Mahseer Fishing Safari On The Ramganga In India

Wild Mahseer fishing Safari Northern India

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Release the adventurer in you, in India.

Somewhere deep in your mind, is a child who grew up with dreams of adventure and romance, a child who could turn a backyard into the great outdoors, a park into a mighty jungle. On a holiday at Corbett Ramganga Resort, you could find yourself getting to know that child all over again. India is a landscape dominated by numerous rivers, which makes it an ideal place for fishing. The Central Himalayan region in the Garhwal and Kumaon hills is probably one of the last refuges of truly wild Mahseer. The only other area where the fish thrive is in southern India on the River Cauvery. The latter is however a far less challenging environment than the upper valleys of the Himalayas.

This tour provides a fantastic and thrilling experience in India, where the beauty of meandering rivers, marshy depressions, plateaus and ravines make for an awesome scenery. You will indeed feel the worries of city life fading fast away. On this trip, you not only get to experience the wonders and the fishing of the Ramganga river but you also get a chance to drive up to Bhikiyasen in a jeep before starting to explore the Ramganga river by raft, stopping to fish and camp at any likely place that takes your fancy.

The Mahseer is the most spectacular fish present in many of the rivers originating from the Himalayas, and flowing ultimately into the Bay of Bengal. It can easily swim upstream against rapids at over 20 knots and can grow up to 125 lbs. There are also plenty of Goonch, popularly known as Catfish. The habitual fast-flowing rivers that descend through spectacular mountain valleys in almost continual rapids, offer not only tremendous sport but also wonderful scenery and the opportunity for solitude.

As ever, the best fishing tends to be in the less explored remote areas and therefore on this tour, you truly get to experience the real Northern India. You fish on the Ramganga River before moving to Bhikiyasen by jeep. You then start to explore the Ramganga River by raft, stopping to fish and camp along the confluence of the Sarda and Saryu rivers at Pancheshwar. Camping is in two men tents right by the river; relax as you see Mahseer jump and watch wild animals come down to drink.

There are two periods of the year when anglers concentrate on Mahseer fishing in India. In autumn (Sep/Oct/Nov), as the rivers begin to clear after the monsoon, and in spring (March/April/May), when the early monsoon rain begins to raise the level of the rivers again. The Himalayan Rivers can be expected to clear around the end of September. In spring, the optimum fishing time can be variable ranging from the beginning of March to end of May. Mahseer migrate down the rivers in the autumn as the river levels drop. They ascend again as the monsoon corners in late spring. Each river varies in its characteristics to promote the run of fish and the timing is notoriously difficult to predict. For this reason, the trip involves visiting different rivers/venues.

The beauty of fishing these remote rivers, which are home to the truly wild Mahseer, is the number of ways you can fish for them. The most enjoyable way is to spin / lure or fly fish. The phrase "big water - big fish - big tackle" applies. For the smaller rivers, a 1.5" spoon on 15lbs line will be adequate, but fishing on a larger river confluence requires 25lbs ultra thin, transparent line with much larger spoons and flies are required. Spoons that are predominantly silver are most successful but MEPS Spinners, 3, 4 & 5/Rapala/Giant Killers can be used. Jointed Plugs and Snap Swivels are also used to great effect.

Each river varies in its characteristics to promote the run of fish, and the timing is notoriously difficult to predict. For this reason, the trip involves visiting different rivers and venues. Our trips will take anglers to some remote areas where local villagers rarely, if ever, seen non-Indian travellers. The aim of these trips is to provide experience of a wide range of Himalayan Rivers. Though the distances may not appear very great on a map, journeys like Ramganga and the Jaujibi confluence are literally the 'end of the road'.

information

FISHING METHODS

Spinning, Lure Fishing and Freshwater Fly Fishing

SPECIES TO CATCH

Golden Mahseer

Season: Sept to Nov and March to May
Peak: 18th Jan to 18 Feb
Weight: 1 lb to 75 lb
Average Weight: 9 lb

Note: these figures are complied with catch reports over 5 years, however they can be effected by adverse weather.

quick check

TOUR INCLUDES

Flights (WT), transfers, accommodation, meals, guided fishing, fishing licence and packed lunch.

WHAT’S EXCLUDED

Holiday insurance, personal items and local tips (recommendation £15 - £25 per day for your guide, although best to pay your guide at the end of the week).

OPTIONS

Seat upgrades available with British Airways.

VISA

A machine-readable passport with at least 6 months before expiry. Full Visa required from Indian Embassy.

MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS

Malaria, Hepatitis, Typhoid and Tetanus.

PLEASE NOTE

All details of visa and medical requirements are correct at time of press. However, please check these requirements for changes before you travel.

DEPARTURE TAX

There is no additional airport departure tax when leaving India.

FLIGHT ROUTE AND FLIGHT TIME

UK - Delhi (approx 10 hrs)

BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE

(WT) 1 checked in item 23 kg (WTP) 2 checked in items 23 kg (C/F) 3 checked in items 23 kg.

TRANSFER TIME

Delhi - Ramganga Lodge (approx 5 hrs).

other activities

WILDLIFE SAFARI'S

Explore the Jim Corbett National Park on elephant back, and expect to see what a true jungle has to offer.

WHITE WATER RAFTING

A fantastic, thrilling adventure which leads you down the white water rapids of the Ramganga river.

An Amazing Week For The Customers At The Farquhar Lodge, Seychelles!

Wild Mahseer fishing Safari Northern India