Flies for Tilapia?

Anyone know what they feed on, in general, and what flies would work on them? I found a great (stocked) pond about 5 km from me, and they were making huge swirlies all over, especially in the muddy channel between two ponds.

I waded through a swamp up to a muddy bank (ignoring the malarial mosquitoes and what ever creepy crawlies were in there) rigged up, and after the mandatory half hour getting the tippet unsnarled from the waist-high reeds, out of the trees behind me, and untying Gordian wind knots, I actually got a chance to see how bad my casts have gotten since this summer.
Then a hellacious thunderstorm rolled in and I had to get out before the road turned to mud. I actually only 'fished' in any proper sense for about 5 minutes, but I'm dying to get back there, once I get some clues as to what they will take.

Got a good recipe?

I've got to admit that made me laugh. Congo, at least Bas-Congo,
Bandundu, and the two Kasais, are chock-a-block with tilapia ponds (tens of thousands of which were put in as part of an excellent Peace Corps program that lasted more than two decades). I had supposed you'd come across a couple of ordinary farm ponds.

"Symphonie Naturelle". eh? That the RENKA business? I think you should
86 the tilapia and check out wherever that babe on the RENKA home page caught the little tigerfish.

http://ag.arizona.edu/azaqua/ista/recipes.htm

Hmmm, sounds somewhat South of el Bordero, for some réasoné.

They're omnivorous; pretty much like little finny pigs--algae and all sorts of other vegetative matter, insects, small fish. Most pond-raised tilapia are fed pellets. Fish farmers in the Congo mainly feed them agricultural produce (grain, grated cassava, etc.) ag. by-products, or household and kitchen scraps. Suspended mosquito larvae imitations, small
PTs and small Adams will work. Be sure to pay the folks who own the pond.

can't advise about flies, but if you catch any and don't keep them, you don't know nothin' bout eatin no damn fish, boy.

i just *knew* the crazy bastard had some latin blood in those veins...

yfitons wayno (viva zapata!)

Thanks. I read on a SA website that flies tied to look like corn worked well, but that seemed a bit....unethical. I definately paid and will continue to pay the pond owners: its a little R

since they have delicate and somewhat bland flesh, i recommend any of your favorite, lighter base marinade, sauteed or grilled.

yfitons wayno (god only knows what wolfgang would do to the damn things...)

Yeah, I know about the abundance of Tilapia ponds, but I don't think there are any close to Kinsahsa. Too many mouths to feed. And even if I managed to find and get out to a 'farm pond', I'd be swamped by hundreds of half naked kids wanting to touch me and my gear, and completely amazed when I threw the fish back. (I'd rather hand them out, but can you imagine the stampede if I did !) I prefer to pay the $5 and have some privacy and peace of mind, since thats whats in prime demand around here. Also. I think farm ponds might not have lunkers since they get harvested 2-3 times per year.
I found the site you are referring to. RENKA is a tourist/rental car business that just got started, and that Tigerfish babe picture is a stock picture, probably taken on the Zambezi back before the collapse of the
Zimbabwean economy. I've been scouting for Tigerfish around here: they have
Goliath Tigers in the big river, but that takes a big boat and specialized gear. The real problem is getting around the country without a sturdy 4WD. I have caught some tiny Tigers in another river near here, but they were only fishtank sized. I'm working on that: I think I'll be able to get more FF for tigers in the coming year as old guides start hanging up their shingles, and maybe I find a truck.