Fly-fishing in all its forms is the fastes-growing participatory field sport in the world. Whether you’re hoping to catch trout, tigerfish, yellowfish or queenfish, there is little to match the sheer joy of fishing with a fly rod. Whether you’re standing waist-deep in a raging river estuary fishing the saltwater, or wading slowly into the calm waters of an inland lake, the thrill of casting a perfect line is unmatched. Africa is one of the world’s most exciting fly-fishing destinations. Dedicated fly-fishers can be found casting their lines all over the continent – in steaming tropical rivers, in the vast lakes of the Great Rift Valley, in mountain streams, on golden beaches and in turbulent estuaries. Africa offers everything from well-fished and managed rivers and dams of South Africa and Kenya, to relatively unexposed and unknown destinations like the Bale Mountains in Ethiopia and the coastline of Madagascar. This completely revised, updated and full-colour edition of the African Fly-Fishing Handbook covers all aspects of fly-fishing on the African continent, and includes chapters on when and where to fly-fish in Africa, how to get started and what equipment to buy, casting and retrieving techniques, tactics and strategies, fresh- and saltwater fish, yellowfish, fish food forms and winning fly patterns. The most comprehensive book of its kind, it will be indispensable to both seasoned fly-fishers and those just starting out.

It is axiomatic that the goal of any fisherman is to catch fish! However, this is not always as easy as simply casting a line or throwing a net into the water. Some fish are wily, and know how to avoid the hooks, lures or bait that has been set for them. As a species, bass regularly elude even the most canny angler. Author Gareth Coombs has experienced the frustration and the pleasure of trying to catch this often-aggressive, predatory sportfish. Bass Fishing in South Africa is his response to many years of patiently studying currents, wind, temperature and the underwater landscape of the lakes, dams and rivers where he fishes for bass. His analysis of the underwater environment and water characteristics, as well as the behaviour traits, sensory capabilities and nesting habits of largemouth black bass, allow him to present a tackle-box’s worth of tricks and tools for the keen bass fisherman. Knowing how a fish might behave at certain times of the year, or under certain weather conditions, improves the angler’s chance of making a catch. As a scientist who is mindful of the importance of conservation, Gareth also covers how to handle a captured fish and return it safely to the water.

Fishing Flies for Africa is a comprehensive, detailed reference guide to the fishing flies for use in Africa. The author has poured over two decades of research and a lifetime of experience into this book, sharing a wealth of experience and unparalleled enthusiasm on the subject. Included in this title are over 800 flies of European, American, Australasian and local origin. The origin and developmental history of each fly is discussed, as well as its dressing, any variations, and the appropriate method for fishing with it. Additional design and tying notes are included, where applicable. Appropriate substitutes for rare or environmentally sensitive materials are listed, and the book has a serious focus on ecologically friendly fly-fishing, with an entire chapter dedicated to natural materials and their substitutions. The growing hobby of collecting flies also receives its own chapter, with useful advice on storage, framing and lighting options.

"Henrietta Nyamnjoh must be highly commended for her initiative and courage to tackle in-depth research into the hazardous and largely unpredictable reality of boat migration, with a view to erasing existing misconceptions, false and partial explanations, and to enhancing our understanding. This is an original and innovative piece of work -well- written and well-argued. It certainly deserves a wide readership even beyond the normal academic and policy-making circles." --Book Jacket.

Fly-fishing is a multifaceted sport that will absorb you in its reality, taking you to places of exceptional beauty, to explore and to revel in the solitude. It is so often spoken of as an art form, while fly-tying, inextricably linked to fly-fishing, is in its own right a form of artistry. South African Fishing Flies is a celebration of this artistry – the innovation, the talents of the originators and their vision of imagination, masters of the craft – and of all the fly-tyers of South Africa. It is not an exhaustive reference to all South African flies, but is rather an anthology of those that by virtue of their innovation in design, materials used and tying techniques have helped shape and, in some cases, change the thinking on fly-tying in this country. It is also a visual celebration of these flies, the waters we fish, an introduction to some of the individuals in our fly-fishing community, and creators of South African flies.