If you cannot read the email below please go to
www.archerfish.co.za/news/mar11_sx.html
Stream
X - Hard to find, but worth the effort.
021 551 4248 sales@streamx.co.za
Dear [fname]
Sometimes I am grateful not to catch a fish. Recently I went looking
for smooth hound sharks with Jimmy the ‘Shark Man’. Smooth hound sharks
are great fly rod quarry, as they take crab patterns and other flies
quite readily. Unfortunately the demand for 'fish and chips' means that
are not as common as they used to be. Unlike gulley sharks, they tend
to head for open water at rapid speed once hooked, which is quite
exciting. Landing them is another matter as due to their hard mouths
they are seldom hooked properly and so you lose them after the first
turn or two. Either that or your fly comes back to you with a mangled
hook.
On this particular day there weren’t any sharks around but we did find
some duck-billed rays waiting for the tide to come up so they could
move into the shallows to feed. As they were in a waiting mood rather
than a feeding mood they didn’t seem to ant to take a fly (yet).
Sight fishing can be quite frustrating, but on the other hand exciting,
as there is no doubt as to the presence of fish.
After many casts at the moving rays, and some rapid fly changes, I got
one tentative pull, but it was just that, tentative. Jimmy got a good
pull on a giant specimen, but lost it on a knot, and then hooked into a
medium sized ray. Medium size compared to some of the monsters that
were lurking around, but big enough to have Jimmy straining with two
hands on the rod and the ray heading for the horizon. If you have met
Jimmy you will know he is to put it mildly, built like a brick
****house. It was at that moment I decided to reel in my line and
rather film him than suffer the same fate.
It
looked for a while that the ray was going to win, but slowly but surely
the fly line came back from the deep, and with a huge effort it was
brought to shallow water. The shallower the water got the harder it
strained to head out to sea, with the fisherman and his 12 weight Echo
rod being really put to the test.
Having seen these rays in the water and on photographs, one does not
realise how big the ‘shoulders’ on these beasts are. They are huge, and
it was no surprise then that it had been so hard to fight. After some
tussling in the shadows and some nimble foot work to avoid the stinger,
the ray was landed. Turns out that these are beautiful creatures.
Yah, I am glad I didn’t catch that one, it looked pretty punishing on
the fisherman. And the ray, well he just swum back out like it was
another day.
See the video here
Best regards
Craig
PS. The next day I went out and got a blue ray. This was pretty easy as
I just selected one off the shelf at the video store…..
PSS. Take care when fishing for rays, they can turn and head for you at
a rapid speed. Find a safe place to stand if you can. Keep out of the
way of the stinger, and keep an eye out for other rays.
Hold it by the 'outer' mouth, as the 'inner' mouth has plates that will
crush your fingers.
sales@streamx.co.za
Just
landed..
TENKARA
Rods & lines from Sakura Japan
Tenkara: Radically Simple,
Ultralight Fly Fishing
Kevin C. Kelleher, M.D. & Misako Ishimura
Softcover, 160pg, 9.3 x 7.8 inc, 2011 With
Tenkara, there is no reel & the line hitched directly to the end of
the long rod, imparting an element of highly functional simplicity. At
the same time, the Tenkara rig can turn over a cast of such grace that
it nearly guarantees a light & effective
presentation.
Free
with every Sakura Tenkara Rod bought from StreamX online Buy
Rods Online
More models on the way, see www.tenkara.co.za for more on
Tenkara
'evy
Eyes from
StreamX
Designed to go down like a homesick mole
12mm X-large 10g R25.00 for pack of 4
10mm Large 9g R20.00 for pack of 4
Perfect for snoek or offshore flies
The Award Winning Wychwood
Truefly Reel is now available in 5/6 weight
Only R999.00 for the reel, case and two spare cassettes.
Buy
Reels Online
And...
Wychwood Truefly Rods
Giant Boat Nets
Orvis Multitool
Dubbing Brush Wire in Stainless Steel, 2 sizes .003 Fine & .006
Medium
'Wrap' & 'Truefly' Wychwood Polarised Glasses from R250.00
and more ...
<<American Saddle Clumps
Medium Chenille, new colours.
Foam Cylinders, new Colours
Liquid Fusion is back in stock
Marryat CDC Feather Winding Tool
<<Painted Lead Eyes 
<<Ballzeyes
<<Orvis Access Reels
Ice Stretch Lace
Xplorer Waterproof backpack
Events
Thursday 7th April - Fly Tying at
StreamX - 6pm
We will be repeating the 'Tying trips and Tricks' as there
were
some that couldn't make it
Ease up and speed up your fly tying. Various techniques to speed up and
simplify your fly tying will be shown.
This is a hands on session so bring your kit. You are also welcome to
share any tips & tricks you may have learnt or even invented.
Wine sponsored by Thelema Vineyards, beginners welcome. Please
RSVP
Thursday 14th April - Video Evening
@CPS
Thursday 19 May - Fly Tying @ CPS
Thursday 18th August - CPS AGM
Thursday 25th August - CPS
Orientation Evening
Fly of the Month
Denton's
Deadly Diver (Offshore Clouser)
Designed
by Bob Clouser and bastardised locally by Denton Ingham-Brown.
This is the offshore DDD initially made for snoek, but is perfect for
any offshore situation where you need to get a fly down fast. With the
fly weighing over 10 grams, you are not going to be able to do a
double-haul cast, but rather an undignified lob.
Step by step tying instructions are here
DVD of the Month
Fly Fishing
Academy's Introductory Guide to Fly Fishing
Chris Tough, Softcover, Price : R159.00
The Fly Fishing Academy has produced an Introductory Guide to Fly
Fishing, aimed at providing the reader with the essential knowledge
required to get started as a fly fisherman. The guide highlights the
basics of fly fishing, including topics such as equipment, basic
casting, entomology, fish habitats and catch and release techniques.
It also contains a unique concept for 2011, 'The Venue Challenge' where
16 venues have been recommended for accommodation and fly fishing.
These venues are all within the borders of South Africa and offer
excellent fly fishing opportunities for the reader to target
yellowfish, tigerfish, bass, saltwater species and trout. By staying
and fishing at these venues you stand a chance to win some exciting
prizes. The guide also includes a comprehensive fishing log to record
your catches and a calendar for you to plan your fishing trips for the
year ahead. Buy
Online
Visit www.netbooks.co.za
for a large range of Fly Fishing Titles. For the latest book
& DVD
releases go here
Fly Tying Tip of the
Month
Bob Wyatt's Dubbing Technique
This is a very
simple way to strenthen your dubbing, but to create ribbing as well..
Lay on your thread, and bring back forward where you
want your dubbing to start (pic1).
Put the dubbing noodle on the thread and then wind the dubbing on
towards the rear (pic2).
Then wind your thread back over the dubbing.
If you want the thread hidden then use a thinner thread the same colour
as the dubbing. For ribbing use a thicker thread the colour you would
like the ribbing.
If you find this newsletter of
value, please pass it on to friends
using the link below and encourage them to sign up.