Fly anglers tie things up
The South Coast Fly Anglers (SCFA) recently held their annual awards ceremony hosted by Stephen and Olga Brand at their farm near Trafalgar.
Prizegiving was a somewhat raucous event, with good natured heckling and harassing being the order of the day.
The club thanked the various sponsors, too numerous to mention, for their invaluable contributions during the year.
SCFA is a relatively small but active fly fishing and fly tying club, with members ageing from their teens to late 80s, from all backgrounds and abilities.
They all share a love for 'the gentle sport' as it is referred to by some.
Those who are only interested in tying flies, either as a recognised art form or for their own use, are also welcome to join the club and can attend the monthly fly tying sessions under expert guidance.
Monthly club activities include a meeting on the last Thursday of the month at the Umtentweni Tennis Club.
The members also enjoy one salt water and one fresh water fishing outing, plus a fly tying evening where expert instruction is given on tying the salt and fresh water fly of the month.
There are regular longer outings to various salt and fresh water venues, generally in KZN, but also as far afield as the Richtersveld in the Northern Cape on the Orange River.
RESULTS
Most meritorious fish (international):
Liam van der Merwe, with a 99cm giant trevally.
Liam van der Merwe, for a permit of 68cm.
Most meritorious fish (local):
This was a new award, given posthumously to the late Stan Park, for his 3,1kg rainbow trout caught at Mountain Lake near Matatiele.
Most prolific angler:
Neil Scott recorded 135 fish caught during the year. He also walked away with the saltwater fly-tyer of the year and the freshwater fly-tyer of the year awards.
Merit certificates:
Liam van der Merwe for the most international species caught. His nine species included moustache trigger fish, yellow margin trigger fish, blacktip kingfish, giant kingfish, permit, bonefish and puffer fish, as well as chisel mouth and Natal yellow fish, known as the Natal scalie.
John New for most local species caught. His seven species included small mouth yellowfish, rainbow trout, bass, tilapia, flagtail, thornfish and moonie.
Surprisingly, wave garrick do not appear on either of these lists.
Merit award:
Mark Rose for his first bass caught on fly.
Foul Hook trophy:
Arthur Cary for capsizing his kick-boat at Sterkfontein Dam!
Chris van Wyk chairman award:
Brand Family for their outstanding service to the club.
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