Paul Imperia with a spectacular fly-caught specimen. Photo: Paul Imperia
Mahseer
The Pursuit of India’s Ultimate Gamefish
F
or game adventure travelers and fly anglers that appreciate the rewards of targeting wary and sophisticated fish, consider India’s mahseer a little-known contender near the top of the list. The mighty Himalayan mahseer is a sport fish of great strength and mystery that seems part tarpon, part carp and part steelhead. Feeding primarily on nymphs and baitfish, these exceedingly clever fish run from 1 to 60 pounds, and outfitter Misty Dhillon along with his crew at The Himalayan Outback have been unlocking the secret to catching them on flies for well over a decade. One of their favorite locations is the the Saryu River. The Saryu is located in the ruggedly beautiful Kumaon region of the Uttarakhand province in northern India near the Nepalese border. In season it typically runs crystal clear and has runs and pools reminiscent of some of our favorite steelhead rivers. Anglers access the river from either two or three deluxe safari-style camps located along the banks of the river, rafting between them throughout the course of the trip. Experiencing this region with Misty and his crew is like being guided backwards through time. This is not the crowded hustle and bustle of Mumbai, but rather an intimate glimpse of modest mountain people who live off of hillside terraces and all that they can forage and barter for. Traveling through India is an adventure in and of itself. Frankly, just getting to the put-in is more than some people want to take on, but for those undaunted by the rigors of third-world travel and energized by the mystery of a PAGE 76
By Brian Gies
new and challenging fishery, this is a unique and rewarding trip that few others compare to.
Your Hosts and The Program Misty Dhillon and his head guide Bobby are considered some of the world’s most accomplished mahseer fly anglers. They are nothing if not sophisticated, skilled, appealing and professional. They speak immaculate English and love adventure travel, hospitality, spey fishing and fly tying. At least one of these two will be on each trip. They will be assisted by additional local guides. The local guides know their rivers well and have learned to love the sport of fly fishing but are not yet what we consider expert fly fishing guides. Each day anglers will depart camp on foot, often starting at the home pool and work their way either up or downstream until lunch. Lunch is typically served back at camp and most often followed by a nap in the shade. Mid-afternoon, anglers head back out to fish until evening. Mahseer are known to feed at night so many anglers will fish well into darkness. Anglers will move between camps by rafts. Guest stay in comfortable safari style tents. The tents all have cots with sleeping pads and linens. The spacious camps include a dining tent, shower tent and bathroom tent. Meals include a combination of Indian vegetarian and non-vegetarian curries, Italian dishes, tandoori cuisine including naans as well as a bit of Chinese and Thai. Each morning anglers enjoy hearty continental breakfasts. Even in this remote location there are
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