Rats, Slack line & The 5-'O'

Thought we’d go with an update of the off-season escapades today……
The last few days have been more a lesson in catch & release technique than decent tiger-fishing. I have it honed to about 12.3seconds. That’s about the longest I can keep them on the hook before they spit it back in my face. The good thing is there are a lot of fish around so a strike every second cast is not uncommon. Most of it's small stuff, but good fun on my lightest rig when you don't feel like traipsing around looking for bigger ones.
On the whole though, it’s been a good start to the year with clean water, screaming reels and the odd 15pounder on the boat courtesy of the neighbour. Better news still is the fact that we finally have the go-ahead from the wildlife blokes to carry on fishing. So it’s ‘line’s in’ and no need to dodge The 5-O’s anymore…..
On the lodge front, we carry on with our plans for the year’s maintenance and improvements. This year should be an exciting one what with the arrival of ‘’the biggest jetty in the valley’’ in the next week or two. It’s been a long wait but having seen it finally, it’s been worth it.
The completion of the campsites and all the maintenance and improvements on the schools side of things are also on the cards. Then there is the possibility of the Earthwatcher’s arrival later in the year to startup their croc research on the Zambezi which’ll gel nicely with educational aspect of our current program.
First bunch of students in March and then it’s all ahead full for April, May & hopefully through to August with the schools and whatever else comes our way.
And then of course there are the competitions!!!! There’s The River Lure to look forward to on the Kafue in May. After my poor showing last year I’ve been chatting to The Bwana and we’re looking to maybe enter a Wild Chaps Team and give it a serious go! This puts pressure on whether or not I’m going to go ahead with buying that boat I've been thinking about for months now.
October sees us hosting the ‘Friends Only’ competition between Zambia and Zim. If last year is anything to go by that one promises to be a cracker both on and off the water. There’s also hope for our own friendly invitational around September which’ll showcase some serious talent…hahaha!!
Will Keep Y’all Posted….The Commodore;)