Midge Life Cycle

Gummy Worm  Imitation: Midge Larvae Materials Used: Hook: Knapek #14 Scuds/Czech Nymphs Hook Body: Red Gummy Stops and 2X Mono Thread: Red Tying sequence: Step 1: Thread 5 red gummy stops onto a piece of 2X monofilament. Trim the excess mono on one side but leave a 3mm tag end. Burn this piece to melt it and flatten it against the gummy stop. Also leave a short piece of about 10mm at the other end. Step 2: Lay a thread base of the same length as a gummy stop just behind the eye of the hook. Step 3: Tie in the 10mm piece of mono behind the eye of the hook. Trim excess monofilament and then form a neat threaded body roughly the same size as a gummy stop. Step 4: Tie off with 3 half hitches and coat the threaded area with Sally Hansen nail varnish. How to fish it: This fly is very versatile as you can fish it on its own, as a dropper under a dry fly or as part of a static nymphing rig. You can also use it as a point fly behind a Papa Roach (as an example) for Trout in stillwaters. Gummy Buzzer Imitation: Midge Pupae Materials Used: Hook: Knapek #14 Scuds/Czech Nymphs Hook Abdomen: Black thread Thorax: Black Gummy Stop Ribbing: Yellow Flexi Floss Wings: Yellow Flexi Floss Wing case: Flash Thread: Black Tying sequence: Step 1: Thread one black Gummy Stop onto the hook shank up to the eye of the hook. Leave a 2 mm gap between the Gummy Stop and the eye of the hook. Step 2: Lay a thread base on the hook shank behind the Gummy Stop and tie in a 5 cm piece of Yellow Flexi Floss. Form a neat and slim profiled abdomen with the thread and then tightly wrap the Yellow Flexi Floss forward over the abdomen to form the ribbing. Tie the tag in and trim the excess. Step 3: Tie in a 2.5 cm piece of Flash behind the Gummy stop. Then tie in two 2.5 cm pieces of Yellow Flexi Floss at the bottom of the hook behind the Gummy Stop. Tie off with 3 half hitches and trim the excess thread neatly against the body of the fly. Step 4: Tie in the black thread on the 2 mm section between the eye of the hook and the Gummy Stop. About 5 turns should do it. Then bring the Flash forward over the Gummy Stop and tie in and trim the excess Flash. Next bring the two pieces of Yellow Flexi Floss forward and make sure they line up evenly with each other, then tie them in behind the eye of the hook. Trim all excess materials. Step 5: Coat the fly with several layers of Sally Hansen nail varnish, making sure that the layers are dry before applying the following coating. How to fish it: This fly is very versatile as you can fish it on its own, as a dropper under a dry fly or as part of a static nymphing rig. CFC (CDC, Foam & Cock)  Imitation: Midge Adult Materials Used: Hook: Grip #18 Dry Fly Abdomen: Black Foam Thorax & Legs: Black Cock Feather Hackle Wings: White CDC Antennae: White CDC Thread: Black Tying sequence: Step 1: Lay one layer of thread on the hook shank. Tie in a 10 mm x 2 mm x 2 mm piece of Black Foam as the extended abdomen at the middle of the hook shank and trim the excess. Step 2: Tie in a pinch of White CDC (about 10mm long, towards the back of the fly) also in the middle of the hook shank and trim the excess. Step 3: Tie in a small pinch of White CDC as the feelers in (about 3 mm long, towards the front of the fly) just behind the hook of the eye and trim the excess. Step 4: Tie in a Black Cock Feather Hackle at the middle of the fly and wrap the Hackle forward to behind the antennae and tie of with 3 half hitches. Apply Sally Hansen nail varnish to the head of the fly with a needle to finish the fly How to fish it: Best fished when a hatch is in progress or when fish are rising to the surface. It can also be used to attract a cruising fish with a delicate and accurate cast. © 2013 Hunter Hennie. All Rights Reserved.

Stealth Infinity 2wt 8ft Rod Review

If you are in the market for a quality yet affordable small stream rod, you are going to have to look far and wide to try and beat Stealth’s 2wt, 4 piece, 8ft Infinity fly rod. Firstly, it’s very easy on the eye. With Nickel reel seat fittings, snake rings, an AAA Grade cork grip and a California wood burl reel seat, it surely can compete quality and looks wise with any of the top selling brands worldwide. Made with Nano-Quartz technology it is very light and strong. It also comes in an aluminium rod tube and a tube sock to protect your investment. Now, personally I prefer my small stream rods to have a sensitive tip, yet preferably it should have enough backbone that should you unexpectedly hook into that big Mooi River Brown, that you would still be able to land the fish without exhausting it. The Infinity does exactly that. It gives you the sensitivity that you requirewhilst fishing tiny dry flies but has the power in the lower third of the rod’s blank to apply and maintain pressure when needed. It is not too stiff for a small stream rod though, so don’t be afraid that you’ll break off your 7 or 8X tippets, but you have the advantage that when the wind maybe picks up a bit that you will still be able to cast comfortably due to it’s medium to fast  action. The 8ft length certainly has it advantages over the more common 7ft length of 2wt rods. You have the benefits of being able to cast a little bit further when needed, and the extra length really helps when you are high sticking.  At the end of the day it all comes down to personal taste. If you are looking for a small stream rod, then go to your local fly fishing pro shop and ask them for a 2wt Stealth Infinity. It’s important to cast it for yourself and then form an opinion. You wouldn’t buy a car without taking it for a test drive, would you? © 2013 Hunter Hennie. All Rights Reserved.

Field and Streams Review

First of all, either everyone has been keeping this place secret to themselves or not a lot of people have been to Field and Streams yet. Only 9km from Dullstroom, it is a truly beautiful farm, secluded in a kloof between the mountains with breathtaking scenery and an abundance of animal life.

Both fly fisherman and nature enthusiasts will enjoy a weekend away at Field and Streams as they offer a wide array of activities for the whole family on the farm to choose from.

Some of the activities include fly fishing, bird watching, walking/hiking, mountain biking, clay pigeon shooting and horse riding nearby.

Accommodation

We stayed in The Nest, which is a cosy 2 sleeper en-suite unit with a lounge, dining and kitchen area. It has a fireplace for the colder months and a braai outside on the stoep with an amazing view of the mountains. The unit is very neat and tidy, and has everything there you (she) would need (microwave, stove, 

kitchen utensils, fridge etc.) including towels and other requirements.

There are five beautiful farm style units to choose from on the farm from a 2 sleeper to a 10 sleeper. 

All of them have fireplaces and braai areas. You can also bring your DSTV smartcard should you wish to do so, as some of the units have DSTV decoders.

Fishing

There are sizeable stillwaters on the farm (“Meike’s Mere” and “Matuka Dam”) and 4km of Witpoort river, all of which is host to both Rainbow and Brown trout. There is also a smaller dam/weir called “William’s Favourite” which is stocked with smaller Trout.

We headed out to Meike’s Mere on Saturday morning at about 07h00 with my 5wt and high expectations. With my first cast I was on... I casted a #8 Peacock Woolly Bugger just next to a reed bed, hoping for a cruising Trout to spot my fly, and I landed a nice Hen of 1.8kg. Soon after I caught another Rainbow of 800gr.

It wasn’t 10 minutes and I was on again! This time I could see it was a monster... I played the fish for about 2 minutes, and whilst trying to steer it away from a weed bed, my 3X Rio tippet broke... I saw the fish a couple of times during the fight and estimated it at 2kg plus.

We returned to Meike’s Mere for an afternoon session after breaking for brunch and to explore the farm from about 10:00 to 15:00. I fished from a timber jetty for the remainder of the afternoon.

I lost a couple of big fish but I caught 5 quality fish between 900gr and 1.9kg. All the fish were in fantastic condition and they fought like crazy!

 

They don’t feed the fish pellets, and I think that is the reason they put up such a fight, they hunt actively for their food and they are very opportunistic feeders. All the fish in the dam were caught on black and blue tinsel (Peacock) Woolly Buggers with a steady retrieve in various depths of water.

 

Sunday morning before our departure we decided to explore some of the 4km of Witpoort river that meanders through the farm. Upon our arrival after an approximate 4 km drive from our chalet, we saw a spectacular waterfall cascading over the rocks into a pool. The river was crystal clear and the water level was quite low.

I tied a #14 Zak Nymph on a 6X tippet and cautiously approached a promising pool on a bend of the river. I made a cast with my 2wt Stealth Infinity and seconds after the fly hit the water a feisty little Rainbow took my fly and tore the Zak Nymph to shreds!

 

Unfortunately we couldn’t spend much time on the river as we had to head back home, but I will surely return to spend a day or two stalking those wary little Witpoort Trout!

Conclusion

Field and Stream offers everything you would expect from a countryside venue to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. There is no Vodacom reception and very limited MTN reception in certain places, so the office won’t be able to bother you there.

The farm road (about 2km long) from the main road is bad in places (due to the rain), and I would suggest going with an SUV or a bakkie, however there were people with sedans when we were there.

Field and Stream has a very relaxed atmosphere on a truly beautiful farm and it caters for the adventurous or for someone just in need of a quiet weekend away.

Recommended Equipment

5wt 9ft rod with a floating line for Stillwater fishing in Meike’s Mere.

5wt or even a 7wt 9ft rod with an intermediate line for the big trout in Matuka Dam.

2wt rod with a floating line for the Witpoort river.

Recommended Flies

Peacock Woolly Bugger, Papa Roach, San Juan worm, Midge patterns and DDD for the still waters.

Zak nymph, Hot Spot PTN, GRHE, RAB and Elk Hair Caddis for the river.

© 2013 Hunter Hennie. All Rights Reserved.