Fly Fishing for Tigerfish on the Ruhudji River

by | Nov 3, 2013 | Uncategorized | 3 comments

blog-Nov-3-2013-1-Jeff-Currier-tigerfishing-in-AfricaUnless you’re unusual its hard to get good sleep the first night on the other side of the planet.  Personally I use chemistry to get me on schedule.  Therefore I was up early and refreshed at around 5:15 AM.  I drank coffee on the edge of the Ruhudji River not far from our tent.  I should clarify that, in this part of Africa you don’t do anything next to the river because of Nile crocodiles and hippos, however this particular spot has proven safe over the years.  Nonetheless I sipped with a watchful eye.

 

The weather was overcast and warm to start.  At 6 AM you need nothing but your lightest clothes.  Mornings and evenings require long sleeve shirt and pants to protect you from mosquitoes that can carry Malaria.  I usually follow the normal precautions but this morning I went with a thick layer of bug dope.  During mid day it’s scorching hot.  The first half of today was overcast and comfortable then the clouds burnt off and the boat deck got so hot it singed my bare feet.

 

blog-Nov-3-2013-2-Mark-Murray-guiding-tigerfish-in-TanzaniaOur guide today was Mark Murray from Jeffreys Bay, South Africa.  Mark wasn’t here when I fished in 2010 but in is his second season.  He’s head guide, a superb guide and he really knows his stuff about the birds and animals which is nearly as important as the fishing to me.

 

As host I fish from the back of the boat.  Tigerfish are the type of fish that often pounce on the first fly they see rather than hitting the second one to swim through.  The only time I jump up front is when my guests are too tired to be there.  I’m still nursing the bad shoulder I’ve had all year so hopefully being in back slows down my usual pace and I can rest this damn thing and get better.

 

blog-Nov-3-2013-3-Mark-Murray-guiding-tigerfish-in-TanzaniaMy first move of the day was pick up my camera and watch Don get started.  Don’s been fishing ten years but nothing like this.  Before last night he never tossed more than a 5-weight.  His first few casts last night were interesting but this morning he caught on fast.

 

blog-Nov-3-2013-4-flyfishing-for-tigerfishYou fly fish for tigerfish from a narrow 16 foot aluminum boat and drift down the banks casting to structure.  It’s the same style as streamer fishing for trout only you toss a 9-weight and a much larger fly while your guide maneuvers with a pole and the boatman paddles.  When we get to deep pools we anchor up and dredge for about twenty casts.

 

blog-Nov-3-2013-5-tigerfishTigerfish are difficult to hook.  Their mouth is as hard and boney as any fish species I know.  Amongst the bone are rows of incredible dagger-like teeth.  You MUST strip set with your rod directly pointed to the striking fish to have any chance.  Once you think you have the tiger hooked – strip set hard again.  Don got about five strikes while ripping his fly through the first pool but none of them connected.

 

As Mark was lifting the anchor to slide down to the next spot I picked up my 9-weight Ross RX and hit an unsuspecting pocket on the on the other side of the river.  It was similar to a spot you’d find a big brown trout in a river back home.  To my delight a 5lb tiger shot out like a rocket with my chemically sharp hook deep in the corner of his mouth.  The skunk was out of the boat and it turns out there were several 5lbers in this pocket and Don went on to land two more.

 

blog-Nov-3-2013-6-redtailed-barbFishing died on us quickly.  All Marks key locations were uncooperative to say the least.  We pulled into what he referred to as the “vundu” hole.  The vundu is “the” catfish of Africa.  I’ve had several exciting experiences with them over the years but still haven’t put one in the boat.  As Don and Mark knocked back some old fashion bottles of coke, I dredged with a slow strip hoping for a miracle but to no avail.  As I was doing this I couldn’t help but notice the njurus (red tailed barb) rising.  I whipped together my 5-weight and nailed several of the colorful and aggressive little dudes on a red-winged Chernobyl.

 

blog-Nov-3-2013-7-flyfishing-for-tigerfishBefore lunch I found myself chilling in the back of the boat watching and coaching Don.  He’s really caught on to casting the big rod and accurately placing his fly where the tigerfish live.  Then it happened.  Despite the slow fishing, Don’s persistence paid off and a 12lb tiger sucked in his fly.  The vicious tiger was on and it was time to teach Don how to fight them.

 

blog-Nov-3-2013-8-fish-photographyFighting these oversized tigerfish takes practice.  First of all we don’t screw around.  We fish straight 40lb Scientific Anglers saltwater fluorocarbon.  We do so because if you let these fish run much they will bury you in the mazes of log jams.  It’s hard to teach or accept just clamping down on such big acrobatic fish but you must.  Don followed the advice well and almost sacrificed his body at least twice by nearly being pulled overboard.  But by doing so he beat the rambunctious 12lb tiger fair and square and was soon learning how to hold his prize.  Don surpassed his goal on the first day.

 

blog-Nov-3-2013-9-Don-rose-with-tigerfishThe tigerfishing picked up in the afternoon.  There are few places in the world where I can honestly say this, but the 5 to 8lb tigers are abundant from about 3:45 PM until dark.  There’s a famous run on the Ruhudji River called the Casino.  I remember it well from my last trip.  Don and I tore it up and landed eight tigers from this area alone – unreal!

 

blog-Nov-3-2013-10-African-sunset

Despite our successful first day, the tigers ended the day with the upper hand.  We were anchored and dredging.  I was watching as Don worked the hole thoroughly.  Then he got snagged.  We weren’t’ done with the spot so he left his fly snagged and I went to work in the pool.  Sure enough I hooked a beast.  Now it was time for me to line burn my fingers.  For three minutes this fish bullied me down deep.  Then as his fight started to dwindle he raced straight for Dons snag, leaped over his line and tangled us up.  It was the nightmare that we knew could happen.  Franticly we tried to do a rod over rod to free my line from Dons but no such luck.  My fish jumped two more times while using Dons line tension as a bungee cord and eventually my fly dislodged.  We all laughed as the approximately 16lb tiger disappeared.  It’s the first day and more opportunities will come.

 

For information about this incredible trip feel free to CONTACT ME.

 

Be sure and visit Tourette Fishing – Fight it in Africa.

 

And ask about my future hosted trips through Yellow Dog FlyFishing Adventures.

 

Jeff Currier Global Fly Fishing

3 Comments

  1. Charley

    Nice Jeff – sounds like you guys had a blast. Tigerfish are high on my wish list, so it’s great to read about your trips.

  2. Erik Moncada

    Little thing like sitting next to the waters edge can mean life and death… I would still go in a heart beat! Cool blog Jeff, welcome back.

  3. Jeff

    Thanks fellas. Its always good to be home in one piece. However, drinking coffee this morning watching the sleet fall with two sweaters on – I’ve been home long enough!

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I started fly fishing at age 7 in the lakes and ponds of New England cutting my teeth on various sunfish, bass, crappie and stocked trout. I went to Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin, where I graduated with a Naturalist Degree while I discovered new fishing opportunities for pike, muskellunge, walleyes and various salmonids found in Lake Superior and its tributaries.

From there I headed west to work a few years in the Yellowstone region to simply work as much as most people fish and fish as much as most people work. I did just that, only it lasted over 20 years working at the Jack Dennis Fly Shop in Jackson, WY where I departed in 2009. Now it’s time to work for "The Man", working for myself that is.

I pursue my love to paint fish, lecture on every aspect of fly fishing you can imagine and host a few trips to some of the most exotic places you can think of. My ultimate goal is to catch as many species of fish on fly possible from freshwater to saltwater, throughout the world. I presently have taken over 440 species from over 60 countries!

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