INDIANANGLER

Hello,
Members on this forum would be happy to know that a Gillie Training Program was conducted at Bheemeshwari on Dec.9th,2009. This was attended by 16 Gillies from Doddamakli, Bheemeshwari and Galibore and the Managers of the three camps. This program was conducted jointly by S.Kartikeyan,Chief Naturialist,JLR Sundar, RM of Bheemeshwari and myself.
The content was in 4 modules:
- Angling tourism - Role and importance of the Gillie.
- Mahseer and its conservation.
- Fish landing,handling and releasing.
- How to deal with angling guests.
Each Gillie was given a Gillie Kit provided by JLR and this consisted of the following:
- A back pack
- Landing mat and weigh sling
- Weighing scale upto 100 kg
- A soft nylon stringer of 15 meters
- A pair of nose pliers
- A swiss army knife
- A LED torch
- A plastic box to keep odds and ends

The key focus of the training was on the best practices for sport angling and Mahseer Conservation.

I would like to thank all members on this Forum whose inputs were used in creating the content. It would be impossible for me to thank them individually.....

It has taken me more than 2 years from concept to execution,and I hope it is a step in the right direction.

Any inputs on the next steps ......

Outrigorsandeep

Great Going Sandeep, and thanks for the initiative to conserve the depleted Mahseer Stock.

We who see the wanton destruction of habitat and overall depleting stock of game fishes are really grateful for the out of the way efforts of guys like you to reverse the adverse conditions and make things as they should be.

I will suggest you also include a first aid box in the kit of Gillis. A very handy thing when things go wrong.

Now with the active pursuance of our VP environment, Mr. Gordon, the erstwhile in charge of TATA Mahseer breeding project, Mr. Ogle has joined hands with MSAA as an advisory member and I will surely talk to him some day and forward his suggestions to you.

Thanks once again..

Ali.

Congrats Sandeep, well done.

Excellent effort mate. Thanks for all the fish.

Well done mate, you will be remembered for a long long time.
Keep up the good work.

Great work and initiative Sandeep ...

We need to do this in North India immediately. Will pm you for more information.

Compliments on the work done.

Congratulations Sandeep,

it is indeed a pleasure to hear & know of people taking a positive step towards conservation, which is still quite rare.

Regards,
Keyur

Been a long time in the planning, well done mate. I hope it is the start of a change in the way professional guides in India provide a service for their guests and JLR, you, Sundar and Karthik get the recognition you deserve from the tourism industry.

Hi,
Thanks to all of you for your support and appreciation. I plan to visit the fishing camps during this season to see if the training has had the desired impact on the Gillies with regard to use of equipment supplied and proper fish handling practices.
I would request all anglers following this thread and visiting the fishing camps this season to reinforce the message of conservation and good fish handling practices.
Sandeep

Hi Sandeep,
I was in Doddamakkali from 28th-30th Dec. Gilli- Somanna was using the kit given to him. Was very proud of it too.
I really appreciate your efforts in this regard. Khoob Bhalo.
I would like to pitch in too to further your conservation efforts. Pls let me know how I can.
Warm regards,
Tight lines,

Hi Sandeep,

Great going buddy...keep up the most excellent work! I hope i can contribute something someday, until then,

All the best,

Scott

congrats sandeep great work keep it up mate

Hi Sandeep,

Keep up the great work. We all think in some of the other way of doing some sort of conservation or maybe some contribution towards it but you've actually started doing it. Keep up the good work.

Spoonangler.

Brilliant news for the guides and the mahseer. Well done Sandeep, this will be widely appreciated.

Andy

Hi,
These are some of the comments that I heard from anglers regarding the Gillie Kit:
- The weigh sling / landing mat supplied:
- Is too small both in length and depth for weighing big fish.
- Does not have drainage holes for the water to drain out. I had asked for these but the fabricator did not do it.
- The fish slides out as there is nothing to restrain it in the sling when the water is being drained out before weighing the fish. Velcro tape could be used at both ends to improve the current design.
- The sling should have been curved at the bottom rather than straight.

The stringer supplied is better/softer than what was used in the past ( nylon clothes line!! ) but is has too much stretch.

The weighing scale upto 100 kg is fine.....the Gillies should carry these with them and not leave them back at the camp. Anglers should insist on this before going out fishing.

We obvoiusly need the Gillies to be equiped with the appropriate kit to ensure the best fish handling practices. Any ideas,suggestions or help would be welcome. Like in the past I volunteer to co-ordinate this with JLR.

Sandeep