Almost 300 anglers competed for the top honors in the 9th annual Kyle International Bass Fishing Tournament, staged at Lake Kyle, near the famous Zimbabwe Ruins.  This competition, which each year attracts anglers from all over Southern Africa, has become on of the sub-continents major angling events.

The large-mouthed black bass (Micopterus solmoides) is regarded as a superior game fish all over the world, and was first introduced into Lake Kyle in 1961 shortly after the lake was created by the damming of the Mtilikwe River at the head of a narrow gorge between granite hills.

Between 1961 and 1968, 156,000 fingerlings were introduced and there is clear evidence that breeding is taking place.  In 1973, when the bass population dropped due to severe fluctuations in the lake level, an additional 50,000 fingerlings were introduced.  The lake had proved to be an hospitable environment for the species and good year-round sport is available for the angler.

The largest bass caught in the lake is a 4.4 Kg. specimen caught by a schoolboy in 1977.

Bass fishing depends, to a large degree, on knowing where to fish and most catches are made in water one to three metres deep.  Local knowledge is therefore important, and it is not surprising that a Victoria and District team won this years competition, with a total catch over the three days of the competition of 30 fish, weighing 31.35 Kg.