Fresh water fishing

©Jackie McDonaldProbably the most well known of all African fresh water fish is the legendary tiger fish. Found in the east-flowing rivers and dams of Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and the very north-eastern parts of South Africa – basically the sub-tropical bushveld – it’s a big, stripy fish with huge, immensely sharp teeth and a formidable fighting ability, hence the name. Usually fished for with lure, it can be caught on fly. Some of the more organised places to fish for tigers are almost anywhere on the Zambezi, the Jozini Dam in South Africa, and the Panhandle of Botswana’s Okavango River – and also higher upstream in the Okavango in Namibia, where it’s called the Kavango. One of the most relaxed ways to catch tiger fish is from a houseboat on Jozini Dam or Kariba, which is considered the Mecca of tiger fishing. Other fish found in the sub-tropical bushveld areas include many species of bream, and barbel – or catfish – which grow to immense size.

Although there are no overall legislated seasons, it’s important to check for local variations as the people who manage specific waters may impose a closed season. So fresh water fishing in southern Africa is pretty much a year-round activity but there are some particularly good times. One of these is the barbel run in the panhandle region of the Okavango River. It can occur any time between June and September, when the water level is lowest. It’s a smaller, fresh water version of the sardine run. Small fish are forced into mid channel, where they are hounded by vast shoals of barbel, which are, in turn, hounded by vast hordes of anglers.

But South Africa’s endemic yellow fish is the best of the bunch. Growing to much the same size range as trout, it’s a wily, sneaky fish with an awesome fighting ability. There are also a number of dams that are well stocked with bass.