Well after a blank on the River Tirthan in Himachal Pradesh; another on the Indus in Ladakh, and a horrendous abortive attempt at the Trout of Dodital Lake; I've finally had some success!
I fished the Ramganga River in Uttranchal, some 50 miles north of the Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve.
For once, luck was on my side! There were 2 dry days before I arrived, almost unheard of at this time of the year, the height of the Monsoon.
The Ramganga was running off nicely, visibility in the water was about 4 feet. Perfect for lure fishing.
I bagged 6 Mahseer in 2 days. No monsters, but my biggest of about 8lb gave me the runaround! I hooked this fish in the fastest white water you can imagine, helping it rip 30 yards of line off the reel, almost before I knew what was happening.
I lost a bigger fish which just kept going, until it somehow managed to straighten one set of trebles, while distorting the split ring connecting the other treble.
It's difficult to describe how hard a Mahseer hits a lure. There's none of the tap-tap of a Perch, or the initial head-shaking of a Pike. One second you're in the routine of cast and retrieve, the next you're hanging on for grim death as the fish nails the lure, and careers downstream.
If you ever get the chance to fish for Mahseer, take my advice, just do it!!!
I fished the Ramganga River in Uttranchal, some 50 miles north of the Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve.
For once, luck was on my side! There were 2 dry days before I arrived, almost unheard of at this time of the year, the height of the Monsoon.
The Ramganga was running off nicely, visibility in the water was about 4 feet. Perfect for lure fishing.
I bagged 6 Mahseer in 2 days. No monsters, but my biggest of about 8lb gave me the runaround! I hooked this fish in the fastest white water you can imagine, helping it rip 30 yards of line off the reel, almost before I knew what was happening.
I lost a bigger fish which just kept going, until it somehow managed to straighten one set of trebles, while distorting the split ring connecting the other treble.
It's difficult to describe how hard a Mahseer hits a lure. There's none of the tap-tap of a Perch, or the initial head-shaking of a Pike. One second you're in the routine of cast and retrieve, the next you're hanging on for grim death as the fish nails the lure, and careers downstream.
If you ever get the chance to fish for Mahseer, take my advice, just do it!!!
