Tigers still sluggish: Lower Okavango, Namibia: 14 July 2013

Dawid with the biggest Tiger (3kg) landed for the day...

We only  launched around 11:00 am on Sunday (14 July 2013) morning. Still managed to land 7 tigers. 3 Of them was above 1kg. Dawid lost a nice size tiger of about 5 kg close to the boat while waiting for me to ready the camera ....!!!

The fish are not very active yet with water temps around 65 F. One cannot really blame them. We missed one Nembwe strike. All the fish were caught in relatively shallow water (1.2-3m) off sand banks. There was not much action in the deep channels (with deep diver Rapala and Halco). Did not do any drift baiting.

There was time for some interesting photos from the surrounding area close to the banks of the Okavango river (below).

Majestic Boabab

Sable antelope

Impala ram

Video of African Pike Feeding

African Pike (Hepsetus odoe)

The video of African Pike (Hepsetus odoe) feeding on livebait is available at
http://youtu.be/d9bw6oOgUFs

Wild Fishing with Elephants; Okavango River, Namibia

Fishing in the Okavango river in Namibia has many challenges regarding wildlife encounters. Never a dull moment. You are constantly on the lookout for Hippo...what a pleasant surprise if a group of elephant appears on the river bank or cross the river while you are fishing...with a nice size tiger on the other end of your line. Dawid managed to hook into some nice sized tigers on our last outing Saturday the 1st of June 2013 with elephants and hippo's galore...!!!

The video is available at: http://youtu.be/SILJyRyAIFQ

Cold water affecting the bite: Okavango

Bridge over the Okavango river at Bagani in the West Caprivi

Fishing on the Okavango river was not good the previous weekend (25-26 May 2013). Water temps dropped to 65 F. Only got small tigers on the drift (tilapia fillet). The only worthwhile photo was this one of the bridge...!!! 

Crockango Angling Competition: 1-4 May 2013

One of the Tigers caught during this years Crockango angling competition 

Read more about the 2013 Crockango Angling competition at: 
http://aquaculturenamibia.blogspot.com/2013/05/crokango-fishing-competition-final.html
and
http://aquaculturenamibia.blogspot.com/2013/05/crockango-fishing-competition-1-4-may.html

Okavango Tiger Fishing: 27+28 April 2013

Dawid  with one of 15 tiger fish landed over the weekend

My son Dawid and I went again fishing in the lower Okavango (Namibia) this weekend. We had a very nice time with some decent Tigers(15), Nembwe (4) and massive Thin-face tilapia (1). I was skippering the boat. 90% of the fish was caught by Dawid with dropshot (1/4 ounce jigg heads and 7 inch minnows with paddle tails) and double bladed copper spoons.

The flood plains have not yet started emptying back into the river...should happen within the next 2-3 weeks...Fishing will then increase by 100%...can't wait...!!!

Next week the Crockango Fishing comp starts (1-4 May 2013). Will report on it... 

Dawid with a giant Thin-face Tilapia also caught on drop-shot 

Dawid with one of the Nembwe also caught on drop-shot during the weekend

Tigers starting to bite

Dawid Burger wait a small Tiger Fish 

The Tiger Fish started biting in the Okavango as the water recedes from the flood plains. The next month might be good  for tigers and nembwe until the floodplains emptied and the water temps go down to below 18 degrees with the start of the winter.

We went testing a small alu boat on Saturday 20 April 2013. Dawid managed to catch this small tiger  in an eddy behind a sandbank...