If you are an adventurous angler, the Golden Mahseer Fishing trip is one of the most exciting tours on our programme today. The Golden Mahseer is known as an extremely aggressive feeder and migratory fresh water fish which inhabits only a very few rivers in northern India and Nepal. Intrepid anglers in the past have journeyed afar to find the few remaining pristine habitats that have not suffered from overfishing to catch these river monsters. An average mature Golden Mahseer is approximately 15-20 lbs, but they can grow up to 50 lbs plus, and substantially bigger.
TfT Travel is one of the only operators left in the Himalayas that is licensed to offer the opportunity to go and catch the fish in far western Nepal. Although this omnivorous fish still thrives in the right protected habitat, the Golden Mahseer is easily spooked, and the challenge of catching the fish must not be underestimated. The rivers you will be taken to are nestled in immaculate, picture-perfect jungles and Sal forest, with crystal clear water, offering an abundance of wildlife as well as some excellent fishing.
On arrival at Kathmandu Tribhuvan airport, you will be met by our ground staff and transferred to the domestic airport. The 50-minute flight to Nepalgunj, in West Nepal, brings you alongside the might of the Himalayas. The views from the aircraft offer a panorama like no other, white-capped Himalayas as far as the eye can see! (Tip grab a seat on the right). On arrival in Nepalgunj, you will be seamlessly transferred to your new home away from home: Tiger Tops Karnali lodge. You will be staying here on a full board basis.
Karnali is an intimate lodge with outstanding personal service and expert guiding. The lodge creates a calming, soothing retreat with a focus on fresh, organic produce.
Today you begin a journey out of the ordinary; you will set off taking a road north west of the lodge up into the foothills of the high Himalaya. Your journey will take you through traditional, wild Himalayan country through villages of conventional Nepalese homes, pristine Sal forest with healthy tiger populations and stunning mountain views. After 8 hours or so you will be met by Tiger Tops staff, who will load you up into the river raft and set off down river to begin your river trip down the West Seti in search of the mighty Golden Mahseer.
You will be spending the coming six nights at the tented camp with Tiger Tops Karnali lodgeon a full board basis.
The first day of the river rafting brings you out through wide-open rivers with magical hill vistas either side of the banks. Here you get a real feel of the Himalayan snowmelt and the importance of the water resource for the people of Nepal. Once settled in the raft and away from the pockets of villages, time to get your fishing tackle together and cast a lure or fly.
Camp 3 is arguably the best spot on the river to catch the Golden Mahseer, you will be arriving into camp in good time and leaving just before lunch on day 5, this will give you the best chances of covering the pools that have been fruitful in the past.
Today will be a mixture of fishing from the raft and off the bank, as mentioned earlier, the Golden Mahseer are easily spooked with lies in both fast shallow water and deep rocky beds. Your guide throughout the trip will be experienced in the art of locating the right pools and stretches along the river that hold large shoals of fish.
Camp 4 will be located on a beach at the bottom of a steep gorge, which is only accessible by river raft, with the site away from any village or agricultural life leaving the Caribbean sands entirely to you.
Today you will venture out after a spot of fishing prior to eggs, bacon and fresh coffee cooked on a campfire, down the fastest section of the river. As the river gorge deepens, the river flow intensifies bringing some fantastic rafting amongst the fishing. The chances are today you will experience an overwhelmingly amount of adrenalin from the grade 4 rapids and hopefully a ‘tight line’…
The final two days bring you out into quieter, bigger and deeper waters. Here you will have to change fishing tactics to make sure both tackle and bait can cope with the change in conditions. The larger water of the Karnali also brings hope in catching one of the biggest and largest fresh water fish species- ‘The Goonch’. Goonch are a type of catfish that have flourished in the Himalayas and are well known river monsters. The Goonch are bottom feeders, with a preference to rotting flesh. There have been cases in India where villagers have lost livestock to the Goonch, the confluence of the Karnali and the Bheri river is infamous for this river beast. As the fish is predominately active at night, our guides will assist with setting night lines to give you the best chance of catching the mysterious fish.
After a final breakfast out in camp, the guides and staff will drift you into the entrance of Bardia national park. Our staff on the ground will then help you off the raft, into a Landrover to take you back into a world of comfort and magic at Tiger Tops Karnali Lodge. A hot shower, followed by a hearty wholesome meal fresh from the organic vegetable garden will set you up perfectly for an afternoon snooze or a trip out to find the Bengal Tiger in Bardia National Park.
This last night you will be staying at Tiger Tops Karnali Lodge on a full board basis.
After an early breakfast and start, you will head to Nepalgunj for your morning flight back to Kathmandu. On arrival you will be met and transferred across to the International airport for your onward connection.
February, March, April
October, November