Warren Prior, Author at Baha Adventures

01Dec 2013 by Warren Prior No Comments

Inanda Dam Domination

[caption id="attachment_1459" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Warren Prior with a nice large-mouth bass[/caption] A big Xplorer sale meant that Nick and I ended up with a few extra fly rods that needed to be tested. For me the rod I wanted to put through its paces was a new Guide II 7 weight which was to become my bass (and possibly salt water) rod. We had originally planned a salt water outing down the south coast as we also had a few new 9 weights. However wind and high seas dictated our decision and we eventually opted to head down to Inanda Dam for some bass bashing. We arrived at Inanda in a slight drizzle, sucked down the remainder of our coffee, and then peeled the plastic off the new rods. The water…

17Nov 2013 by Warren Prior No Comments

A Dry Lesotho And Weekend In Underberg

Fly Fishing, Fresh Water, Trip Report, Trout

[caption id="attachment_1443" align="alignleft" width="300"] Top of Sani Pass[/caption] After days of planning (ok, a cold beer and an idea) we left at 4am for the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho. Tents and sleeping bags were packed, firewood was at the ready, and the Captain Morgan was prepped for an adventure worthy of Kingsley Holgate. We stamped through the SA border at 7am and were proudly the first car up Sani Pass for the day. It was at this point that the adventure was downgraded by a level or two. Since our last trip up Sani a lot of work has been done. The road has been widened, retaining walls have been erected, drainage has been installed under the road, and ice corner has been defeated. The pass as we knew it…

06Nov 2013 by Warren Prior No Comments

Back To Midmar

Bass, Fly Fishing, Fresh Water

[caption id="attachment_1416" align="alignleft" width="199"] Nick with a nice Midmar bass[/caption] It's that time of year again when the fishing options are endless. The harbour is starting to perform with the summer game-fish arriving. The rivers have finally been opened and have received some rain. It hasn't yet got too hot so the dams are still producing some nice trout. The yellows have moved up into the rapids. And the bass are coming into the shallows. With so many possibilities it was tough to choose a weekend's outing. However we eventually settled on Midmar and some bass bashing. Why? Well, the recent rains had possibly discoloured the rivers and we didn't want to drive all that way for nothing. We also wanted to make use of the boat and have some…

13Oct 2013 by Warren Prior No Comments

The UHTFC AGM And Festival

Event, Fly Fishing, Fresh Water, Trip Report, Trout

[caption id="attachment_1421" align="alignleft" width="199"] The New UHTFC Banners[/caption] Once a year the UHTFC host their AGM and, in order to make it more exciting and to improve attendance, they throw in a small fly fishing festival as well. The general format is a meet and greet on the Friday evening (where waters are drawn), fishing on the Saturday, and then weigh in followed by the AGM and dinner on Saturday evening. Not wanting to miss out on any fishing time Neill and I planned to leave Hillcrest at 1pm in order to get in a short afternoon session. Sadly things went a little pear shaped from the start. Firstly, on my way home, I stopped off to pick up some new Baha decals only to discover they weren't finished yet.…

26Sep 2013 by Warren Prior No Comments

A Sad Day Of Exploration

Bass, Fly Fishing, Fresh Water, Yellowfish

[caption id="attachment_1371" align="alignleft" width="300"] Testing out my new Fortuner in the Umgeni Valley[/caption] A year has passed since our last Heritage Day but the memories of a day spent fly fishing under snow capped mountains (and the adventure that followed) is still fresh in my mind. It therefore seemed only fitting to spend this Heritage Day in search of yet another adventure and fishing for a purely indigenous fish, the Natal Scaly. Having just picked up my "new" vehicle, a Toyota Fortuner, we decided to head for the Umgeni Nature Reserve knowing they had a 4x4 route down into the valley. I'd last fished the venue with my dad in around 2007 and fondly remember the fun we had with the scalies. As such is seemed like the perfect choice. I…

11Aug 2013 by Warren Prior No Comments

A Long Weekend in Underberg

Fly Fishing, Fresh Water, Trip Report, Trout

If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times...no long weekend should ever go to waste. And since it had just been Nick and Tarryn's birthdays, we decided to do a family trip to Underberg for a little fishing and relaxation. Sadly my Jeep was in the shop so I borrowed my mom's Corolla and quickly packed it on Friday morning before the 7am departure time. Amazingly it almost seemed to fit in more than the Jeep and we easily packed all my fishing equipment, including my float tube, as well as Emma's pram and various other bags. I was truly impressed. [caption id="attachment_1349" align="alignleft" width="300"] A misty afternoon at Lund's Dam[/caption] We met up with Nick, Tarryn and Mila at our usual garage on the N3 and…

21Jul 2013 by Warren Prior No Comments

A Wintery Nyala Pans

Fly Fishing, Fresh Water, Yellowfish

With the (trout) streams having been closed for almost two months now I was starting to get some serious withdrawal symptoms. I needed to get into a river, and I needed to do it now. So I picked up the phone, gave Nick a call, and we put together a trip to Nyala Pans to fish for the Natal yellowfish (or scaly as it's perhaps better known). Knowing that the fish are a little lethargic in winter I got off to a leisurely start and climbed out of bed at 6am. By 6:30 I was on the road and by 7:30 I was at the water, cup of coffee in hand, and kitted up. The drive had gone by quickly and the condition of the dirt road had been fantastic.…

17Jun 2013 by Warren Prior No Comments

The Boston Fly Fishing Festival 2013

Event, Fly Fishing, Fresh Water, Trip Report, Trout

[caption id="attachment_1303" align="alignnone" width="900"] Sunset on route to the Boston Dargle Fly Fishing Festival[/caption] After having taken part in the inaugural Boston Dargle Fly Fishing Festival in 2011 (and having then missed the second festival due to my wedding) there was absolutely no chance that we were going to miss the third running of this (now) legendary festival. So we made sure we got our entries in early and then counted down the days until the festival began. [caption id="attachment_1304" align="alignleft" width="300"] View over Ivanhoe[/caption] When Friday, the day of registration, finally arrived my day in the office dragged. Thankfully I managed to sneak out a little early and headed for my house where two of my team mates, Nick and Neill, were meeting me at 4pm. We threw all…

30May 2013 by Warren Prior 2 Comments

Teach The Teacher With Peter Hayes

Event, Fly Fishing

[caption id="attachment_1256" align="alignnone" width="800"] Sunrise over Eland Dam, Kamberg Nature Reserve[/caption] Thanks to the KZNFFA Peter Hayes spent several weeks in South Africa offering fly casting courses, and in his free time fishing the local waters. As part of his trip he was kind enough to get involved in several upliftment projects involving some of South Africa's local communities. [caption id="attachment_1255" align="alignleft" width="300"] Warren releasing a rainbow trout[/caption] One such project revolved around the Thendela community which is located directly outside the Kamberg Nature Reserve on a stunning stretch of the Mooi River. The long term plan here is to divide their river frontage into beats and to then get the locals to guide tourists on these stretches of river. For the fishermen involved it would provide access to some…

19May 2013 by Warren Prior No Comments

A Family Fishing Trip To The UHTFC

Fly Fishing, Fresh Water, Trout

Since the birth of my daughter fly fishing has taken a bit of a back seat but, being who I am, that was of course definitely not sustainable. So when I was told that Peter Hayes was offering a clinic to the Aids orphans in Underberg I immediately took Friday off, packed up the family, and headed for Underberg. Neill was meeting us there but sadly Nick was unable to make it. Strange that we fish together almost weekly and yet have never done an Undies trip together. Anyway, moving on. Sharon and I were woken at 4am by a sick daughter. This was not the start I was hoping for as we trolled the internet in the dark working out whether, at 6 weeks old, we needed to worry…

Author: Warren Prior