Makhangoa Community Camp – Tourette Fishing

by | Nov 20, 2015 | fly fishing in Lesotho

blog-Nov-20-2014-1-fly-fishing-in-lesothoIt was gorgeous around the beehive this morning on the premises of Clarens Inn Backpackers.  Granny and I have been up at crack a dawn which is around 5 every day this trip and we sipped coffee till 7.  Then friends Mark Murray and Stu fired up the Land Cruiser and we eased our way into the tiny unspoiled mountainous Kingdom of Lesotho.

 

blog-Nov-20-2015-2-flyfishing-lesothoWe were headed for Tourette Fishing – Fight it in Africa’s latest addition to their long list of spectacular fishing destinations, Makhangoa Fishing Camp.  This place is home to some of the finest smallmouth yellowfishing in Africa and undoubtedly one of the most scenic areas.  It’s also a place where you can whiteness the local people living exactly the way they were thousands of years ago.

 

blog-Nov-20-2015-3-mark-murray-photographyThe drive was more like traveling in Idaho than Africa.  We crossed the border into Lesotho then drove up and up and away.  We went up the winding Mafika Lisiu Pass for the first hour and reached an elevation of 3090 meters (10,138 feet).  It was freezing cold and windy up top.  This is one of only a few places in Africa that receives a heap of snow during their winter.

 

blog-Nov-20-2015-4-katse-damAfter summiting the big pass we travelled up and down slightly but remained at high elevation.  Then we came to the Katse Dam, the largest dam in all of Africa, and an obvious observation could be made, Lesotho, along with much of South Africa is in severe drought.  The Katse Dam is so low that parts of the huge reservoir aren’t connected right now.

 

blog-Nov-20-2015-5-flyfishing-lesothoGranny and I were fully aware of the drought.  Not only did my friends of Tourette warn us that we wouldn’t see Makhangoa Camp in its normal state but we’ve dealt with water restrictions in South Africa throughout our trip.  The drought is just as serious here as it is in California.  While everywhere should be lush and green in November this year the landscape is brown and dry.

 

blog-Nov-20-2015-6-makhangoa-comunity-campOn the bright side, there was rain in sight.  Massive storm clouds formed as we drove and around 4 PM as we pulled into camp the skies opened up.  I heard chants of “Monsoon Currier Rules” from my friends of Tourette and we got soaked unpacking the Cruiser with smiles.

 

blog-Nov-20-2015-7-tourette-fishingThere will be no fishing tonight.  Since we moved into our rooms the rain has become heavy and the thunder and lightning is intense.  It’s quite chilly and were all hunkered down around the wood stove sipping beer and wine and just about to make a big spaghetti dinner.  The office contacted Mark and said we can expect the storm to last till the wee hours.  This is great news however it’s likely that the river will blowout for fishing tomorrow.  Till tomorrow. . . . .

A special thanks to my friends of Tourette Fishing – Fight it in Africa for bringing Granny and I on their guides week to the Kingdom of Lesotho!

Jeff Currier Global Fly Fishing

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I started fly fishing at age 7 in the lakes and ponds of New England cutting my teeth on various sunfish, bass, crappie and stocked trout. I went to Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin, where I graduated with a Naturalist Degree while I discovered new fishing opportunities for pike, muskellunge, walleyes and various salmonids found in Lake Superior and its tributaries.

From there I headed west to work a few years in the Yellowstone region to simply work as much as most people fish and fish as much as most people work. I did just that, only it lasted over 20 years working at the Jack Dennis Fly Shop in Jackson, WY where I departed in 2009. Now it’s time to work for "The Man", working for myself that is.

I pursue my love to paint fish, lecture on every aspect of fly fishing you can imagine and host a few trips to some of the most exotic places you can think of. My ultimate goal is to catch as many species of fish on fly possible from freshwater to saltwater, throughout the world. I presently have taken over 440 species from over 60 countries!

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