WISHLIST FISH
PURPLE LABEO THE COLOUR OF BARNEY THE DINOSAUR AND WITH AN APPETITE FOR H I P P O D A N D R U F F, T H I S B U S H B E A U T Y I S A S W E I R D A N D W O N D E R F U L A S LEONARD FLEMMING REPORTS. JUST BE CAREFUL OF TYPOS WHEN YOU G O O G L E I T A N D C R O C S W H E N Y O U L O O K F O R I T. Photo. Garth Wellman
Danie Pienaar and Leonard Flemming with an indignant purple labeo. WHAT: The hippo, the Nile crocodile and the purple labeo (Labeo congoro), are truly African creatures. They share rivers and even sensual antics. Orgies of purple labeo ‘massaging’ hippos are a wellknown phenomenon, leaving characteristic tracks as they nibble off algae and tasty bits of exfoliating skin. Although they seem to graze mostly on algae and periphyton, these are opportunistic fish that will have a go at any nutritious thing they come across. When I was a guide in Tanzania I watched them feed gregariously on a buffalo carcass in the Mnyera River. They grow big, like 10 lb big, and are not that scarce. It is not uncommon to catch one; in fact, I’ve seen more fly fisherman pose with purple labeo across Africa than I’ve heard about anglers being eaten by crocs. WHERE: In Southern Africa they are present in the warmer parts of the Zambezi River and the Incomati system. They also occur further north in the Congo basin, Malagarasi River in Lake Tanganyika and in Tanzania. HOW: I would not consider myself an expert at catching them, but between Jeff Tyser, Garth Wellman and myself, we’ve figured out that they take an interest in UV and hotspot nymphs and caddis larva patterns. As eagerly as these purple beavers seem to engulf
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your carrot, that classic labeo ‘undermouth’ makes it hard for them to actually get the fly inside the mouth and they are often hooked in the rubbery ‘lips’ as they try to pin the fly down on to rocks. Since they don’t actively hunt down stripped flies like predatory fish do, sight fishing is probably the only way to get a proper shot at one. Gentle presentations with smallish weighted flies tied to thin tippet (5-6X fluoro) on to rocks ahead of a grazing fish, so that the current pushes the flies into the fish, will give you the best chance. A hungry or ‘aggressive’ fish will react quite positively to a fly, moving purposefully to and over the fly to try and eat it. They are strong and have a lot of endurance, but they fight clean and a 3-weight can be used, which will also help with accurate, subtle presentations at short range – you can get quite close to them by keeping low. WHO: The areas where these fish live are for the more adventurous fly fisherman – adrenalin junkie material. Be alert and be prepared to run away from dangerous wildlife wherever you walk along rivers in the wilder parts of Africa to stalk fish. Although tempting to wade in the shallows where schools of purple labeo feed, it is probably best to stay out of the water and away from drop-offs where crocodiles can ambush you.
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