Initially heaps of rehabilitation needed to be done as crops were grown right up to the river banks, causing a huge silt problem. Indigenous grass has now taken hold along the river banks and water quality has improved significantly. Fingerlings Rainbow Trout from Kenya were introduced three and half years ago into a section of upper Sipi just outside the park, and two kilometres of river inside the park is now stocked after acquiring permission. The park section is for seriously technical fishing in addition to 1.2 kilometres outside the park. The trout have now reproduced naturally and can be considered wild fish, presently reaching one and a half kilos plus. It is a strictly fly fishing activity only. In fly fishing, fish are caught by using artificial flies that are cast with a fly rod and a fly line.

he fly angler uses a rod longer and lighter than those used for cast and spin fishing. Unlike other casting methods, fly fishing can be thought of as a method of casting line rather than lure. A fly is too light to be cast, and thus simply follows the unfurling of casted fly line, which is heavier and more castable than lines used in other types of fishing. The angler normally holds the flyrod in the dominant hand and manipulates the line with the other close to the reel, pulling line out in small increments as the energy in the line, generated from backward and forward motions, increases. The mechanics of proper rod movement are commonly described as “10 to 2”, the rod’s movement on the forward cast is arrested at the 10 o’clock position and the backcast at 2 o’clock. In proper casting, loops of line unfurl completely before the angler throws his rod in the opposite direction. Casting can also be parallel to the ground, good for working small streams. Proper casting requires pauses in both directions to allow the entirety of the line to unfurl parallel to the water’s surface. As additional line length is desired for farther casts, the angler allows momentum generated by the forward and backcasting to carry slack line previously pulled free from the reel to glide forward through the non-dominant hand. As rhythm and line control improve, longer and more accurate casts can be achieved. Casting without landing the fly on the water is known as “false casting” and is used to pay out line or to dry a soaked fly. Dropping the fly onto the water and its subsequent movement on or beneath the surface is one of fly fishing’s most difficult aspects as the angler attempts to make the fly look as natural as possible. At a certain point, if a fish does not strike, the angler picks up the line and casts again. You would normally cast several times into each pool and then move on to the next one.

If a fish strikes, the angler pulls in line while raising the rod tip. This “sets” the hook in the fish’s mouth. The fish is “played” either by hand, where the angler continues to hold the fly line in one hand to control the tension applied to the fish, or by reeling up any slack in the line and then using the hand to act as a drag on the reel. Unlike spin fishing where the line is already on the reel, playing a large fish with fly line and a fly reel can present a special challenge to reel up the loose fly line onto the reel without loosing your fish. Artificial flies are created by tying hair, fur, feathers, or other materials onto a hook with thread to match local terrestrial and aquatic insects or baitfish attractive to the fish. Flies can be fished floating on the surface (dry flies), partially submerged (emergers), or below the surface (nymphs and wet flies.) A dry fly is typically thought to represent an insect landing on the water’s surface as might a grasshopper, dragonfly, ant or beetle. Sub-surface flies are designed to resemble a wide variety of prey including aquatic insect larvae, nymphs and pupae, baitfish, etc. Sight fishing in the dry season with a dry fly is very rewarding.

Dry fly fishing is done with line and flies that float and the “take” on dry flies is visible, explosive and exciting. A tapered leader is placed between the line and fly so that the fly lands softly, as if dropped onto the water. Any motion of the fly line should not disturb the natural drift of the fly. Learning to control the fly’s drift is much easier if the angler can see the fly. Once a fish has been caught and landed, the fly may no longer float well and will need to be dried by false casting or replacing with a new dry fly.

Trout are easily spooked so dry fly fishing on small clear-water streams requires stalking. The angler stays as low to the ground and as far from the bank as possible, moving upstream with stealth. Trout tend to face upstream and most of their food is carried to them on the current. For this reason you need to fish “into the current” from a position downstream of where you suspect a fish to lie. Trout tend to strike their food at current “edges”, where fasterand slower-moving waters mix. Pools provide an environment where fish sit and wait for food without expending much energy.

Casting upstream to the “edge” of the slower water, the angler can see the fly land and drift slowly back downstream. The challenge in stream fishing is placing the fly with deadly accuracy. If done properly, the fly seems to be just floating along in the current as if not connected to the fly line. In the rainy season the water is tea coloured and wet flies are the way to go using the blind fishing technique casting to likely looking spots. Trout tend mostly to feed underwater but it is much harder getting a “take” when the river is flowing fast due to the difficulty getting your fly to look natural in the water. Gum boots are recommended as there are a lot of boggy sections.

It is always good practice to spend some time checking out the insect life around the river and matching the fly as close as you can. Currently they practice catch and release. Trout are very delicate and should be handled carefully with wet hands to minimize harm to the fish and to ensure the fish’s survival. It is important to minimize the handling of any fish that is to be released. Large fish can be grasped gently and quickly inverted so that the fish is upside down. Trout in this position stop struggling. Once the hook has been removed, place the trout in the water and support it until it regains sufficient strength to swim away. It is best to not remove the trout from the water if possible.

There is a plan to introduce hatchery fish into the system which will allow anglers to take fish home, so wild and stocked fish will be caught. Once introduced, there will be a bag limit enforced and a size limit. i.e. a maximum size allowed to be taken, anything bigger would need to be put back to ensure big fish would be available purely for the sport of catching them. Another future plan is to build a dam mid way between the section outside the park and this should produce really big fish pretty soon after construction.

A bit of fly fishing experience is necessary if you go alone or fly fishing clinics can be arranged but this would be charged as private tutoring and costs worked out according to how many days, accommodation, food etc. Day permits can be bought from Sipi River Lodge for $50 per person with a maximum of four rods allowed a day. Rods can be hired for $30 a day. . If you want to fish inside the park, park entry fees will need to be paid. It is possible to drive all the way to the river in the dry season but a 4x4 vehicles a must. In the rainy season one can drive part of the way and hike the rest or hike all the way from Sipi River Lodge but a degree of fitness would make it pleasant.