Title: African Fly-Fishing Handbook - A guide to freshwater and saltwater fly-fishing in Africa (New edition)
Author: Bill Hansford-Steele
Publisher: Struik

Reviewed by: Nathan Ravens
Thu, 22 March 2007

Book Details:

• Paperback: 472 pages
• Publisher: Struik Publishers; Rev Ed edition (30 April 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 186872882X
• ISBN-13: 978-1868728824
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.8 x 1.4 inches

Synopsis:
Fly-fishing in all its forms is the fastest growing participatory field sport in the world. Whether you're hoping to catch trout, tigerfish, yellowfish or queenfish, there is little to match the sheer joy of fishing with a fly rod. Whether you're standing waist-deep in a raging river, estuary fishing the saltwater, or wading slowly into the calm waters of an inland lake, the thrill of casting a perfect line is unmatched.

The Review:
Bill Hansford-Steele's 'African Fly-Fishing Handbook very modestly calls itself "a guide to freshwater and saltwater fly-fishing in Africa". I prefer to agree with businessman Cyril Ramaphosa who describes it in the foreword, more appropriately, as the "bible of African fly-fishing".

And, it's a description it deserves as Bill Hansford-Steele, the author of the best-selling African Fly-Fishing Handbook is a professional fly-fishing instructor who has lived and fished all over Africa for the last 40-odd years. Bill is the fly-fishing guru that will teach you to understand fish, a skill essential to every successful fly-fisherman.

To catch fish, you need to think like a fish, become one with the fish and his environment, then… when the fish isn't looking… present your fly. So this fly-fishing guide sets out to explain the essentials of where, when and how of fly-fishing, things you'd expect from any guide… Except that Hansford-Steele also hopes to ignite your enthusiasm, help you master the art fly-fishing and give you the confidence that will land you more fish.

It's the quality and detail of the knowledge he passes on that gives life to his lessons and set this handbook apart. The new edition comes seven years after the first edition and offers a substantial addition to the original. This edition comes more colour pictures and approximately 80 percent of the text has been revised.

If being good at fly-fishing just isn't good enough, then Hansford-Steele's guide will go a long way to helping you perfect the art. His chapters on thinking like a fish, tactics and strategies, understanding the biology of your prey and his insights into successful flies and the organism they represent will equip you with some powerful knowledge.

In this new edition Bill also takes an informed look at the ever-advancing technology of rod, reel and other tackle. The book covers all aspects of fly-fishing for African fish species on the African continent and a master of the art of fly-fishing covers it.

Hansford-Steele approaches the teaching of fly-fishing with care and attention to detail for you to get the most out of your fishing with his 'African Fly-Fishing Handbook'. If you love your fishing, you simply cannot afford to be without this bit of tackle.

The most comprehensive book of its kind, the African Fly-fishing Handbook will be indispensable to both seasoned fly-fishers and those just starting out.

What other critics have said:
Complete Fly Fisherman (Tom Sutcliffe)
"In the space of seven years, it has grown from a great South African fly fishing reference work to a monumental one."

Leisure Options
"This guide to freshwater and saltwater fly-fishing in Africa is indispensable to seasoned flyfishers and those just starting out alike."

Business Day (Neels Blom)
"The third edition of Hansford-Steele's handbook is the one book that will help the master fly-angler to make real all those magical fantasies of the perfect moment on the water."