Fly Fishing Asia

Fly Fishing in Asia

Crazy Valentine’s in Thailand with Plenty of Big Mahseer

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Follow us as we take you on a trip photo essay filled with fascinating images!

Day 1: Arrival

The gang assembling at the jetty before boarding the boat for our 2-hour ride to the raft house.
Welcome to amazing and colourful Thailand. The gang assembling at the lake jetty before boarding the boat for our 2-hour ride to the raft house.
Magnificent scenery of Thailand.
Magnificent scenery along the way
The boys looking at the many fish swimming under and around the floating restaurant
The boys looking at the many fish swimming under and around the floating restaurant
Did you see that?
Lots of big tinfoil barb and the occasional giant gourami and giant snakehead showing up
Lots of big tinfoil barb and the occasional giant gourami and giant snakehead showing up
Dinner on the floating ‘restaurant’ is always something to look forward to

Day 2: Let The Fishing Begin!

The boys all dressed up to go fishing
The boys all dressed up to go fishing
Boat ride to the river
Closeup of David in the boat
Such beautiful sights to take in
Such beautiful sights to take in
Rays from the morning sun cuts through the thick jungle
The cool fresh air greets us as we enter the river systems
Anticipation starts to grow as we get closer to our destination
Anticipation starts to grow as we get closer to our destination
Organic directional sign to communicate direction, "Stay away, we're fishing this stretch".
Organic directional sign to communicate direction, “Stay away, we’re fishing this stretch”.
The water level was very low in the river that fished and nearly all the fish was concentrated in one single pool!
The water level was very low in the river that we fished ay and we found nearly all the fish was concentrated in one single pool!
It is not often that you encounter a good number of mahseer. And it is often not easy to cast a fly on top of them as there always seem to be some tree or something in the way!
It is not often that you encounter a good number of mahseer. And it is often not easy to cast a fly on top of them as there always seem to be some tree or something in the way!
Bugs and insects are part and parcel of being in the wild. These bugs appears to be taking a fancy to David's GoPro camera!
Bugs and insects are part and parcel of being in the wild. These bugs appears to be taking a fancy to David’s GoPro camera!
Guns at ready. Our park ranger watches as David goes fish-on.
Guns at ready. Our park ranger watches as David goes fish-on.
First mahseer for David
First mahseer for David
Went for a green hopper. Always great fun when they take surface flies like this.
Went for a green hopper. Always great fun when they take surface flies like this.
“Road” blocked and no way through so we turned back from here
The real big foot. Fresh elephant prints in the river bank that wasn't there when we went pass earlier in the morning.
The real big foot. Fresh elephant prints in the river bank that wasn’t there when we went pass earlier in the morning.
David scores another mahseer at the tail water
David scores another mahseer at the tail water
Back at "camp" we had the resident white bellied sea eagle waiting for us
Back at “camp” we had the resident white bellied sea eagle waiting for us
It was feeding on a fish held in its talons
It was feeding on a fish held in its talons
A magnificent bird. But the name sea eagle is a bit odd as we're not at sea...
A magnificent bird. But the name sea eagle sounds out of place as we’re not at sea…

Day 3 An Amazing Day

My favourite sling pack - Fishpond Thunderhead Submersible
Heading out on day 3 with my favourite sling pack

Related: Sling pack or back pack for fishing?

A park ranger heading out
A park ranger heading out
Approaching the tailwater
All set with sickle and rifle
All set with sickle and rifle
Balancing act
In pieces. Likely the work of otters.
In pieces. Likely the work of otters.
Not bad for the first fish of the day! This fish absolutely exploded on the water as it engulfed David's hopper.
Not bad for the first fish of the day! This fish absolutely exploded on the water as it engulfed David’s hopper.
A camera trap set
A camera trap
A cicada exoskeleton
A cicada exoskeleton left on a tree trunk after the moulting process. A cicada nymph will live in the ground before emerging to shed its old “skin”, spread its wings and take flight. Male cicada will make plenty of noise at this adult stage where it will attract a female to mate. It is said there are over 3,000 species of cicada in the world!
Fly fishing in the tropical rainforest presents a lot of challenges
Fly fishing in the tropical rainforest presents a lot of challenges
This size fish are common and still great fun to catch
This size fish are common and still great fun to catch
A very formidable fish that deserves respect and care by all anglers
A very formidable fish that deserves respect and care by all anglers
Spotting mahseer stacked up like that just gets the heart pumping!
Spotting mahseer stacked up like that just gets the heart pumping! Careful! They spook really easily.
There are some big fish in amongst the average ones. This is jungle river sight fishing for mahseer at its absolute best!
Wasn't easy trying to get a shot of a mahseer feeding of the surface
Wasn’t easy trying to get a shot of a mahseer feeding off the surface
Plenty of finning action to savour
Plenty of finning action to savour
David keeping low and sneaking up to get into a casting position.
David keeping low and sneaking up to get into a casting position. Often made challenging with all the jungle behind you waiting to catch your fly in the backcast and limiting your distance. The challenge presented makes the fishing so very interesting.
Not the biggest fish or the intended target but heck, still a nice catch.
Not the biggest fish or the intended target but heck, still a nice catch.

Day 4 – Low Water

We fish a very rocky river today
We fish a very rocky river today. Offering a different set of challenges.
Let's get right into the action for day 3 with this shot of a spiderweb in from of David
Let’s get right into the action for day 4 with this shot of a spiderweb in front of David
Making a long cast. Any closer and the mahseer gets spooked almost every time.
Making a long cast. Any closer and the mahseer gets spooked almost every time.
Enlarge to see the splendour of the jungle setting
Enlarge to see the splendour of the jungle setting
Approaching one of the most treacherous section of this very rocky river.
Approaching one of the most treacherous section of this very rocky river.
Water level of the river was very low that time making finding fish harder than it normally would be.
Water level of the river was very low that time making finding fish harder than it normally would be.
Another look at the terrain and low water level
Another look at the terrain and low water level
Another cicada exoskeleton. I have big hands and this is a big bug!
Another cicada exoskeleton. I have big hands and this is a big bug!
The underside of the cicada exoskeleton
The underside of the cicada exoskeleton
From this point the river is untouchable for a stretch about 50m long.
From this point the river is untouchable for a stretch about 50m long. The gorge in the background almost always hold monster mahseer. Just out of casting range. Here we have to climb up the left side into the jungle. Then looking down through the trees from about 30m you can see all the big fish in the pool below.
Taking a break by the river
Taking a break by the river
Lunch is served. A tasty Thai meal in the middle of the jungle followed by hot coffee is hard to describe.
Lunch is served. A tasty Thai meal in the middle of the jungle followed by hot coffee is hard to describe.
A couple of fish around this size was caught today. Nothing significant to write home about.
A couple of fish around this size was caught today. Nothing significant to write home about.

Day 5 – Final Day Hits and Misses

David in front of his 'water villa' bungalow
David in front of his ‘water villa’ bungalow
Morning commute to the river
Fendi and Ian
Enjoying the ride
The boatmen are locals living a simple but hard life. Very nice people that knows the rivers and jungle very well. Some are retired former park rangers.
The boatmen are locals living a simple but hard life. Very nice people that knows the rivers and jungle very well. Some are retired former park rangers.
A herd of deer at the lake's edge spotted from our boat
A herd of deer at the lake’s edge spotted from our boat. Wildlife tours are actually quite popular here. It’s not uncommon to see boat loads of tourists on such “safari”.
Not just mahseer in the rivers. Can you spot the others?
Not just mahseer in the rivers. Can you spot the others?
The smallest fish in this picture is estimated at 2kg!
The smallest fish in this picture is estimated at 2kg!
More big fish in this picture
More big fish in this picture

Checkout this video to experience the scenes above

Coffee break, JW with two Davids!
Coffee break, JW with two Davids!

Day 5 was a somewhat frustrating yet fun day for us. We spotted plenty of very big fish.

David caught a couple but also lost at least two good ones either breaking him off or dropping the hook.

What can I say? He’ll be back?!

Day 6 Till The Next Time

Some places are just photogenic. Like this scene here during sunrise.
Some places are just photogenic. Like this scene here during sunrise.
As the morning sun peeks over the jungle the boys make their way to the restaurant for breakfast.
Breakfast group photo
Breakfast group photo
Misty morning hides the trees in the background of the boat
Misty morning hides the trees in the background of the boat
Breathtaking scenery of Cheow Lan lake that never ceases
Breathtaking scenery that never ceases

That concludes this trip report. I hope you have enjoyed the photos and short narrations.

Quite a few photos but there’re a lot to show. Don’t forget to watch the trip video to get a really good experience.

If you are interested to find out more about fishing for Thai mahseer here with us, contact Juan Wei.

Comments

  1. Affendi says

    Great pics and commentary JW. Never tired of the place. Can’t wait for our upcoming trips which is just around the corner.

    Reply

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