Fish The Fly | South African Fly Fishing
The Story So Far
It all started in 2013 when Gareth Roocroft, combined his passion for fly fishing with his skill for constructing websites. What resulted was a no-nonsense, snob-squad free fly fishing resource that demystified fly fishing and made fly fishing for all fish species cool!
Like so many South Africans I have fished from a young age, baiting for Bream or spinning for Bass; but it was fly fishing that sparked my imagination. Roll on 2018 and in my search for reliable tried-and-tested advice I stumbled across Fish The Fly. The difference it made to my fishing career was marked and gave me a solid foundation on which I have built experience. In 2022, much to my surprise, Fish The Fly went offline. After tracking down Gareth and a meeting over coffee I purchased the site. It is my objective to continue what Gareth started and my wish that by maintaining what is already here, adding good honest advice and sharing my experiences Fish The Fly will continue to advance everyone’s enjoyment of fly fishing.
False Casts
Flies Tied
Fish Selfies
A Little Perspective
Fly fishing globally is enjoying a golden era – it sits comfortably at the intersection of the outdoor lifestyle, conservation, sport and environmental awareness. It presents the opportunity (or excuse) to travel to those remote places and beautiful sceneries and immerse yourself into a deeper state of consciousness. By broadening the fish species targeted from Trout to all fish species these opportunities have grown.
Content
Fish The Fly is a resource to help make those trips to far distant places more rewarding. The information is set out and cross referenced by freshwater and saltwater fish species, fly information, destinations and fly tackle terminology. The many fly fishing articles, stories, videos, tutorials and images are there for you to enjoy, learn from and compare notes. The content is the sum of its parts and you can meet the Fish The Fly team here.
Commitment
Fish The Fly has always been about sharing knowledge, respect for the fish and the environment in which they are found and creating a comradery between the men and women that fish them. The objective is to promote all fish species, to take pride in catching fish but to never brag about quantity or size (okay maybe sometimes) but rather acknowledge the beauty in fish and fly fishing and to never reduce fly fishing to a competition. I hope you take from Fish The Fly what I have and remember: Fish The Fly, always…
Remembering Tony Roocroft
“My Father, Tony Roocroft, who taught me everything I know about Fly Fishing and life in general. I caught my first freshwater fish on fly with him, my first saltwater fish on fly with him, and my first wild Trout with him, Dad I cannot thank you enough for bringing me into this amazing sport.” – Gareth.
“If you can’t catch a fish, the next best thing is to watch a fish being caught, but it’s definitely a second choice”.
Latest Articles From The Fish The Fly Team
Mooi River Rainbows
A Break from the Life Between the hustle and bustle of everyday life the opportunity to go flyfishing is a rare gem, some have the privilege to call flyfishing their career the rest of us take our chances as and when we can. The Mooi River Just such an opportunity...
Where Garrick Go to Get Big and Where Fly Fishers Go to Get Big Garrick
Sedgefield and Garrick Sedgefield is an idyllic seaside town whose lagoon links the Swartvlei to the warm Indian Ocean. The lagoon and Swartvlei is a well-known destination for targeting Garrick on fly. Mature Garrick migrate to KwaZulu-Natal estuaries to breed and...
Split Cane Dream Come True
My purist friend, Rory, painted such an indulgent picture of Trout fishing in his article that I was compelled to procure a delicate split cane rod and head for the Eastern Cape Highlands to immerse myself in some river fishing in spectacular countryside. The hamlet...
Latest Yellowfish Articles From The Fish The Fly Team
Yellowfish Season
Yellowfish Season In South Africa Fly Fishing For Yellows In South African Waters When we talk about Yellowfish Season in South Africa we, as fly fishers, are normally talking about the Smallmouth Yellowfish (Labeobarbus aeneus) in...
Yellowfish Spawning
Yellowfish Spawning: When Do Yellowfish Spawn? Spawning Information On South Africa's Yellowfish An Introduction To Breeding Yellowfish Yellowfish Spawning: Yellowfish spawn, generally, after the first heavy rains of the Yellowfish season....
Top 10 Yellowfish Flies
Top 10 Flies For Yellowfish Season What Flies To Use For Yellowfish During Spring & Summer? There are so many flies for Yellowfish, and it can be a daunting task for any fly fisherman when setting out on an early season trip to one of...
Latest Saltwater Articles From The Fish The Fly Team
Where Garrick Go to Get Big and Where Fly Fishers Go to Get Big Garrick
Sedgefield and Garrick Sedgefield is an idyllic seaside town whose lagoon links the Swartvlei to the warm Indian Ocean. The lagoon and Swartvlei is a well-known destination for targeting Garrick on fly. Mature Garrick migrate to KwaZulu-Natal estuaries to breed and...
39 Must Catch Fish On Fly In The World | Fly Fishing Infographic
Fly Fishing Around The World, 39 Fish Species You Need To Catch On Fly! Alphonse Island/Alphonse Fishing Co, have made an amazing infographic, probably one of the best I have ever seen, the lists the 39 fish species you need to catch on fly!...
Saltwater Fly Fishing 101
Saltwater Fly Fishing In South Africa Where, What, How, Why... Saltwater Fly fishing 101 Saltwater Fly Fishing is a challenging form of angling, and definitely tests a fly fisherman's patience and skills to the maximum. Fly...
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