Jozini and Tigers

[Shamwari]

Hello all

I know there are previous threads on Jozini, but I thought, let me post a new thread and see if there any recent tips and tricks out there.

I might be going up there in April, can anybody give me some tips with regards to lines, flies and techniques for Jozini during the month of April?

[GrahamS]

My parents were up there in December. Tigers were concentrated in the inlet flows, and up the rivers. They battled with lures though. All the fish they hooked were on drift baits (sardines).

[Shamwari]

My parents were up there in December. Tigers were concentrated in the inlet flows, and up the rivers. They battled with lures though. All the fish they hooked were on drift baits (sardines).

I will be foooshing off of a boat and from the bank...I was thinking, sinking line for the open water tries, casting a nice bait fish imitation next to the weedbank type opf thing. And depending on what they fish do, flinging a fly using a floating, late afternoon from the side etc...

Maybe it will do?

[gazzarowan]

maybe also take some black flippers along and try them around structure...

could lead to a few exciting arial explosions!

[MichaelS]

Hello all

I know there are previous threads on Jozini, but I thought, let me post a new thread and see if there any recent tips and tricks out there.

I might be going up there in April, can anybody give me some tips with regards to lines, flies and techniques for Jozini during the month of April?

When are you heading down? I am also going to be there April time (Easter weekend) and also busy kitting up for the trip. I went last year and from the observations of the last trip and a trip in Zambia I suggest:

- Sinking line is a definite!
- Usual suspects in terms of flies: deceivers (Yellow/Orange; Purple/Black; Red/Black); Clousers of similar colour and a couple darker bait fish patterns with a bit of flash. I also had a fly with a rabbit tail / zonker type fly that worked pretty well.
- I took an intermediate down with me and it only worked in the VERY shallow water and only hooked up into smaller fish. I really did need a sinking line to get to the bigger fish in deeper waters.
- Fast strip so maybe consider a stripping basket if you on a boat (did have an issue with line getting caught up with things in the boat)
- I tied up a couple steel traces but actually going to try a thicker non shiney mono this time round to see if it makes any difference
- We could fish the faster flowing water (the water by the river end / train bridge) as there was a lot of rain and the water was very brown at that end of the dam, but hoping it will be better this year
- Fish the rock gullies, weed beds and drop offs, thats where we were hooking up.

Hope this helps.

[Korrie]

I have done 2 trips, round about that time of the year.
My experiences confirms what have been said.

Sinking lines, only in the really shallow water will a intermediate or floater work.

A greyish thin steel braid, work fantastic for connecting the fly to the tippet. Not sure where I got it.
I tied up plenty of these in white. http://www.flytalk.co.za/forum/showthread.php?t=4977 BUT IN COMPLETELY WHITE.
Took a couple of permanent markers, and I could have a blue, green, silver etc color baitfish. and in combination of colors I want.

Made the tying much easier. tied 50 at a time.
It is also my favourite baitfish pattern, so the ones I did not use, was spare for the next trip.

When tying the Frizz Fiber Baitfish, I have found that a brass bead 3,5mm adds a special movement. the moment when stripped, adds a lovely dart at the end of the retrieve.
This final dart, is what produced about 70% of all the strikes we had.

SO beware, for the take at the end of the strike.

GOOD LUCK and may you have plenty big fish.

[Troep]

I agree with the above.

Fishing the large weedbeds on the north west side of the dam proved to be quite good. There is some deeper spots too, a fast sinking tip worked very good.

The guide advised using brownish baitfish patterns. It worked quite well.

If the fish do bite now and then at a spot, keep on trying, the big one is there somewhere...

Enjoy and take pics...

[Shamwari]

Thanks to all for the great tips. I will try them out for sure.

[Michael]

Jules, I'll put you into fish...take me with...for a mere R 5,000.00 guiding fee per day....oops, I mean hosting fee...I'll make sure you catch a few. I'll even tie the flies.

[smallstreams.co.za]

Jules, I'll put you into fish...take me with...for a mere R 5,000.00 guiding fee per day....oops, I mean hosting fee...I'll make sure you catch a few. I'll even tie the flies.

5% to FT neh ....