Day Trips – Fishing Thailand
A3 offers a verity of day trips out of Chiang Mai, using kayaks or boats. The driving distance is 45min – 1.5 hour max. We can handle individuals up to groups of 6. The usual itinerary is that we pick up our guests from their hotels/guesthouses or prearranged meeting place at dawn, our kayaks or boats are launched around sunrise followed by intense fishing until noon. Pending on location, the brake during the midday may vary, but if the bite is hot we of course fish as hard as the guest requires. Our trips vary from 8-14 hours of fishing time, excluding transportation. However if the bite is on, we will fish longer at our guests request, without an extra charge. Our team are serious fishermen, taking no greater pleasure then to maximize the fishing experience of our guests!
We serve breakfast to our morning guests, consisting of fresh brewed coffee and fruit juices, and English muffins and/or yogurts. Lunch and short siesta is either done on a local floating house or on shady spot along the shore. Lunch consists of cold cut sandwiches and/or pasta as well as few local Thai snacks. Unlimited water and sodas, but alcoholic beverages can be provided at cost, if required.
All tackle (fly or lure) is provided for. We carry a large selection of tackle from name brands such as Shimano, Loop, Rio, Temple Forks, Berkley, Okuma and a few others.
Daytrips are offered to the following reservoirs:
Mae Kuang
Fact file:
Type: Boats and kayaks
Distance from Chiang Mai: 30km
Driving time: 45 min.
Best fishing time: Midday – evening
Target species: Giant Snakehead
Other wildlife: Various bird species, notably Harriers and Hawks (seasonal), Drongo’s and Greater Coucal
Hint: The nearest destination to Chiang Mai, convenient afternoon fishing
Mae Kuang is often described as the University of Giant Snakehead, due to the disproportionate ratio of fish there v. fish caught. Due to the proximity to Chiang Mai it gets a fair fishing pressure from locals. However A3’s team has developed a range of lures and flies and methods to maximize the change of catching the Giant Snakehead.
A typical fishing day yields anything from 1-2 fish, up to 7 – 8 on a good day. The average weight is 1-2 kilos, with the odd 3-6 kg fish showing up. Fish over 12 kg have been caught in Mae Kuang, so it’s very important to never underestimate the fish, there are true giants lurking around. Mae Kuang is ideal for kayak fishing due to its layout and proximity with Chiang Mai. Mae Kuang is the most consistent producer of fish over the year, with only at the height of the rainy season or dry season to be considered a slow season.
Please note, we offer a combination day trip of Mae Kuang and Mae Ngat as well as stand alone daytrip.
Mae Ngat
Fact file:
Type: Boats and kayaks
Distance from Chiang Mai: 55km
Driving time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Best fishing time: Early Morning – midday
Target species: Jungle Perch and Giant Snakehead
Other wildlife: Herons, Egrets, various ducks and Peacocks (rare)
Hint: A very beautiful reservoir, especially in end of rainy season and winter season (October-February). At times the most productive reservoir with double digit catches.
Mae Ngat Reservoir sits in the midst of Sri Lanna National Park, just over an hours drive north of Chiang Mai. Its 14 km long from north-east to south-west, and 1-2 km wide, cut by numerous bays and enclaves. The reservoir is home to large population of Jungle Perch which can grow up to 3.5 kilos. Giant Snakeheads are not as common but after the rainy season (July-September) pending on successful spawning, the population can explode.
Daily catches normally include a mix of Jungle Perch and Giant Snakehead, with 2-6 fish per angler being common, but days with over 10-15 fish happen regularly, especially after the rainy season and early winter. A short window of great fishing also exists just at the end of hot season (March early April).
Mae Ngat is a great choice for kayak and boat fishing, as well as taking a non-fisher along.
Please note, we offer a combination day trip of Mae Kuang and Mae Ngat as well as stand alone daytrip.
Kiow Lom
Fact file:
Type: Boats and kayaks
Distance from Chiang Mai: 140 km.
Driving time: 1.5 hours
Best fishing time: Early Morning – evening
Target species: Jungle Perch
Other wildlife: Various duck species, Herons, Egrets and Gibbons
Hint: A beautiful reservoir, with a stunning canyon section in the middle part, where a cable is strung across to allow Gibbons who live in nearby caves to cross.
Kiow Lom reservoir is located in Lampang Province, an hour and a half’s drive east of Chiang Mai. The reservoir is home to huge population of Jungle Perch, who are noted by locals as being the strongest fighting stock of all Jungle Perch. The fishing can at times be a big challenging, but the rewards can be double digit catch days, on both topwater and sinking lures/spoons. Fly fishing can be a bit challenging in Kiow Lom, so we don’t recommend it for fly-only fishermen. Kiow Lom fishes best during the end of rainy season (October-November) and again in hot season (March-May).
Please note, that a combination trip of Kiow Lom and Location –X-, requires participants to be in reasonable fit condition, as the day is long and we cover a fair bit of water on the kayaks!
Location -X-
Fact file:
Type: Kayaks only!
Distance from Chiang Mai: 140 km.
Driving time: 1.5 hours
Best fishing time: Midday – evening
Target species: Giant Snakehead
Other wildlife: Eagles, Harriers, Hawks and other birds of pray
Hint: A productive “secret” reservoir, producing at times trophy Giant Snakeheads.
Location –X- is a small reservoir near Kiow Lom which we choose to offer under a pseudo name. We only offer fishing to this lake using kayaks, and only as an add-on to a Kiow Lom trip. This reservoir does not produce fish year around, so only during times of plenty, do we visit it, and the fishing can be fantastic, with 2-3 trophy Giant Snakeheads per rod not uncommon.
Please note, that a combination trip of Kiow Lom and Location –X-, requires participants to be in reasonable fit condition, as the day is long and we cover a fair bit of water on the kayaks!
Doi Tao
Fact file:
Type: Boats only!
Distance from Chiang Mai: 120 km.
Driving time: 1.5 hours
Best fishing time: Early morning – evening
Target species: Giant Snakehead and Jungle Perch
Other wildlife: Multitude of bird species such as Herons, Egrets and birds of pray. The animal species count three types of primates, Gibon, Langur and Macaque and with a bit of luck Fishcat and Asiatic Black Bear.
Hint: Probably the longest guided day trip available, covering on average 140km on the water, but well worth it, as you will see some of the most spectacular scenery and wildlife in Thailand. A great choice for fishers as well as non-fishermen, who like what is without a doubt the most remote location in North-Thailand.
Doi Tao is the north part of Bhumiphol reservoir, which stretches 124 km. from north to south. We fish approximately 70km down the series of lakes and river, threading through the canyons to get to our fishing spots. The fishery can be very productive, Giant Snakeheads nearing 10 kilos are caught regularly and double digit numbers of Jungle Perch are common place. Bumiphol reservoir holds without a doubt some of the biggest Jungle Perch, with the reported heaviest fish ever caught at just over 6 kilos. The lower middle part of Bhumiphol reservoir is located in the Ping National Park, which is one of the most spectacular parks in Thailand, with vertical cliffs of 3000 feet dropping near straight into the water.
Please note this trip is very arduous, 18 hours including transportation, so we ask guests to be well prepared and ready for this unique daytrip.
