The Fly Fisher - South Africa

Chris Bladen is not just a fly fisher; he brings a very special type of art to our community, bronze sculpting. He began by carving stone and wood in his dad’s workshop many years ago, but his dad told him that artist always struggle financially, so he studied dental technologist. His dental work took him to the UK, and the Pounds, took him to the rest of the world.

Stephen Dugmore’s love of bamboo fly rods began many years ago when his dad generously gave him a Walker Bampton, which he duly broke. Graciously his dad replaced it, and unfortunately Stephen managed to break that one too, but it was not his fault this time. Then while cleaning out his garage, these rods where stumbled upon and Stephen took on the project of repairing them, thus the birth of a Bamboo rod maker.

Paul Fevrier might be bound to a wheelchair, however this does nothing to stop him fly fishing where and when he wants to. Although there are some limitations, it comes down to attitude and willpower, both of which, he has in abundance, getting around on his quad bike or his pontoon boat, he fishes most of the places the rest of us fish. Not just a good fisherman, Paul ties a seriously good fly and his boxes always make interesting viewing.

Ed Herbst must be the quintessential small stream fly fisherman, fishing ultra-light sticks for slivers of fish, high in the mountains. He is dedicated to his passion for these small streams and is continuously striving for the ultimate tackle, or the best way of modifying it for his needs, removing all the excess weight from everything; rods, reels, lines, packs, well everything. He paints his rods in matt, camouflage colours, including the guides, removes reels seats, even going as far as taking off his reel’s counter balance.

Dave Walker might be known as a quiet, unassuming, proprietor of a small B&B in the quiet hamlet of Rhodes, however he is the driving force behind the Wild Trout Association.

Walkerbouts Inn is one of the most relaxed and comfortable B&B's I have frequented, the Thanksalot Pub is a great place to unwind.

Jono Shales is an ex-South African based out of Sydney, exceptionally passionate about his pursuit of saltwater species, but he is heading off on trip to the west coast of Australia for a year or so of saltwater fly fishing. We chatted about what there is to fly fish for around Sydney, about the Baby Blacks he caught of Fraser Island, about his upcoming fly fishing trip, about Christmas Island, and then there was more.

Mario Geldenhuys has the good fortune of living near some of South Africa’s premier trout streams. He married into a family which owns a farm on the Bell River, not far from Rhodes in the north-eastern Cape, but denies that it was a marriage of convenience. He has spent many days fly fishing the Wild Trout waters in the area and shares his knowledge and experience with us.

Tony Kietzman has an inherent love of small stream fly fishing; more than that, he is obsessed with them. His knowledge of the environment, the area and the streams makes him one of the top guides in the north-eastern Cape. He is based in Rhodes and has access to over 200 kms of streams teeming with wild rainbow trout and yellowfish. But for him it is often not about the fish, but more about the fishing, which includes the flora and fauna, the area’s history, the geology and the hospitality of the area's residents.

Turner Wilkinson is one of the few fly fishermen who have take all nine of the Yellowfish species on fly, although there are only really six, the other three are considered part of the challenge and rightly so. He has spent time on Sterkiefontien Dam, many hours on the Vaal River and traveled to the rest of the country chasing Yellow fish.

Arno Matthee might be well know for catching lunker Largemouth Yellowfish on fly, in the Orange Vaal System, but he is better known for unlocking the secrets of fly fishing for Milk Fish, thus earning him the nickname of “The Milkman”.

Gary Glen-Young gets technical on the in's and out's of short-line nymphing, and puts us straight on the techniques needed for Czech Nymphing, his knowledge and passion for fly fishing is well worth listening to.

Gary was a Protea Angler and is known to be quite technical and understands the dynamics needed to fish the short-line effectively.

Dean Riphagen not only tells us about how he created his 2 books, The South African Fly Fishing Hand Book and Still Water Trout in South Africa, but also gives us insight into fly fishing in New Zealand, South America, the Seychelles and a place he calls “his” water, the Witte.  He even tells us about a trout he became good friends with.

Murray Pedder tells us about his introduction into fly fishing and then fly tying, he discusses his passion for Salmon Irons and Realistic Imitations. His knowledge is vast and his passion for the subject, immense. Murray is well respected in the South African fishing fraternity for his flies, but he elaborates on his what he really loves.

Although Mark Yellands fishing exploits have taken him to more fly fishing destinations than most of us would dream to fish, he still has a list of places to fish. Apparently it is 50 pages long! He chats about what competitive fly angling means to him and how it has improved his fly fishing experience.

Francois Botha's fly fishing antics started when he was young and have seen him creating a guiding company and got him working in a very famous retailer in the UK. He cut his teeth on our coastline for saltwater species and fly fished for Trout in the Berg, he has developed an absolute passion for fishing for the beast of the Zambezi, Tiger Fish.

Tom Lewin started fly fishing in the late 70's and has fished in some of the world premier locations, he is a self taught fly fisher and fly tier and one of the partners at Frontier Fly Fishing retail, distribution and travel. Tom has a passion for fine bamboo fly rods and has a selection of some of the est rod makers rods.

My first guest is Herman Botes and we had a great chat about dry fly fishing for Smallmouth Yellowfish in winter, on the Vaal River. Even if you are not a keen Vaal fisherman, Herman is a great character and his fly fishing knowledge is exceptional. I have a feeling Herman might just have to come back at a later date…

We also had a little stream-side-essay, which was done on the banks of the Vaal, our first attempt, I promise to better next time.