Mahseer fishing summary
Himalayan mahseer are found in rivers with limited human contact, although specimens weighing up to 100 lbs can be seen where the fish enjoys protected status in the vicinity of Himalayan temples in Rishikesh. During the monsoon season from July onwards, golden mahseer make their way upstream through roaring rapids to breed in spawning rivers, before dropping back to the deeper holding pools of the main Ganges River when the monsoon ends in late summer, early autumn. Post spawning season, the rivers are teeming with life and September to November is an ideal time to target these huge predators before the onset of winter. From December to February the fish lie in deeper warmer waters and do not often show on the surface, but as the temperatures warm up towards the end of February activity increases according to the weather, with larger fish appearing if conditions are warm enough for snow fed waters to reach the main river between March and May, with the very hot months of June and July often proving to be good taking time.
Mahseer can be caught either by lures or with the fly. The largest fish tend to attack lures fished deep with specialist spinning tackle, smaller specimens inhabiting fast flowing rapids falling victim to a flashy streamer flies. Techniques include rafting downstream through grade 3 – 5 rapids, and also fishing from both banks of the river on foot, taking care not to spook this shy and reclusive predator. Mahseer fight like tigers when hooked, often using the rocks, rapids and strong currents of fast flowing mountain rivers to their advantage. Broken rods and straightened hooks are a regular feature of mahseer fishing, which is why our guides and staff carry plenty of spare equipment on these trips. Mahseer in the Himalayan rivers run up to 70lbs, and are considered to be amongst the top five fighting fish in the world.
Please contact us for further details, cost and availability.
