Our good friend Johannes Bulfin leaves the trout streams in search of tiger fish. Read on:
There are five different species of African Tigerfish, widely distributed throughout the continent. In this article I refer to the Striped Tigerfish (Hydrocynus vittatus ), which translates literally as “striped water dog”.
Tigerfish are an impressive sight, beautiful would be far too soft an adjective! Even a non-angler can appreciate the spectacular array of dental weaponry that the Tigerfish possesses. The sickle like tail indicates a fish that was built for raw speed and its bright silvery flanks are reminiscent of chain mail. This is a fish that demands respect.
Fly fishing for these highly aggressive predatory fish has become very popular! It is not difficult to understand why; this is a fish capable of giving you line burn as it powers off on its crazed runs or takes to the air in spectacular fashion in an attempt to throw your fly! It often succeeds in doing so too, leaving the angler shaken by the ferocity he or she has just encountered.
I have had the good fortune of fishing for these fish on the fly but also the misfortune of not landing a really big one and having my heart broken by them! Nevertheless it is a fish that has left a permanent imprint on my mind and I know that I will return to Africa someday to do battle with these predators again!
Whilst completing my college degree I had the privilege of undertaking a placement in Southern Africa. Tigerfish were the subject of a behavioural study that I was a part of. The fish were tagged with radio transmitters and their movements monitored but they had to be caught first! The fly tackle used would be very similar to that which might be used to target pike or sea bass in the northern hemisphere; nine or ten weight outfits and a fast sinking line (this is more situation dependent), a metal trace is of course essential. Flies consist of fish imitations but anything big and bushy that causes lots of disturbance in the water is going to stir interest. When it comes to tactics: strip with both hands holding your rod under your arm pit, strip as if you want to get that fly out of the water before it is hit, imagine you are trying to save the flies life!! Once hooked these fish tend to take to the air in spectacular fashion, all you can do is lower the rod and pray that the hook is well set.
Fishing around underwater structures such as sunken trees or rocky outcrops is often very successful, however Tigerfish can surprise you and some fish were caught fishing over deep water with no apparent logical explanation for the fish to be there. Tigerfish are a fascinating fish and I would go so far as to say that all of their habits are not even known yet. While conducting our field work we witnessed Tigerfish taking barn swallows out of flight as the birds fly low over the water! Since then scientific studies have been conducted and video footage taken of this occurrence. Perhaps it is time to develop a Swallow fly!?
A quest to target Tigerfish is going to be an unforgettable experience; these fish will draw you to some of the wildest and most beautiful locations in Africa. You have been warned that once you go to Africa you will want to return time and time again; its culture, landscape and wildlife will catch a hold of you and not let you go. Whilst fishing for Tigerfish I saw giraffes and baboons coming to the water’s edge to drink, on our drives to and from the research site we spotted a myriad of different antelopes, rhino and elephants. As the sun went down in the evenings the lions would roar somewhere in the nearby bush and crocodiles would make their way out of their day time resting places. Africa will make your soul sing with excitement.
This trip was my first time to fish for Tigerfish and I got several decent sized ones using bait and lures. I got several on the fly too but I know for sure that I will be back again to get that 10 pounder on the fly. On the last evening as we drifting over some deep water I was watching my fly emerge out of the depths when out of nowhere a large Tigerfish smashed it with intent but didn't remain hooked! It’s been said before but it’s the ones that get away that keep us coming back to the water’s edge! Thankfully my fishing partner was luckier (or just better!) at catching these wonderful fish and got to pose for quite a few nice photos.
I have many plans and dreams of fishing Africa again in the future and the Tigerfish has cemented its place in any fishing trips I may make to this wonderful continent. I hope that from this brief article you may have caught a sense of the intrigue and fascination that surrounds this wonderful game fish.
Visit Johanne's excellent blog Road to Water for more of his fishing adventures.