INDIANANGLER

Dear All,




Had an opportunity to visit Bhakra a couple of days back. Started @ 9 am, did some spinning close to where the boats are tied and got a hit on a jointed minnow. My interest was in trolling, so haggled with a couple of boat guys and got on to the boat. Within 1/2 hour got a bite and a 1.5 kg mahseer came up. In the next 10 minutes two of my trolling rods clickers started singing, trying to grab one from my driver/man friday and working with the other, lost one and got another.

A tricky diving planer I was using on a 3rd rod got stuck in the rocks, moving the boat around, to get it out, I was surprised to find a smart mahseer on business end. Apparently he would lift the planer in his quest to escape and get it stuck in another rock.

For the next 3 hours it was quiet. Called Indian Gypsy who gave some very valuable tips and got 5 more by the end of it. None too big, but the biggest (as always) got away, 3 feet from my boat.

All in all a gratifying experience!!


Cheers!!

And I am telling myself to be patient...one day I too will be posting pics of my catch...

:) Seems you had a great trip...

Hello Sam

Congratulations with the catch. If you remember i met you last year at bhakra. Next time you plan i trip to Bhakra tag me along.

Regards

Kunal

Hello Sam,

Congrats on the catch.

But as my signature says....................

congrats mate.........

Good going mate!

Hi Sam. Congrats for the fish caught.

So you had another successful trip to Bhakra. I envy you man.

Good Sam Good carry on

Thanks Guys,

Next report will be for May Bhakra.

Lets see how to game continues....
Will try and publish more pictures and video.

Cheers!!

Nice fish Sam,

Isn't May is off season for Mahseer?

-Inder

Hi kanwar76

I guess the breeding season starts from 1st June till Aug 31th.


Regards

Kunal

till 1st Aug...brooo!!!!!!!!!

Oh Thanks Guys,

I was under the impression that we can only fish for mahseer in months with alphabet "R" in their names.

Thanks for clarifying

-Inder

Dear All,

Another trip to Bhakra yielded 5 Mahseer, 3 on spinning and two on trolling. Interestingly on low light, got a decent Mahseer on a luminescent plug.





Cheers!

Sam, Congrats once again.

Excellent going Sam.

Congrats again.

Guys, thanks again, though I am doubtful if May will be as productive as March.

Cheers!!

Hello Sam,

Some quick questions on Bhakra fishing:

1. Is there much hassling at the security checkpoints for anglers? what is the procedure now (understand this was intensified after anti-social elements threats to
the dam)?

2. What is the going rate for hiring boats (large size) - it would be nice if we
anglers could all agree to a uniform rate to avoid getting taken for a ride(pun
intended)?

3. I used some 30ft. depth Rapala Deep Divers and Scorpion +8m to good
effect while trolling. What lures/line did you use?

4. What lures did you use for spinning/rod size/line?I found that shallow plugs near the boats yielded only the smaller sized mahseer.

Regards,
Kingfish

Hey Sam,
May is always a great month. Hot as hell but the best fishing. This year it turned out to be even better. The water level dipped another 12/15 feet so the fish were concentrated in a smaller area. This always happens. This year held another surprise. The netter seemed to end their season early as their nets were being ripped by the rocks.

The 'Fat Man' and a few of his friends from Chandi had a real blast. From what I have been told they would fish for a few hours in the morning and late evening (cooler times) and have more action than normal days.

cheers

Hi Kingfish,

Sorry could not reply earlier, as I was on a short holiday to Manali and was trying my hand at trout fishing.

There are big experts (P.Hd - Bhakra - MK (of Sol fame)), who can answer questions on Bhakra, but since theses are more pertaining to reaching the destination and basic info, will try and answer them point by point.

Your pt 1, on Threat perception, they have 2 check point where they will rummage through your luggage. Dont carry guns, cameras, big knives and explosives. Smile and answer to the point and no more. Keep It Simple.

Your pt 2, Indiangypsy, is leading the anglers for fixing a rate of 450 per day (10am-4 pm), but their union is pushing for 100 an hour.... the battle is on.

Your pt 3, line can be anywhere between 10 lbs to 15 on mono and braid can be 20 lbs.

Your pt 4, mostly plugs running depth from 5 - 25 ft, depending on the presentation needed. If you note the 8+ lbs Mahseer caught is on a shallow plug from the banks...

I tend to use the cheap basement sale Cabela's plugs that cost $1.99 and they work wonderfully. Though I must say at this point, that I have had a wonderful experience with a yo-zuri crystal holo plug late in the evening.

Cheers!!

Hi Ken,

you are right, its just the pattern of the "game" was changing so fast, I read it negatively.

Cheets!!

Sam,

Thank you for the information.

Will be in Chandigarh this winter and may call you to join me for another trip to Bhakra.

Tell me if you need anything fishingwise from Australia?

Regards,
Kingfish

Kingfish -

Anytime, there is someone or the other who is going over the weekend to Bhakra, would tag you along.


And thanks for the offer. Keep in touch.


Cheers

Sam,

By the way, how was the trout fishing in Manali? I could not make a similar trip last year.

Regards,
Kingfish

Kingfish,

Manali in June is unpredictable. We had rain for 3 days before I reached Manali so the water was in spate/muddy, and so in turn were the streams/canals. If its not raining, most productive areas are below/around Kullu and lower as well as Aut. I skipped Aut for the same reason, as the water would have been the same. In other words, this trip was non productive, though had good fun around streams in Manali where the water is cleaner, but not possible to do flyfishing/spinning here. Got to toss a worm in little pools of rapids and pull the line with your hands to get a feel of a bite.

There are some good guides around Kullu, essentially with the rafting setups (hotel ones are generally not good), though if they have their way, would try and convince you to fish at the Beas. Push them to take you to proper places, i.e. streams/canals.


Cheers.

Hi Sam,

How did I miss this man. Very good report and some excellent fishes.

Congratulations mate and keep on doing it.

Regards,

Ali.

Sam,

Bad luck with the rains..try again when the weather clears after the
monsoons.

Kingfish