We’ve been scratching our heads looking for those big fish…
A lot of conjecture and a few solid theories have emerged as to why we’ve yet to see many double digit Trout this season, tales of big fish lost notwithstanding. And this is a common denominator across the span of the Natal Drakensburg catchment.
Of course we discount put and take fisheries (nothing against them for their entertainment value), but it’s only Wild Trout fishing waters that I’m referring to.
Five great Midlands festivals since May and in WildFly country alone we’ve recorded over 1200 Trout, yet chat to any honest fly fisher and he would admit that despite the number of half meter plus fish, those breaching the 60cm mark are few and far between.
Not that this ever impacts on the legendary festivities that Notties is renowned for in The Tops Corporate Challenge. The event ethos of ‘every tail deserves a toast’, is embraced with much gusto! With the weather really behaving, the first session yielded the desired result of 101 Trout caught and released; Anton Smiths’ beautiful Brown being the top catch in the early hours. But our Midlands weather wasn’t going to take that lying down and decided to spoil the party that afternoon knocking the session tally back to less than 40 fish. And it only got marginally better from there!
Dams that are absolute bankers in the WildFly stable just didn’t give up their goods, it was a case of hero to zero on some anglers scorecards. Not that you’d say so, when the afternoon lunchtime arrived. Clearly basking in the sun, enjoying a bevvie with good mates outweighed any fishing consideration.
But kudos to the guys and gals for getting back on the water in such wind swept conditions. Despite the biting cold, fly fishers persevered until the eleventh hour, knowing that a coveted place in the grand final was up for grabs. The lure of a guaranteed holiday prize for all 60 qualifiers kept their casting arms busy.
Fortunately fortification in the form of the single malt Rhino whisky was on offer.
Much fanfare ensued, as one has become to expect from the final night’s prize giving, with the WildFly Choice awards ensuring that antics off the field are rewarded with some incredible prizes. Top Fly fFsher was justly bestowed on the talents of Alistair Moores Pitt, for his tally of 17 Trout and for-filling his score card quota. Biggest fish was nabbed by Dean Lialvaux for his last cast 55cm Rainbow, which also catapulted his team, the Amfibians, into 1st place.
At the end of July the 15 teams who’ve qualified for the TCC final will be back once again, to challenge the Trout in their backyard and they will no doubt figure out the conundrum of where those trophy Trout are hiding