Pongola Game Reserve Fishing Report

May 2010

General

The tiger fish are definitely feeling the cold, and this is quiet apparent by the amount of strikes we are getting. On average about 3 fish are coming out a session. The early morning is still worth getting up for, but fishing quietens down quiet a bit afterwards with a strike here and there. I am referring more to the bait fishing side as I had some great fun on artificials yesterday.

As mentioned on the bait side of things, the fish seem to be more testing than actual feeding. They pick up the bait and drop it if they feel any resistance. I am now fishing with an open spool and watching for the slightest pick up and strike as soon as the line starts to peel. I also tried striking directly as the bait was tested, but seemed to have better success with the open spool technique. We are trying everything in terms of bait offered, and I must say I saw some really great bait offerings this last two weeks. Normally just a piece of sardine on a hook and BANG! The late afternoon is also a great time, literally as the sun has set, so don’t be too hasty to get off the water. The guides are also finding the shallows more productive in the afternoon.

On the artificials side, I had some great fun with my two sons over the weekend. The older was fishing with a small spoon and the younger with a 3 g yellow Effzett spinner. We concentrated on the shallows and any structure in the 2-3 m water. After about 6 fish in half an hour, I decided enough was enough and put on a medium running rapala (yellow/blue) and wow, did we have sports. The fish seem to be lurking around, and only if the artificial was at their swimming range would they have a go at it. There were no multiple strikes, but if they had a go at it, one was sure they were hooked. All fish were under a kg, but still great fun when they not taking any bait. We were constantly searching for fish and did not anchor when fish were found, just remembered the place and returned later.

On the afternoon session while the boys spun, I fly fished. Again great success with Dad taking the afternoon with most and biggest caught on fly. The boys were not disappointed at all, but rather impressed with the olive/black fly and soon were getting some more casting lessons. I am now almost always fishing a fast sink, again just testing the retrieve speed and depth, with most strikes either on the splash or picking up off the bottom. The darker colors seem to be working best with a weighted fly seeming to have more action, better movement?

The catfish are really active at the moment; almost filter feeding off the top. Definitely worth a bash targeting them. I still have not found the trick yet, but I think some great potential here. The bream/kurper fishing is also still great, with a nice change if the tigers are proving to be illusive. Again fished from a cork still seems to be the best.

On the Pongola Game Reserve side of things, Frans Loots (boat manager), is busy looking into acquiring some new fishing rods and reels. We are going to test out a couple out and see what works best. All of out trainee skippers will be doing their skippers license this winter and be ready for the season too. Not forgetting about the 2010 Tiger Bonanza, please don’t forget to enter soon as it’s becoming more and more popular every year. Hopefully it’s going to be a mild winter and by mid August the fish will be in a feeding frenzy, especially those breeding females.

Tight Lines

Chris