Tiger Fishing - Tackle

[luxe]

Hey,

Got a chance to go Tiger fishing on a houseboat on Lake Kariba - problem is I own no Tiger tackle and am not clued up on what gear is standard.

I have a few carp rods and reels with the normal gear as well as a few fly rods. I know about the steel trace, spoons etc, but can one use normal short carp / bass rods for Tiger fishing or do I need to go look at new rods and perhaps a reel or two with tackle as well?

Trying to figure out what I can take with. I'm also going to give the tigers a go with my fly rod.

Thanks.

 

[atomcrusher]

I've fished on Kariba, and in the river Zambesi many times since the early-1960s, up to 1990 (the last time I was there) .. but have never tried fly-fishing for Tiger. I do know it's very popular now, and I would think the boat guys will know the best flies to use. Or look at some of the fishing websites to ge hints on what to use.
I'll stick with my Mepps spinners though ... Tiger-catchers of note they are.
The best fun I have had is catching smaller male Tigers on a No. 2 or 3 Mepps (red colour), with the barbs of the hooks flattened-out with pliers. A slight shake of the rod as they get near the boat sets them free without harm, and they are ready to be caught (and released) again.
I've also fished Tiger in Okavango, suing the same methods as above ... I no longer kill fish, and practise catch & release.

 

[luxe]

Agreed, I only release.

What rod were you using, just a normal 6ft bait caster?

 

[Beachless]

What kind of carp rods do you have?
If they are the 9-10foot graphite type they might be ok but generally a medium to heavy a spin rod and 10weight+ fly rod will work better.

If you want to catch some of the bigger tigers you need to be able to cast or trawl some bigger lures.

You can still have lots of fun on the lighter stuff though there are lots of different species to catch not just tigers.

 

[luxe]

I have some big daddies, 9ft+, thick and graphite which would be fine for trawling. Reel wise I don't have anything tough, mostly smaller reels for 4 - 10kg carp - I think this is where I am falling short.

I can get my hands on some short, stumpy and strong bass rods as well, would this be better? I'm only gonna get 3 days fishing on the boat so I want the most versatile tackle with me without taking 10 rods and reels

Fly wise I have a 8ft fast action fly rod with disc brake reel, will get some piano wire leader - sort of have an idea of what I am doing here.

 

[BobsLawnService]

You could possibly try fishing with fillet and your carp rods but you need some backbone to drive the hook into their boney jaws.

That 8 weight should work well though.

 

[Beachless]

If the reels are good quality you can maybe re spool them with some braid then just help the drag with your hand on the spool when the fish runs.

You then essentially have the same as some of the bigger drop shot kits so maybe buy some drop shot jig heads and plastic lures, that should work well for casting and trawling slowly. Its hard to help without knowing the line rating on the rods and the reels you have but I wouldn't worry too much.You might lose some of the bigger fish but the fight will be fun.

 

[OverKill69]

Fished at Kariba 2 years ago

You wanna have fun? then hook up a light rod with light tackle. The MEPS spinners are the business, the local houseboat skippers swear by them. Whether to use fillets or not is a hot debate amongst the fishermen.

If you're gonna be trawling... thing get a secondary rod with heavier tackle, but trust me... if you wanna enjoy yourself, then get a small rod with light tackle. You gonna be whipping the water 100's of times per day, so a light rig is a pleasure to cast with and the fight is waaaaaaay more enjoyable.

we were pulling in 8-12 tigers a day, raging from 4 pounds right up until 15 pounds, and a 5 foot rod with light braid was perfect.

Other guys who had heavier rods and tackle were not doing any better.
You see, the nice part of fishing Kariba is to go out on little tender boats and moor on some tree stump and enjoy the serenity of the surroundings, especially early morning and sunset. Trawling is maybe an option for the odd "booze cruise" but I wouldn't recommend it as the primary fishing method.

watch out for crocs and hippos... the place is infested!

 

[luxe]

Thanks gents.

I just popped out to Solly's to look at tackle. R600 for a shimano 7 foot light rod, and R800 for shimano baitspinner reel. R100 for a roll of monofilament , R30 a pack of trace and forgot to check the lures.

Overkill - I intend on doing just that, tender boat off the houseboat and dodge the crocs. I don't think I'll be trawling with my equipment, leaning towards the lighter gear as well as the fly rod to keep it interesting. Catching a fish would be great, but it's my first time up there so I'd be happy just being there.

Didn't see the MEPS Spinners - are these trilobe hooks or the singles?

 

[OverKill69]

Thanks gents.

I just popped out to Solly's to look at tackle. R600 for a shimano 7 foot light rod, and R800 for shimano baitspinner reel. R100 for a roll of monofilament , R30 a pack of trace and forgot to check the lures.

Overkill - I intend on doing just that, tender boat off the houseboat and dodge the crocs. I don't think I'll be trawling with my equipment, leaning towards the lighter gear as well as the fly rod to keep it interesting. Catching a fish would be great, but it's my first time up there so I'd be happy just being there.

Didn't see the MEPS Spinners - are these trilobe hooks or the singles?

Solly's at 4ways Xing?

I buy all my stuff there. Tell the guy you're going to Kariba and he'll hook you up.
These are the bad guys you want:
http://www.mepps.com/information/aglia-dressed-aglia/121#description~B3 G
the "Naked" Anglias, the ones with the red reflective stickers. Number 3s are perfect.

My advice would be to get braid line... It's so much nicer to work with and it eliminates sitting for hours trying to untangle stuff instead of getting out there to fish.
It's a little more expensive, but worth it in the long run.

 

[Beachless]

Just work with your kit and have fun, I've had way more fun more often on my smallest rod dropshotting catching little kingies than any of my other rods including deep sea.

Sure that big fish is nice to catch but you might spend all day trying whereas the lighter stuff you will be having fun all the time.

 

[luxe]

Yeah - Solly's Fourways Crossing. I went to MIA's there opposite Billy's but they're moving in with their Woodmead store.

I did see the braided line, is it really better?

ahh - I see the MEPS spinner. You reeckon the treble one is the way to go, or a strong single hook?

 

[OverKill69]

Yeah - Solly's Fourways Crossing. I went to MIA's there opposite Billy's but they're moving in with their Woodmead store.

I did see the braided line, is it really better?

ahh - I see the MEPS spinner. You reeckon the treble one is the way to go, or a strong single hook?

Single hook...

And yeah... braided line is better, waaaaaaaay better! It also shows up less in the crystal clear waters of Lake Kariba (joke)

 

[BobsLawnService]

So how do youi find areas that are most likely to have tigers?

 

[luxe]

I imagine the skipper of the house boat will know the good spots.

 

[atomcrusher]

You reckon the treble one is the way to go, or a strong single hook?

Single hook .. throw the tri-hooks away

 

[BobsLawnService]

Also, see if you can't target some of those monster Vundu while you are there.

 

[kimbo]

Went last week at Jozini KZN
I must admit i have no idea bout the tackle, i just know it was great fun

 

[luxe]

Lucky bugger, that's a nice fish!

 

[kimbo]

Lucky bugger, that's a nice fish!

TX we caught 5 of just over the 4kg and 1 of 5.3kg