Angling

What is Angling ?

Angling, the technical term for fishing for leisure, is rather simple to start with. All it takes is a fishing rod and line, a hook, some bait, an awareness of the basic rules and co-operative fish, the last, of course, being the problem! In spite of a natural reluctance of fish to bite, people all across the globe spend huge amounts of time and money going after them, making angling one of the most popular recreational activities.

Angling can be either freshwater or saltwater. Freshwater angling starts with hooking small fry at a nearby pond. Serious anglers go after trout or salmon. But the big catch, which is every angler’s dream, is a denizen of India — the mahseer. Anglers from all over the world make annual pilgrimages to India to pit their wits against the mahseer, and tales of the canny fish keep growing.

The greatest threat to angling comes from the increasing pollution of rivers and lakes. The modern angling movement, is trying to work towards restocking fish and keeping rivers and lakes free from pollution.

Before you set out on your angling holiday, ensure that you take some precautions. Risks range from getting bitten by vicious fish to illnesses from contaminated water. Ensure that you are well-protected in terms of clothing, medicine and immunization.

Where to go ?

While many states in India offer the opportunity to go fishing, angling enthusiasts believe that the best freshwater fishing spots in India are in Galibore & Bheemeshwari in Karnataka, and Tirthan and Sainj in Kullu in Himachal Pradesh. Himachal Pradesh is home to the brown and rainbow trout, while Galibore & Bheemeshwari in Karnataka offer you a chance to bait the mahseer. Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Kashmir are emerging in popularity as angling holiday destinations.

What you need to know ?

Fishing permits are generally required in most places in India. For some restricted areas, such as certain areas in the north-east or some of the outlying islands in Indian coastal waters, you might need government permits to reach the place. This means that you should probably start planning your angling holiday well in advance.

An ideal starting point is to talk to one of the specialised tour operators who can get you going. For instance, operators in Garhwal, Himalayas have packages that last more than a week with accommodation facilities that range from tents to log huts.

Alternatively, you could contact some of the resorts in the key angling districts of India to work out an angling holiday package for yourself. For instance, permanent camps run by the Jungle Lodges near Bangalore provide well-developed facilities, including guides and different types of accommodation.

What you must carry ?

The basic equipment for freshwater fishing consists of three pieces — a rod made of wood, fibreglass or metal, a line made from nylon and a hook, typically made of metal. Angling enthusiasts almost always carry their own equipment.

Angling : Hotspots

Larji, Tirthan, Sainj, Katrain, Raison, Kasol, Naggar (Himachal)

Ramganga river, Pancheshwar (Himachal)

Itanagar, Tipi, Pasighta, Tezu (Arunachal)

Galibore, Bheemeshwari (Karnataka)

Angling : Do's and Don'ts

	Ensure that your tour operator has all the necessary permissions from the authorities.
	Watch out for muddy banks that could turn slippery.
	Don't go angling during fish breeding season.
	Don’t leave your rod unattended.
	Don’t use barbed hooks.