Okavango Delta Tiger Fishing 19 to 26 October 2014
In January 2014, 4 club
members namely Leslie Thiart, Butch Weber, Ian McLoughlin and Roy Lubbe planned a trip to the Delta to catch the mighty tiger aka ‘’Striped
Dog’’. Made contact with Tourette
Fishing as to a guided all inclusive package deal and the game was set and the
fishing trip scheduled for the period 20 to 24 October 2014.
We decided to travel by road from Pretoria to Xaro Lodge (1400km) instead of flying to Maun and hiring a car and travel by road to Xaro Lodge. What a long way to go by road…2 days there and 2 days back.
The designated driver was Butch who would pick us all up on the morning of 19 October 2014 as from 5am onwards on route to our first sleep over being Ghazi in Botswana (1000km). On the road to Ghanzi the team made 2 rules to which we swore allegiance:
The guides briefed us on the fishing do's and don'ts and as to what we were to experience, informed about fishing gear to use and made sure we had the correct fishing outfit. Checked the flies to be used, rigged up the lines and we were ready to jive.
The camp had fully equipped tented accommodation, a bar come dining room, lounge, swimming pool etc.
Tuesday morning, 7:30am after breakfast we were divided up into 2 groups with one guide and one boat to a group. Off we went in search of the illusive tigers looking out for the birds that indicate the feeding frenzy of catfish, bream and of course the tigers. What a site to see unexplainable and only read about in magazines. When you see it you will believe it as to first spotting the infamous annual catfish run.
Nonetheless after scrambling for your rod, positioning yourself either on the bow or stern, the casting starts. Fishing heavy rods, heavy lines (shooting heads) and large weighted flies (de-barbed) is something worth observing [and practicing].
Then, after a few casts… yes, yes, yes… you hear your fellow fishermen say, the take is incredible and the fight is on. Adrenalin pumps, you strip as much as you can to keep tension, the tiger decides to view the bottom of the boat and down goes your rod under the boat, you keep tension, strip, tire the fish out and successfully land your first tiger…whoop whoop! Guide, photo please!
For 4 days this is much of the same pattern, tiring for a day’s hard fishing but all enjoyable every minute. Breaking 2 rods and damaging one while catching fish...the trip still remains and awesome experience for sure!
Birdlife is plentifull…fish eagles, darters, egrets, kingfishers, skimmers, herons to name a few frequent the surrounds while you are fishing. Plenty crocodiles of all sizes and hippo’s too. There is a very apt saying…’’I do not go into the water and so the crocodile does not go into the pub’’. Seeing the size of those crocs seems a very wise and sound mutual understanding indeed!
Fish species tallied was over 40 tigers, few catfish, and 2 thin faced largemouth bream. Butch and Roy got the so-called hat trick for the Delta being a tiger, catfish and bream each. Leslie and Butch caught the largest tigers weighing at 4kg each. Ian caught his first tiger and if only we could imitate all the noises he made to land it.
Was the trip worth it and a do it again… absolutely yes! Did we have fun…Serious Fun indeed!
The rest of the team’s doings and after hours activities cannot be mentioned here because of Rule 2…lol, sorry!
The team thought it useful to publish some tips which persons on future trips could use…
Watch this video as to a similar experience..enjoy!
We decided to travel by road from Pretoria to Xaro Lodge (1400km) instead of flying to Maun and hiring a car and travel by road to Xaro Lodge. What a long way to go by road…2 days there and 2 days back.
The designated driver was Butch who would pick us all up on the morning of 19 October 2014 as from 5am onwards on route to our first sleep over being Ghazi in Botswana (1000km). On the road to Ghanzi the team made 2 rules to which we swore allegiance:
- Have Serious Fun
- What happens in Botswana stays in
Botswana
The guides briefed us on the fishing do's and don'ts and as to what we were to experience, informed about fishing gear to use and made sure we had the correct fishing outfit. Checked the flies to be used, rigged up the lines and we were ready to jive.
The camp had fully equipped tented accommodation, a bar come dining room, lounge, swimming pool etc.
Tuesday morning, 7:30am after breakfast we were divided up into 2 groups with one guide and one boat to a group. Off we went in search of the illusive tigers looking out for the birds that indicate the feeding frenzy of catfish, bream and of course the tigers. What a site to see unexplainable and only read about in magazines. When you see it you will believe it as to first spotting the infamous annual catfish run.
Nonetheless after scrambling for your rod, positioning yourself either on the bow or stern, the casting starts. Fishing heavy rods, heavy lines (shooting heads) and large weighted flies (de-barbed) is something worth observing [and practicing].
Then, after a few casts… yes, yes, yes… you hear your fellow fishermen say, the take is incredible and the fight is on. Adrenalin pumps, you strip as much as you can to keep tension, the tiger decides to view the bottom of the boat and down goes your rod under the boat, you keep tension, strip, tire the fish out and successfully land your first tiger…whoop whoop! Guide, photo please!
For 4 days this is much of the same pattern, tiring for a day’s hard fishing but all enjoyable every minute. Breaking 2 rods and damaging one while catching fish...the trip still remains and awesome experience for sure!
Birdlife is plentifull…fish eagles, darters, egrets, kingfishers, skimmers, herons to name a few frequent the surrounds while you are fishing. Plenty crocodiles of all sizes and hippo’s too. There is a very apt saying…’’I do not go into the water and so the crocodile does not go into the pub’’. Seeing the size of those crocs seems a very wise and sound mutual understanding indeed!
Fish species tallied was over 40 tigers, few catfish, and 2 thin faced largemouth bream. Butch and Roy got the so-called hat trick for the Delta being a tiger, catfish and bream each. Leslie and Butch caught the largest tigers weighing at 4kg each. Ian caught his first tiger and if only we could imitate all the noises he made to land it.
Was the trip worth it and a do it again… absolutely yes! Did we have fun…Serious Fun indeed!
The rest of the team’s doings and after hours activities cannot be mentioned here because of Rule 2…lol, sorry!
The team thought it useful to publish some tips which persons on future trips could use…
- Wear socks on the boat and not shoes, helps
to know if you are standing on your line, could save a good cast. Wet socks
regularly.
- Long sleeve shirts is a must, the sun
is a scorcher 37-39 degrees!
- A buff is a must for face and neck
protection, also keeps your cap intact when travelling around search for
productive waters. Wet buff to cool down face and neck.
- Sun screen – plenty and regularly apply
- Gloves
- Finger stripping material of sorts
- Lip ice - regularly apply
- Extra rod or 2
- Extra spare reels. Lines and repair kits
(guides)
- Learn
to reverse cast as well, imperative to success as above.
- Acceptable
level of fitness.
- Hook
sharpener.
- Fly
tying kit and tying of own flies beforehand and during the trip.
- Knot
able trace wire with Albright and perfection knots. Also braided loop onto fly
line which you should tie beforehand.
- Vary
the stripping technique, improves success rate
- Check
rod regularly as to the seating of rod pieces
- Camera/video
camera per boat.
- Plumbers
tape to join rod sections
- Spare
hat with clip secured to shirt
- Spinning
rods – take along if you want
- Last but not least…rod casting with
heavier rods, lines and flies are imperative to the success of the
trip…practice, practice and practice, way ahead of the trip. Improves your success rate by far. Also makes
the experience for your fellow fisherman on the same boat a pleasure. (there will be more fishing and less swearing).
Watch this video as to a similar experience..enjoy!
