Massingir dam: assorted pics

[John F]

Spent a few days in Massingir and the Limpopo National Park (opposite the Kruger National Park - together forming the Great Lipompo Transfrontier Park in addition to Gonarezhou National Park in Zim) on a research project.

Didn't have time for proper intell gathering but I can assure the freshwater enthusiasts that Massingir dam has lot's to offer... lot's of tigerfish, tilapia and huge catfish...

check below a few pics...

[John F]

A few more...

[John F]

More...

[John F]

Lot's of tigerfish (sorry FA!)...

[Mr AceCraft]

Massingir has always looked very interesting on a Map, but dunno how it will Hold up as a Tourist destination ???

The Moment I see Bream for Sale , and Tigerfish dried - Chinese Gillnets Spring to mind and sort of Africa strikes again .

Original post in 2010 how does it look in 2014??

[FishStyx]

I always stay over at the Albufera camp down at the Massingir wall when I travel through Giriyondo border post to Moz. The dam is massive and looks very interesting. Sometime I'd like to spend a few days there exploring.

[Mr AceCraft]

I have found a lot of would be trips between 2009 -2011 and then Nothing - almost as if the place does not exist anymore.

I have been on it in 1997 in early June - water dirty and lots of barbel. Few Small tigers , also before it became part of the transfrontier park.

Does have a lot of Potential- geograpically

[FishStyx]

I seem to recall that the wall was raised a few years back (before I first went there) so that the water now pushes well back into SA. Every time I've been over the wall, the water has looked pretty clear.

[Ianzo]

Also a lot of chinese silver carp in the dam, and with the rising water level into the olifants gorge, the carp ended up in the gorge contributing to the large scale death of crocs due to pansteatitis. Our crocs arent able to properly metabolise the fatty acids in the silver carp. Just some interesting fact

[Ianzo]

And the numbers of the carp are rising as the locals dont utilise it as the meat go rancid when trying to dry it

[FishStyx]

Interesting stuff. Thanks Ianzo. 

I wonder if the situation will ever re-balance itself. Is there a predator that can control the carp? Tigers???

[calabash]

Afternoon.
I will be heading to Massingir the end of September for a bit of fishing!
I will update you guys after the trip. Got a boat booked at Covane lodge so we will give it a bash.
Any tips on bait / lures / spots etc, please share.

[CRANKMAN]

I stayed at Covane when it was still a community lodge - a stunning location! The water was still quite far from the lodge then as the dam was only just starting to fill to the new wall levels, but it should be much closer now.
I took my little duck and 8hp out for a bit, but didn't have time or the right company to fish seriously. I was amazed at the clarity of the water, almost turquoise like a tropical reef. It was mid winter then.
Be prepared for a lot of nets free drifting in the lake.
It f**ks with one's mind from a conservation point of view - but when you meet and chat with the local fisherman and their families you start to balance that with the humanitarian side.
Massingir village has been a compulsory overnight stop for me for over 12 years now - great street restaurants, shebeens and a wonderful chaotic African feel!
I was told by the locals that pushing up stream towards Kruger would be better for tiger fishing as the netting was sparse due to all the hippos and crocs, but as my little duck is only 2.1 meters long I decided not to risk it.
In the late 90's I was on the Limpopo where the Oliphants (Balulue in Moz) join up. Yellow mepps spinners or good old bream fillets were catching me tigers then.
For this trip, I would start by trolling a couple of smallish lures for a bit to try and locate the fish, then change over to little livies (kurper) swum below a float in any of the wooded bays while throwing spinners (with a fillet attached if the water is really clear).
My personal experience of the Oliphants in Kruger (I was lucky enough to fish there before the new wall), the Limpopo and the Balule rivers after the wall is that the tigers definitely prefer yellow to red - it might be because in the rivers, yellowfish make up a lot of their natural prey?
I can't wait to hear your report when you are back.
Enjoy!

[CRANKMAN]

Afternoon.
I will be heading to Massingir the end of September for a bit of fishing!
I will update you guys after the trip. Got a boat booked at Covane lodge so we will give it a bash.
Any tips on bait / lures / spots etc, please share.

Any news to share with us about your trip?