From angling to fishing 101

[dev]

I have spent a few hours fishing in the company of those who normally know their stuff.
And some of the most enjoyable forays have been as a part of the pump house gang. So with Asif, Sanjay, Mahaseer ken and all I learnt how to tie knots (still learing), cast and attach earth worms. Along the way we were often tutored (swift kicks to the rear) by the Bangalore Bummers aka Mack The Knife etc.
Having said all that I hadn't really got the time to do any angling for these last two years. Finally, I was able to sneak off to Bhimtal alongwith the better half and the tackle etc.
I had read somewhere that it is very difficult to get a permit in the hills unless you were discerned as an angler by the wild life department. But here is where all the legends shatter faster than a sheet glass window.
The resort where I stayed, was named just like what you would expect a good angler's cottage to be. And to my delight they said that trips would be arranged at cost alongwith the dreaded permit. So the next day my legendary guide turned up and he selected a rod from those in the cottage and I also showed him all the spoons and plugs that were also offered to guests. After all we were going after the legendary Mahaseer. The guide looked at everything with disdain and then asked the kitchen staff for some corn...corn for Mahaseer? Right then an alarm should have gone off but I stayed humble recalling Marchula where Mahaseer are caught on Atta. Anyway I had armed myself with a NO5 spoon that Asif had gifted me. As we set out another lodger smiled and cheered us on, "you are going out with the best...he caught us two yesterday..." So with dreams of screaming lines I asked what did you catch?
She replies," Two Mahaseer...about a kilo each...got em back...they made pakodas for us..."
Right then I felt as if someone had hit me with a wet sock behind the ear. But I had driven three hundred kilometers for this break of my dreams, so I trudged on with the guide.
We reach a corner of the lake, my soul dances at the sight of the fresh green emerald like water. The guide sets his rod with a corn kernel and casts it in. Like a pro he just stands the rod up wedged between a few stones. I thought gee isn't that cool. Then I start to cast with mine and do some slow retrieves. The guide insists that I 'fold' the line real fast. So it goes on I keep casting and we begin to chat and I ask whether they really ate the Mahaseer. The guy almost smacks his lips and speaks. According to him that is the tastiest fish in them hills. Strike me down with lightning...tasty Mahaseer? The greatest fighting fish in the world reduced to a pakora?
It gets worse. Everywhere there are handlines, the guide assures me that it is standard practise, after all the guy had paid Rs.50 for the permit for the whole day. Then the fisheries guys boat turns up, they casually asks about the permit, a few smiles and the money is paid and they leave but as we start to cast they return...I tremble thinking that my rig might be wrong. But heck no...Joe pahadi pulls the cord tied to his boat at the end of which dangles a hapless one kg Mahaseer. They want me to attach it to my line and pose with it. They want to use the picture on their boats to lure more fishermen. something makes me cold and distant. I refuse and continue with my casting.
It was a futile exercise anyway as it was over cast for the last hour and slowly it began to rain. So we called it a day and walked back to the cottage. The guide wants me to go with him early morning...he would attach a small fish to my line..just watch the Mahaseer attack the line after that, he promises. I nodded with a smile and tried to look excited. But something had just died within me. I went and put my tackle away. The better half smiles asking the usual, so you caught anything? I replied yeah a hatred for fishing and a desire to nuke the lake. Atleast the Mahaseer would suffer less.

[Vikram]

Dev,

I fully appreciate the cruelty of the situation.A sporting man's blues.The real pity is everything is reduced to or traced to economics.Add to it ignorance.In a way I am glad that it wasn't about the usual joys of all is well piscatorial expeditions but a wake up call to many amongst us.Thank you for putting your thoughts to words and sharing with us.

Do you think,more "Islands" like http://www.wasiindia.com/ under private stewardship is more successful in preserving the wildlife and the experiences too?

Best-
Vikram

[kanwar76]

Sad very sad..

Until conservation moves from armchairs and drawing rooms nothing is going to change. We have lost most of forest cover and are on brink of loosing King of jungles, same is going to happen with King of water, sooner or later.

Human's hunger whether for money or anything else will finish everything. Mahseer is gone from Yamuna at least upstream Dadupur. I was there in April, only thing i saw there was sand mining trucks. They are raping river bed like anything. I am sure there won't be any Mahseer for years to come.

Sad

-Inder

[Sakobav]

Sad tale Dev

India better start taking care of live line rivers and water this will also boost forest conservations since they both go together.

best

[dev]

Yes privatised game reserves seem to be the only way out. The guys at Bheemtal claim that they seed the lake. There is a sort of breeding tank set up near one side of the lake. My great guide claimed that they had 3,50,000 seed in the lake this year. but it is really hopeless as far as angling goes. The lake otherwise is nice, but people also swim and boat in it while you try to 'fish'. But I don't know how long it will survive the summer rush. The only positive thing is that the lodge turns walk aways firmly out and this way keeps Disco dandiya out of the serene location. Hopefully if people find it boring it may just survive.

Dev

[Olly]

Maybe they decided to give you the pass since they couldn't smell the hops...

Lesson : Never go fishing without the company of the beer dumpers...

[eljefe]

An old post dev,
Shows how long I've been out of action.
Well, what , what i have found in my forays is , the average pahadi type is more concerned with his pakoda and belly and cares two hoots about ecology or anything...same attitude is filtering down and one very prominent reason is that the joe average is an important part of the vote bank and is kept happy by Mr crooked neta .These are the buggers for whom you and I get taxed.
Be Indian, chew paan, dont forget to spit on the landing
Thanks for NOT catching pakoda fish. i love fish pakodas and think Murral are great eating, but mahseer is a sick tasting fish. mea not bloody culpa, I ate it and found out it was mahseer with 1 inch of masala on it, deep fried (?in ex-engine oil) next time, I'll have the marinated lorry tyre in vulture fat.Garcon?

[TwoRivers]

Eljefe,
"Natural or synthetic rubber, Sir?"

[eljefe]

Two-
I hope I dont have latex allergy, what with years of scrubbing and gloving up, hands are in tatters ...synthetic; Veuve Goodyear 06, but naturally

[nagarifle]

Dev
please do not cry in my beer
you hav't learned an old anglers trick, that is always pay a visit to the fish market before hand.
next year maybe,

should have tried the Brahmaputra in Assam

[abishaifernandez]

hi to all out here
m abishai, a fishing enthusiast, its been ages since i logged on t the site, my last pst was ages ago. was keen on knowing about mahseer fishing, heard its a real prize catch if u do land one. so far, the only fishing ive done is in goa, which obviously included, trolling, spinning and the usual bait fishing, caught a few red snappers, and groupers and the occasional guitar fish from the kite fish family. m reaaly interested in trying my luck on a mahseer.....will be uploading a few pics of me fishing trip and a few pics of my gear...

hope to hear from you guys.