BEL-FLY NEWS
Official newsletter of the Belfast Fly Fishing Association
“THE WATERS, THE FISH, THE BEST”
PO BOX 799, BELFAST 1100.
TEL. (013) 253-0748 FAX 086 502 9280
EMAIL: bffa@lantic.net
___________________NEWSLETTER NO. 57 __JUNE 2011__________________
Belfast Fly Fishing Association
PRESENTS
‘Jack Frost’
Floating Trophy
30 July 2011
- Fly Fishing
- Clay Pigeon Shooting
- Target Shooting
- Bow & Arrow Shooting
- Knife Throwing
Entry fee: R1000-00 per team / R250 p.p.
Single entrants can be teamed up with other single entrants
(R500 deposit secures your place)
Please contact Magda at 013 253 0748
or email bffa@lantic.net
for entry forms and more details.
Dear Bel-fly Readers
It is cold and wet and it is winter! All we need now is the snow.
Half way through the year also means time to renew annual membership. Please look out for the renewal form and assist us with a speedy payment. Finances are still in dire state and we had no choice but to finally retrench Magda, our office administrator. Magda has agreed to continue doing the administration of the BFFA on a voluntary basis.
Dam levels are looking good. The three dams in use have recently been stocked again thanks to the generous sponsorship from one of our loyal members, Harry Dickinson from Machadodorp. Included in the stocking were some monster trout of which two were caught during the afternoon session of the recently held Ladies Competition. (See photo).
If you have visited BFFA waters recently you would have noticed ground works taking place at the entrance gate going onto the wall of Dam 6. Soil had been deposited and will eventually be used to fill up around the edge of the dam in this corner to make more fishing space available. We would like to thank one of our committee members, Dave Hepworth, for his initiative to approach contractors currently doing some road construction coming into Belfast, to off-load their access soil for this project.
Upcoming events include the annual ‘Jack Frost’ competition to be held on the 30th of July 2011. The new structure of our exciting trophy event had become very popular over the last two years and we are looking forward to see a whole lot more of our members entering this year. Please ensure your place in this now becoming a prestigious event by booking as soon as possible.
Please note that the date for the competition usually held in September had been moved forward to the 15th of October 2011. We had numerous requests for another ‘Night Fishing Competition’ and it was decided to include a ‘night fishing’ in the program for our Annual Fly Fishing Festival. We therefore had to move it to the closest full moon phase which happens over the weekend of the 15th of October. Final program will be available closer to the time.
Regards
From Your committee.
9TH ANNUAL LADIES FLY FISHING COMPETITION 20-22 MAY 2011
Early registration and light refreshments were served on Friday evening giving the ladies and their partners an opportunity to meet and mix with other competitors and the organisers. As usual the ladies received their well stocked “goody bags”.
Unfortunately for us many of our usual entrants had been selected to go to Nationals on the same weekend and whilst we missed them it gave 20 ladies the opportunity to spread themselves around the dam. After several requests we decided to open up the days fishing to those gentlemen brave enough to cross dress. This was well received by the ladies who welcomed them with good spirit. Saturday morning late registration took place from 6.00 am and at 6.45am when all competitors drew for positions and took to the waters for a very tough days fishing with only one fish being caught in the first morning session. The fish were there but only 6 trout were caught in the morning and 19 in the afternoon.
Brunch was served at 11.30, followed by a fly casting demonstration by Hendrika (one of the cross dressers) who also offered to help any of the ladies with casting problems.
The afternoon brought great excitement when Davinia (Dave Hepworth ) landed a 60cm trout weighing in at 3.3kg, a record for the day but not for long for only half an hour late Angelique Bailey landed a 64cm trout. She had entered our competition for the first time this year, congratulations Angelique we are sure you will be back next year.
The prize giving dinner attended by competitors, partners, and officials followed a strenuous but fun days fishing..
Heather Harvey won the trophy for the longest bag for the 3 rd time previously having won this competition in 2005 and 2010. The total value of her prize was R7950, which included an accommodation voucher from one of our main sponsors valued at R5500. 2nd prize, valued at R6860 went to Robyn van Leeuwen. 3rd prize, valued at R5820 went to Justine Smit. The longest trout measuring 64cm was caught by Angelique Bailey and her prize was worth R4150.
There were also prizes for our cross dressers.
All competitors received Lucky Draw Bags at the end of the evening and competitors, officials and guest received thank you gifts of bulbs from Hadeco.
Congratulations to all the participants, especially the prize winners
LONGEST BAG Heather Harvey LONGEST TROUT Angelique Bailey
2ND LONGEST BAG Robyn van Leeuwen WINNING TEAM Chantie Minnaar, Natasha Bean, 3RD LONGEST BAG Justine Smit Angelique Bailey and Christelle Price
4TH LONGEST BAG Thelani Scholtz
Other prizes were awarded to Natasha Bean, Charmain Calcutt, Ina Meyer, Chantie Minnaar, Mariolette Nel, Franciska Pile, Thelani Scholtz and Justine Smit.
Franciska Pile, Justine Smit and Glynis Shoebotham were presented with their 5year awards for having fished 5 of the 9 competitions to date. They join 11 other ladies 2 of whom have fished all 9 events. Thank you for your loyalty.
The Sunday competition for competitors, officials and their partners was held on Sunday morning and the weekend ended with lunch and another prize giving where a number of prizes were awarded and lucky draw prizes were distributed, all couples received a goody bag.
The Belfast Fly-Fishing Association raised sponsored prizes worth R104 000, making the annual event well-worth entering. Our 10th Competition will be held from 18th to 20th May 2012, please diaries now to enter early and ensure your place.
THANK YOU TO ALL THE SPONSORS WHO MADE THIS EVENT POSSIBLE.
With out you there would be no competition.
AJF Agencies, Almar Groentemark, Alsumic Trout, Anford House, Angling Africa, Belfast Fly Fishing, Cape Union Mart, Classic Blue, Colin & Jean Turner, Distell, Dunkeld Serenty Spa, Earth Gear, Elands Kloof Trout Farm, Elgin Farm, Embroidery Basket, Fishing Pro Shop, Fitzgerald’s Mica Hardware, Forelwater Trout Farm, Gani’s Witbank, Glendower Whisky, Grip Hooks, Hadeco, Harmonette, Harry Dickinson, Highland Rose Serenity Spa, Highland Spar, Highland Springs Country Estate, Iain Stewart, Jandi Trading, Karel-Jan’s Country Cottage, Kosmos, Machado Stud Lodge, Milly’s Restaurant, Mrs Simpsons Restaurant, OK Value, Orange River Cellars, Owl & Trout Guest House, Platanna Press, Perfume Direct, Peter Naylor, SA Philips, SDM Eyewear, Senqu, Stealth (Dave Lavene), Stuart Ormerod, Tabard, Tabrar & Earle, The Kingfisher Country Lodge, The Village Angler, Belfast Tops Bottle Store, Urban Fly Fishers, Valley of the Rainbow, Verlorenkloof Estate, Wayne Plastics and Woody’s Place Guest House.
MPUMALANGA FLY FISHING ASSOCIATION
MFFA trials were held on the weekend of 4th and 5th of June 2011 and was hosted by the BFFA.
On the first morning fly fishers were welcomed to Longridge dam with warm fires and hot tea, coffee and rusks while registration took place, with 14 men, 3 juniors and 1 lady to make up the pack of 18 .
They then eagerly made their way down to the water to wait for the whistle to blow. A total of 6 fish were caught in the first session which ended at 11 o’clock. A delicious chicken curry and rice along with drinks was served up during the break.
The second session ran from 12 till 3 and a further 7 fish were caught with Alison O’Brien showing the men how it was done taking the session with two fish.
The second morning 14 anglers arrived at the BFFA club house once again welcomed by fire, tea, coffee and rusks. Anglers made their way up to the golf course dam to start the days fishing. 4 fish came out during the 1st session. Anglers then made there way down to the club house where braai packs, pap, rolls and drinks were served.
With full stomachs the anglers started the second session. 3 fish came out during this session with Andre du Plessis landing 2 great fish measuring 59.5 cm and 60 cm.
The first MFFA trials went down without any hitches and the anglers had a great time. A BIG thank you must go out to both Magda and Johan for all the hard work and organising and without them the event could not have been possible. Also, a big thank you to the BFFA and all its members for giving us the opportunity to fish on their waters.
Hope to meet you all on the water again soon.
Lyle Smith
Steering chairman MFFA