AFC#2 Flying Ants: Winged Dragons!

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Flying Ants: Winged Dragons!

By Anthony Williams

There are few things more tantalizing to an angler, than the sight of thousands of flying ants taking to the still evening air beneath distant stormy skies. Flying ants are an annual occurrence in this part of the world, and following the flight of smaller ants, the big, fat juicy critters make an appearance and are sought after by anglers for the few short weeks they abound. Not only are they considered a delicacy by fish, but also by birds, mammals and even us mere humans, all of whom find their high protein content hard to better. They taste pretty good roasted - see the video.

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Mohomed Ali with his 11.18lb bass, caught at Darwendale on a Zoom frog in the late afternoon.

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Flying ants, are more correctly defined as winged termites, who after the first rains, take to the air in their millions to propagate new colonies. Most species of flying ants are blind, with the exception of the full sighted ant which is particularly common at Kariba. Without delving into the Latin names and technical terminology of the various species, Trevor Wilton (a recognised authority on the ants and their behaviour), classifies them as the bigger "red Termite" and the "orange Termite" a smaller creature more frequently found in the southern areas of Zimbabwe. While the "red" ant will typically be found coming out of the familiar ant mounds, its "Orange" brother seems to emerge from holes anywhere in the ground, and is therefore more difficult to target and capture unless a bright light is used to attract them after they have taken to the air.

Weather patterns across southern Africa seem to be out of kilter... again, and in Zimbabwe high blue winter skies dominated October (supposedly the suicide month) and November, forcing us poor fishermen to don a jacket some mornings. The rains spluttered into life, and with them the ants, and while we struggle under a deluge of rain now, causing extensive flooding across the region, the ants persist. This water flowing into the rivers and dams, heralds a spark of fishing activity hard to beat.

Flying ants normally emerge after the first decent rains have occurred, 5-10mm will do it, and will usually take flight at last light, between 6pm and 7pm. Prior to the actual emergence of the ant, increased activity around mounds will be noticed. From about mid November, fresh (wet) mud will be noticed on some mounds, as the ants carry out underground construction. Worker ants appear up a series of slits (as opposed to the more common honeycomb round holes of the mound) and these exits are guarded by soldier and bull ants. As dusk approaches, this activity increases until winged ants begin appearing, at which point the mound should be left alone. Only once the flight has become continuous can one start collecting the ants. Caution should be exercised, as the soldier and bull ants are there for a reason, and will attack careless fingers, sinking their nippers into one's flesh, inflicting quite a painful bite.

There are several schools of thought on how best to catch and store the ants. Many believe that if the ant is to remain intact (with its wings) for any length of time, then the ant should be caught before it flies. It is thought that once the wing muscles have been used, and the ant captured, it will automatically shed its wings, while those caught before flight are less likely to eject their wings. If you intend bottom fishing , then wings are not so important, and a bright light in close proximity to the mound will attract the flying ants. An old bed sheet or piece of wood placed behind the light will give the ants something to land on, from where they can be gathered with ease. They cannot resist the “bug zapper” type lights, and one placed over a bucket of water will collect ants at a good pace.

Storing the Flying Ants

The question of how long you want to store the flying ants will usually determine the method of storage. If the ants are collected during the week for use over the week-end, they can be stored in a state of "suspended animation" at temperatures of about 12 degrees C, usually in the household fridge. Some anglers drop the ants into water, where if they are kept cool, they will last for a couple of days. Storage of dead ants for up to six weeks is possible in the fridge, but any longer and the ants should be frozen.

Alternatively, ants can be stored (alive) for a few weeks by placing them in a cardboard box with plenty of newspaper, straw or any other substance derived from wood pulp. Small breather holes are poked into the box to allow some air flow, and the box must be stored in a cool, dark place - under the workbench in the garage will do. The box environment imitates mound conditions to a certain degree. If the ants do not have enough food matter, they tend to feed on each other's wings, rendering them useless as a surface bait.

Storing for longer periods requires freezing the ants. After collecting them, place the ants into a plastic container and into the freezer. In this manner the ants can be stored for 12 months or more, although they do lose their condition, with the body becoming less firm and "mushy". Although these stored ants do work, if you have fresh ants to hand, the stored ones from last year can be used for chumming.

Some Tips on Using Ants

Just about every specie of fish will eat flying ants if presented correctly. Elsewhere in this issue, a technique for rendalli has been covered, which will work for most other bream species. Niloticus are very similar in their behaviour, and if one can get on to a farm dam stocked with these fish, some nice specimens can be taken on flying ants.

The Kariba bream, or mozzie as they are affectionately known, are also partial to ants, although they are more difficult to locate and entice. A thin wire trace is advisable (about 10cm long), as tigerfish will often take the bait. Two or three ants should be placed on the hook, and a bubble float used to suspend the bait just below the surface. It seems mozzies will usually only rise when attracted by the feeding of other fish, especially the tiger.

Tigerfish are particularly partial to flying ants, and once they have the taste, will whip the water to a froth in a feeding frenzy. During the flying ant season, many anglers carry a good supply of ants when at Kariba. While spinning for tiger through the tree lines, a hand-full of ants should be thrown onto the water from time to time, especially if any surface activity is observed.

When the tiger boil to the surface, they will seldom accept submerged ants, and the angler needs to keep the ants on or close to the surface. A thin piano wire trace fed through a large porcupine quill with a hook tied approximately 10 to 15 centimetres from the float will hold the ants on the surface. Four or five large ants (preferably with wings) fed onto the hook will make an attractive meal.

Another technique is to thread a couple of ants onto a tiger spinner and retrieve the bait slowly through the feeding shoal. The size of the bait does not limit the size of fish. Tiger are so partial to flying ants that even those in excess of five kilograms will attack the small offerings.

To target tiger (or indeed mozzies) is a little hit and miss. One of the methods used for locating fish is used in the Sanyati gorge at Kariba, and entails trolling from bank to bank tossing out handfuls of ants to float on the surface. Once a line of steadily drifting ants has been laid, motor fifty metres or so away, kill the outboard, and drift along silently behind the bait. Should the ants drift over a shoal of tiger, or the tiger home in on the free offering, the attack cannot be mistaken. Noisy rises as the fish smash the ants from the surface indicate their presence. Often smaller fish will be attracted first, so wait a while until the bigger fish are evident. If necessary, keep throwing the occasional handful of ants onto the water to keep the fish interested until the bigger tiger arrive.

The soldier ants protecting the mound and flying ants. Beware!

The business end of a pinkie. Be sure to retie your line regularly as these little teeth can inflict considerable damage to thin lines.

The soldier ants protecting the mound and flying ants. Beware!

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As the un-eaten ants drift along, they are likely to attract other species. Mozzies have been known to take ants in the Gorge as they wash up against the rock face, or bank. The water here is often 30 feet deep and more, and the mozzies will probably be cruising the rock face foraging. A quill with some tasty ants is all that is needed to exploit their mood.

The techniques mentioned for tigerfish will work in most other impoundments where tiger are known to occur. Lake Manyame has a good population of tiger, and many is the time when an angler has been targeting the pinkies, and been broken up by marauding tiger. If you are going to hunt tiger in Manyame with ants, then the many rocky outcrops and even the submerged chrome dumps will hold fish, especially where these are close to the old river course. Other dams like Bhiri (also on the Manyame system) and Ngezi offer great ant-fishing too.

Whatever you decide to do, don't be afraid to experiment. Flying ants are a God given bait which is a delicacy to all creatures, especially fish. At the right time of the year, usually at the peak of the flying ant season, fish will even beach themselves in an attempt to eat ants. Fussy fish will accept flying ants if you persist and find how they want them presented.

Pinkies or Rendalli (Tilapia rendalli) are a great species to target, and the following techniques will also often subdue nillies and other bream. But as the rains set in, and water begins to rise, pinkies are known to crowd old submerged anthills and get about spawning.

Shallow water of any kind will attract them, as they scramble to satisfy the ancient urge to reproduce. Mounds or banks in anything from one to three foot of water will, within a few short weeks, be boiling with activity. Ant-hills only inches below the surface which still bear the scars of last year's spawning season may be seen. Scooped out of the soft, muddy skin, craters reminiscent of the moon's surface, are evident - even to the untrained eye. Many of the mounds you’ll find will be wide, flat topped affairs, and the submerged mounds have usually been subjected to years of activity, from fish as well as the action of the water, producing the characteristic table-top shape. These flat-topped structures, around most of southern Africa, are sure to be an angler's paradise over the coming weeks.

Early in the season, as the first flights of ants emerge, triggered by the moistening earth after the first rains, patience and a systematic searching are the name of the game. If you have been lucky enough to see the potential breeding sites beforehand, and they have not been entirely exposed by the receding waters, then a plan of action should already be decided upon. The fish will be skittish at first, and a quiet approach with long casts will be the order of the day. Don't spend too long on any one mound. A pattern of catching a few fish will be followed by complete quiet, as the nervous occupants move away, spooked by the activity of their fallen brethren.

There is the exception to the rule, and if you are lucky, and a little bit clever, certain mounds will produce more and better fish. Look for sheltered bays, where the water temperature is likely to be a mite warmer. Look also for those anthills on the shore which are likely to be home to the winged bait. Prevailing wind will often carry the flying ants over the water, dumping them in droves on the surface. Mounds down wind of such natural larders will be particularly active, especially if the fish are responding to the warmer temperature. If you can time it right, and be within casting distance of the mound as the ants get airborne, so much the better.

Very early in the season, the good old earthworm may produce a few fish, so take along some of these to try. Some anglers swop from one to the other (often alternating between ant on the surface with a quill, and worms on the bottom), catching fish who have become wise to one type of presentation. One will often find a "hot-spot" on the mound, where cast after cast will produce fish - while other parts produce nothing.

As the season progresses, and the rains (hopefully) settle in, so too will the fishing improve. As the activity peaks, usually just as the lake starts rising due to run-off, fish almost leap into the boat, and the experienced angler begins targeting the bigger, trophy fish. This is a good time to take kids fishing, or even a novice friend. The action is fast and furious, the excitement unparalleled, and if you are lucky, fish of two kilograms and more will fall to your bait.

Tackle and Technique

Generally, rods are longer and lighter than normal. Anything from six to nine foot will work, with many veterans using converted fly rods with ultralight spinning reels. Ideally, the action should be in the rod tip, or middle to tip of the rod. Don't be tempted to overdo line weight, as the fish will usually be suspicious of anything that does not look natural.

The aims of your rendalli outfit are; to be able to cast a fair distance with light terminal tackle (which a flexible rod and light line will accomplish), to be able to detect even the minutest bite, and to be able to play the fish using the shock absorbing qualities of the rod to prevent the lighter line breaking when the fish makes a dash for cover.

Terminal tackle again should be light, especially if you intend fishing an ant on the surface. Heavy hooks and line will pull even the most well endowed (with wings that is) ant through the surface layer, rendering it useless if the fish are feeding from the surface. A No.8 to No.12 hook tied about 100cm from a porcupine quill float (or similar) using two kilogram line will suffice. The float keeps the ant on the surface and will indicate those gentler bites. Onto this, rig a single ant complete with wings (for flotation) by hooking him under the chin and pushing the hook down into the abdomen.

"Chumming" with the occasional handful of flying ants to float enticingly on the surface will get the fish going.

Feed the hook in beneath the head of the ant, turning it gently as you do so, so the hook does not exit the abdomen.

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Keep a low profile. Fish are wily creatures and will spot your silhouette up to 15 metres away. Vicious, flick type casts are no good with delicate ants, a more overhanded cast using one's upper body, is better. Feed some slack line to allow the bait to drift over the mound. As the chum arrives overhead, the fish begin to boil in a frenzy that sets adrenalin pumping. Don't be over anxious. Watch carefully for your bait to be taken, then gently ease the rod up bringing pressure to bear, setting the hook. Use the action of the rod to tire the fish. Unless you are fishing in weed infested waters, don't be in too much of a hurry to boat the fish.

On occasion, you will lose fish as their small teeth grind through the line (usually on the knot). It is important to re-tie often, especially if the fishing is hectic, as after a couple of fish, the knot is bound to have weakened. Often, lost fish will result in the spot going quiet. Whether this is due to the disturbance of fighting fish, or that the fish are able to communicate danger, is unclear. If this happens, rest the spot - try somewhere else and return a while later. Fish have short memories, and will often fall victim to your bait again an hour or so later.

Keep a close eye on the weather. Whilst fishing on overcast days, or in light drizzle (before, during and after) is definitely more productive, it is also more dangerous as the air is charged with electricity (which often holds the line in the air), making graphite rods ‘buzz” and increasing the danger of lightning. At this time of year, thunderstorms (normally characterised by lightning) can blow up suddenly, and lightning loves graphite. You are usually the highest point on the water, and make a beautiful conductor with a graphite rod in your hands. Lightning can strike more than a hundred kilometers from its last strike within seconds.

Remember the fishing resource is not finite. If you are not going to utilise everything you catch, practice selective harvest, and return part of your catch.