Picking the right time to throw a line is always a dilemma, not just because of the small windows we have in our busy lives, but more that the inclement forecast is when we choose to take the gap, which we all know, can change at a moments notice.
Water flows and a dropping temperature are what herald the start of our Trout Season and autumn is unquestionably when our still waters start to perform, but us fly fishers and Trout have one thing in common, we’re both a fussy bunch when it comes to the ideal weather condition.
The opening of the Natal Midlands fly fishing festivals was a case in point, with the TOPS Corporate Challenge getting the balmiest conditions you could ever wish for, which made for a festive beer garden at Notties and a little puzzling to figure the fish out.
But after landing 126 Trout in the very first morning, we knew the game was on!
Consequently, lunch time saw many smiling faces and the celebrations started. Loose lips were soon divulging the secrets of their success and talk inevitably turned to the fly patterns that the fish couldn’t resist. This time of year, you would think that it would be all Damsels and Midge imitations, but the sheer amount of rain and unseasonal warmth still had a lot of bigger morsels swimming around.
With the limit of fly fishers being set at 60 invitees, you know the waters aren’t going to get flogged to death, however rod pressure always plays a key role and in session two the returns dropped to 90 fish caught and released. This, coupled with the tales of being snapped up and rinsed by some big fish was the talk of the evening festivities. A 58cm, 7lb Rainbow Hen set the benchmark, with another 21 fish eclipsing the half meter yardstick. One very experienced fly fisher, Fred Poggenpoel had tongues wagging with his team mates witnessing a Trophy Rainbow take him into his backing, commenting ‘it was undoubtably the winning fish of the event’, leaving him to bitterly rue his decision to fish on 4x.
The last day had a few bleary eyed entrants not getting up at the crack of dawn, but those that made it out onto the water were rewarded with a pleasing return of 124 fish, with another 58cm beauty being landed.
Fly patterns varied, with some weird and wonderful creations from the WildFly team doing the damage……bank fishing and sight casting to cruising fish were well rewarded!
In total 340 Trout were caught and released, giving the First Leg of the TOPS Corporate Challenge a resounding start to this festival season.
As usual off the field antics were rewarded as much as a fly fishers performance on the water, with prize giving being the source of the evening jibes and cheers.
185 Solutions, Waterscape Buggers, Fork and Fly, and Steinweg Slayers all qualified for the illustrious final with Simply Bathrooms taking the coveted first place. Top Fly Fisher went to Nevil Johnson from the Misfits team and Biggest Trout to Jared Maclean.
The Shane Ferguson memorial trophy was emotionally bestowed to Hendrik Fourie, as a man who embodied the ethos of this remarkable event.
Needless to say the party kicked off in customary fashion as the great fishing stories were imbibed and embelished upon. Here’s to celebrating many more of our fishing exploits with TOPS at Spar.
