EP96: Pursuing The Perfect Fly ↣ Raymond Mutemeri: From Zimbabwe to S.Africa

Like many things in the wild, it’s small details that make the difference. Trained by the late Gordon Macpherson as part of an elite fly tying team in Zimbabwe, Ray Mutemeri has known this fact to be true for almost 40 years. It was this same attention to detail that brought him up through the ranks, and eventually gave him the opportunity to move to South Africa. He is now the lead tyer at the Johburg office of South africa’s biggest fly fishing shop and outfitter -Mavungana Fly Fishing. Perhaps the wildest part of this story: it was almost twenty years and hundreds of thousands of flies later that Ray could first experience the effectivenes of his own craftmanship in the water. A huge thankyou to Ray for sharing his time and stories with us today!Give Mavungana a follow on Instagramand check out all kinds of information and classes including fly tying with Raymond at Mavungana fly fishingMain Topics Covered:Raymond’s fishing journey from Zimbabwe to South AfricaEvolution and specialization in fly tyingTechniques for tying various fly sizesEnvironmental influences on fly selectionFly fishing culture in Zimbabwe and South AfricaConservation through catch-and-releaseTeaching fly tying to new generationsMentorship and continuous learningIdentifying and adapting fly techniquesUnusual fly requestsBuilding a foundation in fly tyingImpact of Zimbabwe’s economy on tourismWomen’s role in fly tying and fishingTimestamps:00:31 - Introduction to Raymond Mutemere and his background04:02 - The history of fly fishing in Zimbabwe and Raymond’s early life06:36 - The influence of Scottish fly tyer Gordon MacPherson07:45 - The scale of the fly tying industry in Zimbabwe 08:45 - Tying rates and specialization in dry flies12:23 - Raymond’s childhood near rivers in Zimbabwe14:01 - Fly fishing trips to Eastern Highlands for trout16:14 - Personal stories of first catches and learning from guides20:41 - Popular fly patterns like the Shamare Timi22:00 - The cultural difference between catch and release and consumption24:46 - The significance of size in catch-and-release practices26:29 - Technical challenges in fly tying,36:23 - Teaching others and passing on skills41:44 - Creating custom flies and imitating environmental cues44:41 - Types of hooks used in fly tying46:12 - The process of tying a fly step by step50:14 - Material application and proportions54:33 - How observing insects in nature informs fly design 58:23 - Handling unusual requests, creative tying stories 60:18 - Common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them 63:49 - Women in fly tying and fishing66:00 - The importance of continuous learning and mentorship68:51 - Philosophy of humility in skill mastery70:15 - Maintaining connections with fly fishing peers71:07 - How to find Raymond for lessons or custom flies 72:54 - Closing remarks and future episodesFollow Robin & The Wild Dispatch on Instagram, YouTube and Facebook