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.
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.
For those of you who would like to see the process, visit Stephen’s website, Freestone Rods.
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, even better is to get him to tie your flies for your next trip. Paul also offers fly tying courses and can teach most people to tie a fly in just a few minutes.
Ed Herbst has to 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 colors, 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 is one of the most relaxed and comfortable B&B's I have frequented, the Thanksalot Bar 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 salt water 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.
Visit his website at SWOFFA, dedicated to salt water fly fishing around Australia, register and get some updates on his trip.
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 areas 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.
We chatted at the beautiful Elgro Lodge on the banks of the Vaal, my apologies for the little bit of wind noise that creeps in from time to time.
Cortland Line Company, Sage, Ross Reels, Redington, Orvis, Costa Del Mar and G. Loomis share their upcoming products for 2009, LIVE from the Fly Tackle Retailer Show! Don't miss this, the third episode of three in the Retailer Show extravaganza.
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”.
Arno runs through how they started FlyCastaway and what’s on the cards for their clients in the future.
Our resident band, Mann Friday, brings us the tunes, Valley of the Wizards.
Brett Mannix has had the privilege of living in the trout Mecca of Rhodes for a good few years, he has back-packed and fly fished the back country in New Zealand, dragged clients across the sundrenched atolls in the Seychelles, fly fishing for Bone Fish and GT's, but more importantly, he has caught the biggest trout recorded in South African waters.
Dave Levene has been involved in the South African fly fishing tackle trade for over 20 years and his experience and knowledge of the behind the scenes information is quite an eye opener. He has concentrated on fly fishing for a good 10 years and is the importer of the Stealth.
His passion for the trade and his enthusiasm for the industry shines though as we discus his range of equipment, some interesting technological going on’s and some of the people he has met on his travels.
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 is 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 discuss 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.
Mann Friday is my chosen music, if you haven’t realized it yet, they are Zimbo’s who love to fish and if you listen to the lyrics you will realize that the title, Valley of the Wizards, explains that this is a fly fishing song…
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.
Mark is the owner of The Fly Shop in Bryanston, please pop in and have chat to him.
Francois Bothas 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.
Francois is employed at Frontier, Frontier Fly Fishing and is always available to discuss tackle and tactics, especially on Tigers.
Mann Friday is once again doing our music, thanks guys.
Tom Lewin started fly fishing in the late 70s 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 tackle and guiding shop. Tom has a passion for fine bamboo fly rods. You can visit Frontier on-line a Frontier Fly Fishing.
Tom has had the pleasure of guiding and meeting some of the fly fishing icons and we discuss his lasing memories.
Once again thank you to Mann Friday for the music and thanks to all the people giving me feedback.
Pieter Kriel discuses the workings of the South African Fly Fishing Association.
Pieter was recently elected as the president of SAFFA and our discussion is based on the workings of the association and the complexities of competitive fishing, something we South Africans might want to participate in.
Once again I would like to recognise the contribution of the music to Mann Friday.
Our 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.
Thank you to the Mann Friday, for the tune, Valley of the Wizard…
Cortland Line Company, Sage, Ross Reels, Redington, Orvis, Costa Del Mar and G. Loomis share their upcoming products for 2009, LIVE from the Fly Tackle Retailer Show! Don't miss this, the third episode of three in the Retailer Show extravaganza.
Patagonia, Cloudveil, Rio Products, TFO and Fishpond share their upcoming products for 2009. 
Cortland Line Company, Sage, Ross Reels, Redington, Orvis, Costa Del Mar and G. Loomis share their upcoming products for 2009. 
