The Fly Fisher.co.za

Much has been written about fishing in perfect conditions, the conditions that are waxed lyrically in magazines, instructional books and seen on all the TV programs and videos. We all know them, we are all prepared for them, however, we mere mortals seldom get to fish in them, they are just not around every day and you have to spend a lot of time on the water, just to get a feeling that, one day, they might just be there when you’re fishing.

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.

Returning to South Africa, he opened his studio near Fish Hoek where he and his brother smelt and pour his bronze in his home foundry. Only a few minutes from some of the best trout fishing in the country, he seems to have life. Visit him at www.chrisbladen.com.

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Currently there is a question about the validity of some exotic species in the South African rivers, it is not a question of whether they should be there or not, it is a question about what is to be done about them. The species in question is trout, the humble fish that most of pursue from time to time. Should they be here or not is not for this debate, well not yet.

Let me begin by saying I am not a scientist, nor a researcher of scientific material, however when I heard that there is a project afoot to use a specific chemical to remove trout from a specific river in the western cape, I started researching the process.

The Willow Stream, names by Ed Herbst, flows thin and clear through the stunning farm, Balloch at the source of the Flooikraal Spruit. The river is divided into two sections by a high waterfall, creating a natural barrier stopping the movement of rainbows into the top section, where browns were stocked many years ago. The waterfall not only changes the species of trout you are hunting, but also changes the character of the stream, which is where Ed got the idea to re-name the section above the waterfall to The Willow Stream.

In this sequence I will demonstrate my version of an Extended Body Mayfly. This pattern is highly customizable and can be tied with a conventional hackle, parachute hackle, or a CDC parachute hackle or any number of variations to suite a particular tastes or circumstances.

The fly works well both on rivers and stillwaters, and it’s been particularly successful for me on days when the fish have been selective, rising all around but ignoring many other patterns being thrown at them.

This sequence will also demonstrate a technique of creating an extended body created using a sewing needle.

I hope you will enjoy the sequence and look forward to any comments or feedback you may have.