Once again Indradhanush was not open when we pulled in, so it was the adjacent 24/7 Cafeday that got our custom and one had to make do with a hotdog for breakfast
Inder being a true Punju boy couldn't resist the chicken tikka sandwich. Imagination or culinary appreciation is obviously not his strong point because he had the same sandwich for dinner on the way back. 
We reach Forbes by 7:30 where we are joined by another WASI member, Pradeep, who was staying at the cottage for the weekend. Pradeep and Inder push off in the coracle for a spinning session, whilst Sunil and I walk back to where the canal opens into Forbes to spin for mahseer.
Walking along the embankment we see a lot of activity along the edges and my hopes soar.
A few casts into the first session i'm into a small mahseer but not before I had to wade in twice to unsnag my lure from a tree trunk that has lodged itself midstream. Incidentally, the Fenix T1 flashlight that Gasramgandu is selling is genuinely waterproof because it took a dunking thrice but came on immediately when used at night
After a couple of hours we see Inder and Pradeep returning, so Sunil and I walk down to where the coracle is docked to take our turn in the old tub.
This session could best be described as unproductive, productive and back to unproductive. The productive session resulted in four murrel.
Whilst we were spinning from the coracle, Inder managed to hook a murrel from the bank but lost it before he could bring it in.
Lunch time and Pran's suggestion of carrying pot noodles and a flask of hot water came up trumps. Whilst pot noodles have never been on my 'yummy list', it definitely made a change from the cold sandwich I'm used to.
Post lunch, Sunil and Inder park themselves on the embankment to see if they could entice a tilapia or two on a hook baited with earthworms. Inder bags a reasonably sized one and even hooks into a murrel but looses it.
Whilst Inder and Sunil fish for tilapia I walk down to where Inder claimed to have seen 5 kg'ish mahseer. A few casts later I get a tremendous splash followed by the biggest murrel I have ever seen jump more than a metre into the air and then throw the hook. Elation followed by heart wrenching disappointment - all within a space of a second or at the most two. It is experiences such as these that make me regret not having a friend with a video camera along. This murrel must easily be four feet long but what really impressed me was its girth.
The clock strikes four and it is time we got into position for our last session of mahseer fishing. Inder and Sunil use the coracle whilst I walk down to my first casting point of the day.
Inder hooks into a nice one pretty early and this time there is no mistake.
So far this was the biggest mahseer that I had seen in the hands of an angler at Forbes. This naturally got me licking my chops but barring a few teasing taps the fish were generally giving me the finger. Including the crab, it seems.
Inder and Sunil get impatient with the waiting game and push off to do some spinning for murrel and had I been in the coracle I would have probably done the same.
Dusk comes around and whilst it brings a very welcome respite from the intense mid-day heat, it is also a reminder that very soon we will be winding in our lines and heading back home.
Whilst admiring the sunset, I see another stunning sight. A large murrel literally leaps a good few feet out of the water and atleast five feet across (just like a dolphin) whilst chasing after something and I once again lament the absence of a video camera.
Around 7 p.m., I shift to a new position along the embankment and cast out with ragi. The lead makes its bumpy way along the rocks as the currents moves the line and bait almost parallel to the embankment and then I am treated to my first line burn. No tapping or even snatching. Just one sharp line burn (I thought the line had cut into my finger) and the reel going completely mental is all I recall. Game on! I send the guard haring off to the jeep to call Inder and Sunil. In the meantime the fish would drop anchor, regain some strength and then whizz off again. It did this three times before I could finally get it in. Having never experienced such a powerful hit or power in a fish I thought it would atleast be a 10 kg mahseer but it was at very best no more than 4 kgs. In the end, it wasn't the weight but the fighting spirit of the fish that was thrilling. Or so I keep telling myself.
Everyone then tries for another half hour but the going is slow and snags numerous, so we call it a day.
Whilst packing up my phone starts ringing. It's Gasramgandu but I ignore it as I was in the middle of arranging things. Once everything is settled I take out the phone to see all the accumulated messages and missed calls.
First message: "Happy Anniversary" from a couple of friends. Holy shit! I had completely forgotten it was my wedding anniversary and to top that had gone fishing instead! Not that I mind but the image of facing a very pee'd off wife next morning was slightly daunting.
Second message: This one from Asif, regarding the WASI ID card.
Third message: From Gasramgandu - "Got a 43.5 lb mahseer!" Having just caught a 8 lb mahseer and being thrilled to bits, I could only imagine what a 40 and change blighter would have been like. He will post about it here.
Fourth message: This was a short and sweet "Happy Anniversary" from my wife. I was hoping she had forgotten as well but no such luck. The thought of forgetting and going fishing all day kept me chuckling all the way home, though I suppose I should have been most contrite.
It must have been a bloody tiring day for Inder and Sunil because they actually managed to doze off in a Gypsy on bad roads!
Next weekend was supposed to be with TenX but this one may have to be postponed as my father will be undergoing heart surgery.
So until next time....whenever that may be.
i have read that the the mahseer r to be released again.is it the same case with murrels and tilapias too??
