THE MISSION FLY MAG - ISSUE 50

ISSUE 50 MARCH / APRIL 2025

Cover: The brief for editor-at-large Conrad Botes was as follows. Two hours in detention, three pens (red, black and blue Biros), and the last 49 issues of The Mission for inspiration. Go!

22. FIVES ALIVE: 50 UP

In every one of the last 49 issues, we have featured fly fishing guides from all over the show in the High Fives section. Mostly South African, from smallstream guys to flats fundis and bluewater bosses, all of them had something to offer in the way of technical advice, inspirational words, the occasional deep thought and a few wonderfully funny chirps.

Here's a selection of the best.

32. SHARP SHOOTERS

Want to improve on your blurry fish flop shots, which don't do justice to the fish, the adventure or yourself? Course you do.

To help, we spoke to some of our best photographic contributors about how they do what they do. No excuses now...

46. HIT PARADE

From the DiYs to the FYls, pearls of wisdom and piss-takes, it's been the people, the places, the fish and the stories that have made this magazine what it is. Here's a look at some of our highlights from the past 50 issues.

64. COD'S WINDOW

Taking a gap between storms and toddlers, Tudor Caradoc-Davies goes deep into the backwoods of New South Wales in search of Murray cod with Aussie Fly

90. TROUBLED WATERS - CRAY CRAY

Chasing reports of invasive Australian crayfish found in Zambian rivers and American crayfish in the Cederberg's waterways, Matt Kennedy chats to the experts about how this might play out.

REGULAR FEATURES

14 Chum
16 Booze, Beats & Munchies
18 Undercurrents
20 Wish List Fish
74 Salad Bar
84 Pay Day
98 Lifer
102 Pop Quiz

The image that the editor is most bleak never made it onto the cover is this one of Ryan Wienand releasing a Cosmoledo GT. Photo. Cameron Musgrave

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