Last Day - Reel em In Dudes

April 26, 2010

It’s always sad when a great fishing trip comes to an end. This morning we fished our way back to the village of Garf Hussein where we caught the bus back to Aswan and the Basma Hotel. It was calm and hot starting the minute the sun rose. It was perfect fishing weather for Nile Perch on Lake Nasser making it very hard to leave. Normally I make this a ten to twelve day trip rather than only seven and I think for the future that will be mandatory for me. Egypt is just too far to go for seven days of fishing and I really love it here.

We caught a few fish and I had some opportunities to cast to big perch. I caught a 5lb tigerfish off a weed bed that Mikey spotted tailing. That was a first. In the same area Mikey brought in a nice perch. We also drifted Mikey’s bar for an hour or so and although we graphed a few fish, all we could muster up was a turbo puffer fish living down deep with the big boys. The two large perch I cast to were right before we had lunch and neither showed any interest. One followed but didn’t eat and the other sank out of sight so I don’t know how he really reacted. All I do know is it’s a real mystery that no sighted perch ate the fly. 

Once in Aswan we got cleaned up and went out to eat at with owner of the African Angler, Tim Baily. We went to a restaurant I have eaten at several times located on a floating barge on the Nile River. Each time I’ve enjoyed great food here. Our entire group talked of walking the town after dinner but when it was all said and done everyone wanted to go to the Basma and hit the sack. However, Mikey needed some footage of Egyptian culture so even though we were exhausted he, Warpath and I did hit the town anyway. We fly to Cairo early tomorrow morning while the South Africans stay in Aswan all day. So, outside the restaurant we took a group photo, said our goodbyes and then off we went to the Aswan market.

Any foreign market at night is a cool place to walk and observe. The market of Aswan does not disappoint. Narrow streets bordered with tiny shops and anxious shop owners that try to lure you as you pass them is what it’s all about. The big thing here for tourist is perfume. It sounds funny but the locals make some fantastic smelling concoctions from the lotus flower. I enjoy stopping and chatting with folks as we go. Egyptians are incredibly warm and friendly and appreciate it when you take the time to visit. It usually leads to a cup of tea and a full shop tour.

After about a two hour walk through the market, shops gradually began to shut down. It was getting late and we have an early flight tomorrow. We nailed a taxi and headed back to the Basma. I kind of expected to see the South Africans at the hotel bar but everyone is truly exhausted. Tomorrow will be the last report with pictures from the Pyramids.

Jeff Currier Global Fly Fishing web site