Fishing is big business in Kashmir through
spring and summer. The British introduced the brown and rainbow
trout to the streams of Kashmir, where they have thrived. At the
same time they introduced the system of anglers reserving ' beats'
on their favorite river. Reservations for beats should be made
before one arrives in Kashmir, through an Indian Government
Tourist Office or directly to the Tourist Reception Centre in
Srinagar .
The Fishing Season
The
season runs from April to October. Only artificial flies are
allowed and each licence entitles the angler to keep six fish a
day, none being shorter than 7.5 cm. Beats may be reserved for a
day or a week at a time in one of the three basic types of
streams.
Larger
rivers like Sindh or Liddar are full with snow, melting from May
to July, with an occasional pool under boulders. Spinning is
allowed here, but the wet fly and weighted cast tests the skill of
the angler and will produce good results. In April, August and
September these rivers are quieter, and the bigger fish are said
to lie in the stiller waters.
Tributaries and water channels near these mainstream beats provide
another type of fishing throughout the season. These are the
smaller streams where only flies are allowed, with wet fly fishing
good all season. The third type are the small spring fed streams
and high altitude lakes suitable for both dry and wet fly tackle.
Equipments
A light two to three metre Rod (fishing rods cannot be carried as
hand luggage on aircraft for security reasons) with an eight cm
reel will suffice. Common flies in use in Kashmir include Peacock,
March Brown, Butcher, Jinger Quill, Coachman, Woodcock & Green and
Watson's Fancy.
There are 61 beats open for reservation throughout the season,
ranging from the turbulence of the Sindh and Wangat Rivers to the
tranquility of the high altitude lakes Krishanshar, Vishanshar,
Gangabal and Nunkhol. |