Where the Fish Roar: Hunting Zimbabwe's Tigerfish

With its silver sides, black stripes, and orange fins, the tigerfish is as beautiful as it is ferocious

A 5-weight is just right for the three-spot Mozambique

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Species: The tigerfish is one of the most common and sought after species in the region. It is found in the Zambezi River, its tributaries, and Lake Kariba, and also in the Kavango Delta in Botswana. There are also many species of bream, such as the three-spot Mozambique, that inhabit the Zambezi and Lake Kariba. In Botswana's Okavango, one of the most treasured, large, powerful, and tasty bream is the yellow-bellied bream. The delta also has pike and what are locally known as barbels, which are catfish. These fish can be incredibly prolific and quite beautiful.

Gear: For tigerfish, bring an 8-weight rod between eight feet, six inches and nine feet. Floating, weight-forward lines are best. Use tapered 1X to 3X leaders (for tigers as well as pike and big bream) between eight and ten feet long. Use a wire shock tippet for the tigerfish and pike. Bream are best caught with a nine-foot 5- or 6-weight fast-action rod. A ten-foot 3X leader with 3X or 4X tippet is just about right, but be ready for larger bream at any time, as there's no telling whether the next one will weigh one pound or five. A 4X to 5X tippet for the smaller bream will be fine. Spinning tackle should consist of a six- to six-and-a-half-foot fast-action rod and a decent reel. Use six-pound-test for the little bream, eight- to ten-pound for the big guys. Don't forget that wire shock leader for the tigerfish and pike. Tigerfish, pike, and the larger bream should be fought with a disc-drag reel that can softly but effectively put the brakes on a running fish. You won't need waders. Anyone wading in these waders is suicidal.

Flies & lures: Bring Deceivers, Clousers, Sar-Mul-Macs, poppers, sliders, Bend Backs, Rattle Rousers, and similar flies for the tigers, big bream, and pike. The three-spots and other bream like large nymphs. Tigerfish and pike lures that work well include Zara Spooks, Rapalas, Rat-L-Traps, and spinner baits. Pieces of bait fish are good for the bream and barbel.

Fly shops: There aren't any tackle shops out here. You should bring the tackle you need with you. Bring plenty of flies, lures, leaders, and so on because you are going to lose some of the stuff to mean fish. Your guide will let you know about any fishing regulations and license requirements, so you need not worry about any of that.

When to go: Because southern Africa is at the opposite end of the planet, the seasons there are reversed. Fall is spring and winter is summer, in other words. Some of the best fishing and finest weather is in their spring, which is our autumn. September and October are fabulous, with bright, sunny, pleasant days and fish that are very hungry. There are unbelievable numbers of animals and so many species to see that you soon lose track of what you've seen.

Getting there: Fly fishing the Zambezi River and Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe, as well as the spectacular Okavango Delta of Botswana, is alarmingly easy and more affordable than you might expect. Direct flights at discount prices are available from New York and Miami to South Africa, where you can grab a connecting flight to Zimbabwe or Botswana.

Lodging: The safari camps you will stay in are first class, all with hot and cold running water and everything else you could imagine. Less than $300 a day buys you in-country ground transportation, luxurious accommodations in beautiful safari camps, gourmet meals, alcohol, and fishing guides and boats. Southern Quest Safaris is the top outfitter and safari company in the region. They can be reached via their Web site at www.southernquest.co.zw and via e-mail at safquest@gatorzw.com.