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04 June 2011
Right I have just 20
minutes to write up this report before heading off downriver from Kalizo
Lodge to the Nguni Voyager for my next guiding stint so please excuse me
if it is a little short and to the point.
The past 7 days have
been spent in absolute Bliss, The Fishing and company has been
excellent. Last Friday I collected
a group of 6 guys I have been guiding for the past 3 years, whom I now
regard as close friends - some of them I started guiding 7 years ago at
Impalila Island Lodge so we now know each other pretty well. Last year
they asked me to put together a trip of Lodges they had not experienced
yet and which would provide the best possible fishing for the May/June
transition time of the year. I decided to try a 2 lodge tour starting at
Kalizo Lodge and ending at Shackletons – the Idea was to move with the
mass of baitfish and at the time I thought it could work but also it
might be a bit of gamble whether we were to get good fishing at both
lodges, chances were pretty good that we would get great fishing at at least 1 of them. Thankfully the timing of the trip
could not be better, The group had fantastic fishing
right in front of Kalizo Lodge at the beginning of their trip with Midday
frenzies being the highlight as masses of baitfish formed baitballs and
broke away from the banks in the early afternoon warmth. May fish in the
3 to 5 pound range were caught and a couple double figure 10pound plus
specimens boated. The atmosphere on the morning of departure to start the
visit at Shackletons was surreal, we all were a bit apprehensive as to
what fishing we might be leaving behind to find downstream. I hate leaving
fish to find fish but this was a forced exercise and I wasn’t to be
sorry. Shackletons Lodge did not disappoint, on the first afternoon a
couple mid backwater frenzies wre experienced
with larger fish that had been encountered up river. I personally witnessed
a mid river frenzy with fish in excess of 10 pounds busting the water,
unfortunately it was a good 200meters from me and no other boat was
around so the madness went by totally unfished
and disturbed by human fly or lure. The next couple days blew all our
minds with each story of lost fish breaking 60 pound wire traces,
removing shooting heads from running lines and generally causing major
tackle fatigue and embarrassing us. Not all these fish went uncaught
though, Rob Campbell the group leader boated his
personal best and the new TIGERFISHFRENZY 2011 season record with a
beautiful 14.5 pound hen tiger. In total for the 5 days full fishing the
group weighed 576 fish which amounted to 882 pounds of fish landed.
Although the majority of tigers caught fell into the 2 to 4 pound range
11 double figure fish were caught and few just below 10 pound status. Thats Just absolutely
amazing!!
Current Conditions:
Weather is cooling
coldest temperature recorded at Shackletons on wed morning was 6 degrees
C
Water temp: holding at
21.5 still nice and warm.
Water clarity – crystal
- still at least 5 meters down in
backwaters
Wind: a couple of
blustery days but in general not bad
Level: Dropping very
quickly
That’s it for now,
Unfortunately no pictures this report as internet and e-mail comms are a
problem this high up the river at this time of the year, if you have any
queries about bookings or the fishing please e-mail me at: info@tigerfishfrenzy.com and I will try
to respond within 2 days, or else if you have an urgent query please sms me on : +27 (0)824577503
and I will be able to respond immediately. Until next weeks’ Update tight
lines and happy Tigering J Kind Regards - Haydn
26 May 2011
WOW! What a start to
the season! On the 16th of May I made camp for the first time
this year on a very High Upper Zambezi river on the banks overlooking
Kalimbeza Island. The reports were not wrong – this year was a long and
big flood! As I checked my boat and luggage to make sure it had survived
the 2000 kilometre journey from Durban I heard the wonderful sounds of
tigers attacking baitfish on the river surface in the diminishing late
afternoon light. An overwhelming feeling of hope flooded my body as I
realised I might have just picked the perfect time and place for my first
group of 7 avid fly anglers to experience early season tigers.
Kalizo Lodge was my
first choice for this early season onslaught of Tigerfish and the lodge
didn’t disappoint. The Flood waters had started to recede at the
beginning of the month and by the time we had arrived the waters were
dropping quickly. The best fishing was on our doorstep! The 300meters of
bank just above the camp was the most productive lined with hundreds of
squabbling little egrets the evidence of baitfish and tigers was there.
As time progressed through the week so did the average size of tigers
caught and number of baitballs passing the lodge, until eventually the
large hoards of squawking grey-headed Gulls could be seen tracking middle
channel bait masses. This was our sign – The Frenzies were about to
start. The last 2 days of the trip brought on the emergence of the mature
male tigers that had been absent for the first few days and sizes suddenly
jumped from the 1 to 3 pound average of the majority up to the 4 to 7
pound mark. Lots of fish were boated, that’s an understatement – an
obscene amount of fish were boated and we could not keep up with a count
of the numbers - an estimated figure of between 350 and 400 tigers for
the group of 7 over their 6 days of fishing was settled upon in the end,
to be quite honest I think this count was a little conservative. A few
fish between the 7 and 10lb mark were caught and the biggest for the week
was a 12 pounder just proving that there are some big trophy females
milling about in the huge schools of smaller males at this time of the
year. Also 3 Nembwe, 2 catfish and one thin face was boated during the
trip.
We couldn’t have asked
for better fishing or a more fun bunch of people, thanks to the “Podgy
Troll” for putting together the trip and inviting his mates Dave, Mike,
Richard and his uncle ZA for a good time. We were also lucky enough to be
joined by TV Fishing Celebrities - the Married fly-team of Cliff and
Tarryn Rochester owners of the Fishient Fly company who in my opinion
make the greatest flies and materials for Tigers. A great time was had by
all, there was much moaning and groaning about swollen hands and aching
backs at the end of the trip from all the fishing but everyone still
couldn’t be kept from the water and lure of catching tigers. What an
awesome trip and start to the season!!!
Current Conditions:
Weather: Has been
fantastic this last week, cool mornings although not cold enough for a
beanie and gloves as I was reminded many times. Midday was warm to hot
temperatures reaching high twenties.
Very little cloud
cover, and a swinging breeze, no major winds in the last 8 days although
today is gusting quite heavily.
Water: Temperature still
holding in the low twenties and dropping a fraction every morning but no
major change. Clarity is very clean and when drifting the banks one can
see the bottom and structure in 10 ft of water
and more. The river is dropping fast! At least 3 to 4 cm’s a day up here
at Kalizo and Kalimbeza Island, this is great
news as it forces the big push of Baitfish.
Fishing: Unbelievable –
as every year the run of small male tigers is on but with very good
numbers this season. Plenty well sized juvenile redbreast baitfish and
big baitballs coming off the floodplains. A couple mid river Frenzies of
lager tigers have already been experienced. Although it’s very early to
making predictions if the weather Holds we are going to have a bumper
season on the Caprivi and Upper Zam!
Flyfishing right now is
definitely now the preferred method of choice. Fly colours varying from
green & white to black and purple, size of fly is critical mainly
Polar Fibre baitfish on 1/0 Gama SC15 being the preferred choice. The
current is fast moving and fast sink lines 300g or DI-6 / 7 lines are a
must.
That’s it for now,
Unfortunately no pictures this report as internet and e-mail comms are a
problem this high up the river at this time of the year, if you have any
queries about bookings or the fishing please e-mail me at: info@tigerfishfrenzy.com and I will try
to respond within 2 days, or else if you have an urgent query please sms me on : +27 (0)824577503
and I will be able to respond immediately. Until next weeks’ Update tight
lines and happy Tigering J Kind Regards - Haydn
Herewith some comments
taken from the visitors book from the Thornhill & Rochester group who
joined me this last week (18 – 25May) at Kalizo Lodge:
Philip
Thornhill “Podgy Troll” – Best fishing experience EVER! Haydn put us
right where the fish were! Thanks for organizing the trip.
TIGERFISHFRENZY is awesome!
Mike
Blake – Brilliant Holiday! Fishing was awesome. Lots of tigers and a few
surprise Nembwe. Thanks Haydn.
Cliff
& Tarryn Rochester – Awesome Fishing & Great Fun by All!
THANKS!!!
Dave
Armstrong – Thanks for a wonderful holiday and many fish.
Richard
Gorlei – Thanks for the great fishing and guiding – will certainly be
back!
Phoebus
Minkner (Za) – My
best fishing experience ever!!!!!
09 May 2011
I’m so excited, it’s
the 2nd week of May already and the Winter season is almost
here!
Recap of April 2011
The water levels over
the last 5 weeks have been on a roller coaster. The 2nd week
of April saw a small slow rise in water levels on the Caprivi stretch of
the Upper Zambezi. We had all
expected this rise as waters from the 2nd drainage basin in
Angola were destined to reach us at this time. During the 3rd
week of April the flood levelled off and first signs of a dropping flood
were seen around Kalizo Lodge and the Kalimbeza Island area. During this
drop toward the end of the 3rd week of April there were the
first signs of moving baitfish around the upper reaches of the
floodplains and small schools of male tigers came out to feed,
Unfortunately for the Tigers and baitfish another unexpected 3rd
rise came though at the end of the last week of April with significantly
more force than the 2nd wave and rising waters broke over the
highest banks around Kalimbeza Island and spilled into the camping areas
of some of the neighbouring lodges. The fishing over this rise totally
turned off as baitfish headed back onto the floodplains. From the
beginning of the first week of May the River started showing signs of
receding again and once again small schools of baitfish and male tigers
started to make their appearance.
Current Conditions 9
May 2011
Levels: Although Levels
on the Upper Reaches of the Floodplains around Kalimbeza Island are
considered high, water levels throughout the floodplain area are still
way below last years’ highest mark. Down at the Nguni “shed” at Impalila
Island the water level is still roughly 40cm below last year’s high water
mark. Reports from Katima confirm that the river has now definitely
slowed in Volume and a fast drop is expected over the next 2 weeks. Bad
news for baitfish, great news for Tigers and Anglers!
Weather: Evenings and
early mornings are starting to cool significantly and midday temperatures
are now mild
Clarity: Very clean .
Preferred fishing
Methods: downstream toward Impalila Island still mainly bulldog
driftbait, 100kms upriver around Kalimbeza Islands – spinning and fly.
Other Interesting News
from the Caprivi
3 weeks ago saw the
First ever coming together of the Namibian & Zambian Caprivi
Fisheries departments in talks on how to best police and regulate illegal
net fishing in our area. I take my hat off to the Owners of Sekoma Lodge
who have pledged their help to combatting illegal netting and for
initiating and hosting this workshop and being instrumental in bringing
the 2 countries and departments together. As most of us are aware illegal
forms of netting on the Caprivi stretch of the Zambezi are affecting our
Bream populations (species such as Nembwe, 3-spot tilapia and red breast
being hardest hit). Hopefully with
a structured effort from these 2 countries and the help of more lodges
like Sekoma, Illegal netting will be a distant memory and we can all
again enjoy the spoils of some fantastic Upper Zambezi bream fishing.
01 April 2011
Well March is done and
dusted, and I must admit the river hasn’t been very exciting in the last
4 weeks. I am however really getting excited for the upcoming winter
flyfishing and spinning season which is now less than one month away, and
I have found myself spending many hours packing and repacking my fly and
lure boxes and I have been caught more than once sitting at my desk
staring into the distance imagining the scenes of this year’s upcoming
fly-fishing and Spin-fishing season……… There I go again.
Recap of March 2011
The beginning of march
saw the continuation from February’s incredibly fast and early rise and
the river looked like it was going to blow all past flood records if it
carried on its predicted course. Fortunately the rise was just a very
early result of some big rains in the Zambian basin and by the middle of
the month had steadied out and the rise slowed down to just a mere 1cm a
day up around the Kalimbeza Islands. Although the Zambezi had a huge mass
of fast moving waters effecting the upper areas of the Caprivi
floodplains lower down toward Impalila Island the Chobe river was yet to
deliver the expected same waters and the Zambezi waters were able to
spread south from the main channel and stable out with only a normal rise
and effect on the Impalila floodplains and surrounding channels. The
Nguni Base “Shed” records their highest water level this year on the
31March at still 1m below last year’s destructive highest point. What
does all this mean? Well this is the flood us Tigerfisher folk have been
waiting for. The past 3 years have all delivered monster high water
levels over very short periods of time which have resulted in a later
breeding season of tigers and baitfish to a shortened period and over a
large area of water and floodplain, the result of this was a mass of
small underdeveloped juvenile baitfish in our peak season which made for
some difficult targeting of Tigerfish which had been expending much
energy and time feeding over larger areas on smaller baitfish. If all
goes to plan this year the longer lower flood should provide us with
larger schools of developed (bigger) juvenile baitfish in more
concentrated areas, when this tends to happen, the larger female tigers
also become more cannibalistic and easier targeted on Tigerfish imitation
patterns, something we haven’t had much luck with over the past 3 years.
Nguni reports fair
fishing in and around the Mambova and Chobe rapids, using mostly the
bulldog driftbait method. Average size fish of 2 to 4 pound have been
boated with 3 or 4 double digit tigers in the mix. Kalizo Lodge reports
fair fishing as well, but with many more smaller cock fish already making
an appearance in the backwaters and being caught on spinning tackle,
driftbait and a little bit of fly.
Current Conditions 1
April 2011
Levels: The waters as
described above are currently at the correct (not too high) and stable
level and the 2nd wave of water destined from the Angolan
basin is not expected to be a big one. The water is projected to drop
earlier than last year, around the last week of April maybe a little
sooner.
Weather: There have
been some very large rain storms over the past 2 days but generally
weather has been fine to hot with afternoon cloud cover and fair breezes.
Max temperatures are still in the low 30’s oC
Clarity: Water is a
little stained from local rains but in general main channel is clean,
backwaters are now almost crystal clean in places.
Preferred fishing
Methods: downstream toward Impalila Island still mainly bulldog
driftbait, 100kms upriver around Kalimbeza Islands drift bait method
although some lure spinning and a little flyfishing.
Accommodation
availability Update
This year’s Caprivi
winter season I think is going to be a Fantastic one and by the look of
all the Caprivi lodge accommodation availabilities for June, July and
August - a lot of other people believe so too. If you haven’t booked yet
there are only a few limited dates left, don’t be disappointed Book Now!!
Just a reminder that
there are only 3 cabins available for Trip 1 (in June 25 returning June
30) aboard the Nguni 5 night “Prime Week” travel special hosted by myself
– Haydn Willans
Trip 2 (in June 30
returning July 5) is already sold out. For more info click -Here-
01 March 2011
A quick report from the
Caprivi stretch confirms that the Zambezi has risen at an abnormal rate
this year and the main flood is running about 2 weeks ahead of schedule
than the norm. In some areas around Kalimbeza Island the river was
recorded at rising between 3 – 5cm an hour in early Feb.
Most of the major floodplains between Impalila and Kalimbeza are now
properly covered giving some fantastic cover for juvenile species to grow
and feed. Feed up little guys we want our Tigers nice and fat when June
comes around. News from the Angolan basin states not very much rain has
fallen there this year so fortunately for the lower lying lodges this
should be the highest the river gets this season.
With this early influx
of water and not much more expected from the Angolan basin, this does
mean we could have a slightly earlier start to the “drop” this year, we will just have to wait and see.
Not much to report from
the fishing though after the awesome Jan / Feb driftbait season the
dirty, warm faster flowing water of the flood has made fishing the normal
difficult March self with a few fish being caught in and around the Chobe
and Mambova rapids but not much to write home about.
Just a reminder that
flights & winter accommodation on the Caprivi stretch of the Zambezi
is filling up quickly and if you haven’t book your June/July Tigerfishing
trips yet then you better jump to it!
Until next time, tight
lines and happy smiles J
Regards
Haydn Willans
17 November 2010
What a fantastic 3 days I have just had, Many thanks to my guests
Al, Deborah and Fred, it was truly a pleasure meeting and spending time
with you on the Nguni Voyager.
Fishing has been outstanding with some fantastic quality fish
coming to the boat although it was not without periods of struggle as we
had to weather the strong easterly winds that blew us all over the place
on Monday and Tuesday. After heavy rainfalls throughout the end of last
week the fish of the Zambezi were ready to attack anything that had a
scent of bulldog on it. Water temperatures cooled by 3 degrees down to a
manageable 24 and with the rains started to rise slightly and run a
little faster. There was also a slight tainting of colour due to the
local runoff in the area. The platform had been set and I was very
positive moving into to guide my new American friends. Their first
afternoon on the river was amazing, a short shower over lunch cooled
everything down and fish started to rise. In the short 2 hours we were
out on my “practise run” showing everyone the ways of Tigerfishing and
more to the point drift baiting with bulldogs, I couldn’t ask for a
better show of piscatorial savvy as bite after bite, both catfish and
tigers gave our new visitors the chance to experience the blistering runs
of the tigers on a pickup and slower more powerful attack of charging off
catfish. I believe we had between 6 or solid runs & hook-ups with 2
tigers boated both by the “tiger queen” Deborah. The final minutes of
daylight saw her hook and land her trophy fish she had travelled all the
way from Ohio to catch. Her beautiful 12 pound tiger is pictured below,
fallen to a well baited “bulldog” on a “TigerfishFrenzy 40lb wire drift
trace”.
Day 2, and I woke to the dreaded sound of the easterly wind
wrapping itself around the hull of the Nguni Voyager, I checked my
barometer an was aghast as I saw the pressure had risen 5 hpa over night a nd seemed to be continuing to rise. I knew straight
away that we were in for a tough day if the barometer didn’t settle and
the wind continued to pump. After a quick rusk, coffe
and cereal we jumped into the smaller tenders of the Nguni and headed
upstream to some of the larger, wider parts of the river where the rising
water had just covered some of the main channel white sand banks. From
here even if the wind was pumping we were able to cover some distance
drifting across the shallow sandbanks. Both boats immediately were into 2
large catfish on their first drifts, each of the 3 landing a catfish
around the 16 pound range. Fantastic, despite the conditions we were off
to another flying start.
 
During midmorning the barometer levelled out and for a couple
minutes the wind even stopped, it was like a little fish switch had been
hit again and every drift saw a couple ferocious tiger runs with an
acrobatic display and invariable a set of hooks being spat back at their
operator. That being said once again we had a couple decent tigers in the
5 - 7 pound range being brought to the boat before our late morning
brunch stop.
Unfortunately the afternoon was nearly as successful as our
previous 2 sessions. The barometerwas back to
its bouncing ways and the easterly wind had come through with a renewed
vengeance. The afternoon session was to be the toughest session of
fishing I have experienced this season. What was apparent from the
exercise though was the fact that just about all fish had now the lockjaw
syndrome that so often goes hand in hand with the big bouncing barometer.
Although we had a handful of runs and bites that afternoon no fish were
brought to the boat and landed. That night after a fantastic thai- chicken curry cooked up by master chefs Sabrina
and Patrick a retired to bed wind swept and tired. I said a small prayer
before crashing into a dead sleep.
Day 3, and the final day of fishing for my guests. I opened my eyes
and immediately listened for the dreaded sound of whirling air currents
and flapping blinds. Nothing. I was happy this was a good start to the
day made better by the fact that the barometer showed that the pressure
had come down to its normal levels and had stabilised overnight. Our
first drift of the same shallow sand banks we had fished and targeted the
day before and immediately Fred was rewarded with his first ever African
Tigerfish weighing in at 7 pounds.
Another drift and another school of tigers obliged in cleaning our
hooks of all bait. Our 3rd drift and Al let me know he thought
he was snagged on the bottom and could I possibly drive back up river to
unhook. As Fred and Deborah lined up I noticed that the snag was moving
in a very slow but deliberate way up onto the shallow sand bank. Al also
noticed this and gave a sharp tug just to check and see what was
happening. What unfoiled was a half hour fight
of one of the biggest catfish I have witnessed on this part of the
Zambezi eventually, Al, a now worn out angler collapsed into one of the
fishing chairs as I hoisted his prize catfish onto the boat with a Boga
fish shortly after disgarding the net as it
proved to be too small for the catfishes head to fit in!!!
Before the entire beast was lifted from the floor of the boat my
boga fish had already topped out past its 30 pound mark with still one
third of the fish on deck. I called for the larger 50pound scale and the
catfish measured in (after much lifting and huffing and puffing on my
part) at a massive 42 pounds!!!
Here’s the proof
Now that’s not all, there were more surpises
coming for us as Al, shortly after landed his trophy tiger of 11 &
half pounds, and that morning was to be the highlite
of our trip.
The afternoon session even
though the wind calmed and we witnessed a fair number of unlikely
November “frenzies” in the Mambova rapids the fish really didn’t boil to
any massive amount of activity as I would have liked and expected. In
hind sight I can see why, the local rains that had provided the increase
in flow had moved on the river was back to dropping and there was hardly
any current to get a decent drift that afternoon, the only bit of
excitement we had was a 15 minute patch of surface feeding fish and
constant bites for us after the sun had set and it was just about to dark
to see the now moving Hippos that we could here snorting and wallowing
not too far from us. Our uneasiness with this notion made for a quick
retreat to the boat after what was deemed by all to be a thoroughly
successful day and fishing trip.
3 November
2010
Alright it’s time to pack away the Re-twistee-twistee’s, Rapalas
and flies, dust off the big sticks & 5/0’s
…………. Its DRIFT BAIT
season!!!
Man Its been hot on the Zambezi and Chobe
with temperatures sitting in the low to mid 40’s every day now for the
past 2 weeks and water temps at near boiling 28 deg C But reprieve is
here, the first spattering of rains, have brought their cooling goodness
and marked for me the start of our Tigerfish Drift baiting season. Over
the next month I will be hammering the Zambezi hard before the main rains
come and hope to pick out some monster early season Tigers on the bulldog.
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