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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.
Fly fishing in South Africa is dictated to by our limited conditions and so we develop into specialist in one or the other fields, either Small Streams or Still Waters.
I will admit that I am not a great still water fisherman and my boxes represent that in a big way, however I do have an addiction to fishing really big impoundments like Sterkfontien or Swartwater, but generally I will fish running water whenever it is available.
Although I enjoy fishing for Smallmouth Yellowfish, Trout in alpine streams, have a far greater appeal, whether it is the remoteness of the environment or the beauty of the mountains, or just the people you tend to meet, I couldn’t quite tell you.
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.
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.
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.
Fly fishing in South Africa is dictated to by our limited conditions and so we develop into specialist in one or the other fields, either Small Streams or Still Waters.
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.
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.