KARIBA ANGLING SOCIETY
Junior/Beginners Booklet Online
Chapter Six - Tiger
(Latin name - Hydrocyanus vittatus - Tigerfish)
These are the most sought after species in Kariba by the kids (and the big big  kids) as they seem to be a standard required to qualify as being an adept fisherman.
They are incredibly fast, (clever ?) and a wonderful Game Fish to catch.

The very productive methods of the "Pro's" have been secret for many years, and only in the last couple of years have these ben passed on to others through various magazines like the African Fisherman.

There are four main ways to catch them :-

There is insufficient time or space to go into these different methods and theories in great detail here, so each facet will only be covered basically.

Click on the "Quick Link" to go to the section that you require :-

Spinning | Trolling | Drifting | Doba Doba | Seasonal Considerations | Important
SPINNING
The main thing here is to find a good quality spinner (that spins the blade without spinning the bait), a nice calmish area and some weed banks or weed beds to fish, of course where there are fish. This method entails a fair amount of physical work casting and retrieving the spinners, but is normally worth it in the end, as most times at least one "Mother" is caught.
The right size fish (over 1 kg) seem to come from water around 14 to 18 foot deep, (bigger ones  bit deeper,) and often an extra weight (1/2 to 3/4 ounce) above your trace is required to help you get it down there and stay there. Cast and count down about ONE Second per FOOT depth, and then start your retrieve. (AND HANG ON)

SMALL TIP
The fillet on the hook needs to be cut properly so that it does not bundle up or spin around,  and generally tiger fillets work the best.  (An article on this has been produced in a past issue of the (Zimbabwe) African Fisherman magazine.)

TROLLING
Basically the same as for spinning as far as the tackle is concerned but the work is not so hard, (just the petrol price goes up) as you do not have to cast so often.
Generally bigger fish are caught on the above two methods.

SMALL TIP
If you are going to troll as a regular method, have an "Auxiliary motor bracket" fitted to your boat, and use a smaller outboard (5 to 10  HP) for your trolling. Two reasons for this :-

DRIFTING
In the last couple of years this has changed a little, with many anglers now drifting live bait for those huge fish around the Bream cages in Kariba.
This method generally involves finding a reasonable spot where there is a local resident population of fish, and then drifting through the area with either Kapenta or a live bait.
The depths vary, dependant on where the fish generally feed. This method covers more ground than just sitting and "Doba doba -ing"

SMALL TIP
Watch where other teams are fishing and just sitting waiting for fish (obviously with some success). When you have established where these areas are, investigate them and see if you can establish the area that the shoal occupies, and fish these other areas on the drift. (It saves your chum)
(Make sure that you stay more then the correct distance away, if it is the KITFT tournament as anglers are known to be a bit volatile at that of year.)

DOBA DOBA
This method involves finding an area where the fish either are resident or come through on a regular and frequent basis. Some anglers think that a spot can be made from nothing by chucking in lots of chum, but this is not correct. The fish must be in the area (fairly close) or you will have spent a lot of money for still no fish.
You need to find "humps" and ridges where the fish patrol, or gulleys that they use to travel up to the shallower water to ambush food. If you have a reasonable depth finder, and you know how to read it,  you will see fish on the screen over these features.
(Yeah, Yeah  I know, all the fish are swimming towards the left and  a lot of them are trees.)
The area you choose must be as clear of structure as you can find, (or make) and yet hold fish, and you must know which general times of the day the fish frequent the spot.

SMALL TIP
Keep your smaller Rods and lighter line for "Bush cleared" areas, and use "Crane type rods, reels and line for the tree areas.
Do not spend more than 45 minutes in a spot if there are no fish biting, rather move on to a different spot.

SEASONAL CONSIDERATIONS
The fish mainly populate the main deeper water areas for most of the year, but once the rains start thay all go sex crazy and have the urge to spawn.
They do this in shallower water, and normally there is at least a little bit of current in the water. Consequently look in the rivers and their mouths from about November to March.
Some will start to spawn earlier and others later, but at this time of the year concentrate on the rivers.

SMALL TIP
Watch out for "Cock Fish" playing around on or near the surface, the big females will not be far away. They are often harder to catch due to the "One Track Mind" but there are good fish to be caught if you perservere.

PLEASE DO NOT JUST KILL ALL THESE SPAWNING FISH. THEY ARE LAYING WHAT WILL BE YOUR CATCH IN A COUPLE OF YEARS TIME. PUT THEM BACK IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO EAT THEM.

IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER
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