Fly Caught Nile perch Record Broken
Jonathan with his record 65lb fly caught recordIn April this year Jonathan Boulton, a professional fly fishing guide from South Africa, achieved one of his passionate ambitions which was to break the fly caught Lake Nasser Nile perch record. He achieved this with a magnificent fish of 65 pounds which is, an amazing achievement on a fly rod. The previous fly caught record for Lake Nasser was 56 pounds.
Flyfishing for Nile Perch on Lake Nasser is still in its infancy but the possibilities are endless. Traditionally they are caught by lure anglers, however in the early northern hemisphere spring Nile perch move into the shallows to feed on spawning tilapia, where they can be targeted by the fly rodder.
For the past four years Jonathan has been guiding fly fishing safaris with the African Angler on Lake Nasser during the high season from mid March to mid May. “On our recent trip we hooked and lost fish of over 60 pounds and saw cruising fish up to 150 pounds. Flyfishing for them is not easy, the fishing is the toughest and most extreme I have done. Walking, covering long distances over a very difficult terrain made up of loose sandstone, casting large flies, sinking lines on heavy rods, with limited back-cast, in dry desert temperatures of 30<SUP>o</SUP>C plus! However it is by far the most exhilarating fishing I have ever experienced, much of it is spotting cruising or hanging fish, some blind casting but almost all the takes are seen so visually mind-blowing stuff. The sight of a 50 pound plus inhaling your fly from under a ledge at your feet with your leader in the rod guides will not leave you in a hurry. You will catch the largest freshwater fish of your life, or at the very least have the opportunity to do so.”
Flyfishing for Nile Perch on Lake Nasser is still in its infancy but the possibilities are endless. Traditionally they are caught by lure anglers, however in the early northern hemisphere spring Nile perch move into the shallows to feed on spawning tilapia, where they can be targeted by the fly rodder.
For the past four years Jonathan has been guiding fly fishing safaris with the African Angler on Lake Nasser during the high season from mid March to mid May. “On our recent trip we hooked and lost fish of over 60 pounds and saw cruising fish up to 150 pounds. Flyfishing for them is not easy, the fishing is the toughest and most extreme I have done. Walking, covering long distances over a very difficult terrain made up of loose sandstone, casting large flies, sinking lines on heavy rods, with limited back-cast, in dry desert temperatures of 30<SUP>o</SUP>C plus! However it is by far the most exhilarating fishing I have ever experienced, much of it is spotting cruising or hanging fish, some blind casting but almost all the takes are seen so visually mind-blowing stuff. The sight of a 50 pound plus inhaling your fly from under a ledge at your feet with your leader in the rod guides will not leave you in a hurry. You will catch the largest freshwater fish of your life, or at the very least have the opportunity to do so.”