After enduring a long couple of weeks in camp without any guests, waiting for the moon phases to align with our quest for big Nile Perch, our guide team slowly began to lose their minds. We spent the majority of our time swimming around in circles on the shallow sandbank in front of camp, attempting to keep cool in the scorching 42-plus-degree temperatures. Being in the water also provided respite from the Tsetse territory for a while.
However, we had to regain our sanity eventually, and that came with the arrival of our first guest, Ryan (Fozzy), an ex-Alphonse guide now serving as a sales and reservation agent for AFC. He commanded the full attention of our guide team for the first few days as the sole guest in camp before being joined by Garth later in the week. It didn’t take long before Ryan made his mark. On the first evening session on the water, he managed to catch two new species: Hydrocynus brevis (one of three Tigerfish species in the Faro) and two Nile Perch. Though not massive in size, they provided a taste of the strength of these fish. Ryan’s beginner’s luck was evident when the first Perch attacked his fly; despite his experience in saltwater fishing, he instinctively “Trout-set,” sparking banter among the guide team for the rest of the week.
With only one guest in camp, we seized the opportunity for an overnight camping mission on the banks of the beautiful Faro. Cracking open a cold one under the Cameroon night sky after a long, hot day was just what we needed, followed by sleeping under the stars on our army stretchers, immersing ourselves in the wild as the night came alive.
Two days later, the client-to-guide ratio levelled out with the arrival of Garth from Montana, USA. Having just completed a hunting trip on a nearby concession with Mike, they were well acclimatized to the heat by the time they reached Gassa Camp.
The Tigerfishing, as with the first group, was top-class. Although water levels had dropped significantly and temperatures were rising, the beginning of the week outperformed the end in terms of Tigerfish catches. Surface action was unfortunately lacking, but sink-tip lines in the depths proved fruitful on many occasions. Yet, the story remained the same: the biggest tigers of the week managed to evade capture, much like Patrick evading defenders on the football field. Throughout the week, we targeted tigers and Niger barbs, and all anglers had success on both fronts.
Sight-fishing for Niger Barbs proved exhilarating, especially when encountering fish over 60cm regularly. Landing these beasts was challenging due to fishing with 14-15ft leaders ending with 5x tippet, not to mention navigating oyster beds and rocks. However, there were moments when everything fell into place perfectly, such as Fozzy’s last morning session on MDC. Spotting decent-sized Barbs across a deep, slow-flowing channel, we cast, hoping for luck. The stars aligned as the fish took the bait, and after a spirited chase downstream, we landed a beast estimated to be easily over 60cm in length.
Regarding Perch, the number of fish landed increased significantly compared to the first group, with approximately 16 Perch caught this week between three anglers. The biggest fish measured 85cm, a commendable catch, but we anticipate even larger specimens. Throughout the week, numerous fish over a meter were spotted, some even attempting to challenge a Tiger. Patience remains crucial in targeting these behemoth Perch.
Overall, it was an incredible week on the Faro, filled with stories, memories, cold beers, good food, amazing company, and tight lines.
AW guide Riley Meyer
CONTACT US
If you fancy doing battle with the hard fighting Nile Perch of Cameroon then the Gassa Camp is a destination for you. If you’d also like any further information, you can contact our fly fishing specialist Peter Collingsworth on 01603 407596 or email at peter@sportquestholidays.com.
