Location: South Africa
Member Since: June 16, 2019

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Malcolm Meintjes

Biography

Malcolm Meintjes was born in Nairobi, Kenya but has lived in South Africa for most of his life. He attended the University of the Witwatersrand and completed both B.Com and LL.B degrees. Professionally he operated in the financial word with one of South Africa's biggest banks and, aside from his flyfishing travels was a keen sportsman, playing first league cricket and field hockey.

It is, however, for his flyfishing writings that he is best known in Southern Africa and has published more than a dozen books since 1983. He has fished far and wide both on the continent and overseas in New Zealand, South America and in the United Kingdom. Though an avid trout fisher, he has written extensively on Africa's indigenous fish species, especially the famed tiger fish of the Zambezi and Okavango rivers. He has developed specific innovative techniques, not only for tiger fish and the array of bream specie, but also for the range of superb yellowfish that Southern Africa has to offer.

His writings are informative in terms of techniques and tips but he has retained a sense of humour which is reflected in his writings.

Smashwords Interview

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
My early years were spent in Kenya, with a short sojourn in Uganda and, quite fortuitously, my parents ( who were not fishers of any sort) were invited for a week-end's trout fishing in the Nyeri district. These two days were unforgettable for a small boy and, though my father caught nothing, the others did and I thought the combination of beautiful rainbow trout and a sparkling river a magical combination.

I was well-and truly hooked and when we came to South Africa, the passion grew first through reading all I could lay my hands on and then, through the kindness of others and the annual family holiday, was able to visit many of the waters I had read about.

I had also always loved writing and with such a wealth of enjoyment emanating through my travels and fishing, the writing was a natural add-on, requiring little prodding.
When did you first start writing?
When I was in the third grade (Std 1) I wrote a tome on the sinking of the Bismarck which went on for three pages, so it must have been in my blood from early on. I have always loved words and the use of the English language but the articles on flyfishing began when I was 19.
Read more of this interview.

Books

This member has not published any books.