Trip Report – “Flood” season Upper Zambezi River: June 2024

I headed up to Shackletons and Shamwari for our annual TigerFishingZambezi hosted/guided season and yes I have to agree the fishing had its moments and was tough but we are tougherer! There is no doubt that on occasions “fishing the flood” this year has been challenging at times. Looking at social media fishing groups like this one, you can see the “fishing is tough” comments coming through but you will also see that the fishing did have some ups

Tough conditions means one has to adapt, fly fishing clients tie up and swing flys into the current at strategic points, more bait is used, lures are retrieved low and slow, trawling usually brings on a few fish. When the going gets tough, mix It up is the name of the game!

May/June brings on the so-called “tiger frenzys” a natural phenomena that sees the flood waters return back the main Zambezi and bring the tigers onto the bite due to bait fish and my own theory of slightly warmer water coming off. This year a lower summer rainfall brought on by El Nino kept the river “bank bound” but in some areas the plains did flood as per normal. According to the weather boffins, La Nina makes a welcome return end 2024!

A low Zambezi water level also occurred in 2018 and Sky News claimed that Vic Falls was dry, what a lie that was! If I remember correctly fishing was good so again nature can be unpredictable but we will see our Zambezi returning to normal as we head into hard winter, spring and summer.

I am happy to report that in the area I was based netting was extremely low due to the netters not being able to hammer the bait fish at the points where the flood waters recede into the main river and this bodes well for the future spring/summer season. I must say I have never seen so many otters (gorging on bait fish) and the amount of Nembwe caught has been nothing short of insane!

Needless to say we caught, yes we worked hard but we managed some PB’s, had tons of fun on the river and most of our clients came away with great fish. All the pics included are from the last couple of weeks and we hear good reports coming out from our clients as we head into normal winter fishing.

I have to pay homage to the team of guides who work hard to get every client onto a great fish; Joe Rainsy, Obert, Dixon, David, Adrian, Simata (Smart to most of you), Remy, Chris (not me), Charles, Keys, Morgan, Shadrack, Anton, Cassius, the list is more but these are the guides we interact with on a daily basis.

These are my observations during the past few weeks and I would be keen to hear other opinions on this.

The nights will become warmer, the days definitely hotter and the rains well, they are still a long way away! The Zambezi comes alive at this time of the year and the fishing will be on the rise. Tiger fish and the other species start to become active and are more open to your offerings after the short winter season. Ask any lodge owner or old bush hand on the upper/lower Zambezi and they will tell you the best times to fish are spring and summer NOT ONLY that dynamic period late April until late June.

The rains arrive mid-December and eventually muddy the waters but this takes time. Clean water fishing is usually good until early January when the bait fishing explodes with some incredible catches.

October is really hot and a favoured month to be on the Zambezi, there is a reason why one of Zimbabwe’s biggest tiger tournaments take place during this month.

November/December brings small showers, not heavy enough to dirty the waters but enough to cool down the temps and make your trip the best, I call November the “golden month” and this special time for me extends right into December and beyond. Green season on the Zambezi is a feast for the eyes and many don’t experience this due to Christmas being just around the corner. Office parties and family holidays by the sea plus Christmas shopping take preference but you wont find me in South Africa during this time!

I will be on the Zambezi River with a bitterly cold one near and my trusty rod in hand!

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