![Spring Creeks and Dry Flies - The Pinnacle Of The Pursuit?](https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/4591/409612/5e4a6a32c4cd8/TCFF.jpeg)
“It just doesn’t get better than this” is the thought central to my mind as I take in our environment. Standing thigh deep in gin-clear water, we revel in the sight of the vivid greens, oranges and browns of the aquatic weed as it dances silently to the music of the current. Intimidating mountains tower to the north, their craggy peaks a startling white against a penetrating blue, the contours appearing deceptively soft because of the snow.
Today, the wind is but a whisper, a cool breeze swirling playfully on the surface while the current audibly pushes its way around the copious weedbeds that cover the creek from bank to bank. Peaceful as it certainly appears, it is rather, unsurprisingly, not a quiet environment. A hundred yards or so upstream a male paradise duck is loudly lamenting the fact that we have ventured onto his home turf, his sharp calls distinctly different to the female’s low, almost throaty call. Noisy as hell, but love ’em or hate ’em, they like spring creeks as much as we do, so we do our best to share.
We spot a fish finning lazily in a small clearing, his belly hugging the streambed, the water only about 18 inches deep (I am assuming here the fish is male, as most large browns in this creek are). He is actively on the feed, no doubt, confirmed by the next moment as he languishes to his left. Tilting his pectorals backwards, he rises quietly and gracefully to just under the surface. The take is subtle, the rings of the rise swallowed almost immediately by a hungry current. The brown returns to his lie, his relaxed body slowly drifting from side to side, and I feel a quickening of the pulse. What’s he eating, I wonder, almost aloud. I also make a mental note that this is no small fish...
Denne historien er fra February/March 2020-utgaven av The Complete Fly Fisherman.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra February/March 2020-utgaven av The Complete Fly Fisherman.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
![It's Called Evolution](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4591/589958/6013c1f9474f8/crp_Its-called-evolution.jpg)
It's Called Evolution
Our quarry constantly has to adapt to the everchanging conditions of their environment. It goes without saying then, that we, too, need to revise our fishing strategy to remain successful on any given day. Anton Hartman explains.
![At The Gates Of Antarctica](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4591/589958/6013d818ae713/crp_At-the-gates-of-Antarctica.jpg)
At The Gates Of Antarctica
Mauritia Kirchner falls in love with the farflung Falkland Islands.
![Six Of The Best Largemouth Flies](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4591/589958/6013de58078f9/crp_Six-of-the-best-largemouth-flies.jpg)
Six Of The Best Largemouth Flies
FlyTying Field Editor Murray Pedder lists the top six largemouth yellowfish flies for the Orange, Vaal, Vanderkloof and Gariep dams.
![Ascending caddis pupa](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4591/589958/6013ba0613568/crp_Ascending-caddis-pupa.jpg)
Ascending caddis pupa
The ascending stage of a caddis makes easy prey for both trout and yellowfish – the reason why Arno Laubscher propagates tying a pattern that imitates it.
![In Search Of Natal Yellowfish Top Scaly Rivers Of Kwazulu-Natal](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4591/589958/6013ca42b1fb4/crp_In-search-ofNatal-yellowfish-TOP-SCALY-RIVERS-OF-KWAZULU-NATAL.jpg)
In Search Of Natal Yellowfish Top Scaly Rivers Of Kwazulu-Natal
Carl Freese shares his favourite home rivers for hunting KZN scaly.
![A Rod Maker's Thoughts: Why Bamboo?](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4591/589958/6013d4de4debb/crp_A-rod-makers-thoughtsWhy-bamboo.jpg)
A Rod Maker's Thoughts: Why Bamboo?
Stephen Boshoff elaborates on his passion for bamboo.
![Rhodes AN ICONIC TOWN AND HOME TO fly fishing legend: Fred Steynberg](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4591/589958/6013c7eb1282e/crp_Rhodes-AN-ICONIC-TOWN-AND-HOME-TOfly-fishing-legend-Fred-Steynberg.jpg)
Rhodes AN ICONIC TOWN AND HOME TO fly fishing legend: Fred Steynberg
Like the prodigal son, we return to Rhodes to meet up with old friends and revisit rivers filled with memories and wild rainbows.
![The TCFF Charity Initiative: FLY FISHERS GIVING BACK](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4591/589958/6013f406e245d/crp_The-TCFF-Charity-Initiative-FLY-FISHERS-GIVING-BACK.jpg)
The TCFF Charity Initiative: FLY FISHERS GIVING BACK
After two and a half decades of publishing TCFF, we are honoured and blessed not only by the support of our readers, but also our industry in the main.
![IN MEMORIAM: Gunga Donn](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4591/589958/6013f2c69b750/crp_IN-MEMORIAM-Gunga-Donn.jpg)
IN MEMORIAM: Gunga Donn
It’s always tough to lose a friend, but when that friend is a fishing buddy with whom you have shared boats, banks and lodgings, it is particularly distressing.
![In pursuit of Weza](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4591/589958/6013cda373623/crp_In-pursuit-of-Weza.jpg)
In pursuit of Weza
Sean I'Ons relates how it took 40 years for a story of a fishery and the people he got to know along the way to come full circle.