Ah yes – February. Get ready to be assaulted by cute little hearts, kittens and red ribbons every time you venture into a public space. But before you spend one cent on a gift, ask yourself this question: WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOUR VALENTINE’S DAY PRESENT CAME WITH A LIFETIME GUARANTEE?

The Drake Magazine has, over the years, developed a sort of cult following. It’s a good read for those of us who actually care about the differences between Gink and Aquel, and when you page through it you kinda get the feeling the editors may have gills. And good cameras – the photography in Drake is of a standard that makes you feel like you’re there. We’ve got the latest issue in store, and it’s full of useful info like which is the best ski pass for fishermen and whether it’s OK to go fising on Sunday. Check out www.drakemag.com

Apologies to Milan Kundera for bastardizing the title of his brilliant work. I reckon it’s apt, though. His novel was all about artistry and intellectualism – the kind of feelings you get when you pick up a SAGE Zero-weight! If you’re keen to explore the possibilities of ultra-light fishing in the Rhodes area, or to take up a dare, or you just feel like sneaking away for a few days to one of the troutiest regions on our continent, save a space on your calendar between 27 April and 4 May. It’s going to be a blast!

Dates for our annual Tiger Trips have been finalized. They are:

9-15 July 2012 (6 Nights)
15-20 July 2012 (5 Nights)
&
29July – 3 August (5 Nights)
3-9 August (6 Nights)

All of these slots have been booked at Sekoma’s excellent Illombe Island Camp. Mark Krige will host groups 1 and 2, and John Yelland will host groups 3 and 4.

The cost of R2000 per person per day sharing covers transfer from Livingstone Airport, accommodation, meals, boats and local guides who know the river and the fishing.

Experience the thrill of tigerfishing on one of Africa’s great rivers – call 021 762-8007 or email fish@upstreamflyfishing.co.za for more info or to secure your booking!

Quite a few of us still have an old pair of felt-sole boots that we’re not keen to see the end of – ever! Unfortunately the areas we fish take their toll on felt so eventually the soles will wear out. If you happen to be in this predicament yourself and you’re not quite ready yet for the new-generation rubber soles, pop around. We have replacement felt soles in stock. But have a look at the rubber-soled boots while you’re here – sooner or later you may want to move that way!

Competitive flyfishing demands specialised equipment. Emphasis is placed on functionality and efficiency – useful attributes even if you’ll never fish in competition! An important item for a competitor is a sturdy net with just the right depth, a mesh that doesn’t eat flies, doesn’t hurt fish and doesn’t require Herculean strength to use in flowing water. One of the best is the 3-in-1 Trout net. It even comes with an additional, longer handle for stillwater applications. Pop in to check them out!

Your choice of wading boot is a complicated one – more so since felt soles have become less desirable due to their tendency to harbor undesirable algal spores. Fortunately the modern rubber soles offer a very close second to felt in the water, and far superior grip out of the stream. On mixed ground, nothing beats the soles developed for Simms by Vibram. Note that this is NOT the same Vibram material you’ll find on hiking boots – Vibram is a brand, not the compound. Next to grip, durability is right up there as a factor to consider. It is with this in mind that we now carry a range of Simms Rivershed boots. Comfortable, durable and fantastic grip dry or wet – a great product!

Tackle is a personal thing, but sometimes it’s nice to see what other people have to say. The Flyfisherman Magazine 2012 Gear Guide tested a range of tackle; these are the rods that came out on top:

Best New Rod Series – SAGE ONE

Best Dry Fly Rod Series - SAGE TXL-F

Best Euro-Style Rod – SAGE ESN

Best Allround Nymphing Rod – St Croix High Stick Drifter

Best Streamer Rod – St Croix Bank Robber

Best Allround Saltwater Rod – SAGE Xi3

Best Flats Rod – Orvis Helios Saltwater

Best Warmwater Rod – SAGE BASS 2

It’s worth noting that, aside from those listed above, the review included pretty much all the big brands: G. Loomis, Scott, Winston, Hardy, Greys, TFO as well as relative newcomer Echo, which got a “New and Notable” mention.

In a world of ongoing development and improvement, it’s nice to know that our flagship rod range is still setting the pace!

Darryl Lampert in his natural habitat

Fly fishing attracts artists. I can’t tell you exactly why this is, but it must have something to do with the delicacy and grace of our chosen addiction, coupled with the environment in which it is practised.

We were thrilled when well-known Cape angler Darryl Lampert brought around some block-mounted printed canvasses of some of his photographs, and one very special image printed in the same way that art galleries use to archive their collections.

Pop around if you are interested in owning any of these prints, or would like to order something similar as a Christmas gift or for the wall in your study!

Fragile, Handle with Care

Smallstream Magic

It seems it’s become mandatory these days to carry a camera when you go fishing. I’m told that to take a really great photo, the little things count. Dull, chipped fingernails detract from the beauty of the fish in the hand, so nail-care is paramount! That’s why Upstream now stocks Sally Hansens Hard-as-Nails! (Of course it’s also a great product for coating the thread heads on your flies or as final body-coat on your Clear Cure Goo creations…)