The Trout Report

The Trout Report

That it was a cold Winter in the Natal midlands few would argue and these sustained sub zero temperatures translated into the fish staying in their uncooperative spawning behaviour beyond the normal few months. Tough fishing it certainly was for most and those that refused to change their habits struggled to convince any fish to come out and play. But anyone who stopped ripping and stripping and chose to selectively cast, turning to micro patterns […]

Fly Fishing for Bass

Fly Fishing for Bass

A species that is often overlooked by local flyfishing fanatics, I feel, is the Largemouth Bass. There is a contingent of trout hunters that see them as the enemy or a pest, especially when they share the habitat with our beloved stippled beauties. I’ll admit that on occasion, even I have cursed a green fish or two when it was not my intended quarry, more frustrated at my angling ability than the willing bass, I […]

Habits 7 of Successful Fly Fishers – Part 1 Winter

Habits 7 of Successful Fly Fishers – Part 1 Winter

Mindset might be everything, but I’m no shrink and I’m not going to pretend that the positive laws of attraction are going to get you more fish. But what is proven, is if you fish with confidence, you don’t second guess what you’re doing all the time and hence stick with the plan that will eventually yield results! I have a few seasons (my wife might argue too many) of Winter Trout fishing in South […]

The Middle Fin – TCC Leg 2

The Middle Fin – TCC Leg 2

A lot of Trout clearly didn’t get the message from Uncle Cyril this last weekend as they kept their distance from the very social advances of the fly fishers. The TOPS Corporate Challenge has built its reputation on the camaraderie and festivities surrounding the fishing, which was embraced by the entrants yet again, with commiserations about the lack of landed Trout soon replaced by the celebratory toasts to the time being spent together in WildFly […]

Count Out

Count Out

I’ve never considered fly fishing to be a competitive sport, amongst anglers that is. It’s the fish you have to battle with after all, so another fly fisher can only really be considered company on the water.   Hence, the TOPS Corporate Challenge has never been about fishing, despite some 24 000 Trout having been caught and released over the last 20 years. This benchmark fly fishing festival is all about the time you spend […]