We organise guided and hosted fishing trips for mahseer in the Borneo island of Sabah Malaysia and Kalimantan Indonesia, and in Thailand.
There are two ways to go about getting on a trip:
- Book a trip outright according to your availability
- Put your name on an interested list and join one of our hosted trips when available
Best Time
In an equatorial region like Borneo, weather is never a certain thing. There is no distinctly dry season. The key is to avoid extremely wet spells, with their inherent flooding.
The recent past years has proven to be even more unpredictable when it comes to the weather. Gone are the days when there are some weather patterns that occurs through the 12 months.
The best window for fly-fishing the rivers is traditionally from January to May, with another brief spell in August-October. During these periods, there should be at least one or two rivers that are fishable.
What To Expect
- Hiking and trekking
- Bugs and insects
- “Basic” amenities
- Once in a lifetime experience (for some)
- An unforgettable experience!
Let me know if you have questions, you can reach me using the form at the end of this page. Thank you.
Fishing in Sabah
Mahseer in Sabah go by their local name, pelian.
Sabah has many highland areas fed by numerous rivers including the ones that flow down from the slopes of Mount Kinabalu.
The cool waters flow over rocky and pebbly streambeds of sandstone and granite. The catchment areas are mainly agricultural; mainly rubber smallholdings, pineapple plots and fruit orchards.
The waters are clean and clear, and abound in aquatic insects like stoneflies, mayflies and caddisflies. This provides ample foodbase for the fishes like the pelian (Tor deuronensis; Sabah mahseer) and sebarau (Hampala macrolepidota; Hampala Barb).
Related post: Fishing accommodations in Sabah Borneo
What makes these rivers special is that they are very well-managed by the local Kadazan-Dusun people. Many villages have been operating the tagal system (fish conservation) since the 1980’s, with feeding zones and sportfishing zones for paying visitors. It is not uncommon to find more than 200 pelian in a typical river pool!
In our experience, the typical river can produce mahseer averaging 1 to 2kg size whilst a 6kg giant would be a local record. The average size for sebarau is 1 to 1.5kg with fish over 2kg caught fairly often.
Sabah’s Fly Fishing Potential
Rivers like the Tuaran, Mangkaladun, Mantaranau and Ruminding are pristine with bountiful insect life, and this presents a haven for fly fishermen. The medium to fast riffles are especially productive whilst the deeper pools harbour bigger pelian.
Various nymphs will work for catching the pelian, including Prince Nymph, Clouser Swimming Nymph, Copper John, and other stonefly patterns.
Hoppers in sizes 10 to 6 can attract the bigger fish. For the sebarau – a gregarious piscivore – small to medium streamers and poppers are good.
Tagals are protected river stretches. Fishing is pre-arranged with the village tagal committee, and a guide will have to be on hand at all times.
The villagers are very protective of their waters. The penalty for poaching – called sogit – is a whole buffalo, about RM3000 worth!
Tackle and Gear
Fly fishing gear
An 8 to 9-foot, wt-5 or 6 fly rod is recommended. Most of the fishing requires a floating line, but you can opt for a sinktip line for the deeper pools.
A reliable reel is always recommended – both the pelian and sebarau are strong fish but rarely will you see your backing.
Footwear
The waters are cool, the rocks slick. Do wear good felt-soled boots or non-slip shoes to handle the slippery terrain.
Clothing
You do not need waders. The weather is typically warm and sunny, with the odd shower (this is after all the rainforest.
Hats and long-sleeved shirts are essentials for sun protection.
Polarising sunglasses to protect your eyes and to spot fish. Amber or brown lens are recommended.
A light rain jacket may come in handy, too.
In the clearer headwaters, fish can be easily spooked. Camouflage-type clothing (we suggest greens and browns) can give you an advantage when stalking the fish.
Example of a Typical Sabah Fishing Trip Itinerary (3 Days Fishing)
Day 1
- Arrival in Kota Kinabalu
- Transport by local guide
- Depart for lodge accommodation
- Pitstop at town, for tea, groceries etc
- Casual fishing at nearby river (if time permits)
- Dinner
Day 2 to Day 4
- Breakfast
- Whole day fishing. River selection will be based on weather conditions and angler preference. Packed lunch
- Dinner
Day 5
- Depart for Kota Kinabalu/Airport after breakfast
Itinerary are flexible and can be customised accordingly to your travel plans.
Contact us for more information: