography, flower species and fishing scenes alike!

FAVOURITE FLY ROD FOR RHODES : Used to be a Sage SPL "0", had a TXL "000" as well but preferred the softer SPL......then the TXL F "000" came onto the market. It is my favourite rod and I think that it is the finest stream rod ever built. HAVING SAID THAT I BELIEVE TENKARA FLY FISHING IS GOING TO ADDICTIVE!! WATCH THIS SPACE.

FAVOURITE FLY LINE: The only lines one can get are the Sage "Quiet taper" lines, now manufactured by Rio. I feel that when Scientific Anglers made Sage's lines they were way better. But, then Ed gave me a "000" silk line and when a Ron Dibble furled leader is looped to the end it is the finest, most delicate way of presenting a dry fly. I still use the PVC when fishing nymphs though.

FAVOURITE FLIES: #1- RAB, #2- Klinkhamer, #3, Zak, all in sizes #14 and 16. I would like to fish smaller, but a #14 hook definitely holds more fish than a size #18.

FAVOURITE SECTIONS OF STREAMS OR RIVERS: I like to catch fish in the shallowest water possible; ideally the fish should be longer than the depth of water it lies in. A single favourite stream would be the Bokspruit or anything with gradient and rocky bottom- freestone.

Trying a Tenkara on my favourite stream, the Bokspruit

ANYTHING I HAVE LEARNED FISHING THE AREA I WANT TO CONVEY? Slow down and watch the water, keep it as close as possible, don't false cast. Nowadays I only get to fish with amazing people. I have never had a bad client and many have become firm friends.

Tony Kietzman