Fly Fishing for Tigerfish

After their second trip to the Mnyera and Ruhudji Rivers in as many years, Chris and John became our first guests of the season at Shangaa Camp on the Nyerere Dam (also known as Lake Nyerere) in Tanzania’s Nyerere National Park. Their trip was a tigerfish double-header, and it shows both sides of fly fishing for tigerfish in Tanzania. The first half is technical river fishing on the Mnyera and Ruhudji. The second is more relaxed stillwater fishing on Nyerere.

Fly Fishing for Tigerfish on River and Stillwater

The two fisheries are very different on the water, but they are built on the same principles:

• small groups
• experienced guides
• expedition-style camps
• protected wilderness
• fishing that creates local jobs, builds skills and funds conservation work on the ground

Both target the Tanzania tigerfish, Hydrocynus tanzaniae, one of the largest tigerfish species in Africa.

High water had made conditions on the Mnyera and Ruhudji challenging, so we were keen for the gents to finish strongly at Shangaa. They did. Multiple fish in the 7–15 lb range came to hand. The standouts were Chris’s 17 lb fish and John’s 15 lb fish, which came as part of a double-up with Chris. As always, the fish we never got to see were the most intriguing, and there were a few of those too.

Looking back through the photos, the fish are only part of what we remember. There was a story told in the boat, a laugh shared, and the look on someone’s face when a tigerfish did something they weren’t expecting. Together, those moments made for a memorable few days on the water.

Getting to Shangaa from Dhala and Samaki

The route from Dhala and Samaki to Shangaa is part of the trip, and we’re upfront about how it works:

• The flight: guests take a dog-leg and drop-off on the return charter.
• The drive: a four-hour drive through Nyerere National Park follows the flight.
• The new airstrip: it is complete and awaiting approval from the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority. Once approved, the transfer becomes a 30-minute drive from the airstrip to camp.

Once at Shangaa, the camp staff and the open views over the water made an immediate impression on both anglers. We spoke about it during their stay, and they came back to it in their messages afterwards. Some places take time to grow on you. Shangaa didn’t.

“Set! Set!” – Converting the Eat

The fishing gave us plenty to talk about. Two sessions stood out, with big tigerfish hitting repeatedly. Those are the windows you work for. The chances come steadily, everyone is focused, and the next take can arrive before you’ve recovered from the last.

Anyone who has spent time fly fishing for tigerfish knows that getting the eat and landing the fish are two very different things. Tigerfish have hard, bony mouths, and a clean hook-set is everything. After one abrupt encounter with a big tiger, John recounted my words from the moment the fish shook free: “Don’t tell me you’ve got a fish on, just set! Set!” It got plenty of laughs. But I suspect the fish that got away, and the electric jolt of a big tigerfish eat, will stay with them longer than any advice shouted in the moment.

Chris’s 17 lb Tanzania Tigerfish

Chris’s 17 lb tiger was a highlight of their time at Shangaa.

In every fight with a trophy tigerfish, there comes a point where setting the hook and gaining control gives way to composure and steady, deliberate pressure. John described the way Chris fought this fish as positively nonchalant. Anyone who knows the nerves and adrenaline of landing a big tigerfish on fly will tell you that’s easier said than done. Well done, Chris.

What a Week on the Water Leaves Behind

It’s always rewarding to see guests grow as anglers during their time with us. They learn new skills, come to understand a fishery and then apply what they’ve learned in real time. More meaningful still is the appreciation they take home for what it means to look after these wild places, and the long-term commitment it takes to keep them that way.

Chris and John, thank you for the company, the humour and the enthusiasm you brought to Shangaa. We’ll keep that 20-pounder waiting for your next visit.

Fly Fishing for Tigerfish at Nyerere Dam – Quick Answers

Where is Shangaa Camp?

Shangaa sits on the Nyerere Dam (Lake Nyerere) in southern Tanzania, within Nyerere National Park.

What size tigerfish can you catch at Nyerere Dam?

On this trip, multiple fish in the 7–15 lb range were landed, with a best of 17 lb.

Can you combine Shangaa with river fishing?

Yes. Guests can pair the Mnyera and Ruhudji Rivers at Dhala and Samaki Camps with stillwater fishing at Shangaa, for a Tanzania tigerfish double-header.

How do you get to Shangaa from Dhala and Samaki?

Currently it’s a charter drop-off followed by a three-hour drive through Nyerere National Park. Once the new airstrip is approved, the drive will be about 30 minutes.