The largest Gathering of fly Fisher Folk

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Oxbow Country Estates near Babsfontein east of Johannesburg is one of South Africa’s premier winter trout farm destinations boasting 7 trout fishing waters (not dams as there are no dams walls) set in the wet land area of the Oxbow of the Oxbow river which runs into Bronkerspruit Dam.

Frank and Alison Lovell owners and managers of the estate hosted with their staff of 50 including their children the annual Oxbow fly-fishing festival on a bitter cold windy Sunday 28th of August at a time when most sane and normal people would stay in bed NO not that morning around 6:30 am saw one of the largest coldest gatherings of Fly Fisher folk ever in Gauteng both men, ladies and some very keen juniors huddle around the hot coffee pot and a couple of mountains of homemade muffins until the first session started at 7:45 am.  

What got most of us, through the bitter cold morning sessions was the fishing it self, the fitness of the trout and the beautiful surroundings of the farm, but may be for me was the thought of the a 2 hour mid-day break for an excellent 3 course traditional SA buffet lunch cooked by chef's daughter Jade and her partner John.

The anglers and their visitors where spoilt for entertainment during lunch a warm soulful, jazz duo played soft soothing music, I can sleep standing on my head, so it won't long before the eye lids were drooping after filling my tummy and sitting under the tall gas heaters which where plentiful around the tables outside.

Everyone said it would warm up in the afternoon, it didn't it stayed the same bitter cold grey day the way it had started. The afternoon sessions finished at 4:30 pm, by then Oxbow, who had catered, drinks wise for a much hotter day had manage to find some bottles of OB's, which we drowned either to forget our sorrows of the long day without a fish but much needed to warm us up, whilst waiting for the prize giving.

The tackle shop was available all through the day, as were the various demonstrations on both fly tying by Veteran Peter Roberts of SARFAA and fly-casting advise by expert REFFIS guide Tim Babich of Fishing Owls World, who also walked around the trout waters helping those angler's in needing particular it was wonderful to see great veteran Louis vander Westhuisen. Tim was helped and assisted by experts such as the Cameron Anderson Opti-Max Distributors and Garry Preston Stealth Rod & Reels.

The Competition was won by the angler who caught the most fish at the end of the day, fished over 4 sessions pulling a different beat for each session each session lasting 45 minutes with a 2 hour break for lunch.  

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