INDIANANGLER

My name is Ashok Vashisht, I live in Panchkula, Haryana. I have today joined "Indian Anglers". Firstly, it was great to see that anglers in India do have a forum to interact. I hope they join in hundreds and then in thousands!

I have fished in the western yamuna canal [Dadupur, Dist.Yamuna Nagar, Haryana], the Yamuna River at Kalesar & the Tajewala headworks on Yamuna downstream of Kalesar [Poanta Sahib - Yamuna Nagar belt], the Yamuna upstream of Dakpatthar [ Dist.DehraDun, Uttaranchal] and Ramganga at Marchula this March.

Earlier Dadupur was a good place and the Mahseer was in the 1 - 4 kgs range, Goonch 1-10 kgs range. I have not fished the place since some time but the fishing is said to be much poorer due to the fact that the canal is closed for repairs every two years or so and all the fish gets taken out. Other places mentioned were average but unpredictable.

Marchula on the Ramganga could have been better but I had only one evening to spare. A lot of Mahseer were rising and a few did follow my spinners [Panther Martin - gold/rainbow trout patterns]. The place was beautiful and I will be there for 2 days this October.

More experiences from Yamuna above Dakpather this September. I will also report about fishing at Poanta Sahib & Hathnikund Barrage [upstream of Tajewala] in September too.

Regards.

Hi Ashok,

Welcome to the nut house called Indian Angler. It's become a fun place to hang out and give the owner palpitations.

Quite a few northern boys on here, so expect to be planing a trip in the days to come.

Be particularly wary of Devious Dev and Eljefe - they have peculiar tastes in fish :wink: .

Rustam

Hi Ashok,

Welcome to the board M8, Can't tell you how happy I am to read your post. Mention of all those names of places brought back all the memories. I am from Yamuna Nagar currently living in Bangalore.

Looking forward to your posts buddy and if you have any pics please do post

Inder

Welcome aboard Ashok. Look forward to a lot more angling tales from you.

Cheers
Bopanna

Dear Inder,

It was nice to see your post. I still remember fishing the Western Yamuna Canal in the period 1988 - 1995 when the fishing was OK. I used to get regular catches on my spinning outfit with 15gms / 20 gms spoons basically in gold / gold black combinations. Silver almost always failed to deliver! I have heard of some good pools on the Vikasnagar-Dakpatthar-Kata Patther-Juddu stretch [Yamuna/Uttaranchal] but the place is subject to severe overfishing. I will post the results in September.

Regards to you & Rustam.

PS: Rustam, if I had to choose between a Shimano Spheros/Shimano Baitrunner & a Penn Spinfisher SS Metal [ in the 20 lb/250 yds size] what would be your vote?

I'd say Penn Spinfisher all the way. I have a nice Shimano Baitrunner RE UK model. It's very smooth and casts a mile with braid but I wouldn't risk it on mahseer over 40lb.

Bopanna

Hi Ashok,
Welcome aboard!
If I'm not down with Rustam in Sep, would like to join up with you for a weekender trip.

Best
Asif
PS: I'm one of the the guys Rustam warned you about
PPS-70+ posts and havent caught a single fish in 30 years!

Haven't a clue, Ashok as I have yet to cast out for Mahseer.

All I know is that the Shimano 6500 Baitrunner has caught it's fair share of big mahseer.

The Shimano Baitrunner Long Cast is supposed to be superior to the 6500. It most certainly was in terms of build quality but I did not get the chance to use it.

Rustam

Go for the Penn, no question.

Shimano baitrunner is now made in Thailand
Penn made in USA

It is a lot simpler mantaining a Penn (opening etc) only additional complication in this reel in this regard would be the silent to std antireverse switch that sits behind the rotor.

The baitrunner it is a more complicated to open and service.

Shimano has the worst record for aftersales service
Penn's aftersales service is excellent

I have a video of a guy who takes 60+ Mahseer among several other 30 - 40lb on a Shimano Baitrunner in a fast river on lure. So I know Mahseer can be taken on that Shimano reel as well with not too many problems, (How long it will last you? dont know), the only difference is that the reel he was using was made in Japan or UK.

But as Bops says the Penn is a tougher reel, it will outlast the Shimano Baitrunner

Hi Ashok,
If you really want to fish for masheer, then read the post by Mighty Marlin in the masheer section.

You would need a multiplier with level wind and a good 9 ft bait casting rod. The reel should be able to hold 200 - 300 meters of 30 to 40lb monofilament. If it is a one time thing then a Penn would be ok, but if it going to be a lifetime investment, an Abu Garcia Ambassadeur 7000/10000 or its equivalent would be the reel of choice instead of a spinning reel.

The rod should have the guides strung for a multiplier, and should be able to cast a 100 to 200 gm bait around 50 meters. The make doesn't matter as long as it is strong, has a medium action and the tip end is not too thin.

A rod that is too heavy or longer than 10 ft will not be much fun to fish with when you need to hold it for many hours in your hand. Avoid beach casters and rods with too many sections. A 2 peice works best.

The Uptide rods sold in Europe are very well suited for the purpose of masheer angling, but i recently saw a Rapala bait casting rod that was meant for use with a multiplier and line of between 17 to 30 lbs that also looked like the perfect tool for medium to large size fish. The only down side was that it was 10 and a half feet long.

Most masheer waters abound with rocks and snags, and you recover your end tackle more easily (with practice) using a slightly stiffer rod.
Tight Lines
Owen

Very good advise Owen...

Hi Guy's,
Have one on me! Today is my 50th Birthday, and i am sitting in the office banging my head on the walls, when i should be out there wetting a line.
Regards
Owen

Have been having one too many last few days Owen...family in India.
Saturday - Back Home 0700 Sunday Morning
Sunday - Back Home 0430 Monday Morning
Monday - Stayed in
Tuesday - Home 0730 Yesterday morning
Wednesday (Last night) Home: 0500 This morning

But I will still have one to your health, happy birthday my Friend!!

Thanks Bobby!
Owen

Happy birthday Owen! Hope you get to go out over the weekend.

Bops

Cheers Bops!
I love the one about "Behind every great man there is a woman rolling her eyes".
Regards
Owen
P.S i sent you a pm about my brother Roberts login, could you check it out please. Thanks in advance.

Jeez, that practically makes you a fossil!

Will there be a fire-engine in attendance when you are about to blow the candles?

Have a nice one!

Rustam

No fire engines mate and no cake either. Might have to call for an ambulance with that many to blow out

Last year i fished at a Barrage near HAMIDA (Don't know if you know the place, its after crossing railway line in Yamuna Nagar). I fished with a small spinning reel and a telescopic rod and caught my first fish it was a 1.5 KG Rohu(As told by regulars). bait was Atta. I saw some others take 3-4 KG rohu on Handlines. Wonder how it would have been in 88-95.

Would love to meet you when in north..

Inder

Hey happy B'day Owen, Have fun

Inder

Thanks Inder !
May the art of sitting motionless sometimes in the rain take firm control of your life, and land you many more beauties.
Regards
Owen

HAPPY B'DAY OWEN

HOPE UR ROD IS ALWAYS BENT !!!!

Thanks Gavin,
May you have a shoal of catla in your pond!
Regards
Owen

Happy birthday Owen!
is it true anglers do it with a rod ?
we'll cut your cake when I'm in town soon...
Regards
Asif

Happy B'Day Owen. Hope this year has some memorable fishing trips.

Asif Natty Boy
Rods are in hibernation since last week end

Hi Ashok! Thanks
I hope that my 50th year will be a memorable one as far as angling is concerned. It surely started well with this forum starting up in June thanks to Bops ! Rustam has started calling me a fossil, but i can take him on any time :
Tight lines to you too my friend

Owen

Happy Birthday Owen,

You have reached a age to start writing books on angling. Maybe you can start off with Owen in India or Owen in Indiananglers.com. It will be a big hit.

Many many happy returns of the day.

Cheers,
Apoo

P.S: Can I give a toast in your name tonight?

Thanks Apoo,
A day late for my Birthday but never too late for a tipple on me.
Yes i have been toying with the idea of putting pen to paper when i quit working in a couple of years time.
The idea is to be able to fish more than i do now, before i need a walker to get down to the river.
Yeah yeah Rustam.... i won't forget that old fossil bit !
But in i am a tough old bird, and bigger than most of you guy's imagine
Regards
Owen