Shamwari's first yellow on self-tied fly

[Michael]

Went to the Vaal yesterday...after buggering around most the morning searching for new "private" water in the Parys area, we finally made our way to Benjoh. The flow was up a bit, but not by much. Viz was a bit poor, and the hiasints were coming down in droves.

I saw a few muddies spawning in some shallow areas, but no yellows. Also, it seems as if the rains had lowered the water temp slightly, and the yellows were not in the rapids and riffles...or certainly not in numbers.

There were big caddis hatches coming off during the day, but strangely enough no mayflies, that I saw. We got drenched by a downpour, and during the day we were very wary due to lightning all around us in the distance. When we got off the water a damn gale force wind came up, and it started raining again...all the way back to JHB.

Benjoh becomes really crowded these days, so fishing spots get a lot of pressure, and it's showing. Fishing wasn't fast and furious, and we worked hard to get fish. I took Julian (Shamwari) to some spots were I knew there would be bigger fish holding...and we had great fun! He managed two yellows, both of which were on his own tied flies, and some muddies too. We lost some BIG fish...it's a special feeling getting smoked by a sizable yellow which you just cannot stop. At one stage I was contemplating stepping up to 2X and even 1X on the control flies.
You know it's a big fish when you stike...think you're hooked on a rock or submerged tree-branch...then suddenly the fish realises he's hooked and takes off like an explosion!

Flies that worked: Mostly bigger flies, Green Rockworm imitations. I got nothing on mayfly nymph patterns. Some fish also took #12 and #14 emerger patterns.

Here's a pic of Julian's first yellowfish on his own tied fly. Special! Check out the strong big tail on this boy.

[chris williams]

Well done, Shammers and Mike - a special day/pic!!

[poppernel]

Well done Shammers, Mike put you onto a really nice fish, that yellow colour is ''mooi''.

I blanked today bass fishing, barometer very low but clear sky, zilch as in nutting. Not even baby bass.

Dave

[Michael]

Well done Shammers, Mike put you onto a really nice fish, that yellow colour is ''mooi''.

I blanked today bass fishing, barometer very low but clear sky, zilch as in nutting. Not even baby bass.

Dave

Dave

Shammers deserves all the credit...I only showed him where to fish, where to put his fly, how to mend his drift, when to strike & how to play the fish...the rest he did himself. Only kidding...he actually out-fished me yesterday! It helps that he has a similar addiction to fly fishing as I do (which is border-line an un-healthy addiction... )

The bass have finished spawning, right? Then they are sitting on their nests...to get them to take the fly will be difficult anyway, and then you still have the low pressure.

Mike

[poppernel]

HI MIKE,

With respect, I think when guys take novices/beginners / newbies to fish for certain fish, we spend more time in getting them into fish and not worrying about our own catch rate, nothing wrong wiyh that, has happened to me a couple of times. It's a good excuse anyways.

The venue we fished today is very dry at the moment, and I think the pumping of water for citrus irrigation which has dropped the level by 2 ft could also have displaced the fish from there normal lies.

Dave

[Shamwari]

Hey guys

What a lekker day it was, thanks to Mike again, wish I had patience like he has, in the beginning of the day when we were taking turns to fish the respective lies/runs, I hooked his line twice on the back cast...thought I was going to get a big hiding...he he he

But, thanks to Mikes good advice about getting a drag free drift with a mend here and there and bang, I was in....like Mike said, we both got smoked a few times...adrenalin pumping stuff. At one stage Mike hooked a giant rock...then the "Rock" realised it was hooked and took off...we both stood there with eyes as big as saucers trying to see what this was, but unfortunately it snapped the line...

The Cherry on top for me was that all the fish I caught and lost were on my own Caddis variations...that just makes it lekker...I have transferred all my bought flies into an emergency fly box and am now only using my own flies...

Man, we are lucky to be able to enjoy our sport like we do... as Mike says it is an addiction...

[Salty Bugger]

Nice one Julian. That is a beaut. Just makes me even more lus. Going to the Orange on Thursday - Sunday with some mates. Objective: Yelows and more yellows. Eisch, I can't wait.

[Jasper]

Nice one Jules!! .... we had better be careful now ... next thing you will be fishing all day and not socialising!!!

[Shamwari]

Nice one Jules!! .... we had better be careful now ... next thing you will be fishing all day and not socialising!!!

Jasper, me not socialise...anyone for a pint....

[Shamwari]

Nice one Julian. That is a beaut. Just makes me even more lus. Going to the Orange on Thursday - Sunday with some mates. Objective: Yelows and more yellows. Eisch, I can't wait.

• Thanks man, it was awesome, the best is a person never stops learning…good luck with your fishing…I am “verrie jerous”