Fly Fishing

Fly Fishing in Northern Thailand

Fly fishing is in its infancy in Thailand, and it’s extremely unusual to see a local angler with a fly rod. Although the locals can’t teach you much in the way of fly fishing techniques, their real knowledge is knowing where the fish are located throughout the season. After that, a skilled flyfisherman can usually put the rest of the deal together.

When targeting Giant Snakehead or Jungle Perch, the fly needs to be retrieved quickly and smoothly, and with no interruptions. Very often a two-handed retrieve is necessary to entice a strike from either Snakehead or Jungle Perch. Only when the Jungle Perch or smaller Snakeheads have baitfish surrounded in open water is the fishing relatively easy. At such times, any cast with a reasonable imitation of the baitfish will entice a vicious strike. It is not uncommon to have several strikes on one retrieve before there is a hookup.

Freestone River Fly Fishing

Rivers blessed with clean, clear water are not abundant in Asia, but there are a few delightful locations where you could be forgiven for thinking you were in Montana, Canada, New Zealand etc.

Some of these hold significant and varied populations of truly wild fish, including Thai Mahseer, Golden Mahseer, Jungle Perch, Burmese Trout and catfish etc.

The most effective river fishing technique is exactly the same as fly fishing in New Zealand – long leaders, a large “attractor” dry fly with a bead-head nymph on a 2ft  – 3ft dropper! The Mahseer are wary, possesed of good eyesight, and spook at line shadow, excessive false casting, poor presentation, visible drag…

However,  they cheerfully accept well presented dry flies, nymphs and streamers. When an afternoon rainfall stimulates a caddis hatch on a small stream,  a #12 Elk Hair Caddis is deadly!