I am not a story teller, but had to share the next episode, cause I have never experienced it in this environment (river fishing), though have seen it & personally experienced it while bass fishing , with barbell in dam fishing & in the salt with a variety of game fish, & I have seen many similar incidents, but never this before.
So a friend of mine Matt & I planned the yellow-fish (or scaly as it’s commonly known in KZN) outing to the upper reaches of the Tugela river below Kranskop (KZN).
This will include throwing the fly-outfit (Czech nymphing), small Salmo Hornet
(nr2 Fire Tiger) , & some other tiny cranks at them (Rapala Mini Fat Raps etc) on ultra-lite spinning outfit , including baited rods (fly rods with size 500 grinders) using worms. After all….we are after the huge tussle they put up on light tackle which provides lots of fun.
Although we both have caught our share of scalies before, we are by no means fundi’s or Pro’s at scaly fishing & still learn on each outing.
We reach our first spot (+-07:30), tried cranks, Czech nymphing …nothing…not even a bite…. On worm we managed 2 scalies of about 300-450g. Plenty bites on bait, nothing decent though.
We spent most of our day trying very hard with fly & crank, though no luck.
Off we go scouting the Nsuze River & rest of upper Tugela towards Jameson’s Drift.
The spots we found on the Nsuze river was a bit on the shallow side with no decent spots which would hold decent fish.
Off we venture along the Tugela looking for a good potential rapid with pool below it.
Initially we could not find a decent track leading down to the Tugela river to some nice spots we saw, then we had to do a bit of bundu-bashing to the bank of the river at one spot. A distance of about 1km from main road to river bank.
Standing on the bank, it’s a drop of about 50-80ft to water level & we had a clear view of the river with many rises by fish. It was about 13:00 to 14:00 by now. This was promising so late into the day.
We noted what seemed like barbell rising up & hovering just below the rapids only to disappear again. The fact that we noticed abundant rises & the possible sight of barbell, was a deciding factor telling us in our very hopeful minds “ mmmh ….we got to try this section of water….. “
With our backpacks on & gear in hand we ventured down to the river.
The first thing on my mind is to throw the crank…..this is much more fun than bait fishing & if I don’t succeed, then I will try the fly & then lastly the bait…….in order of excitement.
Matt baited a rod & continued with the fly rod.
After a few casts I managed to land 2 scalies of about 500-700g within 15 minutes.
Matt got snapped off on the bait rod by a “very unknown†specie at that stage…..we thought big barbell…!! So we thought, as it was a sudden yank & with line peeling at an alarming rate & within seconds it was snap & trace off……!!
Matt rigged up, baited & line back in water……it drifted down with the current till it came to a halt in the still water…...where the fish should be ambushing their prey or food.
The next moment Matt yells…… ON……..I notice a huge bend in the rod as he initially thought he was stuck….nope its moving…..huge tussle & after only a few meters Matt observes that the fish swims very erratically, though did not think much of it at the time.
Closer to the shore Matt tells me that the scaly is being followed by what looks like a large barbell trying to grab hold of his catch……I continue casting my crank…….thinking ja right…….Matt then speaks to me again telling me how this barbell continues to try grab hold of the scaly & calls me frantically to have a look at this spectacle playing off right next to the waters edge…..I run over & we see not a barbell but a friggen large eel which grabbed hold of the scaly from the tail-end, with a third of the fish in its mouth & holding on for dear life.
Now consider this ….that the rod is a #6 fly rod & grinder loaded with 4.4kg line….so no sudden pull or hard tussle but only coaching the catch slowly, or should I say “pair of fish†into a bay so that we can view both & at least take a pic before releasing the pair to “continue their fun in the water……†& to tell our friends & children of the funny event……as if anyone would believe a honest angler…..??
It takes proper evidence like pics to convince the ones you are telling your so called “the one that got away stories†to.
No go, now we realize why the scaly was swimming so erratically…… trying to flee the eel of course!! It really seemed as if the scaly was not much worried about being hooked but seemed as if he worried more about the eel at its tail en……J
After much fun & games trying to help my friend to land both fish using a net, we realize that even the landing net is by far to small……& it’s not a small net.
(To give you an idea…..the net is large enough to land a big grunter or barbell of at least 8-10kg)
The eel shows a bit more body the closer it gets in the shallower water & we see a monster growing in front of our eyes……longer & longer……& with a body thicker than a 2lt Coke bottle……one huge “monsta†as a local boy said to us when he saw the fish.
Eventually which felt like eons, we managed to scoop the eel from its rear into the net & while he is still holding onto his prize catch or should I say Matt’s catch…….he he…..!
As we scoop the lot out, we run for distance from the waters edge in order to take careful hold of the eel & take pics , & then suddenly the eel lets go or spits the scaly & now we were left with this monster eel in the net. We must have been 5 or so meters from the edge with the eel still in the net. It gave a few strong wriggles or jumps +- 3 or 4 times, with me trying to grab hold of it……not a chance in hell……to strong & to slippery…..& back it is in the water swimming away very aggressively….viscously tail slapping like an angry monster. Wow…..this was a 1[sup]st[/sup] for us both & even the young local boys who described this eel as a “monstaâ€. We were awed by what just happened.
The eel was really persistent not let go of the scaly & do anything to take it back to the water…it was seemingly very hungry or desperate.
The scaly was if not 1kg very close on to a kilo in weight.
Matt & I were both dumbstruck by what just happened & what we saw…..this does not happen every day. Being very “honest anglers by birth & nature†…..Matt estimated the eel at about 7kg & I at 10kg. Very conservative guess work.
I completely forgot the scalies & our initial reason why we came & rigged up my very lite crank rod to swim a live scaly….. ..(What was I thinking?) Managed to catch a small scaly on worm , rigged it up, swam it up & down all over but No luck…demmit…would have loved to see , measure & weigh & take a few memorable pics of that fish.
As an fairly knowledgeable angler, I knew that there are a few types of eels in our country, namely the Brown & Bont paling , but when I got home I immediately Googled for detailed info & found the 2 types of Brown eels & then the African Mottled & Giant Mottled eel to be around in our water systems.
According to info from the Net, the Brown eels do not grow very large, though the African & Giant Mottled grow in excess of 30kg.
I found a pic of an angler holding a 14kg specimen & noticed the angler holding the eel was short & stocky, with Matt being a bit taller & then realized that Matt’s eel was longer & thicker……wow…..this must have been heavier than 14kg..!!??
All I can say that this event was fishing experienced at its best, that life can throw learning curves at any angler if you spend time at the water’s edge & to be able to actually see & experience this in person & not on TV or pictures……it was absolutely a life experience & totally awesome……..!!
Matt & I had an invitation to accompany some of his friends the next day back to Tugela for more scaly fun, but I could not join the group. According to Matt, they managed to land a few small & large scalies on the Salmo Hornet & Halco Sorcerer 35 Jelly Prawn color, with the biggest at about 1.8kg. “No eel activity or fun ……..
“
This was a “once in a life time event of its natureâ€
All scalies except for the injured one was safely released to be caught again later……………..!
Will post some pics of our outing & another a week ago.
I will appreciate stories with similar events in the dam or river, as in the salt its quite common with large game taking on smaller catches.
So a friend of mine Matt & I planned the yellow-fish (or scaly as it’s commonly known in KZN) outing to the upper reaches of the Tugela river below Kranskop (KZN).
This will include throwing the fly-outfit (Czech nymphing), small Salmo Hornet
(nr2 Fire Tiger) , & some other tiny cranks at them (Rapala Mini Fat Raps etc) on ultra-lite spinning outfit , including baited rods (fly rods with size 500 grinders) using worms. After all….we are after the huge tussle they put up on light tackle which provides lots of fun.
Although we both have caught our share of scalies before, we are by no means fundi’s or Pro’s at scaly fishing & still learn on each outing.
We reach our first spot (+-07:30), tried cranks, Czech nymphing …nothing…not even a bite…. On worm we managed 2 scalies of about 300-450g. Plenty bites on bait, nothing decent though.
We spent most of our day trying very hard with fly & crank, though no luck.
Off we go scouting the Nsuze River & rest of upper Tugela towards Jameson’s Drift.
The spots we found on the Nsuze river was a bit on the shallow side with no decent spots which would hold decent fish.
Off we venture along the Tugela looking for a good potential rapid with pool below it.
Initially we could not find a decent track leading down to the Tugela river to some nice spots we saw, then we had to do a bit of bundu-bashing to the bank of the river at one spot. A distance of about 1km from main road to river bank.
Standing on the bank, it’s a drop of about 50-80ft to water level & we had a clear view of the river with many rises by fish. It was about 13:00 to 14:00 by now. This was promising so late into the day.
We noted what seemed like barbell rising up & hovering just below the rapids only to disappear again. The fact that we noticed abundant rises & the possible sight of barbell, was a deciding factor telling us in our very hopeful minds “ mmmh ….we got to try this section of water….. “
With our backpacks on & gear in hand we ventured down to the river.
The first thing on my mind is to throw the crank…..this is much more fun than bait fishing & if I don’t succeed, then I will try the fly & then lastly the bait…….in order of excitement.
Matt baited a rod & continued with the fly rod.
After a few casts I managed to land 2 scalies of about 500-700g within 15 minutes.
Matt got snapped off on the bait rod by a “very unknown†specie at that stage…..we thought big barbell…!! So we thought, as it was a sudden yank & with line peeling at an alarming rate & within seconds it was snap & trace off……!!
Matt rigged up, baited & line back in water……it drifted down with the current till it came to a halt in the still water…...where the fish should be ambushing their prey or food.
The next moment Matt yells…… ON……..I notice a huge bend in the rod as he initially thought he was stuck….nope its moving…..huge tussle & after only a few meters Matt observes that the fish swims very erratically, though did not think much of it at the time.
Closer to the shore Matt tells me that the scaly is being followed by what looks like a large barbell trying to grab hold of his catch……I continue casting my crank…….thinking ja right…….Matt then speaks to me again telling me how this barbell continues to try grab hold of the scaly & calls me frantically to have a look at this spectacle playing off right next to the waters edge…..I run over & we see not a barbell but a friggen large eel which grabbed hold of the scaly from the tail-end, with a third of the fish in its mouth & holding on for dear life.
Now consider this ….that the rod is a #6 fly rod & grinder loaded with 4.4kg line….so no sudden pull or hard tussle but only coaching the catch slowly, or should I say “pair of fish†into a bay so that we can view both & at least take a pic before releasing the pair to “continue their fun in the water……†& to tell our friends & children of the funny event……as if anyone would believe a honest angler…..??
It takes proper evidence like pics to convince the ones you are telling your so called “the one that got away stories†to.
No go, now we realize why the scaly was swimming so erratically…… trying to flee the eel of course!! It really seemed as if the scaly was not much worried about being hooked but seemed as if he worried more about the eel at its tail en……J
After much fun & games trying to help my friend to land both fish using a net, we realize that even the landing net is by far to small……& it’s not a small net.
(To give you an idea…..the net is large enough to land a big grunter or barbell of at least 8-10kg)
The eel shows a bit more body the closer it gets in the shallower water & we see a monster growing in front of our eyes……longer & longer……& with a body thicker than a 2lt Coke bottle……one huge “monsta†as a local boy said to us when he saw the fish.
Eventually which felt like eons, we managed to scoop the eel from its rear into the net & while he is still holding onto his prize catch or should I say Matt’s catch…….he he…..!
As we scoop the lot out, we run for distance from the waters edge in order to take careful hold of the eel & take pics , & then suddenly the eel lets go or spits the scaly & now we were left with this monster eel in the net. We must have been 5 or so meters from the edge with the eel still in the net. It gave a few strong wriggles or jumps +- 3 or 4 times, with me trying to grab hold of it……not a chance in hell……to strong & to slippery…..& back it is in the water swimming away very aggressively….viscously tail slapping like an angry monster. Wow…..this was a 1[sup]st[/sup] for us both & even the young local boys who described this eel as a “monstaâ€. We were awed by what just happened.
The eel was really persistent not let go of the scaly & do anything to take it back to the water…it was seemingly very hungry or desperate.
The scaly was if not 1kg very close on to a kilo in weight.
Matt & I were both dumbstruck by what just happened & what we saw…..this does not happen every day. Being very “honest anglers by birth & nature†…..Matt estimated the eel at about 7kg & I at 10kg. Very conservative guess work.
I completely forgot the scalies & our initial reason why we came & rigged up my very lite crank rod to swim a live scaly….. ..(What was I thinking?) Managed to catch a small scaly on worm , rigged it up, swam it up & down all over but No luck…demmit…would have loved to see , measure & weigh & take a few memorable pics of that fish.
As an fairly knowledgeable angler, I knew that there are a few types of eels in our country, namely the Brown & Bont paling , but when I got home I immediately Googled for detailed info & found the 2 types of Brown eels & then the African Mottled & Giant Mottled eel to be around in our water systems.
According to info from the Net, the Brown eels do not grow very large, though the African & Giant Mottled grow in excess of 30kg.
I found a pic of an angler holding a 14kg specimen & noticed the angler holding the eel was short & stocky, with Matt being a bit taller & then realized that Matt’s eel was longer & thicker……wow…..this must have been heavier than 14kg..!!??
All I can say that this event was fishing experienced at its best, that life can throw learning curves at any angler if you spend time at the water’s edge & to be able to actually see & experience this in person & not on TV or pictures……it was absolutely a life experience & totally awesome……..!!
Matt & I had an invitation to accompany some of his friends the next day back to Tugela for more scaly fun, but I could not join the group. According to Matt, they managed to land a few small & large scalies on the Salmo Hornet & Halco Sorcerer 35 Jelly Prawn color, with the biggest at about 1.8kg. “No eel activity or fun ……..
“ This was a “once in a life time event of its natureâ€
All scalies except for the injured one was safely released to be caught again later……………..!
Will post some pics of our outing & another a week ago.
I will appreciate stories with similar events in the dam or river, as in the salt its quite common with large game taking on smaller catches.
