Originally designed by Drew Chicone, for Tarpon and Snoek, we’ve been using it on our Orange River drift trips for years to great success on Largemouth Yellows. It’s also a great pattern for Bass and we have it on good authority that some of the estuary experts tie versions for kob and garrick. Rowan Black […]
Flyfishing takes us to some incredible places. Whether it be a local river not far from home or the remote depths of the Amazon Jungle, we’re always surrounded by amazing elements of natural beauty. This and the fact that catch-and-release is standard practice these days, only further motivates the need to have a decent understanding […]
Winter is the best time of the year for trout fishing. You’ll hear that often, but in truth many experienced fly-fishers much prefer the pre- and post-seasons to the dark months. Autumn really is a great time of the year to target aggressive, trophy stillwater trout… Read on to found out why (and how to […]
“As a flyfishing guide, I often used to sit at my fly tying desk before a trip and before I know it, I’m battling to find materials, scissors, beads and the like,” says guide Rowan Black. According to Rowan, he used to sit down at the vise and start with one pattern only to find […]
We did a quick trawl of the archives to show that Pongola is not just about the sheer number of fish you can expect to catch (and the potential of epic surface action), but quality of fish too. Here are a few of the good ones from over the years… Some tips and tricks […]
This super quick and easy tie has accounted for some spectacular fish on Jurassic Lake and on our home stillwaters. MATERIALS Hook – Grip 14731 caddis Thread – 70D Danville’s red or orange. Body – Tan scud dub or natural dubbin sand, Brown back strap or Kiley’s nymph skin. Tail – Saddle hackle Rib – […]
This fly is one of Rowan Black’s favourite quick-ties. “I don’t like spending hours on the vice tying perfect flies,” he says. “I generally tie a week or so before an upcoming trip and like to tie quick and easy patterns…” This fly has proven highly effective for Rowan at Sterkfontein Dam so far this […]
There’s no such thing as a perfect fly, but not all flies are created equal. This baby peacock (as tied by Nathan Pahl) ticks plenty of boxes and you cannot head to the Amazon without a few in your box. MATERIALS • Grip 21711 / NSL #4/0 • Veevus Monp Thread • Grip Stick On […]
Lake Strobel or ‘Jurassic Lake’ as it is colloquially known, is unquestionably one of the top rainbow trout fishing destinations in the world. During the summer months scores of fly fishers make the arduous journey down to the south of Patagonia to target gigantic trout in this harsh lunar landscape, and few are disappointed. What […]
This suggestive baitfish pattern (as tied by Rowan Black below) has a great action thanks to the Zonker strip and has proved very successful for us in the calmer waters of Pongola Dam. Tie it in a variety of colours and you’re good to go. Hook: Gama B10S #2 Thread: 140D Danville’s Tail: Zonker strip […]
HARDWARE 9ft 8wt & 9wt fast action fly rods with matching large arbor fly reel Casting over-sized baitfish patterns and pulling fish out of the jungle foliage is no joke. You need a strong fast action rod and reliable large arbor reel to get the job done. We recommend a minimum of 2 rods setup […]
Put your best foot forward The difference between a 10-fish day and a 100-fish day is your ability to cast well and accurately. This means throwing big flies and 9wt rods with aggressive weight-forward fly lines for extended periods of time. Get familiar with your gear and don’t waste precious game-time practicing your casting! There […]
Expert advice from our experienced team of guides on how to make the most of your tigerfish trip this year. Put your best foot forward Don’t waste your first day familiarizing yourself with your gear and casting. Practice throwing your 9wt rig with sinking line and a big, wind resistant piece of fluff as a […]
Head guide Gareth Reid has years of experience on that toothy freshwater adversary affectionately known as the ‘striped water dog’ … Here are some of his tips on the tackle you need for Tigers. HARDWARE 9ft 8wt & 9wt fast action fly rods with matching large arbor fly reel These rods assist with casting […]
From Dullstroom town dam’s water levels sitting on 25%, to overflowing within three days; we couldn’t have been happier when we finally got our rain, even though 2019 was just about the latest we’ve ever received it. Dams were low and water temperatures were high – too high. But after a week of rain the […]
We’ve been big fans of Loop tackle for many years and is our personal gear of choice. The 7X series is on another level. The 7X rod series introduces the innovative design and performance advantages of the exclusive and pioneering 7X blank construction process. This patented technology optimises power transfer and enhances rod tracking for […]
This is the driest that Dullstroom has been in many years. Our rains are later than ever, and very little – having had less than 100mm this season. Dams are low and water temperatures are high, but still fish are being caught. It’s a real pity to see our town dam sitting on less than […]
Dullstroom guide Nathan Pahl gives us a handful of useful tips for flyfishing stillwaters in warm weather. Mornings are for margins Early, low light conditions call for a floating line and careful work in the margins. Start with a long (12-16ft) leader with a dry-and-dropper setup or (what often does the trick around Dullstroom) a […]
“We were arrested by the quality of the light. With little water vapour in the air, the sun burns close and clean and pure, affording the Richtersveld an unaccustomed brightness, a dazzling array of colour,” writes William Dicey in his book ‘Borderline’ of the remote Richtersveld. Few describe this region more accurately. We have been flyfishing […]
Dispatch from the Amazon River: “You know when the guides say, ‘you should have been here last week?’ Well we ARE having that week.” This from Mavungana founder Jonathan Boulton who is currently on the Amazon with clients. “Water levels are perfect, with multiple double figure fish (Peacock Bass) and Arapaima too…” ‘Nuff said. Here […]