Fishing Safaris in Botswana

Fishing

Tiger fishing takes place in the main channels where there is good flowing water.

This is either done with fly, lures or fillet baits.

Most tiger fishing in the Okavango is done while drifting, not trolling like some Zambezi operations.

Tigers in the Okavango do not get as large as still water tiger, but fish up to eight or nine kilograms are caught in the main channels.

The lagoons are quiet backwaters that are excellent to fish for African pike, small tigers and various species of bream.

Two of the most popular and aggressive bream species are the three spot bream and Nembwe.

These fish grow to in excess of four kilograms and put up a really hard fight when hooked.

Bream fishing is either done with worms and floats or flies, spinners and bass plastics.

There is no more peaceful experience than drifting quietly in a lily covered lagoon casting for bream while listening to a variety of bird calls and admiring the beauty of nature.

Boats are fast, open aluminium craft, approx 6 metres, with 50/70 hp outboards.
Fishing in the lagoon can be good, especially for large catfish and various bream species, but the best tiger fishing is usually in the main river, 35 minutes away by boat.

Okavango Delta - Fishing

The Delta contains much the same fish life as the Zambezi River, though both the tigerfish and bream tend to run smaller than those of the Zambezi.

From late September through early November an amazing phenomenon takes place. This is the "catfish run," when falling water levels send millions of these whiskered fish on noisy upstream breeding migrations, during which they prey on smaller fish and literally flatten the papyrus with their numbers.

Though strong and stubborn fighters, catfish are not highly prized by anglers. But at this time of year the very visible catfish runs are followed by schools of voracious tigerfish, which snap up whatever escapes the cats. Lures, spinners, flies, strip fillets -- whatever one throws at such times is instantly accepted by these supreme, razor-toothed predators.

Okavango is usually at its fullest and most beautiful in July/ August, the Southern African winter, when days are warm and clear, nights chilly, and the stars seem near enough to reach up and pluck.