KYLE REED
DOB – 11 February 1988
NATIONALITY – South Africa
HOMETOWN – George
Kyle grew up in the picturesque Garden Route part of the Southern Cape in South Africa. George is surrounded by plenty of rivers and dams with abundant fishes. Fishing is part of the local lifestyle so it was natural that Kyle ended up fly fishing at a young age. Kyle has also completed a diploma in Professional Photography. He joined the Tourette Fishing team in 2012.
Guiding log
Botswana: 2012, 2013, 2014
Farquhar: 2012, 2013, 2014
Lesotho: 2014
What was your first fly rod?
My first fly rod was a 4wt Loomis & Franklin, matched with a silver aluminium reel and a crummy line. It made for immensely tricky casting until I invested in a better quality line. However, I did catch my first garrick on the setup.
Where is your favorite fishing spot?
It will have to be the sneaky flat I have on the Swartvlei estuary. MANY grunter!
What would you consider to be your favorite fly?
My favorite fly is obviously location specific but if I had to travel the world with only one fly, it would have to be a Clouser of sorts.
What is your all time favorite movie?
That’s a tricky one. When it comes to fly fishing media, I have watched hundreds of movies over and again. Tapam and Gangsters of the flats are my two favorites.
What kind of music are you into?
Music, as with film is just as tricky. I’m pretty open-minded though and will listen to anything from hip-hop to techno. The album that’s on repeat on my iPod at the moment is Concrete School Yard by Jurassic 5.
Any advice you would give to someone starting out fly fishing?
The best advice I was given when starting out was to never stop casting. Practice all the time. Even if you don’t have a rod close-by, just use your hands. Like in the shower or in the office at work for instance you can teach your body to get used to hauling by mimicking with your hands. Also, practice casting into the wind and try to hit targets with your tippet. Don’t only practice distance casting because when you have to hit a target the size of a side plate with a big crab pattern into the wind, the wheels will come off.
Any interests outside of fishing?
Photography, camping, the Kruger National Park, and working on my boat.
Favorite quote?
“I believe that art is, and cannot be other than, the exact reproduction of nature. Thus an industry that could give us a result identical to nature, would be absolute art” – Charles Baudelaire (on nature photography)
Most memorable moment or highlight of your guiding career?
This is a tough one as there are so many good memories. Right at the top of the list would have to be when my dad came to visit in Botswana and I guided him onto his first tigerfish. Also the one afternoon I fished with Keith Clover and Lionel Song in the Okavango. We jumped so many big fish and in between all the chaos, I managed a whopping 8.5lb tiger. Some other really good memories that come to mind as well would be the first GT and permit that I guided clients into.
