There's been some big talk from the 'Okavango Okes' (their own moniker) but the time is coming when they will have to put their money where their mouths are and show us whether or not they can actually cut it when it comes to chasing those elusive striped water dogs on a real river, or does swamp fishing just entail sitting on an Aliboat, drinking St Louis and waving sticks in the air?
So who's in the challenge?
The Vrdoljak brothers from Team Wildchaps have not been seen on the river together since January, but will still be a force to be reckoned with. The drift fishing technique honed by Pete has proved extremely effective in the past in generating plenty of strikes and some decent sized tiger in the boat. They do of course have home ground advantage, but will this be enough? It could be a tough challenge for the Wildchaps, as there's a lot of pride at stake here.The Okavango Okes are all ex-members of the crocodile research group in the Okavango and have all spent many hours on the river in Bostswana. In amongst their hectic research schedule they also (allegedly) found some time to develop some fishing skills too.
It's also been a while since the Okes were all on an Aliboat together, so hopefully they haven't lost the touch. Sven 'Grandpappy' Bourquin is finally making the big trek from the Cape to the river this year after many months in front of his PC. Vince 'Vincemate' Shacks is the only team member whose had a chance to keep his hand in with weekend expeditions in the delta, but has he been using that time to practice casting or lifting a beer can? Big Kev Wallace will have spent a bit of time at his new home on the Zambezi, so he may be able to provide the Okes with some valuable Zambezi intel, or at the very least knock together some comfy furniture for the team with his carpentry skills developed during his sojourn in the UK.What's it all about?
It's all about the tigers of course, and who can get the biggest in the boat! No idiot bait-fishing though, any monkey from Mungwe point can drift down the river dragging a fillet while blasting 'Who let the dogs out?' to all and sundry. House rules are strictly lure-fishing only and catch and release.December is not exactly prime fishing time as the teams will potentially have to deal with extreme heat, dirty water and wayward Zimbos on the river on top of the usual challenges of chasing tigers, but if everyone is as good as they say they are this should just add some spice to the competition. At the very least December fishing in the past has provided some good times out on the water and in camp, so it ought to be a goody! This will hopefully be the first encounter in a continuing series that may see the Wildchaps trying out their skills in the Delta some time in the future.
We'll keep you all posted!
