[Barbless]

If any of you are ever in the area of the Zambezi River in Southern Africa, go on a charter for these guys. Apparently October is the best month for them, but they are there all year round. If you have never seen one, they are called tiger fish for a reason. I was at Victoria Falls in Zambia and hadn't even thought of going fishing, but one of the guys I was with had planned a fishing outing with my knowing. If was a blast, floating down the Zambezi, Hippos all over, crocodiles sunning on the shore, and casting into the shallows trying to hook a tiger. They sure don't joke around when they hit! They aren't the largest fish - up to maybe 10 to 12 pounds at the most - but they fight very well and when you get one out of the water, they sure make for a nice pic.

here is a link with some great pictures:

http://globalflyfisher.com/fishbetter/tigerfish/

 

[reelangler]

Wow, they're pretty ugly fish. Huge teeth Looks like they would be amazing fighters, though.

 

[Bent Rod]

The Zambezi is the deadliest River in the world they say, poisonous snakes, hippos, crocodiles, flesh eating fish, and those parasites that shoot up yer privates when you are relieving yerself.

Sign me up, nothing will stop me from good angling. :thumbup:

 

[IronNoggin]

Fished them in Lake Kariba (Northern border of Zimbabwe) a few years back. They were about the most fun I've had on freshwater, and some individuals ranged upwards of 60 Pounds. aYup... Pounds! ;D
Takes were exceedingly savage, resulting in many magnum Rapalas having their bodies ripped right in half, and the fish departing with both that and the trailing hooks. Quite the feat as the interior wire holding those hooks is over 100 lb stainless! And, when we used baitfish (kinda like using somebody's pet aquarium fish to attract the monsters) with 220 lb stainless wire leaders, nearly a quarter of those got sheared off as well.
Pound for pound an excellent scrapper, often providing quality air time and blistering runs. Not too bad on the grill.

While there, and English woman had to be medevaced via chopper out to Harare. Despite the cautions of her guide, she got her hand way to close, and a landed tiger promptly removed 3 fingers tight at the palm! They did manage to rescue the fingers, had them on ice, and were hurrying her off to try and re-attach them. ALWAYS listen to the guide!!

I stuck a paddle by the business end of a 35 pounder, which promptly broke the blade right through! Awesome dentition! Awesome Power!!

Gotta get back there one of these days...

Cheers,
Nog

 

[HOOK]

OUCH!!!! is all i have to say. I couldnt believe catching a freshwater fish and having it remove my hand :'( thats crazy. and yes ALWAYS listen to the guy that knows what hes talking about. sounds like a real panic to fish for them though. only dangerous fish we have around is the Chum :happy: had one puncture my hand with a tooth while trying to unhook it, thats my worst fishing injury so far :cheers:

 

[Every Day]

Lol yea I though the chum were scary ( I never get my hand close to those things) that would suck having a fish bite a part of your hand completely off.. I wonder if she ever fished again after that :-\ Worst fishing injury I've sustained was kinda half from the fish and half from me, decided after hooking a setup attached to a big spring that I would pull the rest of the other line in by hand (not a good idea, first year fishing).. The spring jumped and snapped the hook off and sent the weight into my hand and split open all of my knuckles and bruised me pretty bad too. Anyhow kinda high-jacked the thread, those fish look like they would be a lot of fun, not sure if I would want to un-hook it though. Would probably end up cutting my leader after a quick pic :thumbup:

 

[sarg]

Those fish are definitely on my list. Last entry in a great book called "50 places to fly fish before you die". I guess they assume you should leave that trip for last . 4 down and 46 to go.

 

[Every Day]

Last entry in a great book called "50 places to fly fish before you die". I guess they assume you should leave that trip for last

Lol ;D

 

[HOOK]

ya i bet i havent even covered 1 out of 50 :wallbash: :'( :'( :'(

 

[mrmugs]

That's insane. I wonder if they'll attack you if you go swimming?
I think I'll stick to my Trout n' Salmon for now. I still haven't mastered either.

 

[Barbless]

I don't know if they would attack you if you went for a swim, but a swim in the river isn't recommended for other reasons. If the crocs don't get ya, you may be lucky enough to see a hippo, and if you see a hippo while swimming, you are probably too close and won't see the end of the day. :wallbash:

 

[604xt]

Wow, I don't who has more teeth those fish or Poncho from C.H.I.P.S.

 

[Luker]

WoW that is a cool looking fish

 

[Iron-Head]

A friend of mine took a trip for these guys last year.. He said it was awesome but it took some getting used to, as He was targetting them on the fly. Casting that steel leader was a pain but according to him they where one of the best fighting freshwater fish he has ever hit..

I'll try and dig up some pictures from his trip if anyones interested.

 

[Pat AV]

One of the few times I would be cool with using one of those boa grip things on a fish. Cool link, looks like fun.