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Congo river or the white Nile ?

1447 Views 8 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  chainsaw510
When and where is it at its best? Is it safe? Wink wink
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At this point in time with the way things are going over there I would say it would be safe 10-15 years from now!:Eyecrazy:

Why take the chance? There are so many other places to go!

Tierra Del Fuego
Belize
Russia

Just my 2 cents
Try the tigers in the Okavango

If tigerfish aren't your gig, then Google Nile Perch. Maybe the White Nile will pop up.
Is a disc drag really necessary when playing hooked crocodiles? And what are some good fly patterns? Will they take a greased fly swing? Oh, the possibilities!
Is a disc drag really necessary when playing hooked crocodiles? And what are some good fly patterns? Will they take a greased fly swing? Oh, the possibilities!
As long as its a bacon greased line you should be OK. I recommend a clicker reel to scare off the Piranhas though, those little guys are tough on the waders.
That's good

I heard crocs are line shy. Problem is, turning over a caribou with 6x. My Bimini twist isn't holding.
Also, there is 600 yds of 30# backing across the Zambezi from a foul hooked hippo. Had him turned 3 or 4 times, then I believe he remembered he was 4000 lbs. thinking he would have been a record hippo.
The way some writers embellish their fishing exploits, you'd think mortal danger was an everyday part of the program. The Congo is surely the testing grounds . . .

The problem is both the caribou and the 6x. A trophy croc won't be fooled by a caribou - you must be a crazy Canuck or Alaskan. You need a decent wildebeest, imitation or natural if you can get it. And of course 6x won't turn it over. It's imperative that the tippet be sized according to your fly or bait. Because you'll need a stout tippet, this is a case where flourocarbon really shows its stuff.

Hippos are an anomaly. The very young and the infirm fill in the off season menu for crocs when the wildebeests are not migrating. To my knowledge, no one has yet created an artificial hippo that fools a croc, at least one that is above the minimum size limit. Using natural baby, sick, or wounded hippos for bait is OK if you want to bait fish, but since this is Spey Pages, I won't go there.

I should probably note that a Congo basin angler needn't worry about piranhas, since they inhabit the Amazon basin in South America, which those who are not geographically impaired will know is not in Africa. On the other hand, there is a native fish species - not Nile perch - that has more in common with crocodiles in terms of nasty teeth and disposition. Shredded waders are the least of your problems should you encounter one. Getting your arm or arms back would be your real concern. I can't recall their name, but have seen a couple photographs, and have to wonder about the courage, or outright insanity of the anglers who pursue them.

Finally, it's not so much the crocs themselves that cause me to think a disc drag reel is to be desired. I'm imagining all the unwanted attention one of my Hardys might draw from some of the terrestrial inhabitants that might want to reduce an angler to a quick meal. Makes the bears in Alaska seem like rather desirable fishing companions when I think about it.

Sg
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I should probably note that a Congo basin angler needn't worry about piranhas, since they inhabit the Amazon basin in South America, which those who are not geographically impaired will know is not in Africa. On the other hand, there is a native fish species - not Nile perch - that has more in common with crocodiles in terms of nasty teeth and disposition. Shredded waders are the least of your problems should you encounter one. Getting your arm or arms back would be your real concern. I can't recall their name, but have seen a couple photographs, and have to wonder about the courage, or outright insanity of the anglers who pursue them.
Sg

Sg,

Unfortunately in 2006 EFWD felt that the over-harvest of tilapia needed to be offset so they began a bit of a mis-guided hatchery program. Not knowing what to plant they simply googled fish and went form there. While the gold fish and rainbow trout were wiped out almost immediately the piranha have flourished.

Chainsaw, please remember mandatory retention on all fin clipped piranha.
Detour

I jumped train in Hong Kong and made my way to Tibet. There I met a man name bong. He said to travel to the white north, where the days are long and tackle a true adversary. He called him the white furred beast named hungry. I'm thinking since I've caught everything in the African bush, what me worry?
Well bong lied, the day is night and the furred beast is not hungry. He's angry and doesn't play well with others. I would not recommend dressing up as a wounded seal pup and false casting in plain view as mr angry approached at 30 mph, It makes a good hook set almost impossible.
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