THE ANGLER IN SOUTH AFRICA

First Edition: 190 pages, 34 photographic illustrations, a folding appendix charts fish species, prime locations, seasonal timelines, average weights, and recommended baits, original grey cloth spine and paper covered sides which are damaged at the top corner.

Curtis (Paul) Fishing Wider Margins, A History and Bibliography of Angling in Africa, Platanna Press, 2015, pages 101/103. ‘Bertie Bennion and his book are really ahead of the times. It is the first book, and the only one for years after, that promotes and praises the catching of indigenous fish on a fly. He wrote, over eighty years ago: 'It is reported that some anglers in South Africa would just as soon angle for yellowfish as for trout.' He devotes an entire chapter to flyfishing for yellows, and recommends both wet and dryfly fishing and, in particular, upstream fishing in the rapids.

'He reports that his first large yellow fell to a 'spent gnat' on the Klip River near Meyerton and that 'the fury with which the fly was collared, and the immediate dash-away with it, came almost as a shock.' He also said that he found a floating mayfly 'prove alluring' and for wets he reckoned on Cochy-bonddu, Palmer, Butcher, Silver Doctor and Zulu amongst others. He also talked of a local fly, especially tied for yellowfish, called the 'Kom Gouw', which he said was a play on words because it was dressed from the wing feather of a gom paauw – unfortunately he didn't supply tying instructions.’