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Mahseer Fly Fishing trips
in Thailand with Thailand's most experienced
Mahseer fly fishing guides.
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Fly
Fishing for Thai
Mahseer
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Is casting big dry flies or
nymphs to hungry wild native fish in gin-clear
mountain streams your call? We offer the
ultimate guided fly fishing trips for
the hard fighting Thai Mahseer in
Thailand's fantastic rivers and streams. We
offer professional guided fly fishing trips in
Thailand for Thai Mahseer in both Khao Sok
National Park, 180 km from Phuket and
in mountain rivers in
Phetchaburi and Pranburi (departure from Hua Hin) provinces in
Thailand.
Our
guided fly fishing trips to the Khao Sok Rivers
are multi-day trips due to the remote location
of the rivers, a minimum 3 day trip is
recommended for the best fishing result. In the
rivers in Petchaburi and Pranburi provinces we can do daytrips
with hotel or resort accommodation
included. All fly fishing equipment is
included in our trips. We only use top
quality fly gear but you are more than
welcome to use your own equipment if you prefer
to do so. The equipment we provide; free
of charge: Fly rods are
from: Sage and from Tim Rajeff, weight 5 to
7. Fly reels are from Loop,
Ross Reels and from Lamson.
We use Scientific Anglers Shark Skin
and Rio fly lines. The leaders we use
are Airflo polyleader and Rio fluorocarbon leaders. The flies
we use are tied on extra strong Japanese hooks. These have
been extensively tested and are the best you can
get. We know what works well in these waters
after many years of fly fishing here, and
we will share our trade secrets with
you!
Many of our clients have
compared the take of a Mahseer to a strike from
a big Bonefish. Panicking and trying to stop the
fish in its first run normally results in a
broken leader, the best is to try to stay cool
and let the fish run with not too much drag on
the reel and run after it as fast as you can
until the first run is over, and then increase
the drag and start to fight it. You have to be
prepared for a second or a third long run, many
Mahseer has been lost due to overconfident
anglers, who thought that the battle was already
won.
Good presentation
skills are also required and it’s very important
to approach the fish very slowly, in our rivers
upstream fishing has produced the best results,
as the Mahseer’s head and sight field is up-
stream facing. Wearing dull or green colors is
very important and to succeed, one has to
tiptoe like an Indian since the Mahseer is
unbelievably shy and can see you only too well
from under water. We have also noticed that loud
voices can spoke them, so keep this in mind.
Wearing top grade polarized sunglasses is
essential to be able to spot the fish in the
river.
Many times the strike comes
just when the fly lands on the surface, so be
prepared, don’t lose control of the fly line at
any time, a line loop around the rod but or
around the reel can be a very frustrating
experience. Also keep in mind during the
Mahseer’s first fast run; try to keep the rod
tip high to clear the line and leader from being
cut by underwater rocks and boulders.
Undeniably, the Mahseer is one of the
fiercest fighting freshwater game fish in
existence. Pound for pound it had unparalleled
strength and endurance. Robert Howitt, in
Sports Illustrated wrote: “The angler’s first
encounter with the Mahseer is one that he never
forgets: A great wrench on the rod heralds its
take, then the ratchet screams on a fast
emptying reel – the sensation is electrifying.
Few freshwater fish will set of with such speed,
fight for so long and strike both despondency
and joy to the heart of the
adversary.”
In our Cheow Lan package
we include: transfer from Phuket, Krabi or
Surat Thani Airports or from any Phuket,
Krabi, Surat Thani or Khao Lak hotel,
local style boat with diesel
and Minn Kota electric engine with
licensed Thai crew, National park entrance fees, guiding by
Thailand's most experienced fly fishing guide
(English, Thai, Scandinavian and German speaking)
and local guides, all meals during
the trip, mineral drinking water, fruit
of the season, accommodation at a jungle
camp that consists of basic floating
raft houses made from locally obtained sustainable materials
that blend in with the environment. There
is no TV or air-conditioning, and
this fishing experience is targeted at adventurous anglers
who are looking for the REAL
jungle experience and are prepared to do
without luxury home comforts for a few days!
There are very few mosquitoes and no Malaria in
the area. We fish here all-year round, the
rainy season (mid May to mid October) is
the spawning time for the Mahseer and for the
Hampala Barb and some of the biggest fish in the
area moves upstream to spawn, this is prime time to
catch fish over 5kg size. The Thai Mahseer in
the Cheow Lan area grows up to 20 kg size
(present IGFA world record is 12 kg).
During the dry season (Nov-May) a very healthy
stock of fish up to 6 kg inhabits the rivers
and streams we fish in and offers great fly fishing
action.
Action Fishing
slide show from Cheow Lan
Fish Picture
slide show from Cheow Lan
Nature Picture
slide show from Cheow Lan
In our Pranburi and Pecthaburi package we
include: transfer from Hua Hin, Bungalow accommodation in Hua Hin, all
meals during the trip, all fly fishing equipment
needed, Professional English-speaking fishing
guide and local guide, wader boots, 4-wheel
drive transportation to the rivers from the
hotel.
We
only fly fish in wild waters, no artificial
lakes or stocked fishing parks and our trips are
personalized for max 2 anglers at the time.
Not
included in the packages:
International or Domestic Airfare, Guide
gratitude and alcoholic beverages (we can order
in advance for you to self cost price if needed)
What
to bring: Polaroid sunglasses, sun
creme, fishing hat, light weight waterproof
clothing. Socks for the wader boots, Fishing
shirts and shorts (It’s best to use green or
camouflage colored clothing so you don’t spook
the fish when approaching them), towel, camera
and a big smile. You can read more about the
equipment and clothing we advice you to
bring for the trip on this page: http://www.fly-fishing-in-thailand.com/plan-your-trip.html
Cheow Lan Guided Fly
Fishing
Click here to see rates: Fly fishing in Thailand
For the Mae Hong Son Guided
Fly Fishing
Rates:
Click
here.
Thai Mahseer (Tor
tambroides)
Thai Mahseer is found in clear, clean rivers
in the mountains. Reported from: Chao Phraya and
Mekong basins, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java,
and Borneo, Myanmar (Burma), Salween and Mae
Klong rivers. Habitat: Medium to large rivers
with rocky, sandy and leafy bottom. Prefers
highly oxygenated water and dark environment.
Adults inhabit pools and runs over gravel and
cobble in rivers flowing through undisturbed
forests. Juveniles were most commonly collected
in or near rapids. Found in small rivers and
streams during the dry season. Move downstream
at the onset of the rainy season, but generally
avoid turbid waters. Mature individuals migrate
upstream after two months and spawn in July near
the mouths of small streams that the young
subsequently ascend. Habits: Stations itself in
prime lies where its needs of security, shelter
and food it readily served. May forage in
shallow areas or close to rapids when it is
assured of security. A very shy fish.
Omnivorous, feeding on both animal and vegetable
matter, at times consuming toxic fruits in
flooded forests, making them temporarily
inedible. Max size is about 100 cm and 20 kg.
Common English names for the Thai Mahseer is:
Greater Brook Carp, Malaysian Red Mahseer
(Malaysia) and common local names are: Pla Wien
or Pla Peang (Thailand), Kelah (Peninsular
Malaysia), Empurau/Semah (Sarawak), Pelian
(Sabah). Recommended fly equipment for Thai
Mahseer: class 5-7, floating lines, 16-20 lb
fluorocarbon leader, small streamer flies, wet
flies, nymphs and large dry flies.
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