The pineapple express storm that chased us from California to Idaho didn’t let up when we got home Monday. Heaps of wet snow closed many local roads. The forecast said it wouldn’t let up until Thursday. That was unnerving for me because on Wednesday I was scheduled to fly from Idaho Falls for Cameroon. A … Read more
My quick speaking tour through California last Wednesday through today was memorable. It began with twelve hours of driving from home in Victor, Idaho to Nevada City, California. The first five hours was over ice, snow, snowdrifts, fog and was pure utter hell. If that wasn’t tiring enough, I was still jetlagged from returning from … Read more
From Africa to California. My tour begins tonight in Fresno where I’ll present about Africa. This show is all new with a heap of great adventure pics from my trip to Gabon in 2016, Lesotho in 2015, AND, I added in the story of last week with us taking home the Silver Medal in South … Read more
Team USA Masters Flyfishing woke up in first place today after two sessions. But we had two more sessions to go. If we could perform well like on Day 1 then we’d likely take home the Gold for the first time in USA fly fishing history. I’m not sure why, but I wasn’t feeling … Read more
There’s nothing like the first morning of competition in the World Championships of fly fishing. Every team is tied for Gold. Team members scramble for their buses and head to their draws. I drew the Spekboom River for my morning session and Nooitgedacht Dam for my afternoon. Meanwhile my teammates headed for their beats. … Read more
We had a slow “Official” practice on Jansen’s Dam near Dullstroom. Mike and I were completely skunked while the rest of the guys caught a couple. Honestly, none of us fished hard but we rather got a feel for the competition boats and relaxed. And watched a few of the other teams practice! Tomorrow … Read more
Could have slept in till about 7 today but it was so nice I was up at 6. Its summer time in South Africa. After coffee we dressed up and loaded for the bus ride to downtown Dullstroom to walk in the parade for the kickoff of the World Masters Fly Fishing Championships. These … Read more
We checked out of the Nooitgedacht Lodge this morning at 4:30 AM and drove to Dullstroom for a 7 AM check in at the Dunkeld Equestrian Estate where we will stay for the remainder of our time here in South Africa. It’s a stunningly beautiful place with zebra, bless buck and more running freely through … Read more
I’m a firm believer in practicing before a tourney and learning as much as you can about the waters you’re competing on. But I’m also convinced you shouldn’t overdo it. It’s important to enjoy the training time, get rest and have a good time. This morning most of us went out on the Nooitgedacht Dam … Read more
I heard a clambering outside my door around 2 AM this morning. It was the guys getting in after yesterdays long day of yellowfishing and picking up Mike Sexton and Pete Erickson from the Johannesburg Airport. Pete’s flight was screwed up and he came from Europe and landed at 10 PM instead of 4 PM … Read more
Today has long been scheduled to be a full day of yellowfishing on the Vaal River. A break from the trout fishing practice on the lakes around Dullstroom, South Africa. Yellows are a fish I have lots of experience with around South Africa and Lesotho and much enjoy. The reason we scheduled it for today … Read more
The 2019 World Masters Flyfishing Championship here in Dullstroom, South Africa takes place next week and consists of four 3 hour sessions. One of the sessions takes place on the Spekboom River while the other three sessions take place on the local lakes. Lakes have never been a strong point for American fly fishing teams … Read more