Two Somerset West youngsters have returned from the Youth World Fly-fishing Championships in Bosnia, where they not only caught up to 100 fish a day, but also learnt invaluable lessons on different conditions and the technicalities of fishing.
The competition was held froim Sunday 16 to Sunday 23 July and the pair did the country proud as South Africa ended in overall sixth place.
Stellenbosch University students Ben Blaauw and Liam Swart, who both matriculated from Paul Roos Gymnasium, recalled their “amazing” experience in Bosnia, labelling the skills an techniques they had learnt in the short period as astronomical. They believe it aided the improvement of their fishing enormously.
Said Swart: “You learn so much when fishing so consistently and when surrounded by the best in the world. The fishing was very different from SA’s; the water was gin-clear and extremely cold, which makes the fishing very different.
“The fish can see you from a further distance, making it a lot more technical. The rivers are also much wider than ours, so covering all the water is a valuable asset.”
He added there were many highlights, but finishing second in his last session with 11 fish and catching his first soft-mouthed trout – a species of trout native to that region – tops the list.
Blaauw described Bosnia as a country of extremes, with as temperature was 48 °C as they fished in crystal clear glazier waters of 6 °C.
“In some areas I caught up to 100 fish a day, but some areas were very difficult and very technical. We mainly caught rainbow trout, brown trout and greyling. My highlights were catching 31 fish in one session, meeting fly-fishermen from different countries, especially the Irish, and helping my team finish sixth.”
Blaauw and Swart, friends since their school days, say they have always enjoyed outdoors and dam fishing. Their introduction to the sport came by chance, as they happened to drive past Lourensford Estate when a fly-fishing expo was taking place.
“I had no idea about fly-fishing, but after the expo I was ‘hooked’ when I realised the technical and skilful side of fly-fishing,” said Blaauw.
The duo soon joined the Cape Winelands/Boland fly-fishing team and have enjoyed the thrill of hooking a fish, and at the same time improved and impressed many.
“In 2019, I was selected for the Boland C team and did so well, I was ranked 17th in SA. The Boland team won gold this year. I was invited to the SA trials in 2021 and was picked for the national team to go to the Czech Republic. This year, I was selected to represent SA at the youth world championships in Bosnia,” Blaauw pointed out.
Swart is ranked among the top six fly-fishermen in the country this year.
“I had to be ranked in the top 15 in the country over a two-year period, something one obtains by fishing the nationals, which is held in a different location each year. Once you are placed in the top 15, you are invited to the Protea trials, where they select the team based on skill set and efficiency.”
The avid fishermen advise enthusiasts wishing to improve to join a fly-fishing group and start tying basic flies, to learn from peers, fish in local rivers and just enjoy the sport.
“Stick to your goals and try to get into the water as often as possible,” said Swart. “Also, try to fish with those better than you to improve your technique.”
Blaauw and Swart are now working towards fishing for the senior Boland team. They believe that with hard work, they participate at another World Championship and excel for SA.
