Chobe River Report

[Tommo]

Just back from 3 days fishing on the Chobe River. We had some very cold wind and battled a bit for our fish. There were some big tigers around and we got some good ones with perserverance. I found that fishing Effzett spoons very slowly, as deep as possible, got the best results. So slowly that in fact some hits came while not even retrieving. The current or drift of the boat was giving the spoon enough movement. Spoons were rigged with two single hooks, one on top and one on the bottom.
Copper Effzetts are my favourite, though they all got results.
 

[Homie]

Thats a beaut Tommo !!!
How many pounds ?

[Tommo]

She weighed in at 15lb's on the dot. A real beauty!

[Homie]

Great stuff !

Love the colors on the tail, really vivid hey !

[REEFMAN]

Heck it's a tough life hey!  Tommo!

[REEFMAN]

Craig, weren't you in Kenya? We have our spies out looking for you...

http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/index.php/topic,709.msg4002.html#msg4002

[Tommo]

Thanks Reefman. Yep, very tough, but someone has to do it.... I was in Kenya in March, I haven't been back since.

[Gerhard]

Awesome Tiger!!!


Do you think the cold weather and almost full moon conditions made them more skittish?

[Tommo]

Yep, Gerhard. I think you are right. The water was quite cold too. The smaller fish were still feeding fairly freely, but the big ones were being very shy and striking short a lot. I had a couple turn below small fish that I was landing, giving a big flash in the depths below, so I knew they were there. Livebait would have done the trick, but I love my lure fishing, so had to keep trying. I found that the deeper and slower I worked the lures, the better the bite. Those Effzetts need so little movement to make them flutter and flash that they are perfect for the job when the fish get lockjaw...

[Gerhard]

Yep, Gerhard. I think you are right. The water was quite cold too. The smaller fish were still feeding fairly freely, but the big ones were being very shy and striking short a lot. I had a couple turn below small fish that I was landing, giving a big flash in the depths below, so I knew they were there. Livebait would have done the trick, but I love my lure fishing, so had to keep trying. I found that the deeper and slower I worked the lures, the better the bite. Those Effzetts need so little movement to make them flutter and flash that they are perfect for the job when the fish get lockjaw...

What would you suggest when the fish are striking short on the lures?


A trap hook maybe?


If a trap hook might help does it not increase the risk of damaging the gills?


The Effzetts are great lures.


Did you try soft plastic lures?

[Tommo]

I did try some soft plastics, and had some hits, but not as many as from the Effzetts. I didn't have any paddle tails with me, I think that they would have done the trick. A trap hook can help when they are striking short, but as you say, there is the risk of doing more damage to the fish. I just fish slower and slower, when you feel the slight bump from a short strike (the beauty of braided line) then give it a short burst of speed and sometimes it will hit properly and get connected.

[Gerhard]

Another question for you...


What setup did you use for the tigers in this class?


Rod, reel, braid and what trace did you use while fishing with bait?


Sorry about all the questions but its great to get it from a specialist directly... 

[Tommo]

I used a Shimano Special Tiger spinning rod (two piece), with a Shimano Twin Power 5000 reel, I had loaded it with 30lb Suffix Matrix Pro braid, used about 1.5m of Double X fluorocarbon, with 40lb (#4) Malin piano wire traced, connected to the fluorocarbon with an Albright knot.
I didn't use bait at all, just lures which were connected to the wire using a haywire twist.

I find this outfit to be a really strong, well balanced set up and have caught sailies, kingfish, queenfish, cuta etc on it as well.

[Gerhard]

Thanks Tommo,


The Tiger Special rods are awesome...


Here is mine in action fighting a queen in the arabian sea.





Its loaded with a Abu Brute and 20lbs braid with 30# floro carbon leader and a white buck tail jig...

[WalkersKiller]

Awesome stuff Tommo, thats a great fish