INDIANANGLER

Hi Guys,

Am new to this place. As also to fishing.

Had a two-day angling stint at the Triveni (Teesa/Rangit) near Kalimpong ten days back...

And now am rather besotted!


On an impulse, I have bought the following equipment:

1. 2-piece Abu Garcia Rod (10') Ultra Cast II (line Weight 15-30 Lbs)

2. Abu-Garcia Reel (Cardinal 304)

3. Rapala Tough Line 20Lbs 200Mtrs

4. 4 Rapala and 7-8 china-made lures and spinning baits that 'look' ok.

Have paid near 8K for the above...

Please please please tell me:

1. i shall be back in the Teesta early-May. what can i hope to catch with the above equipment and a dollop of luck?!

2. do i need any other equipment or need to exchange any of the above?

3. have i been seriously gypped in the deal?!

Best

GI Joe

Hi,

Your reel seems a tad small for a 10 foot rod rated for 15-30 lb! It's only rated for 210yds/10lb.

You could get by using braid, though i'm not sure whether the drag on the reel will be strong enough.

Price seems about right.

What sort of fish do you find in the Teesta?

IA

Bops,

If I am correct, Teesta is a fast flowing, ice fed river. I had been to Gangtok two years back. It was the rainy season and the river was flowing at a very high speed. The water was cold and murky. In my opinion, the river should hold trouts and cold water fishes on the upper reaches and other type of fishes like mahseers etc. in the lower parts.

Thanks for the update, Apoo. Good to see you back.

Teesta is a mahseer, snow trout and cat fish hot-spot.. Some of the wildest Grade 3/4 and higher rafting rapids anywhere in the world...

In about the second week of May, I am informed that a mad horde of anglers descend on the confluence of Teesta/Rangit (a relatively smaller but as rapid river) and the game come in fast and furious...

Am attaching a photo of the spot...

Also attached is a snap of a snap showing a Golden Mahseer (this was around September last year) caught by one of the locals... This size of the Mahseer they said, was "ok, normal"!! O Boy... now you know why So itching to be there!

Thanks for the inputs on the reel size being small, shall see if can replace with a bigger one...

I dont know how this image-linking happens... help!

For image posting have a look at this. Remember not to exceed 640X480

http://www.indianangler.com/viewtopic.php?t=5

http://www.indianangler.com/viewtopic.php?t=136

Bops,

Back to spinning reels once again. If I buy a Quantum Boca PT 60 rated for 14lb/240 yds can it be used for bigger water [where 20lb/250 yds reel would be adviced] Mahseer by using braid. Boca is supposed to have solid construction and a superlative drag.

Regards,

It should work well, Ashok. I would probably spool the reel with 30lb of Sufix performance braid or powerpro.

The Teesta near Kalimpong should have trout if the river had been stocked.The Teesta near Siliguri will not have trout, but will have the species of masheer
Regards

michael....i doubt teesta holds any trout ...havnt seen anybody trying for trout....everybody is after mahseer. but once u enter sikkim , thers a river along the highway frm rangpo to gangtok which is pretty rich with trouts....infact u need licence for trout fishing....which u get frm gangtok...!!!

Hey guys.. good to know the Teesta lead has generated interest.

Am off to Teesta May 10th thru 14th... hope to go further upstream through Sikkim to some of the NHPC (Hydro-Pwer Corporation) dams which I'm told houses some unbelievable fish (size-wise and type-wise)!

Will have a WB Fisheries Department official accompanying, so that should clear the red-tape!

be back to mumbai by 15th evening... and ping on what happens out there.

Any suggestions/thoughts/advice on the Do's/Don'ts etc..?

I've put in maybe about 30+ Man-Hours fishing (mostly in and around the Mumbai coastline - Madh, Marve, Bandra) and Pawna.. but Zero luck for me yet...

With my Abu Ultra-Cast, a senior friend (fishing-wise) grabbed in a nine lbs khajura (bekti) at Marve beach within fifteen mts! ...

have already gathered a box-full of various lures, lines, baits and other paraphrenalia because it is all so fascinating and involving.. and am enjoying the whole process more than the actual catching of the fish..

frankly i don't know how i'll react if and when i Do land up a fish (a confession: i do have a couple of photos of me with fish that some other people caught!!)...

as of now, i wish i have the grace to deposit it back into the water and hope (in return ... we are in a "quid pro quo" world, aren't we?!) he/she will deposit some good karma for me!!!

but then again... maybe the nose will remember and the buds will tingle at the recollection of how a tender, barbecue sauce-garnished, mildly seasoned grilled fresh fish (under an open sky, with a few sips of white wine) tastes!!

God save me...

)

All the best Joe, hope you get to land that monster fish! Do keep us posted.

Cheers
Bopanna

Yup, will do.. thanks!

GI -go get it!

Hi Joe... Been meaning to fish the Teesta as well.. Can you give me tips on who to contact and the nitty-gritties of it all.. Plus the best places to fish..
Was planning a trip in May sometime

Way to go, RnR...

As they say, the thrill is as much in the anticipation, as in the catch!

Btw, i just fixed up my Cauvery trip 1/2/3 June.... )

Bobbee thanks for posting this, however please remember that if you are posting this material from some other website, you will have to give credit to the website on your last line. Please do so.

Ron Brooks