Conrad Botes battles chaos, fatigue and demons in his return to Gabon on a quest for the Silver King - tarpon. As featured in The Mission Issue 03. I wake up some time on the morning of day three. Or maybe it’s day four, I can’t remember at this stage. I’m completely exhausted, stretched to [...]
Guide, guru, mystic dream weaver and fly fishing pioneer – Arno Matthee is exploring the final frontier. By Tudor Caradoc-Davies, featured in The Mission Fly Mag Issue 03. I came across a great new word the other day – psychopomp. Relax, it’s not what you think. Steve Hofmeyr is not involved. In ancient Greek it [...]
The free films just keep coming! This time, it's Atlanticus (the trans-Atlantic tarpon fest) and Water is Life from Grant Wiswell of Castaway Films. All you need to do is sit back, relax and dream of big fish. https://vimeo.com/414009001
The best fly fishing destinations from fly fishing guide Johann du Preez. 5 favourite fly fishing destinations globally? Bolivia has to be one of the best destinations on the planet. From golden dorado to pacu and everything else in between it is just pure adrenalin. Johann du Preez with a fat pacu caught in [...]
Earlier this year, we spent some time fishing in Gabon with fashion photographer and film director Travys Owen. When he’s not shooting for mega brands like Adidas or lipping African poons, Travys is amassing great tunes. For this Gabon-inspired selection, Travys says, “Deep in Gabon camping on a sand spit having one bar of 3G [...]
"If I could change one thing in fly fishing, it would be the illusion that you can drop a packet of money on going to an exotic venue and come back as an accomplished fly angler. I’m all for the School of Hard Knocks – I had to repeat a few grades myself just to [...]
"It’s impossible to convey to somebody what the jungles of Gabon are like. I can tell you that they are endless and totally overpowering with almost no sign of human habitation, but no matter how much hyperbole I use, most people will never know what it feels like to take a boat trip down a [...]
THE MISSION's editor at large and Feathers & Fluoro stalwart Conrad Botes on juvenile tarpon in Gabon. For more on this trip, read his account in Issue 3. It often occurs to me that it’s the unexpected parts of a fly-fishing trip that stay with me. Case in point is the trip we had to [...]
The Mission's Conrad Botes returns to Gabon today on his second trip with Tourette Fishing. The first one was a massive success. Several guys caught huge Tarpon off the beach on fly, while plenty of pitbull-sized Cubera Snapper, a few Giant African Threadfin and loads of Jack Crevalle (the local 'trash fish') were caught too. [...]
Contribution by Rob Scott (Tourette Fishing – www.tourettefishing.com) Fighting fish on light spinning gear, a not uncommon sight when casting lures in Gabon. Rob Scott with a giant African threadfin. As the name suggests, this species grows big—over 45 kilograms. Threadfin strike hard, then take off on a long, fast run. Gabon fishing pioneer, [...]
