Fishy Thoughts

Fishy Thoughts
Of Weeds, Whinges and Walker's Killer Reds.... by Jonathan Boulton

Management and consultation, as well as guiding on a wonderful selection of trout waters in Mpumalanga, entails a constant and enjoyable interaction with fellow flyfishermen of varying levels of proficiency and outlooks. Although I do feel the sport of flyfishing is undergoing phenomenal growth in popularity, we should occasionally stop and consider the underlying directions and priorities within the pastime. Allow me to relate a handful of experiences and perhaps you may ponder their implications.

Bag Limits
One fine Saturday morning not so long ago, while driving past a dam on a well known shareblock farm, I noticed an angler with seven lovely fish, all well over a kilogram, lying back to back in the grass at his feet. Now, considering the bag limit on this on this particular farm is two fish per person per day, I pulled off the road and sauntered over. On seeing my approach, his barefooted offspring – clearly under instruction – began packing slimy stiffs into the boot of the family microbus with the speed and precision of Joost van der Westhuizen ducking a high tackle.

After reminding the slightly over enthusiastic angler of the bag limits and issuing a formal warning, the parting comment was, "Ag, well, I can catch and then put them back anyway – that’s just as much fun." Cringe you may, but these creatures are more common than you might imagine, even disguised in pricey Snowbee vests and Driza-bone hats…..

Weeds Have a Purpose
"Weeds are becoming quite a problem….fishing now very difficult…" These are familiar whinges in the Comments space on return forms, especially during the summer months. Sure, aquatic vegetation can become problematic in some waters, even rendering them totally unfishable with time, but it’s amazing how the mere sight of a distant weedbed or hint of submerged growth can bring cries of mismanagement and neglect from some. It’s these weedbeds which are home to many aquatic insects and crustaceans, providing refuge for tadpoles and juvenile fish. They are the very basis of a healthy food chain. Yes, in a shallow dam during the summer, of course a 7-wt fast sinking line and a size 4 beadhead Black Woolly Bugger is going to be about as productive as throwing out an anchor and retrieving it on a heavy duty chain. Go on, walk around, wade a bit and you’ll be amazed how versatile a floating line and a slightly weighted nymph fished over and between the weedbeds can be.

It’s pretty much like the surroundings in which we fish. The conveniences are certainly comforting, but are the long piers and manicured lawns right down to the water’s edge what it’s all about? You know the sedge and grass growth on the water’s edge whose seed heads have the uncanny knack of grabbing your coiled flyline and stopping a good cast short every time? Next time you walk past, give them a rustle with your landing net’s handle and notice the flying and terrestrial insects, as well as those athletic leaping frogs, which you flush out. And then ask yourself, should this Woolies Food Hall of trout be destined for the brushcutter in the name of easy fishing?

The Most Popular Fly
I once thought that it would be rather interesting to keep a record of the most popular fly patterns used on our waters. Well, talk about a one-horse race. The most popular by far, was of course, the Walker’s Killer Red; second place was a photo finish between the Hamill’s Killer and Mrs Simpson. Why are South African flyfishermen so blinkered? There are other techniques and patterns, which if not more productive, are certainly more satisfying. How about the bow wave of a 2 kg bearing down on your size 12 Suspender Buzzer?; or the twitch of the line as your Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear nymph is sipped on the drop?

Catch and Release
There’s no doubt about it – catch-and-release does work. Returned fish are allowed to mature, put on weight and become wiser. Waters that have been specifically designated for catch and release, given time, will consistently produce trophy fish – if everyone plays the game. What is also encouraging is the greater number of converts to the practice who take home one or two fish – or even none at all – when their weekend limit entitles them to half-a-dozen fish or so for the pan. But if you are going to return fish, please do it properly. I’m not for a minute going to lecture on not handling the fish and the use of knotless, soft mesh landing nets. All I know is that, if I had a rand for every dead fish I have seen floating after a weekend of heavy fishing, I’d be sipping Margaritas and wrestling tarpon with my 2-wt in Mexico by now…..

Then there are the catch-and-release "butchers" – not necessarily a contradiction in terms. Overhearing in the pub or reading on return forms, "…caught and released 42 fish, three over 2 kg, on my Orvis One Ounce and 3 lb tippet this weekend…." Does not impress me, especially at the height of summer when the water temperatures are around 22-23° C. Later, I have to fish out carcasses and throw them into the long grass for the resident water mongoose. If the dams are fishing well and it’s a challenge your after, try and do the same with a size 16 Griffiths Gnat: then I’ll buy you a pint of Guinness……

Taken from
Flyfishing: The Official Journal of the Federation of Southern African Flyfishers Vol 10 No. 41 June 1997

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