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Something Fishy
This
time of year is a great time to be on the Lower Zambezi, incredibly
clear sky’s at night, the days are not scorching hot, the mornings
have that little chill that encourages you to get out of bed and
enjoy that camp morning coffee.
Tiger Fishing has
to be one of the most exciting types of fishing in Africa. This is
the only fish bar the Perch, that fisherman around the world relate
to Africa and the Zambezi River. Catching them is not as easy as it
sounds, especially the big ones.
Let’s first look
at the kit one would need to have and then I will share with you a
well-used method of catching Tiger. Later we will look at bait
presentation and the art of releasing these amazing fish, to fight
another day!
A great rod and
reel combination is essential. A 7ft medium action rod is the way
forward, as when you want to strike, the rod length enables you to
move a lot of line : that fish could be swimming in any direction
when it hits. Also, the rod takes a lot of the stress off your line
as it works like a shock absorber. The reel needs to be of a good
quality and have a smooth reliable drag; those Tiger fish have a V8
in their tail. It is with confidence that I can recommend two types
of reels that have proven over the years to work.
 First prize is a
bait caster or a medium sized multiplier. Some folk are put off by
the thought of over winds and “bird’s nests” However, models these
days have some very clever systems in place to prevent those
mishaps. Master the art of using a bait caster and one will seldom
use a spinning reel again! Secondly, there are spinning reels on the
market today that are called “Bait Runner’s”. These reels have a
double drag system that works like a dream in the fishing technique
I want to share with you….
Spool the reel of
your choice with a good 12lb line. Again there are a few helpful
hints that I will share with you at a later date, ‘cos right now I
want to catch a “Stripped River Dog”
There are many
different types of trace available on the market today. Ready made
traces, seem to be the choice of many, however not knocking the
manufactures, they all seem to be very short for my liking and are
an overkill in the size of the trace and swivels that are used. A
multi strand trace or piano wire, dark in color is my personal
favorite, combined with a black No 10 size swivel, which has a 30 lb
pull test. A smaller swivel does not attract the attention of other
fish whilst fighting a fish. Last thing you want is another tiger to
have a snatch at your unprotected swivel when you have the fish of a
life time firmly attached to your hook!!! On the business end of
your nice 40- 60 cm length trace, attach a very sharp 3/0, 4/0 or
5/0 hook. Some folk like using bass hooks although I find they tend
to flex on the strike, so a good strong hook is essential. Remember
to also have a sharpening stone or hook sharpener in your box, to
keep that point honed and ready for action. I simply attach my trace
to the line, if I need any extra weight to get my bait down, I use a
split shot, which I put on the trace above the hook.
Imagine if you
will, feeding some chickens a lettuce leaf, one chicken grabs t
he leaf
and runs around like mad, whilst being chased by the rest of the
flock. Well that’s exactly what happens under water when your bait
enters that shoal of tiger fish!!! One fish grabs the bait and takes
off, this is normally the time when you are getting a drink or
deeply engrossed in applying sun cream to your wife’s delicate
skin…..
Here in lies the
beauty of those clever reels. Fish with the reel on free spool, let
the fish take line, as at the moment it is not eating the bait, just
holding it and swimming away from the shoal. Easier said than done:
the reel is screaming and drinks are getting knocked over, mayhem on
the boat!!! Patience. Let the fish run. What you need to be doing at
this time is trying to establish in which direction the fish is
heading as there is no point in trying to set the hook when the fish
is behind you. How long one lets the fish run is a hard call, “Buck
Fever” comes to mind, but by keeping in contact with the line
through the rod, one can feel a shaking of the head. That is a good
sign of chewing, and a clear sign to set the hook. Again be a little
more patient. Engage the reel and wait for the fish to start pulling
the rod, then set the hook. One solid strike is all that is needed.
In theory one
should now have a good solid hook up. Remember 80% of all tiger are
lost at the boat, so tap off the drag a bit when fighting the fish
around the boat, and do not be in a hurry to land the fish. Let the
fish tire before attempting to land the fish.
I will cover
“Catch & Release” methods in next month’s column. Believe me it can
and is done, so PLEASE do not unnecessarily harvest your catch.
The Zambezi
Classic is all set for the end of April. This is a great Family
outing, held at Gwabi Lodge, well organized and a great deal of fun
for all ages. The Classic has a really entertaining set of rules
that givesw all us hackers the chance of catching a fish!
For more
information feel free to contact me on the Something Fishy email
address.
“Enjoy”
The River Rat |
April
2007