|
Immortalized in the stories of Jim Corbett and
Rudyard Kipling, huge dark shadows of a great fighter have lurked in
the deep waters of the mighty rivers of the Indian subcontinents. The
Mahseer, found only in India, is the toughest fresh water fighting
fish in the world. Weighing over a hundred pounds, four varieties
inhabit the Indian river waters: the Golden Mahseer, the silver
Mahseer, the Silver Grey Mahseer and the Black Mahseer.
Today, in India the sport of angling is combined with conservation. As per the existing Indian protection laws the
fish is allowed to be caught but must be released. The average time
taken to land a Mahseer is in ratio to its weight-5 minutes to 5 lbs.
With just enough time to record its weight and preserve your moment
of glory with your prize catch of film the fish is revived and
released otherwise one would be left with just another fishy story
of the great one that got away!
The challenge and thrill of an encounter with the
Mahseer attracts anglers from all over the world. It offers a holiday
with a fish which not only rules the Indian waters like the tiger
does the jungle, but fights the way nothing else can.
Guided by local gilly boys and experienced anglers
cum naturalists, you are taken to ideal beats along the river banks
be it the undulated terrain of the lower Himalayan foothills or the
Southern Deccan Plateau. Huge boulders and narrow gorges cause the
rivers to form rapids and the pools in between are excellent habitat
of the masher.
The countryside is wild and beautiful, covered with
lush forest. An encounter with wild elephants or a glimpse of a tiger
or a leopard, deer and monkeys, and excellent bird life promises to
make your holiday a memorable one.
Ideal fishing beats: Ramganga and the Sarda rivers
in North India and Kaveri river in South India.
Recommended accommodation: In North India, near the
Ramganga, forest rest houses at Bijrani and Gairal are the best
options, though tents can also be pitched. In the south the Kabini
River Lodges is the popular choice.
Best season: September to March.
Trout fishing in the rivers and ice-fed mountain
streams is a great sport. You may put your wits against the wily
trout-both brown and rainbow-and catch the excitement of hooking a
rainbow. Solitude seekers can spend hours in quiet contemplation of
the beauty around. The upper Himalayan fast flowing clear water
streams and high altitude lakes are excellent for trout fishing.
Spinning and fly fishing are both allowed.
Himachal Pradesh: Streams feeding the Beas river in
the Kullu Manali region are well known for the Brown Trout. The cold
mountain streams are well-suited for trout and some of the biggest
trout can be found here. The best beats are at Larji valley, situated
on the counfluence of the river Larji and Tirthan. The Sainj, which
is also a trout stream flows on the other side. The here can be
arranged at the Larji Forest Rest House or at Kasol, a beautiful
hamlet on the banks of the Parvati river. If you choose to rough it,
tented accommodation along the river banks is also an option to
consider.
Uttar Pradesh: Dodital Lake nestled among the
snow-clad peaks in the Uttarkashi Himalayas is a fresh water lake and
a tempting trout pool where you can mange to get a good catch almost
always. The forest rest house at Dodital and Barkot are ideal for the
nights stay.
South India: The upper lakes of the Nilgiri Mountains, Mukurti and
Upper Bhawani, offer pristine surroundings for the Nilgiri Tahr, a
blue mountain goat, and the golden-faced black langur. The best
season to go trout-fishing in the south of India is from April to
September. There are forests bungalows and camping is always a
pleasurable experience.
| 