IGFA Member

Occasionally when I can wrestle the remote from either the kids or the Queen of home affairs, I have had the opportunity to watch the South African ESA angling programme. Which at times has some very interesting fishing.

The “Drop shot” segments in particular, as I reckon I have more chance of catching a hippo than a shark on the Zambezi!

So why can we not try this plastic worm fishing for our “Yellow bellies” I ask myself, it works for bass, so surly we can entice our predatory bream species to slurp a little plastic worm or grub??

Let’s give it a go, nothing ventured anything gained! Ordering new tackle is certainly one of my greatest pastimes, dangerous water to tread in tho, especially trying to explain to the “Nag bag” why I need some more fishing kit. A good friend’s greatest fear is that should he suddenly pass away, his wife will sell his tackle for what she thinks he paid for it!!

Another problem is the choice, there is soooo many things that look good, so taking a firm stand and deciding that less is more, a smallish amount of different plastics and various weighted jigs, spinner baits are ordered and in no time, thanks to FedEx, we are armed and dangerous and ready to try something very new and exciting.

What am I talking about u may ask? Throwing plastic artificial worms, grubs and fish for Nembwe is the name of the game!

A medium action 6-6.6ft rod, spooled with 6-8lb fireline, 10 lb fluorocarbon leader, a ¼ ounce jig head with a spinner and a 4 inch grub and away we go.

The idea is that, this rig, which represents a crustation, can be pitched into likely looking spots where say a crankbait, with all those treble hooks can not be. A plastic can be worked a lot slower over a likely spot and thus will be in the strike zone for longer than ur crankbait!!

When the sun comes out and the fish go deep, a jig head can cover a lot of ground out there in the deep, and as u can work it slower, if a fish is not that hungry it will certainly take a bait that is in its face.

Likely spots are, back eddies behind rocks and stumps, right under tress and overhangs, those wonderful looking weed beds and holes in the thick reeds and under trees thick with nests.

The idea is to let the bait drop to the bottom, normally if a fish is holding in that spot, the take is instant, however let the bait sink to the bottom, then jerk the rod so that the bait jumps from the bottom, then let it sink again, continue this retrive over the area. The take is a very solid pull as the rig is sucked in, at times it feels like u are stuck, as when u jerk the line it feels  very heavy or tight, this is a fish, so give a solid sweep of the rod and hold on!

So how effective are “Plastic’s” here in Zambia? Well I certainly will not leave home with out them; there is a dedicated number of “Plastic” throwers that only use them, with great success. We have tried them, all over the Kafue River, Upper Zambezi, local farm dams and IthseThize. The beauty of this bait is that it gives u a much wider variety of good looking spots that u can fish.

Secondly this is also a far cheaper way to fish, as apposed to throwing some expencive lures around.

On the fly fishing side, those who have contacted me, thanks very much, plans are a foot and I will be intouch soon as to when and where. We have a great group coming together and will be looking at probably heading down to the Zambezi in April. So get that kit out and dusted off.

Remember, God does not deduct the time spent fishing from ur life..SO GO FISHING!!!

Tight Lines

River Rat