Monday 19 October 2015

Fishing Thailand: Day 1


On holiday to Thailand and I'd set aside three full days of fishing - and I knew exactly where I was heading. I've been following Exotic Fishing Thailand on Facebook for well over a year now. And even though it involved an extra flight I had to wet a line there. I'm going to do a full post about EFT when I get the chance.


After a bit of a nightmare missing my connecting flight and credit cards not working (took about 2 hours, but new flight booked and cards sorted out) I awoke on day one in paradise. The photo above is where I was staying about 3km from the fishery. I strolled up the road about 7am and a taxi pulled up "you going fishing?"


We bumped along a potholed road, past temples, stray dogs and scarecrows until we drove through the iron gates of EFT, it was like the start of Jurassic Park. Simply beautiful. I was met by Mike, the owner, and we had a chat about the rigs, fish and where I would likely find an alligator gar (my target). From there I wandered around the lake - watching the arapaima rolling - to meet my guide Bau (I hope I've spelt his name right).


To the fishing... Three rods with three rigs; a deadbait, halibut pellet and shoal feeder/polly-pop-up (new to me, great idea and I'll go into detail later). It took about an hour to get a positive run - f*ck me these things fight! Took me all around the lake before the hook pulled - gutted!

But not gutted for long - the other rod was away. I was more cautious this time and ten minutes later an Amazon redtail catfish was in the net (top photo) - the trip was worth it then and there!

After a couple of minutes breather I was in again - a chao phraya catfish, swiftly followed by another Amazon red. Arm ache that is worth flying a quarter of the way around the world for. The next run was even better...


I kind of knew I'd hit one, the fact I didn't see it while I played it in and once it was in front of me - it decided it didn't want to have it's photo taken and belt out further than I'd originally hooked it - an arapaima - brilliant!

After signing a waiver on arrival and swearing to God I wouldn't sue if it broke my arm (Arapaimas are notoriously dangerous to handle) I had my photo taken holding the business end of my first one.


Thanks Mike for the photo. Mike then told me he had a shoal of pacu feeding down the other side of the lake - did I want a go? I hit one as the bait hit the water - the odds were against me - but I got it right to the side before it bit through the braid - then they didn't want to play.


Another Amazon red soon took my mind off it and then a tiger shovelnose catfish was on the books - really fancied one of these - beautiful.


Day was already turning into night - but as you can imagine I couldn't drag myself away - one more cast, one more fish. We had to wait a while before a wallagoo leeri made a mistake. I'm blaming jet lag (and it didn't have a tail) for the fact I didn't get a photo! Next up was a hoven's carp that simply flicked out of my hands before a camera was even pointed in my direction!


Last up was an Asian redtail catfish - as I'd dropped the last two I settled for a photo in the net. The day was done - what a day - with the promise of tomorrow we packed up surrounded by fireflies - magic.

14 comments:

  1. Nice, been waiting for this report!!

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    1. Me too - I've never been so careful with a memory card. What an unbelievable trip!!

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  2. I shall have to conjure up another word that surpasses envy, then you'll know what I'm feeling. Magnificent mate!, so much so myself and the Mrs have been checking up prices to Thailand, we plan to go for 2-3 weeks. You lucky boy!!!!!

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    1. James, I'm already planning my trip next year - and to be perfectly honest I'm wondering if I can sneak a week in before Christmas!

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  3. Great report. That's one box ticked on your bucket list. And quite a few rare fish species also...

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    1. Cheers Ollie. Trying to get the reports of day 2 & 3 written, they just kept getting better!!

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  4. well done brian! but hold on,you are waist deep in alligator gar infested waters???

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    1. Cheers Grant. And never let it be said that I think these things through..!

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  5. obviously,you can leave hairy leg off the bait menu next time-they are fussy eaters! mind you,i remembered today,pacu are known for attacking bollocks,if you'll excuse my french!

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    1. Legs and bollocks are fine - I'm glad we're discussing this after the trip or I'd have been scared to go in!

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    2. what i should've said was,what a great looking swimming pool,and full of fish too! i hear there are 5oz gudgeon in there...

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    3. Ah, that's OK then. I heard there was a double figure gudgeon in there...

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  6. I have to say that the shovel nose cat is the best looker - what markings, what a day!

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    1. No fight at all, I literally didn't know there was a fish on until it got to the side - but it made up for it in looks! What a day indeed - I feel this is only the beginning of my fishing trips to Thailand!!

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