General Information
While fishing with The Himalayan Outback, anglers will share a raft to access different sections of the river. Fishing is generally done by wading from the bank, although on some larger rivers, fishing from the raft can at times be productive. For many scenarios encountered, we recommend a 200 to 250-grain sinking tip (or similar) fly line that will allow you to effectively strip streamers in deeper water and faster currents. Overall, a variety of presentations can be used, including skating dries, dead-drifting nymphs, or even swinging spey flies with a two-handed rod. Fishing for Mahseer is in many ways similar to fishing for steelhead or Atlantic salmon. The types of water that Mahseer inhabits in the Himalayan foothills range from crystal clear, small channels and streams to large, off-colored glacial rivers.

Northern India’s four-month fishing window consists of a Spring season (March through May) and an Autumn season (late September through late October):

Spring Season
By late February, the region’s short winter eases into a beautiful spring – usually by early March. This results in an immediate increase in fish activity. As the area water temperatures rise consistently, Mahseer are generally inactive and sluggish during the winter months begin feeding actively – hunting in the shallows and feeding on both baitfish and insect hatches. As spring progresses towards the month of May, the heat intensifies and the snowmelt from the Himalayan ranges trigger an up-river migration of Mahseer. This marks a significant phase of the spring/summer fishing season, and the fishing keeps getting better! During this time, large numbers of Mahseer congregate at “hot-spots” in anticipation of the approaching monsoons, feeding voraciously whenever given the opportunity as they prepare for the yearly migratory ritual during the monsoons. The spring months are also a great time of the year to combine fishing with wildlife safaris. The Saryu/Kali rivers fishing adventure can be combined with wildlife safaris to one of India’s finest tiger areas – the Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve. Host to one of the largest concentrations of Bengal Tigers in the world and one of the only tiger reserves that allow overnight stays within the park, this is a great add-on and compliment to any Indian fishing adventure.

Autumn Season
A large part of the spawning ritual takes place during the monsoons (July through mid-September), and in this raging and hostile environment, none but the toughest fish will make it to the next season. As the monsoons dissipate towards mid-September, schools of Mahseer begin dropping back into their favorite resident pools, feeding voraciously before settling in for the winter. This marks the shorter autumn fishing season, which lasts for exactly one month (September 25th through October 25th). This is another great time for fishing for the Himalayan Mahseer, and the fall fishing weeks can be very productive.

Boats and Equipment 
Fishermen will float-fish and wade fish via self-bailing rafts. Each boat is equipped with a cooler for food and drinks during the day. It is recommended that anglers bring all rods, reels, waders, boots, flies, and terminal tackle.