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The species associated
with bait fishing in the area are, Tigerfish, Vundu, Bream, Chessa,
Nkupe and Cornish Jack.
With the exception of
Bream and Chessa, where worm or dough bait are usually used, the
remaining species mentioned are generally taken on live bait, Kapenta or
fresh fish fillet. In the case of Vundu, which are natural
scavengers, the bait options become a lot more broader with items such
as chicken livers, fillets of chicken breast, ox heart and even blue
soap (the kind with tallow in it).
There are two basic
options when it comes to bait fishing. A) Drifting by boat with
the current, with the bait attached to an un-weighted line and free to
swirl around in the eddies or else suspended below a float that drifts
with the boat. B) Fishing from an anchored position (static boat)
or from the bank.
Static or bank fishing
will give good results for all the fish types we have mentioned, while
drifting is most successful for tiger fishing and to a lesser extent
Vundu and Nkupe.
On the question of tackle
for bait fishing for Bream and Chessa, a light rod rated for line
between 6 - 12lb with a medium action and bait casting or spinning reel
is suitable. Either a ledger or float rig, depending on depth fished, can
be used. Size 4 or 6 hooks are suitable for Bream, while Chessa
with their small mouths requires a 10 or 12 hook.
Tigerfish require a
firmer rod, and a good bass rod or similar, 6 to 7ft in length, rated
for 10 - 20lb breaking strain line, with a bait runner or bait casting
reel is recommended. To avoid break-ups, which experience has
shown usually are as a result of another fish attacking the swivel,
joining the trace to the line, braided line of up to 40lb breaking
strain is a good idea as this is harder for the fish to bite through
than mono line. Carbon coated trace wire or piano wire,
with 4/0 to 6/0 hooks either of Mustad round type or VCM sport circle
type have proved very effective and make up the bait fishing rig
together with a few sinkers.
For Nkupe and Cornish Jack
the same set up as for Tigerfish can be used, although this is a bit
heavier than actually required. Size 2/0 or 3/0 hooks are ideal, a
trace should be used in case a Tigerfish picks up the bait. Nkupe
can exceed 10lbs in weight and are extremely strong fighters, while
Cornish Jack, although not a strong fighter can reach a weight of
30lb's, and give a good account of themselves in the current.
Finally the Vundu, which
can reach a weight of 100lb's, and can be classified as the
Extreme or monster angling option of the Zambezi. In the current,
this fish is an incredible opponent, and is almost unstoppable when it
takes off on its initial run, which can be for a 100m or more. For this
reason a fairly heavy duty rod and a reel
capable of holding at least 250 meters of 30 - 40lb line are best suited. A
carbon coated steel trace of the same breaking strain is also advised as
the Vundu has abrasive plates in its mouth, which will wear through mono
or braided line if the fight becomes drawn out as can be the case with
a large Vundu. Hook size from 6/0 or larger and circle hooks are
proving effective.
Anglers interested in
some Extreme Vundu fishing, must please advise to this effect in advance.
Due to the remoteness of the Lodge, we can not readily obtain items such
as chicken livers or ox heart locally, we need to obtain in advance in
order to avoid disappointment. |
