Flies and Fly Fishing in South Africa by Jack Blackman

Flies and Fly Fishing in South Africa (First Edition Trout Fly-Fishing Guide, 1985)

A Practical Guide to Trout Flies and Fly Fishing in South Africa, by a Celebrated Durban Instructor

Bibliographic Specifications

• Title: Flies and Fly Fishing in South Africa: Complete Guide to Trout Fishing
• Author: Jack Blackman
• Publication Date: 1985
• ISBN-10: 0620079312
• Edition Details: First Edition, 1985.
• Binding: Publisher's glossy laminated pictorial boards, with the cover illustration wrapping the front, spine and back. Red title and author lettering to spine.
• Physical Format: Small to medium hardcover, portrait format. Illustrated with colour photographs.
• Language: English

Official Condition Report

• The Book: Very Good (VG)
• Exterior / Boards: The glossy laminated pictorial boards carry a river scene with a fly fisherman, wrapping the front, spine and back. The spine, lettered in red, shows a small amount of rubbing at the head and foot. There is slight wear to the corners, and the top right corner of the back cover is a little bumped. No major damage.
• Interior: The pages are clean and cream, with no foxing or markings. The endpapers are plain and clean, apart from a tiny speck on the front free endpaper. The binding is tight. The section of contact addresses is clean.
• The Dust Jacket: Not Applicable (As Issued)

Synopsis & Historical Value

Flies and Fly Fishing in South Africa, subtitled A Complete Guide to Trout Fishing, is a practical handbook to fly fishing for trout in South African waters, published in 1985. It covers flies and the techniques used to fish them, and is illustrated throughout with colour photographs.

The book also includes a useful section of contact addresses for fishing clubs and parks boards, arranged by region. It reflects the sport as it was practised in the mid-1980s and is a handy period reference for anglers.

For collectors of South African angling literature and Africana outdoor books, this is a first edition of a working guide by one of the country's best-known fly-fishing teachers.

Author Profile: Jack Blackman

Jack Blackman was a well-known Durban fly-fishing figure, remembered as a guide, instructor and tackle dealer. One tribute describes no single person as having given more of his life to teaching fly fishing in South Africa.

He ran fly-fishing clinics for the Natal Parks Board and was the first chairman of the Fly Fishers' Association club.