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Make a habit of checking your flies, especially tandem rigs when nymphing to avoid covering water with a snagged rig or useless flies.

Fresh water Tip by Andrew

"If you want to catch fish, take a guide. Ant is knowledgeable, professional and easy going on the water and when it comes to catching big fish, there is no better."

Shaun McCarthy – Johannesburg – South Africa

	1)Always fish the pools, riffles and runs from the tail-end up to avoid spooking potential big fish. \| 2)When nymphing, ensure that the tip of your fly line and leader, right up to the strike indicator, stays afloat to assist in mending the line, line control and to avoid drag. \| 3)Make sure that you always approach a pool facing upstream to avoid being in the direct sight of the fish inevitably also facing upstream. \| 4)Avoid casting the fly line over the fish when sight fishing (lining the fish) as the sight of the fly line could spook it. \| 5)Use appropriate wading boots and gravel guards when negotiating wild streams. Unsuitable shoes can unnecessarily create potential hazards and discomfort. \| 6)After tying / buying dry flies, pre-dip and dry them in 'loon hydro-stop' to increase durable floatability. \| 7)Avoid using a perfection loop/knot on thin diameter fluorocarbon tippets and leaders, as they tend to slip. \| 8)Make a habit of checking your flies, especially tandem rigs when nymphing to avoid covering water with a snagged rig or useless flies. \| 9)Always prepare for extreme conditions and scenarios by ensuring that you carry a raincoat, first-aid kit and water when attempting long walks away from the vehicle. \| 10)Guides are worth their money in gold and if qualified and professional, could save you a lot of time and money, use them. \|
	1)Carry a towel on a boat at sea. Draped over objects on the deck, will prevent lines from tangling. It can also be used to place over reels in the hot sun & for its intended purpose, for drying. \| 2)A ladies hair clip is invaluable for trips to sea or just carrying rods in a bundle. The jaw type hair clip holds delicate rods together at the tips. \| 3)Prepare the tackle needed for the job the night before. This is so that the knots don't weaken. Old knots tend to get brittle! \| 4)Cable ties are invaluable on a boat at sea incase a rod might break while fighting a fish. Release drag and join with three cable ties and take it easy! \| 5)Cellular phone! A horrible thing at sea...but it could save your life! Put it in a zip lock bag or get a dry bag! \| 6)Drink lots of water! Always make sure you are properly hydrated an keep REHYDRATE packs on you! You travel so far on a trip of a lifetime ... \| 7)After every day of angling- pull line from reel and respool the flyline onto the reel without any pressure so that the line doesnt hold memory. \| 8)Line management - nothing worse than tangles on big fish because of a lack of effort to just look where your line is at the time of hooking a fish. \|
	1)On heavily fished waters, especially late season when fish have seen a lot of flies, try to fish smaller, more natural patterns. \| 2)Spend time getting the weight of your rig right. The correct amount of split shot for the conditions is more important than fly pattern. \| 3)When upstream nymphing keep your casts short - 3 rod lengths at most. \| 4)If fish are rising and you have matched the naturals with the dry, but without success, think emergers. Fish a klinkhammer or similar fly in the right size for a reversal of fortune. \| 5)When wading in heavy water use a wading staff, move sideways facing upstream and hang onto a buddy. 4 feet are more stable than 2. \| 6)When the river has risen and discoloured concentrate on fishing the margins and back eddies. Use a terrestrial pattern such as a sunk cricket. Bloodworm imitations also work well in these conditions. \| 7)Observation is key to success in all fishing. Give yourself the best chance by using proper polarised eyewear and a cap or hat with a black under brim. \| 8)When a big fish goes downstream with the current don't just stand there! Get out of the water and follow on the bank if you really want to land it. And carry a net. \| 9)If you are a beginner on the Vaal get your weighting right, your casts short, your striking fast and your rod tip up. \| 10)When fishing with an indicator you can never strike too fast. Be ready, you don't need force to set the hook, you need speed. \| 11)When fishing Sterkfontein Dam for small yellow you will do better if you remember to keep the following 3 things low - tippet diameter, fly size and yourself! \|