Kurper/Tilapia Baits?

[WalkersKiller]

The 1/16 ounce are like 1.8 grams I think, its about a size 14 hook, just dont know why the Vleis arent taking the curly tail, have brought it right passed a few of them on nests and then a few schools and nothing  which is why I want to try the bait route 

[Ziggy]

When I lived in Zim - I spent hours catching tilapia in the dams around harare - the best was always earthworm (and flying ants in season) - a light float with a small split shot and a small hook with the whole worm (size 6 baitholder hook is best) - length between float and hook varied according to depth being fished. Cast out and leave and watch. However , the best for me was a very slow retrieve until you feel them nibbleat the worm  - then slow down slightly so that the tilapia can swallow the worm. Then strike - I found that they tend to follow and snatch at a moving bait better than just waiting for them to pass by - by retrieving, you cover more area too


They tend to feed close to the bottom and slow moving objects will get their attention better.



You can also use no float(plus a very small weight or couple of split shot) and retrieve on the bottom if the area being fished is not too weedy.


We also used very small mepps spinners with a worm on  one of the hooks of a treble


We also used river slime wrapped around the hook in a blob with a hanging tail - terrible to get that right...but it only worked in a couple of dams - I think that they also eat slime - but it needs to be fished with a float only


They tend to feed close to the bottom and slow moving objects will get their attention better.

[Lenny]

The 1/16 ounce are like 1.8 grams I think, its about a size 14 hook, just dont know why the Vleis arent taking the curly tail, have brought it right passed a few of them on nests and then a few schools and nothing  which is why I want to try the bait route 

mmmm , you could just tie a small Woolybugger too.

[WalkersKiller]

Awesome advice there Ziggy 

[gavin erwin]

U mite laugh but Ive caught plenty Kurper on algae!

[gavin erwin]

Some pics

[WalkersKiller]

Gav you look about 15 in those pics  I want to get some of the vleis and dwarfs that are in dowerglen bru...

[gavin erwin]

Hahaha I think I was 15 there, when Vaalkop daam was still boat friendly.

[gavin erwin]

Dam

[gavin erwin]

Cant go wrong with a little Meps Black Fury.

[WalkersKiller]

For the dwarf and small Vleis?

[gavin erwin]

The Vlei will love them. Something like a very small piece of white plastic on a very small hook will work for dwarf, thats how the artlure guys do it at loskop.

[kaptein delarey]

Dwarf kurper: small and medium Sada curlies on size 16 - 22 hooks. White my favourite colour to use. I've also caught a dwarf kurper on a tanago hook I use for mosquito fish. Crimp a splitshot +/- 5cm above hook. Most of the time you won't see the dwarfs, so you'll have to dip your lure into all the nooks and crannies in between rocks and logs. sometimes they'll stick their heads out and hide again - just keep dipping and they'll grab the lure. I think that small flyfishing flies that imitate insects could work, too.

Vlei kurpers: I've caught them on everything from small/medium Sada curlies to small cranks and jerkbaits. Very aggressive when protecting their fry, so just keep irritating them by getting the lure in their face.

The big vleis, go for the big baits ... got these 2 from Footloose





And this one from Emmarentia ...



Try and experiment, you might just be surprised.

Cheers

[WalkersKiller]

Thanks Kaptein!

[deepblu]

Gareth i was thinking about you using grubs , what about using maggets ? They easy to breed

[WalkersKiller]

Could be an option...

[dodger]

fishing for live bait at Jozini, l have used san juan fly which worked ok

[dodger]

Gareth i was thinking about you using grubs , what about using maggets ? They easy to breed

you can get artificial maggots these days, gonna try them at the end of the month when  l get to Jozini

[deepblu]

hi guys this topic blast from the past. any kurper fishing experts on the forum? whats the right rod setup for float fishing for kurper/ bream as well as the right way to rig float ?

[CRANKMAN]

In our Limpopo dams the kurper tend to feed very close to or on the bottom, so generally I don't fish with a float.
If I do, I use a sliding pencil float.
Start by threading a float stopper (small rubber bead) onto your line, slide this up your line to match the depth of water you are fishing (between 3 an 4 metres is good up here), then put your line through the bottom hole only of your float, add a small enough weight (that will just tilt the float to about 45°) about 300 mm above your hook which is at the bottom of the rig.
The bead can be wound through the eyes onto the spool for casting, the float slides down to the sinker and adds weight for the cast. Once you have cast the weight of the rig will slowly pull line through the float until it reaches the stopper. If the float lies flat, move your stopper down a bit until he float carries the weight of the rig. Any movement of the float now indicates a bite. If it suddenly lies flat it indicates a fish has lifted or is holding the bait without swimming off (often the big guys) and obviously if it is pulled under you have a bite.