Fly fishing in South Africa is done in dams, lakes and rivers all over the country and is an extremely popular form of freshwater angling enjoyed by fisherman all year round. The most common fish caught using this method is trout and part of the technique used for catching them is camouflage. Successful fly fisherman keep themselves as low down as possible and systematically cast their flies over all the likely water before showing themselves. Trout often like to move into and feed in shallow water and they can easily be frightened by a careless approach normally taken by the novice. In deeper pools or dams on the other hand, trout tend to be much less cautious.
An excellent way to pick up tips on fly fishing in South Africa is to spend some time talking to and watching an expert in action. If it is not possible to spend some time with an experienced fly angler then one can practice the technique of casting and get the hang of using a fly rod on a stretch of lawn. A good rod must not be too soft and whippy and decent glass-fibre ones can be bought quite cheaply. A good reel is nice to own but not essential as the cheaper ones are also quite efficient although will not last as long. Line is important for this kind of fishing and expensive fly line is usually worth every cent, speak to your local tackle shop salesman about the different types of fly fishing line available to you.
The choice of flies is probably the most controversial question in the tackle set-up for this kind of sport but generally all one needs is a few different patterns, some light and some dark coloured, sizes 6, 8, 20 and 12 and you are ready to catch fish. The many hundreds of different dressings described in tackle shop catalogues give scope for individual choice. Techniques differ between slow and moving rivers and still water such as dams and lakes on windless days so it is important to get educated on casting and the various techniques used in the art of fly fishing around SA and the world.