John Beams (1932–1984)
John Beams was a master angler, and fly tyer, Widely regarded as a pure traditionalist with an extraordinarily keen eye for streamcraft, he was a pivotal figure in the fly fishing communities of Natal (KwaZulu-Natal) after his move there from the Western Cape, where he was also recognised for his skill. Beams wrote many a “Natal Letter” back to his home club of the CPS, where they were published in its journal, The Piscator. In Natal he lived at “Gone Fishing” between Nottingham Road and Rosetta, and fished iconic waters like the Bushmans, Mooi, and Underberg streams, although he was best known for his stillwater exploits, with big Trout, the very thing that caused him to move from the Western Cape to Natal.
Having come form the Cape, with its well-established Trout fishing club, it was John Beam’s inspiration to form the Natal Fly Fishers Club in 1972. In a remarkable and controversial incident, Beams was ousted from the club for a while, notwithstanding the fact that he was chairman at the time, because of an incident at the Rey Estates dam in which he kept more than the permitted number of fish, while fishing with Bob Frean, and upon being caught by the farmer: a story related to Andrew Fowler by Bob Frean a few years before his death.
Tom Sutcliffe consistently portrayed Beams as one of the finest natural readers of water he ever fished alongside. Beams was known for his stealth, minimalist approach, and uncanny ability to spot brown trout that others walked right past. Sutcliffe often recounts Beams’s meticulous approach to pattern design. Beams favoured sparse, highly functional flies that sat properly in or on the water film rather than heavily dressed commercial patterns. The Beams’ Woolly Worm was a pattern he was well known for in the early 1980’s.
Sutcliffe captures Beams’s razor-sharp wit, his refusal to accept dogma, and his uncompromising standards for sportsmanship and etiquette on the river. He also writes of Beams’ exceptionally competitive approach as a fishing partner, his displeasure at being out-fished, and his ironic disdain for fishing competitions as an entity and formalised practice.
Tom Sutcliffe referred to John Beamns as a complicated and deeply intelligent man, a chess master and a man who beat a difficult upbringing and lack of formal education, but also mentions that he was a misunderstood man. John Beams died of cancer a few months after the video below was recorded.
Key Historical Milestones
Born in the Uk in 1932
Born in England; later immigrated to South Africa, establishing a career as a commercial artist.
The ‘Cape Crucible’ Era
1960s
Fished Cape streams (Smalblaar, Holsloot, Witte) alongside Tony Biggs and Mark Mackereth, frequenting the Cape Piscatorial Society clubrooms and illustrating for Piscator.
Move to Pietermaritzburg
Early 1970s
Relocated to Natal, becoming a leading figure in the Natal Fly Fishers’ Club network during the rise of Midlands stillwater trout fishing.
Published Key Text
1974
Published Introducing Trout Fishing in South Africa, capturing the techniques required for both streams and farm dams.
Passing in KZN
1984
Passed away from cancer in KwaZulu-Natal. His death notice famously read simply: “BEAMS, John. Gone Fishing. Left peacefully.”
