However, for me this trip was special because I wanted to learn fishing using a baitcaster and I had a most enjoyable time using one. I suppose I couldn't have picked a worse time to learn a baitcaster but even if the conditions had been far worse it wouldn't have dampened my enthusiasm to get cracking with this outfit.
Incidentally, this baitcaster (Abu Garcia Ambassadeur C6000) had been gifted by Abu Garcia to a friend's father for catching a 60+ lbs. mahseer on this very same lake in the early 70's.
Once assembled I show Inder how a baitcaster works and make my first cast into the wind and end up with a backlash/bird's nest. Most impressive!
Fortunately, the tangle takes less than a minute to clear and I cast out again but only to end up with another bird's nest. Whilst untangling the line, I find that the line (20 lbs. Mustad monofilament) has been cut and just manage to grab the line slipping away through the guides. This makes me loose confidence in the line but I re-tie the leader and get on with the casting and I am now doing fine and really enjoying the experience. I let Inder have a couple of casts and he did just fine. One thing I realised is that this rod and reel combo casts much better with a two handed cast. It is now time to get into the coracle and find ourselves some murrel, followed by some mahseer. I switch to my spinning outfit because I am not very confident about the line on the baitcaster and it also allows me to cast using one hand.
Suffice to say, that we really had to work for our fish. It took two hours before I hooked into a murrel. Inder, had two murrel go for his lure and we spooked one almost under the coracle but other than that there was absolutely no sign of fish.
We switch to ledgering for mahseer but the absence of taps, leave alone bites, makes me switch back to lure fishing but that proves to be equally unproductive. Inder, however, gets himself a small mahseer early on.
Later, we row across to the embankment as a WASI member from the cottage wanted to borrow some lead weights as he had forgotten his. Rather than row back and continue sitting for uncooperative mahseer, we decide to have an early bite and then go to Headworks.
On reaching Headworks, I keep the spinning outfit in the car and reach for the baitcaster. This set-up can really belt out the lures and with 20lbs. mono, at that! I treat myself to a couple of more bird's nests but once again they are minor ones and disentangled quickly.
Whilst I am having a thoroughly good time using the baitcaster and hoping to inaugurate the rod with a good size mahseer, Inder is having just as good a time landing two more mahseer.
At 3:45 p.m. it begins to rain but fortunately it is only a passing shower. After a few more casts we go back to Forbes to ledger for mahseer. I call my fishing guru, if he had any tips on how to hold the line to detect bites on a baitcasting outfit but the gist of the reply was that spinning reels were easier for this purpose. However, I device my own method and find it almost as effective and comfortable.
Not long after the phone call I get a strong pull on the line and strike but end up with another backlash. However, the fault was entirely mine. I had put the reel on freespool whilst lighting a cigarette and had forgotten to re-engage the main drag. C'est la vie...
Neither of us get a fish during this session and we call it a day at 7:15 p.m..
Next Saturday, I hope to go with Asif's younger brother and am already looking forward to using the baitcasting rod and reel. Here's hoping that there is no rain or wind and that the fish bite all day long.
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. Distress calls and signals are often viewed as dinner bells in the animal world.
