Mahseer Research Centre
We are not Sponsored or Funded by Anyone
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The Mahseer Research Centre
Fishing for Mahseer
Anyone that has fished for Mahseer on the Cauvery River
(Kaveri River) over the last
18 years will have either, fished with me, or heard of Mr Joe, as I have
fished for the whole season of about 3 months every year.
I have been trying to open a Mahseer Research Centre for over 15 years, so
little is actually known about these magnificent creatures, how far they
travel, feeding habits, growth rate, etc
There were 4 camps on the 47 Kilometres of river, Doddamakali which is
furthest up stream and was the original monster Mahseer home, sadly it was
allowed to be netted and Dynamited, which is still happening to this day,
and when the new water pipe to Bangalore opens next year, the river in
that part will drop 10 feet,15 years ago this was my first choice, for a
research centre, but after lengthy talks with the government lease
holders, it stalled and came to nothing. Next down stream was Beemishwari,
which I have to say was my favourite place, beautiful scenery and very
good fishing in November and December, although over the last few years it
turned into more of an Adventure and Nature camp, and being in the heart
of the Sanctuary, was the second camp to have fishing banned, under the
wildlife Act. Next down stream is Galibore which again has been affected
by the Wild life Act, being mostly in the Sanctuary, and only having about
2 kilometres of river to fish on the camp side. Then there was Bush Betta
which is another camp that I tried to take. Then I find out that as a
Foreigner I cannot have a lease only an Indian or a company can.
Founding an Indian Research Centre for Mahseer
India is listed by itself as the 7th most difficult Country in the World
to open a company, and that’s for Indians, so you can imagine what it is
like for an Englishman to try and wade through the Red Tape that was left
behind by the British. To open a Company in India you need a Business
Visa, but to get a Business Visa, you either have to have a Business or be
working for a Company in India. Fill in the forms for a Directors I.D
Number, then when it is said to be satisfactory, you have to jump on a
plane back to England, photo copy every page in your passport, get a
recent utility bill and the form, now with a photo stuck on it, and with
all the original documents go to a Notary Public, pay a handsome sum to
have a seal put on every page and then signed by the Notary, and then fly
back to India with all documents. After waiting what seems like a life
time the papers are sent back, as the seal on the photo is not covering
enough of the photo, so its back on the plane to England and back to the
Notary, in the U.K you have to produce the original documents and be there
in person. Back to India again, this time granted a Directors I.D Number.
Now its time to submit names for a company, 10 names that you like, are
all rejected, and if you want to use the word India or Indian in the name
you have to put up approx $250,000. The next 10 names are rejected and
sections of the different names I have given are joined together and
Mahseer Sports and Adventures Pvt Ltd India is the name I am given.
By this time 2 years has passed bye,
what took my friend in England 20 minutes to do on the internet (Indian
Adventures) about £200 in the U.K had now cost me a small fortune and 2
years of my life!
At this point Bush Betta Camp is no longer available, to me. which in a
way was a good thing as this was the first camp to be closed, under the
Wild Life Act, and is now sadly left to the poachers.
The Mahseer Research Centre is Born
So now four years later I have been invited to do research in what I can
only describe as the secret place, and this will not be revealed to
anyone, as it has been patrolled for a number of years and poachers are no
longer in a vest and lungi, but are dressed like these 3 Poachers that I
came across on Sunday the 12th March 2011. Even poachers get on the
internet these days.
We are also doing a breeding programme, to reintroduce fish to the river,
and land in India is now more expensive than in Europe.
In the U.K I am being helped by Dr Bruno Broughton, Fisheries Consultant
and Tony from Chips4fish with regards to micro chipping the Mahseer and Dr
Ian Welch as a consultant.
Research means catching Mahseer
Now to do the research, I need to catch the fish, and that is where
Mahseer Sports (www.MahseerSportsandAdventures.com) comes in, and hopefully you. I have a 2 bedroom 2 bathroom
lodge at present with 2 beds in each, the cost is £675 a week each for 2
sharing from Saturday to Saturday fishing with one rod at a time only.
Bunk beds can be put in so that 4 can stay if you are a group of friends.
Remember you are going to be out all day, its only for sleeping and
showering and the toilet. No more than 8 people will ever be allowed to
fish, as at present we only have 2 kilometres of protected river, next
year we hope to have another 3 kilometres of river some distance away to
see how far the Mahseer migrate.
If you are very Rich you can have a room to yourself and fish with 2 rods
for the price of £1,000 a week, Saturday to Saturday, this includes pick
up and drop of at Bangalore Airport. Or take the 2 rooms and have the camp
to yourself for £2,000 a week.
We will advise you on what tackle to bring, or take the easy option and
hire a quality rod and reel for £50 a week. I use Shimano Long Cast Reels
(Baitrunner) loaded with either either 40lb or 50lb Big Game line in Green
or Maxima Chameleon in 40lb or 50lb depending on the time of year, flow of
water and snags. And the finest Mahseer rod ever made and I have had
hundreds made looking for the perfect rod, which turned out to be
available off the shelf a Shimano Force Master S.T.C TFMMHD9611648, it’s a
travel rod, which can be fished at 9ft 6in in tight spots and 11ft 6in
when you need distance, everyone said they would never stand up to big
fish in fast water. How wrong they all were, and now that they are no
longer available every one is looking for one, just ask the guy who
caught his fish on one! (now he is looking
for one!)
The seasons for Mahseer
The Seasons are as follows from the 1st October to mid December this is
bait fishing time as the Water is higher, faster and coloured, from mid
December to the end of May this is Bait fishing, spinning and fly fishing
season, Ken Loughran had a 77lb plus on a plug.
Booking to fish for Mahseer in India
We will be taking credit card bookings as soon as Mahseer Sports and
Adventures website is up and running and linked to a payment Gateway
system to accept credit cards with HSBC England. (www.MahseerSportsandAdventures.com)
Bookings can be made now by email using the Contact
Us form.
Helping the Mahseer Research Centre
As it says at the top of the page we are not sponsored or funded by
anyone, but, we would welcome any donated tackle, the list of what we need
is below.
Shimano Rods
Shimano Reels
Does anyone make a weigh sling that’s 5feet wide/long
JRC Specialist x lite Chairs not reclining 2.2 or 2.5kg that is enough
weight to carry 2 kilometres
Fish Finders
Landing Nets of all sizes but bigger the better
Flavours especially Richworth Luncheon Meat Flavour
Any Donations, Funding, Grants, Sponsors with Quality Products are very welcome, as this project has turned out to be very, very
expensive!
Please click here to
Contact the Mahseer Research Centre This is a
10 year Research program and any profits will be used for Conservation and
for further research into the Magnificent Indian Mahseer.
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