Mack The Knife's weekend escapade at WASI
Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 12:49 pm
Waiting for the weekend (Aug 30/31) report by Mack The Knife and gang @ WASI... 
Besides me there was Asif, Arif and Col. Machado (retd.) aka Mac. Arif, as some of you know is Asif's younger brother and Mac an old friend of the Ali family. Mac recently joined WASI and this was his first trip to the WASI stretch.
We left Chez Ali at 6 a.m. or thereabouts, stopped for breakfast at Mysore Mylary and arrived at the cottage around 9'ish. Provisions and tackle were quickly unloaded and we were soon rigged up for the first session of the day.
I had three new baitcasting rods to try out and was really eager to hook into some rohu, murrel and tilapia. On reaching the water's edge my heart sank on seeing the colour of the water. However, the rohu were jumping about, so I was still hoping to catch a few but the next few hours passed without a nibble.
Whilst I was being burnt to a crisp, Asif and Mac set off in the coracle to spin for some murrel. I don't know if they had any bites but there was nothing in the boat when they finally returned. Whilst the three of us were thus occupied, Arif did the sensible thing and kept under a tree spinning for murrel. He gets no marks for initiative but scores heavily on persistence. Can you imagine spinning for murrel for almost three hours from the same spot? I certainly cannot.
Since neither of the three were able to land a murrel I decided to get a couple of tilapias for dinner and consequently switched to worms. I did not have a hope in hell of catching tilapia in such water and finally gave it up as a bad idea after only getting those pesky little catfish.
Lunch was served at 2:30'ish and was a pre-packed mutton biryani accompanied with a chilled beer. I seldom drink but this was one time I was grateful for a cold half litre tankard.
Around 4 p.m. we motored out to Forbes and Headworks. Arif and Mac went to Forbes, whilst Asif and I headed to Headworks for Asif's last try at the mahseer for some time to come. We drew a blank at Headworks so drove down to Forbes to spin for murrel along the bank. Asif managed to bank a small catfish but other than that our efforts were just not bearing fruit.
Arif and Mac finally returned from their round of Forbes at dusk and their report was equally disappointing. Only three bites and none converted.
Lightning had already started to make it's presence felt on the horizon, so Asif and I decided to do a quick round to catch a murrel for dinner. By this time it had become dark and in my anxiety to catch one I almost hooked Asif in the face whilst casting out. This bit of carelessness could have resulted in serious injury so do be alert at all times, especially when fishing under pressure.
With the storm fast approaching, I made the decision to head back and we had just got into the cars when it started to rain. On reaching the cottage, we found that there was no electricity and it remained that way until we left the next morning. However, the rains cooled things down and it was quite pleasant compared to the day time heat.
After some tea and snacks, Asif was sent into the kitchen to prepare dinner. Fortunately, he had the presence of mind to get a country chicken, so we were spared a vegetarian dinner <shudder>. The poor sod really slogged it out in the kitchen without any of us offering to lend a hand.
Just as we started digging-in, I remembered Naren, so the next few pics are for his viewing pleasure.
Some time into the meal, it dawned on Asif that Mac is a bloody good cook and this was followed with a string of curses at the Colonel for keeping mum whilst he was slogging away. Mac is told in no uncertain terms that he would be preparing breakfast and the packed lunch we would be taking to Forbes the next day and I heaved a sigh of relief because rustling up brekker is usually my job.
With dinner out of the way, we chin-wag until the bewitching hour and then turn in. It was a good thing I was tired because the WASI Symphony Orchestra was in great form and they were still at it when I awoke at 6:30 a.m.
Mac made us a great breakfast of eggs, sausages, cheese, bread, butter, tea and juice (sorry naren, no pics), after which it was time to pack-up and leave for Forbes sans Arif as he had to get back home.
Two Kingfishers looking down on a pond waiting for their breakfast to show themselves.
At Forbes, Mac and Asif go spinning for murrel from the coracle whilst I do the same from the bank.
About half an hour into my session, I catch one on a spinner but that was about it for the next hour or so.
I return to the car and decide to while away the time float fishing for cats but with no result.
After Asif and Mac return, they too switch to float fishing and catch three cats between them.
We then get down to the more serious business of eating the lunch Mac had prepared but it was way too much for me and all I wanted to do was snooze for an hour. However, just as I was getting myself comfortable, Asif asked me to go catch a murrel for his dad. I tried and then tried some more but without any success. By then it had started raining but when I began to hear thunder, I decided to head back to the car and fortunately managed to get one with a distant cast whilst paddling away from the murrel waters.
Soon after, we were packed and ready to head back home.
Hopefully, soon Rusty.Thanks.