Today was back in the boat with Mark Del Frate.  Mark and I fished together earlier this week over on the Ruhudji.  You may remember we worked very hard for just couple nice fish.  We hoped today would be a better one.

We left camp very early with guide Greg.  We were on the water heading to the lower beat of the Mnyera River before 6 AM.  Mark is still suffering from side effects from his malaria medicine however he’s not letting it keep him from casting.

The weather has turned for the good.  This was the first day that we didn’t have threatening clouds in every direction.  In fact the skies were blue in every direction and once the sun was up temps began to roast us.  It was the kind of day where you constantly dip your hat and buff in the river then put them back on wet.

Unfortunately fishing was slow – extremely slow to be exact.  Both Mark and I fished relentlessly in all of Greg’s proven spots but there was no one home.  At last Mark hooked up.  It was a typical fishy spot where a deep trough dug out under a huge leaning sausage tree.  He cast above the structure then let his fly catch the current under it and stripped hard.  An astronomical tiger hit him and jumped and the fight ensued.  Mark survived two major runs but as he hoisted the fish towards the net he jumped and thrashed and I watched his fly separate.  Our slow day of angling would’ve been long forgotten had we landed this tiger.

We went another two hours without a fish sighting.  Then one lucky cast and wham.  I was hooked up to my usual unusual non jumping tiger. It’s so rare that they don’t jump but I’ve had a few like this.  Luckily, this time the fish stayed buttoned and I landed this 12lber.

Lunch with Linda and Don and their guide Sven was another kick back and relax to hope the afternoon would bring better luck.  Sure, I caught a 12lber and Mark nearly landed a giant but here fishing is often far better.  After a nice lunch we decided to rest our tigerfish casting arms and sling bait on our 9-weights in hopes to catch a vundu, the African catfish.

Even bait fishing for vundu was deadsville.  We kicked back and sipped some local Kilimanjaro Beer like pro catfish anglers but we didn’t even get a touch.  After two hours of this it was back to the tigers.

We caught only one more tigerfish before completing the day.  I caught him right at sunset.  I wanted to photograph him as a silhouette against the sunset.  I pulled my camera and looked through the lens.  Greg held him just right then he and Mark started chuckling.  “What”, I asked?

My tigerfish had not teeth!  You learn something every day.  Tigerfish shed their teeth several times during their lives – so they think.  This crazy tiger need some dentures.  For his sake, I hope the new ones grow in soon.  Time for the frogs to sing me to sleep. . . .

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