As an AFFILIATE MEMBER of FOSAF, Treeferns Trout Lodge offers a 15% discount to all FOSAF members on ID.
FOSAF’S OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER – NUMBER 31 – FEBRUARY 2011
EDITORIAL: FOSAF CHAIRMAN’S 2010/11 ANNUAL REPORT – Ilan Lax Chairman of FOSAF
INTRODUCTION
This report is being written early to allow for the fact that our AGM and EXCO are being held slightly earlier than usual. It is once again my pleasure to report to the membership on our activities in the year under review and to thank you all for making it a positive year for FOSAF. As always a special thanks a due to Liz and Stuart Tough for the efficient manner in which they manage FOSAF and for the travel arrangements, logistics and organisation of the EXCO.
EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT:
State: We continue to await the outcome of the NEM:BA regulations process. The drafting and mapping exercises have been long completed and the delay by the authorities is worrying. We remain hopeful that the framework will provide a practical and pragmatic approach to what has proved a divisive and challenging set of issues. FOSAF remains committed to working with the relevant authorities to achieve a win-win solution in the interests of anglers and the environment. Each chapter interacts with their provincial authority and provides a useful conduit for communication with anglers.
Public: At last year’s EXCO FOSAF agreed to improve its outreach with the media and reaffirmed its connection to Flyfishing magazine. All media releases and public information are provided to all interested media on an independent and transparent basis. We believe we can do more to get our message across to anglers in general and will need to find creative and novel approaches to achieve this. Peter Arderne must be thanked for his continuing efforts to update the website.
Anglers: The launch of the FOSAF Guide to Fly-Fishing Destinations in SA marks a further milestone for our publications. The new guide not only improves upon the previous editions but also provides up-to-date and well researched information on each region, the different species, techniques, flies and accommodation options. The team, lead by Bill Mincher, deserve high praise for this outstanding publication.
INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT:
EXCO: The EXCO met on a face to face basis after last year’s AGM and the meeting was conducted in a positive and constructive spirit. We set some useful goals and debated some difficult issues. We achieved a measure of consensus that augured well for the year ahead.
FOSAF NATIONAL 2011 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Notice is hereby given that the 24th Annual General Meeting of The Federation of Southern African Flyfishers will be held at the Bowls Lounge, Bryanston Sports Club, Payne Road, Bryanston, Johannesburg at 19h00 for 19h30 on Friday 11th February 2011
Chapters: Full chapter reports will be forthcoming at the EXCO however I will briefly note some observations:
Eastern Cape: Martin and Jess Fick have stood down after five years at the helm. Alan Hobson has assumed the leadership of an able team comprising representatives of most clubs. I attended the EC AGM and found the chapter to be in good health. I believe we have turned the corner and look forward to working with Alan and his team to take flyfishing in the EC forward. I thank them and Brian Clark in particular for their exceptional hospitality during my visit. The positive outcome in the Ugie and Maclear area underscores the fact that working together can bear fruit.
Northvaal: Peter Mills continues to provide able leadership and Peter Arderne’s steadfast efforts ensure the efficient functioning and management the various projects allocated to this chapter which remains in a healthy state.
The Western Cape: Leonard Flemming who has lead the committee for the last few years left to pursue career opportunities and was succeeded by Gerald Penkler. The committee continues to work in an harmonious and cooperative manner balancing the interests of indigenous species and trout and engaging in important outreach activities.
KZN: As noted last year Jim Read continues to provide sound and wise leadership. The chapter continues its good relationship with EKZNW and other stakeholders and continues to participate in the province’s freshwater fishing liaison committee. The clubs in the region remain active. Increasing interest from anglers indicates a shift for the better and I believe that there are useful lessons that could be shared with other regions.
Free State: Dirk Human has had a difficult year and has struggled to achieve cooperation from the various groups of flyfishers in the region. We remain grateful for his efforts at developing a FOSAF presence and focus in this important region.
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE
Dr Bill Bainbridge continues to ably guide the team. The year not seen as much activity as previous years although the committee has reviewed a number of projects and articles submitted for comment. The committee remains vigilant to the outcome of the NEM:BA process and will address any challenges that may emerge.
STRATEGIC PLAN
As noted last year I still feel there is room for FOSAF to be more proactive. Despite reviewing progress against the strategic targets we set ourselves I feel we did not achieve as much as we had hoped to do. We will have to work harder in the year ahead to realise some of the goals we set ourselves.
CONCLUSION
I think it is important to note that FOSAF is a voluntary organisation. Yet whilst its members are all volunteers, we mange to achieve a huge amount and FOSAF’s legacy is monumental. We need to do more to broadcast and celebrate these achievements.
My thanks go out the each and every member who contributes no matter how large or small. In particular though, I would like to thank: the secretariat of Stuart and Liz Tough for their committed and consistent backup; John Webber for dealing with our Audit and the preparation of our AFS with the detail and care he always applies; our President Andrew Levy and vice presidents Tom Sutcliffe and Bill Mincher for their consistent wise counsel, and my colleagues on the EXCO for their support and commitment.
I remain willing and look forward to working with you again in the year ahead to address the challenges facing FOSAF and to promote fly-fishing.
Members 2011 unpaid annual statements are enclosed with this newsletter.
Kindly advise if there are any changes to your contact details.
The new FOSAF Guide to Fly-Fishing Destinations in Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean is now available to 2011 paid up members at the discount price of R160,00
The member’s special for 2011 members includes the Favoured Flies series of FOSAF books, Vol 1 , Vol 2, Vol 3, Vol 4 and Vol 5 all for the price R490.00
PLEASE NOTE THE OFFICE PHONE IS 011 467 5992 . THE FAX NUMBER IS 086 671 0110
IT’S NOT ABOUT THE FLY – Tim Rolston
A mostly imaginary scenario on a trout stream.
There are a few trout rising here and there on the crystal clear stream, the angler, a seasoned veteran carefully looks for signs of fish, ignoring the one rising in the distance for the moment. He knows that there is a good chance that there will be another trout close at hand and that an injudicious step will probably spook the unseen quarry and more than likely upset the riser as well.
He cleans is polarized glasses and scans the pockets in front of him, taking special care to look right at the back where the fish frequently hold and are as frequently spooked by an incautious fisherman. A shadow gradually turns into a feeding fish as he focuses carefully. The trout is in a tricky spot, the currents are complex and drag, on this stream a dead giveaway to the trout, has to be avoided. He could make a reach mend but that is risky and if he can edge a little closer and close down the angle he will make the cast much more easily.
He has taken some trouble in preparing for his outing, his clothing is dull and muted and his shirt is actually camouflage just to be on the safe side. He has matted down the blank of his rod to avoid unnecessary rod flash and has removed his watch. His fishing reel is matt black, the shiny silver ones look nice in the shop but pragmatism suggests the dull tackle will catch more fish. Anything that might glint is hidden inside his vest and he moves cautiously so as not to bang the rocks together as he wades.
The fish have been tricky, catch and release has educated them and he knows that he probably won’t have a second chance. The leader has been lengthened to something in the region of eighteen feet, and fined down to 7X in the hope of hiding the presentation and giving a more natural float to the fly.
He selects a fly from his box and carefully sharpens it with a diamond dust hook hone, no matter what it says on the packet about chemical sharpening. Our angler knows that there is no point in going to all this trouble to fish with a blunt hook; he tests it on his finger before he is satisfied. Then he adds a hint of fly floatant paste, he doesn’t like the sprays as they tend to spread over the rest of the leader and make the tippet float. He carefully degreases the tippet with another paste, at pains to use different fingers and avoid adding floatant where it isn’t wanted. The leader itself is monofilament, braided leaders in these situations, the angler knows, spray water and scare fish and fluorocarbon, although he uses that in the dams, isn’t as flexible as the mono and won’t give quite such good presentation.
He has glued the butt of the leader into the tip of the fly line, knots at this junction will catch in the rod rings, making casting tricky and possibly leading to the loss of a fish should the joint catch up at a critical point during the fight.
In fact our angler doesn’t like knots much at all, so he has used a tapered leader for the first nine feet and then added sections of various diameters to achieve the final result. He has tested it and refined it based on the flies he is using and the wind conditions of the day and is satisfied that it is turning over well, giving both accuracy and slack at the same time. He doesn’t want to make a mistake; this is going to be a one cast shot before the fish spooks. Finally he is ready, pulling line off the reel and estimating the distance the angler makes a trial cast upstream and away from the fish, insuring that he can see the tiny fly and that he has got the distance correct. Finally he makes his cast, landing the fly just a foot or two in front of the fish and directly in the current lane in which the trout is feeding. He mends the line slightly where it is going a little faster under his rod tip and waits.
MEMBERS DRAW
The winner of the February/March 2011 members draw is David Lawrence of Parklands in Johannesburg whose prize is a self-catering weekend at Engeleni Lodge in the Kamberg Valley.
He can see that the fish has spotted the pattern, its demeanor in the water has changed, looking more focused than a moment previously and tipping its fins the trout rises in the water to intercept the fly. Not so much a take, more allowing the pattern to drift straight down its throat such was the accuracy of the cast. A pause and the angler strikes, immediately giving line to protect the fine tippet and allowing the soft actioned rod to absorb the shock as the startled fish takes off. A brisk battle and the trout is netted and released, it is the twentieth one for the morning and that probably took not a lot more than fifty casts to achieve.
As he puts the fish back into the water a voice from the bushes, an angler has been watching from a distance, “what fly are you using?” he asks..
It is the perennial call of the uninitiated, a question of almost hallowed import and so far from the mark as to make it laughable. Although perhaps the fly made a difference it isn’t the main reason for our angler’s success. Most fly fishermen put far too much stock on
the pattern and that in itself leads them to ignore all the other little refinements that go into good fishing and success on the water. Anglers like Pascal Cognard who has individually won numerous World Fly Fishing Championships on various continents isn’t successful because each time he ventures out he has a different fly to everyone else. It is technique and preparation that produce the results and whilst a selection of flies may well add to the confidence of the fisherman and provide options on difficult days, the fly box is only one of many variables which need to be mastered for success. If you are battling next time you are out on the water, give a thought to all those other things before you start changing flies, it will probably be worth the effort.
DISCOUNTS FROM FOSAF AFFILIATES AND MEMBER CLUBS
Discounts are available to FOSAF members from the following Affiliate Resorts:
Southern Drakensburg/KZN: Giants Cup Wilderness Reserve, Lake Naverone, Riverlea, Wild Dog Estate and Sani Valley Flyfishing and Game Lodge.
Gauteng and Mpumulanga: Kloofzicht, Misty Valley Lodge, Elgro Lodge, Stonecutters Lodge and Vaal Streams.
Discounts are available to FOSAF members from the following Affiliates: Angling Africa, and Frontier Flyfishing, and from the following Member Clubs: Underberg/Himeville, Belfast, Clarens, Dullstroom and Waterval Boven.
Contact details and information are available from Liz 011 467 5992 and on the FOSAF website.
AFFILIATE SPONSORS
Finsbury Estate, Anford Country House, Highland Run, Katrinasrust, Komati Gorge Lodge, Lunsklip Fisheries, Millstream, Oxbow Country Estate, Stealth Rod and Reel, Transvaal Fly Fishers Club, Tudor Estates, Verlorenkloof, Whiskey Creek, Winchester Marketing, Mavungana and Nooitegedacht Trout Reserve.
Details are on the FOSAF website – www.fosaf.co.za
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