About Angling, India

With a landscape dominated by numerous rivers, India is an ideal Angling destination. The fast-flowing rivers that descend through spectacular mountain valleys in almost continual rapids offer not only tremendous sport of Fishing but also wonderful scenery and solitude to the tourists.

Mahseer (^B)

The Garhwal and Kumaon hills considered ideal for fishing in India are probably one of the last refuges of truly wild Mahseer fish. The only other area in southern India, a perfect destination for Angling is River Cauvery.

The popular fishing venues for Mahseer Angling in India are :
River Cauvery in Karnataka Jia Bhoroli river, a tributary of Brahmaputra in Assam,
The junction of Nayar River and the Ganges at Byas Ghat in Garhwal (Uttaranchal)
The junction of the Sarju River with the River Kali at Pancheshwar, Kumaon
The Junction of the Sarju River and Eastern Ramganga, Kumaon
Nadaun and Hamipur, the Pong Dam reservoir, Neugal Khad and Baner Kund in Himachal Pradesh.
The streams around Munnar in Kerala

The best time for Mahseer fishing in India is in autumn from September to November as the rivers become clear after the monsoon and in spring from March to May when the early monsoon rain raises the level of the rivers again. The Himalayan Rivers clear up by the end of September.

Trout (^B)

Known as the Champagne of the sport, Trout is a sophisticated anglers’ delight. A small but hard to catch fish, the Trout lives only in glacial water. Most options for Trout Fishing are concentrated in the Northern Indian Region. Many a streams of Kullu valley namely the Tirthan, Jiwa, Larji, Katrain and Kasol and Rohru around Shimla abound in the commonly available Brown Trout, though the Rainbow Trout is also found at times. The Baspa River in Sangla valley is any Trout anglers delight. Many a streams in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) abound in Trout as well, the most famous being Lidder and Sindh Rivers. Many a lake in J&K hold considerable stocks of trout. The only lake in Garhwal (Uttraranchal) where one can find trout is the Dodital at a height of nearly 10000 feet, which is only accessible with a trek of two to three days from the road head.

Good equipment and technique plus an athletic frame are vital to any angler, which must be complemented by a fishing permit from the local authorities.

Apart from Mahseer and Trout one may try to fish for other varieties at the following sites.

Lake Powai in Maharashtra

Lakes in Kumaon (Saat-tal, Bhimtal, Naukuchiya Tal), Uttaranchal

The Madh Island Coastline near Mumbai in Maharashtra

Walvan Lake, Lonavala, Maharashtra