Back in Joburg ,..

As I am sitting here in the back office typing , the second group of guys are heading down a narrow mountain pass to the mouth of the Sixiola river in Costa Rica.  What a really crappy feeling ! , not going down the pass , but typing this while I know what is going to happen once your fly hits the water,...

In the past eight years our travel side , FlyTravel , has taken us and a bunch of really great guys and girls to some of the globes most exotic , far away places one could whish to visit. The best part of this , but definately not the most important , we always had a fly rod in somewhere in the bag.

With 2012 nearly kaput , i look back at some of the highlights we had.

Sterkfontein ,  where else in the world could you sight fish to golden yellow Small mouth and bullet silver Large mouth yellow fish. As your Good Doctors Beetle hit the surface , the yellow accelerate and literally nail your fly as if he wants to kill it !

Then I was of to CUBA , this was my 3rd season to the land of Bonefish, Permit , Tarpon and the Salsa. Not to forget the Cuba Libre's , Mojitos and White Daiquiris ( men don't do pink drinks). Unfortuanately we had a really bad patch of weather, the clouds were very low , thus we could not sight fish to cruising Tarpon.

This wasn't all bad , we had unbelievable Bone fishing ,  the last time i saw a 10lb bone half out the water was back in Farquhar 2008. ( No Wayne , this is not the type of bone..r    you are thinking of ).

My fingers are all typed out now . I will carry on with Bolivia , Zambia and Costa Rica tomorrow, ...

Tiger Time 2012

CJ Cronje with his first 8lb Tiger fish ( On Fly )

 Well , it has been some time since I last published something on the blog. Plenty fish have been caught and lost , lots of new fishing friends made , and even more knots tied. All and all a awesome time next to a piece of water be it a river in Zambia or on a skiff in Cuba.

Duncan Moth and a trophy Tiger  of 16lb's 

This is some photos of our recent trips to Sekoma Island , Zambia. 

 We had a awesome time. Murray is still out there as i write this . Who knows , maybe tomorrow someone hook and land the elusive 25lb'r . We have seen those guys around.

 

CJ and myself (Ricko) with a good 12lb Tiger.

Thanks for looking at this , have a great weekend!

Best

Ricko

TNT

Something new from Thomas & Thomas ,

New for 2012 Season
Thomas & Thomas TNT Saltwater Series
9’, 4-Piece, 7 – 12 wt, Ultra Fast Action

The Marketing Blurb

As saltwater anglers we all endure a love-hate relationship with the ever-present wind. You know it and we know it – the biggest fish get caught on the windiest days.

The new Thomas & Thomas TNT Saltwater Series is designed to ensure that you are equipped to deliver heavy flies in to relentless winds with an unprecedented level of power and accuracy. And if the fish changes course simply pick it up, shoot in to the back cast and lay it back out. This is a rod for advanced casters and die-hards of the flats. If you pray that tomorrow your favorite weather girl calls for clear skies and 20 mph winds then you owe it to yourself to check out the TNT series – pure dynamite.

The Technical Take
The TNT’s are the first Thomas & Thomas rods to be constructed using the highest modulus graphite’s and advanced resin’s available. These materials enabled us to significantly reduce the diameter of the blank while still achieving the stiffness desired of a saltwater rod. This has resulted in the lightest, strongest rods we’ve ever built.

Rod Designer, Tom Dorsey, explains,
"Knowledgeable rod designers understand the significant benefits of a lighter shaft weight and diameter – low inertia, better dampening characteristics for cleaner loops and increased energy transfer to the fly line. The challenge is to achieve this while retaining rod strength. The blend of high modulus graphite’s and state of the art resins has enabled us to achieve this to a degree we previously thought impossible. To the best of my knowledge we have created the lightest, most powerful saltwater rod blanks built anywhere.

It should be noted that we have resisted the temptation to compromise on the density of our cork or ‘skeletize’ our famous saltwater reel seats, in order to claim further weight reductions. We believe that doing so would be counter-productive since these parts of the rod have a miniscule effect on the rod’s casting dynamics and a huge effect on the rods durability and aesthetics. Reducing weight in the rod shaft - in front of the hand - offers the maximum potential for performance improvements and has been our principal focus.”

First Light , Tarpon , Thomas & Thomas TNT and me, Costa Rica

The TNT’s also feature all titanium guides and T&T’s new Rhino paint finish which offers a supremely hard, nick resistant finish resulting in additional strength benefits.

The Truth

The Thomas & Thomas TNT Series represents the thinnest, lightest, fastest saltwater rods we have ever launched. Anyone with decent timing and a good double haul is going to be throwing the full line and more in the car park. But it’s on the water where these rods really excel. At typical fishing distance of 45’ – 75’ the TNT’s generate maximum line speed with minimal false casts. The tip has been tweaked and re-tweaked until we feel we have got it just right – light enough to throw tight, wind-cutting loops but stiff enough so as not to collapse when picking up line off the water.
Do not expect this rod to be generously forgiving. Its not - but nor is the salt. Quite simply, this is a rod that will assist capable anglers to catch more fish even in tough conditions. We’re not claiming any proprietary technology or inventing new words to describe this level of performance. Llewellyn pulling a Dorado on the new TNT 8wt ( Bolivia)

But we are claiming to have taken the best materials available, combined them with T&T know-how and build quality to produce a rod that looks stunning and delivers performance to match. We’ve put this rod in the hands of some of the best saltwater anglers and guides around and their reactions are always the same – they cast, they smile, they nod, they say, ‘I want one’.
That’s the truth. And that’s the reason we’ve got a feeling the TNT’s will be ‘the saltwater rods you’ll eventually own’.

Regards

Ricko

New WEB site & Blog Page

Hi All ,

We have decided to move our blog to a different address, in future our blog posting will take place on this address:

http://flyfishers.co.za/blog/

Please have a look , you are also more than welcome to submit any flyfishing related article on the new blog.

All the best

Ricko

Middelpunt - Murray & Matthew

Matthew Pedder , Murray's son had a awesome time at Middelpunt far again.

Murray with another Middelpunt Silver , the Pappa Roach was the number 1 fly once more.

Thanks Hanno for the photos.

Thomas & Thomas forever

Thomas & Thomas Under New Ownership

Greenfield, MA - April , 2011. Chief Executive Officer of Thomas & Thomas Rodmakers Inc., Gerry Metcalfe, announced the sale of all company assets.

The Thomas & Thomas brand, machinery, inventory and all other assets were sold to Islamorada, FL based fly fisherman Mark Richens. Concurrent to the asset purchase, Richens also agreed a deal to buy the Thomas & Thomas rod making facility in Greenfield, MA from Lon Deckard of Osprey, FL. The financial details of both transactions were undisclosed.

Metcalfe explained. "The Thomas & Thomas brand is under new ownership. This brings to a conclusion the events of recent years that have troubled Thomas & Thomas Rodmakers. Despite my best efforts, issues arising from the withdrawal of bank funding following the financial crisis of 2007 and 2008 have proven insurmountable. The team at T&T produced fly rods of the highest quality throughout difficult circumstances and I wish to take this opportunity to thank them for their hard work and professionalism.

It is my understanding that Mark will continue making bamboo, glass and graphite rods in Massachusetts under the Thomas & Thomas brand and will seek to recruit key personnel locally. Mark also advised me that he intends to honor warranty repairs on existing T&T rods. He will be issuing his own press release to this effect once he has had chance to discuss his plans with the many industry figures that have supported Thomas and Thomas so loyally over the years.

After putting so much into the company I am delighted to see Thomas & Thomas in the hands of someone with a full appreciation for its rich, forty-year heritage. I know Lon Deckard feels the same way.

Mark Richens is a fanatical fly fisherman, a long time user of T&T rods and a regular on the saltwater flats and trout and salmon streams of North America and beyond. At 39, he has the drive and acumen to re-energize this prestigious brand. He is unwavering in his belief that there remains a place for high quality fly rods, built entirely in the USA by craftsmen. I wish him and all involved with his new company well for the future."

From our side , we will support Thomas & Thomas for as long as we are around!

Dullstroom Trouting

Hanno , CJ and myself had a awesome morning out trout fishing yesterday in Dullstroom. Even though the wind was pumping we still manage to get some good trout.

Hanno into another Trout , CJ on his way to net the fish.

CJ into his BIG trout of the day, a good five pounder.

We had good success on dragonfly nymphs and the always popular "WHITE" egg. Hanno fished the egg and a # 16 mayfly nymph suspended below a indicator.

One more for the " How's your Trout " log book.

Thanks guys for awesome day out!!

Hopper magic

On our recent trip to Sterkfontein we found the Yellow's were not really eating the conventional flies we always used. Well we had a surprise up our sleeve's

Notice the nylon loop tied in at the hook bend. Most of you are familiar with static nymphing for trout. One would suspend a team of nymphs ( flies) below a strike indicator or a high floating dry fly.

Well with this loop , one would tie your team and the just loop to loop it to the BIG hopper. Some fish even had a go at the hopper!

The end result!

Trout Fishing in Dullstroom

Thursday Trouting

Dullstroom

Murray had 2 guest from Israel on Thursday , and some really good trout fishing.

And the lady's always get the Bigger Fish

Release ,..

The smile say's it all.

BIG Yellows

This is some of the Yellow fish Paul Fick landed the past season.

Location X

6kg Small mouth Yellow fish

Large Mouth Yellow

5.5 Kg Small Mouth Yellow

7 Kg Largie

Thanks Paul , awesome fish!!

Sexy Flies

Some really awesome flies tied by Gerrit Viljoen.

The shrimp pattern below is a size 12 Swimming Shrimp , note the neat epoxy work.

This fly , The Extended Graphic Caddis Pupa , is most probably one of the better examples where the use of both Synthetic and Natural materials combine in to really fishable fly. The hook size : # 16

Thank you Gerrit , awesome ties!

News from Seychelles

This Wahoo did not "Clip" the leader .

It is said , a wahoo will reach a speed of 130Km/h in one and a half time it's own body length. Blitzig !!

Another Sail .

Thanks again to Lu and Yaqhim , both these guy's work for Untamed Angling at Deroches Island , Seychelles.

The Rod Building Workshop @ FlyFishers Unlimited

Just a few photo's to let you in to "our World"

The Rod Building Room at the shop ( FlyFishers Unlimited )

Some Rhythm 9 and 5 wt's ready to get some guides put on them.

Some Thomas & Thomas blanks on the point to become :

" The Rod You Will Eventually Own"

Rod's on the drying racks, this happen after we did a coat of epoxy on the tread.

Some rods ready for collection , some still to be finished and as always , some to be fished!

Elpus and myself have been building fly rods for the past 18 years . We do rods in all configurations and of course on all blanks , also we can do a real CUSTOM rod with air brush work or even Scrimshaw on the Blank.

Give us a ring or drop us a mail if you need more info.

How's your WAHOOOO and a Sail

Thanks Lu , if you have a look at our second last post " Fancy Flies " you will note one of them on the " Hoooo's " scissors.

Another very happy Client , Llewellyn guided of Derosches Island " Seychelles". Again , the fly used was tied in the shop by Elphus .

Thanks , all the best.

Murray , Ricko & Elphus

A bit more Yellow

Ted , thank you for the update. It's always a pleasure to get some photo's of you and the awesome yellows you catch.

Well done !!

You can see the " width " on this fish , a proper one!

Large mouth Yellow

Large Mouth Yellow Fish

Gerhard landed the awesome Largie yesterday on the Vaal. This fish took a Copper Brasie # 14 tied to 4X tippet.

This just make you realize , if it's your fish , you will catch it !

Well done , Mnr v Vuuren

Some fancy Flies

Just a quick post , the guys have been tying some awesome Sailfish , Marlin , GT's and Tarpon flies lately.

Some Profile Tube Flies , note the Cam Sigler type popping head .

A Blast from the Past - The MASTER BLASTER , no self respecting GT can let one of these go past.

A Schoolie, a bunch of Tarpon Flies on their way to GABON . Hopefully we will be able to publish some pic's.

Best,

Ricko & Murray

A Shark Tale

All the way from the Pirate invested Seychelles ,

Lu Claven and a very happy client. The thing these days is to fish for Nice Sharks on the Flats. Lu and his team at Desroshes Island seemed to have cracked the code.

n Maase Haai.

As you can see from the photos , the guys are fishing really shallow flats. Normally the fishing will pick up on an outgoing tide. As the water warms up the sharks tend to pull in.

Thanks Llewellyn, awaiting our next Seychelles report soon.

" one more thing, as you all know , fishing the outer islands on a live aboard yacht has been stopped by the Seychelles government. This leave Desrosches Island Resort one of the few destinations still fishable in Sey. If you need more info you can get hold of us or them direct."

Life after the Challenge ?

Inter Galactic Yellow Fish Challenge 2010

As in the past the 5th Annual Inter Galactic Yellow Fish Challenge did not disappoint in entertainment value and of course the fishing ( this is why we go...)

Spirits were high after the victory of the Bok's over Wales , the true loyal patriotic South African came out in all of us , rather I stop at this point.

A few guest's also made their appearance's , oom Koos Wye Voete , RicieLu and of course the Captain himself with his Red Hart and all.

This year we had 3 teams participating, all the usual suspects and then the new guys from the FAR EAST. Paul Andrews captained the one team , Wayne O the other and Brian Jameson the winning team.

With a very simple scoring system , 1 point to 1 yellow fish Brian's team managed to land 15 yellows , Paul's 14 and Wayne's 13. Jip we were in " LUCKY " team 13 and of course next years challenge is on us.

Thanks to Andre and his team at Wag n Bietjie Eco farm for looking after us , we will recommend you where ever possible.

Regards

Ricko

Also

Golden Masheer from India

All the way from India,

Andi Spielmann just returned from a exploratory trip to India , fishing of course.

He did manage to land several Masheer.

an Adult damsel fly , thanks for the pic. Andi.

All the right gear. Fishing for Masheer you need a 7 wt fly rod and a few Largemouth Yellow fish flies. Andi asked us to build him a 7wt THOMAS & THOMAS Apex , he used a Ross EVO LT 3 reel and one of the new Airflo Clear lines.

Masheer of up to 40lb's have been caught out of this pool. ( no not only in the 1930's )

We are currently working on a trip to float the river . This should happen during October 2011 , we will keep you posted.