129 2

SPORT
FISHERIES
OF INDIA
K . L.SEHGAL
SPORT
FISHERIES
OF I DIA
KL. SEHGAL
National Research Centre on Cold Water
Fisheries, Haldwani, Naini Tal, Uttar Pradesh
Wl!'3FMf
leAR
PUBLISHED BY
PUBLICATIONS AND INFORMATION DIVISION
INDIAN COUNCIL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH

KRISHI ANUSANDHAN BHAVAN, PUSA
NEW DELHI 110 012
FIRST PRINTED AUGUST 1987
Director (P&I) : DR V.S. BHATT

Joint Director (P&l) : KRISHAN KUMAR
Chief Editor: S.N. TATA
Editor: R.R. LOKESHWAR
Associate : J.G. PANDEY
Production: R.N. MANOCHA
D.S. BEDEKAR
Chid Artist: M.K. BARDHAN
Associate: A. CHAKRAVARTY
All Rights Reserved

Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi
Price: Rs 10.00
Photocomposed and printed at Rekha Printers Pvt. Ltd. A 102/ I, Okhla Industrial
Area Phase II, New Delhi 110 020; and Published by Thakur Das, Under-Secretary,
for the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi 110 012.
"I in these flowery meads would be;

These crystal streams should solace me;
To whose harmonious bubbling noise
I with my angle would rejoice".
Izaak Walton
FOREWORD
THE book entitled Sport Fisheres ofIndia fulfils a long-felt need for a
consolidated account of principal sport fishes inhabiting the Indian
waters, fishing equipment and fishing methods, how, when and
where to fish, management of resources of sport of fish with fast
changing aquatic environment, development of tourism through
sport fishing etc. For the benefit of anglers the author has taken pains
to give a list of important fishing sports in the country and possible
pi aGes where fishing tackles, information for angling etc. can be
obtained. Sport fishing satisfies diverse taste and pursuits. It is a
source of recreation to millions of tourists both from home and
abroad. With fast increasing urban popUlation there is an accentuated search for outdoor recreation, and sport fishing deserves to be
imparted the status offamily fishing. Angling has become a source of
family recreation to people of all ages,and social and economic strata
of the society in many advanced countries like USA, Canada, UK
and Japan.
With fast degradation of our natural aquatic waterways, both by
man and natural phenomena, considerable adversaries are manifested on the sport fish fauna. To support the standard of recreational
fishing it is imperative to maintain the nation's waterways clean,
supplied with oxygen-rich water or right temperature, amply
endowed with requisite spawning and nursery facilities and with
abundant cover.
The contribution on Sport Fisheries ofIndia was invited from Dr
K.L. Sehgal for its inclusion in the low-priced publications of the
Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi. It is primarily
meant for fishing sportsmen, fishermen, tourists etc. Dr Sehgal has
tried to compile all, the available informations on the subject. The
publication will be useful for planners and development agencies
involved in management of fishing as a sport.
New Delhi
20 August 1985
R.M. ACHARYA
Deputy Director-General
Animal Sciences
Indian Council of Agricultural Research
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
THE author is grateful to Dr R.M. Acharya, Deputy DirectorGeneral (Animal Sciences), Jndian Council of Agricultural Research,
New Delhi, for assigning the preparation of this book, Dr A.V.
Natarajan, Director, Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute,
Barrackpore, for granting permission and providing all facilities
for the preparation of manuscript; Presidents of Himachal Angling
Association, Palampur. Himachal Pradesh, Munnar High Range
Angling Association, Munnar, Kerala, and Angling Association,
Tejpur, Assam; and Directors of Fisheries of States of Jammu &
Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala for providing field facilities.
PREFACE
IN the present era of scientific advancement the sport of angling has
undergone extensive modernization so as to be adoptcd by all persons of the society. The art of sport fishing is not new to India. It was
well-known in Ramayana and Mahabharata periods. In the 19th
century angling became a favourite pursuit of the Britishers and it
induced them to transplant certain game fishes like trouts in India
towards the turn of the present century. This led to the publication of
books on game fishes of India by Shri H.S. Thomas entitled Tank
Angling in India and Rod in India in 1873. The revised edition of the
Rod in India was brought out in 1897. Since then there had been two
publications devoted principally to mahseer, The Angler in India on
the Mighty Mahseer by S. Dhu in 1923 and Circumventing the
Mahseer and Other Sporting Fishes by A. St. J. Macdonald in 1948.
Recently an attempt was made to present the state of art on systematics of game fishes of India by Raj Tilak in 1982.
In view of the importance assumed by sport fishing in recent
years, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi,
decided to bring out a low-priced publication on sport fisheries of
India. In this book an attempt has been made to compile and make
available to the readers information on natural history of fresh and
salt water game fish; fishing equipment including lures, hooks, leaders, lines, rods, reels etc.; where, when and how to hook principal
game fishes; management of game fish resources; role of sport fishing
in development of tourism; principal fishing spots, etc.
K.L. SEHGAL
Officer-on-Special Duty
National Research Centre on
Cold Water Fisheries,
Haldwani,Naini Tal
CONTENTS
Foreword
Preface
(v)
(vii)
1. Introduction
2. Nature and Life of Fish
3. Principal Game Fishes
4. Fishing Equipment and Fishing Methods
31
5. How, When and. Where to Fish
48
6. Management of Sport Fisheries
75
7. Sport Fishing and Tourism
91
8. References
102
Appendix 1
lOS
Appendix II
107
Appendix III
126
CHAPTER \
INTRODUCTION
MANY of the well-known food fishes are also some of the best known
game fishes. The small minnows caught after much concentrated
effort by a novice with cane pole and line is a game fish to him while
for a professional angler mahseers, trouts, snow-trollts, salmons,
speared-fishes and tunas are game fish. There is also a slight difference between a fish which is caught for food and one hooked on a rod
for sport and later eaten. There is another classification which
divides fishes into small and big game fishes (those usually weighing
over 50 kg). The former mcludes trouts, snow-trouts and mahseers,
whereas the latter includes the larger mahseers, goonch etc. The tme
definition of a game fish or sport fish seems to be that any fish caught
or angled on rod and line putting up some fight and not thrown back
in disgust by the angler or sporstman. In addition, there are innumerable methods within the sport fishing or angling. Some of these
methods are fly-fishing, plug-casting, spinning, surf-casting, still
fishing, trolling, fishing from the shore, fishing from launches etc.
Further, anyone irrespective of sex and age can be an angler or
fishing sportsman. History has been created about some of the very
rare records of fishing in the world. The most well-known example is
Black Marlin (Makaira nigricarus Lacepede) among speared-fishes
caught in 1949 in the USA by a handicapped young man with one
arm and one leg. This fish weighed 1,0061b (456.7 kg).
In the present era of science the sport of angling has been modernized so as to be adopted by all persons of the society. The angling or
sport fishing is not new to India. The profession was well known in
Ramayana and Mahabharata periods. From inscriptions on stones
during King Ashoka's period one can conclude that laws
existed during that time to protect fish from indiscriminate fishing.
This is evident from Fifth Shila Stone inscriptions lying at Shiwalik
of Delhi. Here special emphasis was laid to protect the fish wealth
and other aquatic life. Fishing including angling was prohibited from
the full-moon day of Ashar month to the full moon day of the Paush
month. In 300 B. C. Chanakya framed fishing regulations for Maurya
emperors. In a chapter of Matsyavinoda in Manasollas'a:, King
Somesvera had indicated how a king could derive pleasure from the
SPORT FISHERIES OF INDIA
sport of angling. In this volume there is an enumeration of a large

variety of fishes classified according to habits and habitats. The
method of fattening some of them is also referred to. The reed best
suited for making a rod and the relative value of various fibres used
for making a line are indicated. The material and form of the hook
are described. Though this is not a work of very great antiquity (12th
Century A.D.) yet it is all the same fairly ancient.
Angling for recreational fishing as a sport is being recognized by
increasing number of medical authorities in the West and it is
believed to be healthy for people to go out for this pursuit. In the 19th
Century angling became a favourite pursuit of the Britishers and it
was mainly for this reason that the exotic species like the brown and
the rainbow trouts were introduced in India towards the turn of the
present century. Since trout and mahseer fishing satisfy diverse tastes
and pursuits, it is a source of recreation to millions of tourists, both
from home and abroad, who visit the hill resorts in the northern and
southern uplands of India. With fast increasing urbanization in the
country, there is an accentuated search for outdoor recreation.
The first publication on sport fisheries came out in 1873. It was
"Tank Angling in India" by H.S. Thomas meant for mahseer fishing.
The same author in 1897 brought out another book 'Rod in India',
primarily written for mahseer and other species of fresh and estuarine waters. With more and more people becoming interested about
the mahseer sport and the thrill it provided to an angler two important pUblications were brought out, viz. 'The Angler in India on the
Mighty Mahseer' by S. Dhu in 1923 and 'Circumventing the Mahseer
and Other Sporting Fishes' by A. St. J. Macdonald in 1948. These
publications contained informations mostly on. the tackles to be used
and the places to fish. The account of natural history and systematics
of principal game fishes of India has been given in a series of articles
by Hora (193743). This account has been further revised by Tilak
(1982).
In view of the importance assumed in recent years by sport
fishing, an attempt is made in this book to make available to the
reader information on the present status of sport fisheries of India
including natural history of principal fresh and salt water game
fishes, sport fishing equipment, where, when and how to hook game
fishes, management of sport fisheries, role of tourism in developing
sport fishing, important fishing localities etc.
CHAPTER 2
NATURE AND LIFE OF FISH

A fish may be loosely defined as a vertebrate (animal with backbone)
adapted for a purely aquatic life propelling and balancing its body by
means of fins and drawing oxygen from water for respiring by means
of gills. Still a more simple definition of fish is as follows. Fish is a
cold-blooded aquatic vertebrate with internal gills which are supported in a segmental skeletal frame. This definition covers all
known living and fossil fishes included under two major groups, viz.
the cartilaginous fishes and bony fishes.
In respect of the number of individuals in general and probably
also in number of species, fishes are superior to amphibians, reptiles,
birds and mammals. Taking into consideration that three-quarters of
the surface of earth is covered by the seas and that maj ority of the
inland waters teem with fish life, the superiority of number of fish
species can be easily understood. The surface of oceans, their middle
and bottom depths and shore regions, the estuaries, rivers, swiftflowing streamlets, turbulent mountain rivers and their tributaries,
and placid lakes and ponds, each of these biospheres possess
characteristic forms of fish life, each group well-adapted to the
prevailing environment. There are probably more than 25,000 different species of living fish today and many new forms discovered and
added to this number every year. In the following paragraphs, the
broad types of fishes and their biology are discussed.
CLASSIFICATION
The classification of fish means the sorting of each kind of
individual into groups. In the eighteenth century basis of classification was on the existence of natural affinities. Each group was
arranged according to their natural affinities which were combined
into larger categories and so on. The modern ichthyologists have tried
to classify them into super-classes, classes, super-orders, orders,
divisions, sub-orders, families, sub-families, genera etc. In the following account the broad classification of living fishes and the principal kinds of fishes are included.
The cartilaginous fishes or class chondrichthyes are divided into
2 sub-classes, viz. the Selachii (sharks and rays) and the Bradyodonti
(chimaeras and their allies). The sharks and rays are further divided
into 2 super-orders, viz. Pluerotremata and Hypotremata. The Pluerotremata includes 4 orders, viz. the frilled-sharks and comb-tooth
sharks (Order Galeiformes), spiked-dog-fish, saw shark, angel- or
monk-shark (Order Squaliformes), the port-Jackson shark (Order
Raiiformes) and electric or torpedoes (Order Torpediniformes). The
second sub-class Bradyodonti of cartilaginous fishes includes the
chimaeras and several extinct forms.
The class of bony fishes ( Osteichthyes) is much larger in form and
inclut les more diverse kinds than the cartilaginous fishes. Opinion
varie~ as to the number and limits of sub-classes, orders etc., and the
relationships of the various divisions with each other.
There are 4 broad sub-classes of bony fishes, viz. Dipnuesti,
Crossopterygii, Branchiopterygii and Actinopterygii. The subclasses Dipnuesti and Crossopterygii include very few and rare living
forms, while Branchiopterygii includes 2 African genera of PolypteIUS and Calamoichthys of apparently archaic forms but not showing
the characteristic features of other archaic living or extinct fishes.
The Actinopterygii includes the vast majority of living bony fishes
divided into 5 super-orders and about 50 orders of varying magnitude.
The characteristics of clupeids (Clupeiformes), including tarpons,
(Elapidae), herrings '(Clupeidae) and milk fish (Chanidae), are the
air-bladder connected with the oesophagus by a pnuematic duct and
the pelvic fins abdominal in position and not associated witll. the
pectoral girdle.
The vast order Cypriniformes includes the majority of the world's
freshwater fishes known as carps and catfishes. The carps and catfishes are separated from others by the presence of a chain of small
bones linking the inner ear with the swim-bladder (Weberian
ossicles).
The order Pcrciformes includes perch-like fishes like sea-perches
(Serranidae), sunfishes (Centrarchidae), cichlids (Cichlidae), perches
(Percidae), snappers (Lutjanidae), drums (Sciaenidae),
horse-mackerels (Carangidae), sea-breams (Sparidae), the mackerels, beniids, air-breathing climbing perch (Anabas), Siamese fighting
fish (Betta), gouramies (MacropodLlS) and gobiids.
The other categories of bony fishes include more specialized .
forms like the eels (Anguilliformes), the gar-fish, half-beaks and
flying-fishes (Beloniformes), the tooth-carps (Cyprinidontiformes),
-5
the puffer fish and trunk fishes (Tetradontiformes), the spiny-eels

(Mastocembeliformes) and snake-headed fishes (Channiformes).
The grey-mullets (Mugilidae), the Barracudas (Sphyraenidae)
and silver-sides (Aetherinidac) are grouped into Mugiliformes.
The nat fishes like plaice (Plueronectidae), tongue-soles (Cynoglossidae) and sales (Soleidae) have been grouped under order
Plueronectiformes.
There exists considerable diversity of opinion as to the correct
nomenclature to be applied even to our commonest food or sport
fishes. In spite of these diversities in nomenclature, certain set procedure is followed to represent the taxonomic tree of living fishes by
showing the systematic position of a single fish. To exemplify this
tree systematic position-of the commonest large game fish, the golden
mahseer (Tor putitora) is shown below:
Kingdom
Phylum
Sub-phylum
Class
Sub-class
Order
Sub-order
Family
Genus
Species
Animalia
Chordata
Vertebrata
Osteichthyes
Actinopterygii
Cypriniformes
Cyprlnoidei
Cyprinidae
Tor
putitora
FISH BIOLOGY
Fish are cold-blooded animals, i.e. their body temperature varies
with that of the environment. Certain fishes inhabiting the far north
including the ice-fish (Salanx) can even be frozen -in ice and yet
remain capable of resuscitation, whenever the water warms up. The
other extreme is of certain species of fish living in the hot springs of
volcanic regions. The body temperature of fishes from cold climates
or from great depth is barely above that of the medium. This is an
advantage because metabolic activities are very low and food intake
is low.,
Majority of the fishes have sharp teeth and jaws for killing and
tearing off smaller fish. The sword fish has the front part of the skull
or rostrum produced into a great flattened spear with which the fish
can pierce or strike other fish. The carps (Cyprinids) and many other
fishes have tooth-less jaws. These forms have teeth-like structures in

the muscular throat or pharynx (pharyngeal teeth). In many species
the inner surfaces of the gill arches arc studded with sharp, horny
spines directed backward and serve to push the prey down the
throat.
The most important aspect of fish biology is the mode of their
propagation in natural waters. The act of reproduction varies widely
among different species. The rear part of the ventral fins of the male
in sharks and rays are rolled up into large grooved or tubular rods
called claspers, In the act of copulation these are inserted into the
cloaca of the female and serve as the passage for the sperms. In this
way the ova are fertilized internally, In majority of the bony fishes
fertilization takes places outside or externally. This means the union
of the ova and sperms outside the body of the female in water. In a
few highly specialized bony fishes like the guppies and sword-tails
(XiphoplJorus) the males have developed copulatory tubes and fertilization is internaL
In certain sharks and rays, the egg-shell is very thin in comparison
with thick-shelled eggs in most of the cartilaginous species. In such
cases the young ones are retained in the uterus for long period where
they may even get additional nourishment by diffusion from the
walls of the uterus through the yolk-sac,
In typical bony fishes the fertilized eggs, which are mostly demersel. develop rapidly into minute actively swimming larvae or hatchlings. They feed on micro-organisms until they grow large enough
to change to fry and fingerling that can seize, take in, and digest the
same kind of food that sustains their parents. Although sharks and
rays endow their young ones with nutritive material but they care
little after their birth. Many bony fishes on the contrary make nests
(trouts, gouramies, catfishes etc.) in which the female lays eggs. The
gouramies make bubble nests. Female sea-horse (Hippocampus)
deposits her eggs in a broad pouch on the ventral surface of the male
where they hatch and develop into tiny sea-horses. Many cichlids
(Tilapia spp.) incubate the eggs in their mouth until they hatch and
are large enough to take self-care. On the wholc the bony fishes have
chosen to produce very large number of small eggs running into
lakhs. Most o(them are lost or devoured, but a very few live to go
through the larval and young stages and grow up to reproduce their
own kind.
Many fish species undertake longjourneys either within the same
ecological niche or from their original habitat to another. The
migration of fish from freshwater to the sea like eels (AnguiIla) is

called catadromous migration against anadromous migration from
lhe sea to freshwater like the hilsa (Hilsa hils-a) and the salmon
(Pacific and Atlantic species). The mahseers (Tor spp.) undertake
long distam:e migration from the meandering rivers of the plains to
mOllntain torrents for breeding, coming down with the lowering of
temperature after post-monsoon in the hills.
The foregoing account summarizes broadly the nature and life of
fish highlighting the diversity of fortn and their mode of living. The
reader, if interested, is advised to read immumerable books available
on the life and history of fishes.
CHAPTER 3
PRINCIPAL GAME FISHES

MANY of the well-known food fishes are also fine sporting fishes. The
typical examples are the mahseers, trouts, large catfishes etc. There is
a slight edge between a fish which is caught for food and the one
caught for sport but later eaten. In the true sense a game fish should
put up a fight, when hooked. However, all methods of angling are
fun. Considering the nature and type of sport fish it is understandable that it has not developed in the orderly way. The game fishes
inhabit both fresh and salt-waters and include small and large species. In the account, which follows, brief description of each of the
principal game fishes of India including its natural habitat are given.
Various characters used to distinguish each species from one another
Sp. r
d.1 1
d 1.2
S f.r.
Fig. l. Certain morphometric characters lIsed in the description of common game

fishes of India.
a-b, Pre-orbital distance; b-c, diameter of eye; a-d, length of head; .a-c. standard
length; a-f, total length of body; atl L, anal fin; an. 0., anal opening; c.f.,
caudal fin; d. f. 1, first dorsal fin; d.f. 2, second dorsal fin: ht. b., height of
body; max., maxilla; opec., operculum; p.f., pectoral fin; sf. r., soft fin.ray;
Sp. r., spiny fin ray; v.f., ventral fin.
include body shape, nature and characteristics offins, morphometric

measurements and natural colouration (Fig. 1). The commonly
occurring game fishes can be classitied under two broad subheadings based on their occurrence in an ecosystem. These are: (a)
freshwater game fishes, and (b) estuarine and sea game fishes.
FRESHWATER GAME FISHES
Notopterus chitala (Hamilton)

The ci1ital, N. ci1itala (Plate I, 1) has a habit of rolling over and
over on the water surface; the whole glistening side is displayed
Hashing in the sunlight. The fish is said to grow 120-150 cm in length
and about 80 Ib (36.28 kg) in weight.
Distinguishing characters: Body more or less compressed with
a small head. Dorsal curve semi-circular with a notch at the point of
insertion of eye. Cleft of the mouth extending up to the middle of the
eye. Abdomen more or less flat. Length of head 5.0-5.2 and body
height 3.3-3.5 times the total length. Dorsal fin small, situated almost
in the central part of the body. Anal long confluencing with the
caudal.
Colour. Silvery grey at the back with a number of dark bands.
Caudal base with 2 black spots.
Distribution: Tanks and rivers of Indo-Gangetic plains.
Chela argentea Day
C. argentea (Plate I, 2) is a tame sport, long and narrow, and is
unable to hold in water against resistance of even the lightest rod. If
the Clli1W8, as it is called, are moving in the river it may be safely
assumed that the larger fish are on the feeding run and good sport is
imminent.
Distinguishing characters: Body more or less compressed with a
small hj'!ad and upturned mouth. Cleft of mouth extending below the
anterior third of the orbit. Lower jaw with a knob on the symphysis.
Sub-orbital ring of bones broad almost covering the cheek. Abdomen
not keeled. Length of head 6.0~6.6 and body height 5.0-5.2 times in
total length. Dorsal fin situated over the commencement of the anal.
Pectoral reaching the ventral. Caudal deeply forked.
ColoU1: Silvery with a lateral band fading after death. Caudal
dark edged.
Distribution: Tanks and rivers of Peninsular India.
[0
Plate I.
SPO RT FISHERIES OF INDIA
I , Notopterus cbitala(Hamilton); 2, Chela .1Igente.'i Day; 3, R.~imas

bola (Hamilton); 4, Tor chillinoides McClelland.
'
PR1NCIPAL GAME FISHES
11
Raimas bola (Hamilton)

The Indian trout, R. bola (Plate J, 3) as is better known, is really
not a true trout. Tn its general appearance and colouration the fish
can be mistaken for a trout. It is a game fish and a large bag can be
made with a spoon or fly.
Distinguishing chalacters: Body and head greatly compressed,
the head being sharply pointed . Dorsal profile scarcely arched while
the ventral one somewhat convex. Mouth very wide and directed
obliquely upwards. Upper jaw longer, deeply notclled in the middle
to receive the knob of the lower jaw. Barbels absent. Length of head
4.5-4.7 and body height 4.6-4.8 times in total length . Original of
dorsal almost midway between the posterior margin of the body and
base of caudal. Pectoral length almost equal to length of head behind
the orbit. Scaly appendage ill the axil of pectoral fin present.
Colow: Lighter in the young than in the adult. Bacle greenishgJey. Lateral bluish-grey spots irregu1arly arranged.
Distribution: Foothills of the Himalayan ranges from Himachal
Pradesh to Assam and in Orissa.
Tor chillinoides McClelJand

The chitrahtu, T. chillinoides (Plate I, 4), resembles very much
the golden mahseer, attaining about 650 mm in total length providing good game.
Distinguishing characters: Body rather elongated giving 311
appearance of convex dorsal and ventral profiles equally. Upper jaw
slightly larger while snout overhangs the upwardly directed mouth.
Lips moderately thick. Lower lip with a continuous transverse fold
without any lobe. Barbels two pairs, of equal length. Length of head
4.2-4.4 and body height 5.0-5 .2 times in total length. Dorsal commencing about midway between the tip of the snout and the base of
caudal fin. Last undivided ray osseous, strong and entire. Anal
reaching base of caudal fin. Lateral line complete.
Colow: Golden above becoming silvery beneath. Margins of the
scales provided with numerous fine black dots. Black mark behind
the opercle present. Fins reddish.
Distribution: Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, North
Bengal and Assam.
Tor putitora (Hamilton)
The putitorJ go ldenJ common Himalayan mahseer (Plate II, 1) is
noted for intermittent feeder taking filamentous algae, encrustations
12
on rocks/ stones, insects and small fish. The fish has been recorded by
Hamilton to grow up to 2,700 mm in length.
Distinguishing characters: Body oblong, somewhat compressed,
stream-lined. Body profiles gently and gracefully arched. Head
broadly pointed anteriorly. Gape of the mouth hardly extending to
below the eyes. Lips fleshy and continuous at the angles of the
mouth. Lower lip produced into a median lobe; post-labial grooves
continuous. Length of head 4.3-4.4 and body height 5.2-5.5 times in
total length. Two pairs of barbels present. Dorsal originating midway between tip of mouth and of caudal base.
ColoUl: Greenish above, light pink at sides with a silvery white
abdomen. Broad, light, greyish-blue or purplish lateral band present.
Paired fins greyish-green; other fins shot with pink.
Distribution: All along the foothills of the Himalayas.
Tor tor (Hamilton)
The deep bodied (Plate II, 2) T. tor is another important game
fish of the Himalayas having the same habits as T. puUtora. It attains
a length of about 1,200 mm.
Distinguishing c'1aracters: Body deep. Back more arched than
the lower profile. Upper lip capable of being extended beyond the
lowerto form a cup. Maxillary pair of barbels slightly longer than the
rostral. Length of head 4.2-4.4 and body height 5.0-5.2 times in total
length. Origin of dorsal almost opposite pectoral. Pectorals reaching
ventrals.
Colour. Greyish-green above with sides pink in young specimens.
Adults with greenish-gold above and light olive-green below.
Distribution: Foothills of the Himalayas in Indo-Gangetic
region.
T. khudree (Sykes)
The Deccan mahseer, T. khudree is the common mahseer of
Peninsular India attaining a length of about 400 mm.
Distinguishing characters: Dorsal and ventral profiles moderately convex. Upper jaw slightly longer than the lower one. Lips
thick. Lower lip provided with a median lobe. Lower labial fold
continuous. Two pairs of barbels, maxillary pair reaching to the hind
end of the eye. Length of head S.0-5.2 and body height 5.0-5.1 times
in total length. Origin of dorsal in advance of the ventral with a weak
and articulated spine.
13
Colour: Dark olive about becoming creamy, yellowish-white

below. Fins bluish-grey often tipped with yellowish-pink.
Distribution: Peninsular India.
ACfossocheilus hexagonolepis (McClelland)
The bokar of the Assamese and the katJi of the Nepalese, A.
hexagonoJepis (Plate ll, 3) is also known as chocolate snub-nosed
mahseer. It is perhaps the commonest of the large-scaled barbels of
Assam and the Eastern Himalayas. It attains a length of about 600
mm.
Distinguishing characters: Body deep. Lips comparatively thin
and never hypertrophied. Cheeks covered with tubercles. Two pairs
of barbels present. Length of head 4.8-4.9 and body height 4.0-4.2
times in total length. Dorsal fin spine strong and smooth, almost
equal to pre-orbital length. Origin of dorsal slightly in advance of the
origin of ventral.
Colour: Body olive-green above, silvery-white below with a
golden yellow lateral band in the middle. Fins mainly slaty-grey
paling towards their margins.
Distribution: Foothills of the Eastern Himalayas.
Schizothofllichthys esocinus (Hecke'l)
The chirub (= chiroo), S. esocinus (Plate II, 4), is an important
game fish available in tne headwaters of the Indus and Jhelum river
systems. It attains about 425 mm in total1ength.
Distinguishing characters: Body sub-cylindrical. Upper jaw
slightly longer than the lower. Gape of mouth extending up to middle
part of eye. Labial fold interrupted in the middle. Two pairs of
barbels present. Length of head 4.2-4.5 and body height 4.0-4.2 times
in total length. Origin of dorsal slightly nearer to caudal base than to
snout. Serrated dorsal spine equal to the length of head behind the
middle of eye.
ColoU1: Silvery with numerous black spots.
Distribution: Headwaters of the Indus in Ladakh and Kashmir
Valley.
Schizotlwfax planifrons Heeke'!
The chush, S. planifrol1s is known as one of the commonest
species of the Kashmir Valley among Kashmiri fishermen and
anglers. The fish inhabits the principal lakes and the adjoining channels growing to about 250 mm in length.
Distinguishing characters: Body narrow and elongated. Head
14
Plate II.
SPORT FISH ER IES OF INDIA
I, Tor putitora(Hamilton); 2, Tor tor(Hamilton); 3, Acrossoc/J eillls

hexagolloJepis (McClelland); 4,
(Heckel),
cbizo lil oraichthys esocillllS
15
elongated, flat above and arched below. Mouth anterior, obliq ue and
wide. Jaws almost equal in length. Lips thick, lower one being
broadly interrupted in the midd le. Length of head 4.0-4.5 and body
height 5.0-5.5 times in standard length. Origin of dorsal opposite
ventrals . Ventrals little shorter than pectorals. Caudal deeply furcate
wi th pointed lobes.
Colour: Darker upper surface. Ventral surface powdered with
black pigments. All fins dusky .
Distribution: Rivers and lakes of Kashmir Valley.
Catla catla (Hamilton)

Catla catla (Plale Ill, 1) is largely employed for stocking tanks. It
is much esteemed as food when not exceeding 65 em because the fish
becomes coarser as it grows bigger. It is a good gf1me and a fighter. It
attains a length of 1,800 mm.
Distinguishing cb aracters: Body moderately compressed. Dorsal
profi le more convex than the abdominal one. Eyes with fTee orbital
margin . Mouth wide with a prominent lowerjaw. Lower lip large and
fold ed. Length of head 3.8-4.0 and body height 3.7-3 .8 times jn total
length. Dorsal fin in advance oftlle ycntrals . Pectorals extending to
the ventra ls .
Colou r: Greyish above becoming silvery on the sides and
beneath; fins dark co loured becoming nearly black in some
speclmens.
Distributio1l: All rivers and tanks of India.
Labeo caJbasu (Hamilton)

The kala banse, L. calbasl1 (Plate III, 2) has a partiality for old
masonary walls and sunken trees in rivers and can be seen playing
about in such places sucking and rubbing their sides against the
masonary or trees as t he case may be. It grows to about 900 rum in
total length.
Distinguishing characters: Body deep. Mouth narrow, obtuse
and depressed. Lateral lobe absent but pores present. Lips thick
fringed more, especially the lower one. Each lip distinct with inner
fold. Two pairs of barbels, the I'Ostrals being slightly longer. Length
of head 4.6-4.8 and body height 3.8-3 .9 times in total length. Dorsal
fin midway between the snout and the b ase of caudal. Caudal deeply
forked .
Colo ur. Blackish sometimes with a scarlet centre in many of the
scales.
J6
Plate III.
SPORT FJSHERIES OF INDIA
1, Calla catla (Hamilton); 2, Labeo calbasu (Hamilton); 3, Labeo

rohita (Hamilton).
17
Distribution: All major rivers of India.
Labeo rohila (Hamilton)

The rohu, L. rohita (Plate III, 3) is the commonest carp of the
plains. It frequents the sluggish water of pools in rivers and is
occasionally seen in shoals. It is found in all kinds of waters, the best
being those taken in clear running water. It attains about 900 mm in
total length.
Distinguishing characters: Body deep. Dorsal profile being more
convex than the ventral. Lips thick and fringed with a distinct inner
fold above and below. Short and thin pair of maxillary barbels
present. Length of head 4.7-4.9 and body height 4.2-4.3 times in total
length. Origin of dorsal fin midway between the snout and base of
caudal fin. Ventrals inserted below in third or fourth dorsal ray.
Caudal deeply forked.
Distribution: Rivers and tanks of India.
CirrlJinus mrig~J1a (Hamilton)

The mirgil, C. mrjgala (Plate IV, 1) is a fine fish of elegant
appearance. It grows in tanks well and is fairly a good game fish. It
attains a length of 900 mm and even sometimes above.
Distinguishing characters: Body more or less cylindrical. Greatest width of head almost equal to its length behind the middle of eye.
Eyes located on anterior half of the head. Two barbels present.
Length of head 5.3-5.4 and body height 5.2-5.5 times in total length.
Dorsal reaching nearer to the snout than to the base of caudal fin.
Pectorals not reaching ventrals. Caudal deeply forked.
CO/oUI~ Silvery dark along the back, sometimes having coppery
tinge. Eyes golden. Pectorals, ventrals and anal orange coloured
stained with black.
Distribution: Rivers and tanks of India.
Wallago attu (Bloch and Schneider)

The mulley (Plate IV, 2) or the freshwater shark, W. altt! is the
most predaceolls fish encountered by the anglers in the tanks,
swamps, bheels etc. of India. Due to its unclean feeding habits the
fish is not eaten usually by high-class society in many parts, yet there
is a fair demand for it and hence constitutes one of the important
freshwater food fishes of India. They prefer tanks which remain
muddy, and especially those which are subjected to periodical flooding from the canals, streams or rivers during south-west monsoons.
18
SPORT FIS.l-IERIES OF IND IA
Distinguishing characters: Large head most conspicuous part of

the fish. Eyes small and situated entirely above the opening of the
mouth. Snout spatulate and somewhat produced. Lower jaw slightly
10 nger. Jaws provided with broad bands of depressible pointed teeth,
those of posterior rows increasing ill size. Maxillary barbels twice as
10ng as head extending up to the anterior part ofthe anal. Mandibular barbels as long as length of snout. Lateral line well- marked.
Length of head 5.0-5 .5 and body beight 6.0-6.5 times in the total
length of body. Caudal or tail fin forked and its lobes rounded.
Colo ur. More or less uniform, somewhat darker a bove and lighter
below. Fins are somet imes covered with fine dOlS.
Distribution: Throughout India.
Clupi.')oma garua (Hamilton)
Tl1e ganw, Clllpisom8 gaJ'1l8 (Plate IV, 3) does not grow over 21b
(0.907 kg) in weight. They frequent rivers in the lower reaches. They
feed in shoa1s and the water lileraBy holls over when they are really
on the feed. Big bags can be made at tjmes. They take best in the rains
and the good bait is the mole cricket.
Distinguishing characters: Body elon gate and compressed.
Abdomen keeled between pelvics and vent. Upper jaw lon ger. Width
of gape ofmoLlth 2/5 in head length. Length of head 5.5-6.5 and body
height 5.5-7.0 hmes in total length. Barbels 4 pairs, maxillary pair
extending up to middle of pelvic origin. Dorsal spine slender, serrated as long as head behind nostrils. Peetor::'! spine stronger, serrated as long as dorsal spine. Adipose dorsal present in the young but
absent in the adult.
Colour. Silvel'y-grey above lighter below, fins tinted grey.
Distribution: Throughout the large rivers of India.
SiJonia siJondia (Hamilton)
The silond, S. si/ondia (Plate IV, 4) is also considered as fres hwater shark, and comes first in this group as a large sport. It attains a
length of about 2.0 m and a weight up to 100 Ib (45.68 kg). The fish
feeds in shoals and can be located by heavy spl.ashing, when feeding.
Distinguishing characters: Body elongate and compressed.
Mouth armed with rows of large and square sharp teeth. Maxillary
pair of barbels located in grooves not extending beyond eye. Mandibular barbels very short. Length of head 5.0-5.8 and body height
S.0-6.8 times in total length. Caudal fin large and strong. Dorsal fin
with internally serrated spine. Anal long.
PRlNCIPAL GAME FISHES
Plate IV.
19
t, Cirrhinus mriga/a. (Hamllton); 2, WaJlago atw (Bloch and

Sclmeider); 3, Clupisoma ga ru a (Hami lton); 4, Silonia silol1dia
(Hamilton) ; 5, Pangasius pangasil1s (Hamilton)..
20
Colour: Skin smooth, blui.sh above becoming silvery on si.des;

fins tipped grey.
Distribution: Throughout large rivers of the Indo-Gangetic
plains.
Pallgasius pangasius (Hamilton)
The pangas, P. pangasius (Plate IV,S), is one of the large size
catfishes giving excellent sport on paste-baiting. It attains about
15-20 lb (6.8-9.07 kg).
DistinguisiJingdwracters: Upperjaw larger than the lower. Gape
orthe mouth almost half the length of head reaching up to the middle
portion of the eye. Barbels 4, the maxillary pair extending up to the
base of pectorals. Length of head 5.5-5.6 and body height 4.0-5.0
times in total length. Dorsal spine serrated, moderately strong and
almost equal to length of pectoral spinc.
Colour: Silvery, darkest at the back shot with purple on sides.
Cheeks and under surface of head golden.
Distribution: Throughout India, Ceylon, Burma, Thailand,
Java, Sumatra and Western Yunan.
Eutropiichthys vacha (Hamilton)

The bucbwa, E. vacha (Plate V, 1), is a small game fish which
moves in shoals. While feeding it di.sturbs the surface of the water
with the familiar splash-splash while taking toll of small fish. The fish
is usually found feeding near bridges, in runs and in the swirls near
masonary structures and at jUllctions. It is found in the large rivers in
the plains and far up into the hills.
Distinguishing characters: Snout compressed and pointed.
Opening of the mouth oblique extending beyond the mid-portion of
the eye. Upper jaw slightly longer. Barbels 8, maxillary pair reaching
almost to the operculum; nasal pair reaching beyond the length of
head. Length of head 5.5-5.7 and body height 5.0-5.5 times in total
length. Dorsal spine thin, serrated and as long as 3/4 of the length of
head.
CoJoUI~ Greyish, silvery, darkest along the back. Pectorals and
caudal edged black.
Distribution: Throughout the large rivers of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Bihar, West Bengal and Orissa.
Mystus (Aorichthys) :lor (Sykes)

The tengara, Mystus (Aorichthys) aor, is a large catfish inhabiting fresh water and estuaries. It attains a length of 1,820 mm.
21
Distinguishing characters: Body elongate, compressed. Snout

broad and depressed. Width of gape of mouth less than half of head
length. Upper jaw longer. Median longitudinal furrow on head
extending to base of occipital process. Occipital process hardly
reaching half way to base of dorsal. Barbels 4 pairs, maxillary
reaching caudal base or even beyond. Length of head 4.2-4.7 and
body height 6.0-7.0 times in total length. Base of adipose dorsal as
long as the rayed-dorsal or even more.
Colour: Bluish laden on the back becoming white on abdomen.
Fins yellowish tinted grey. Black spots present on adipose dorsal.
Distribution: Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal,
Assam, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh.
Mystus (Aorichthys) seenglJaJa (Sykes)

The tengaul, MYStlIS (A orichlhys) sernghaia (Plate V, 2), is a large
catfish available in freshwater riverine conditions. It attains a length
of about 1.0 m.
Distinguishing characters: Body elongate, compressed. Head
depressed. Upper jaw longer but cleft of mouth shallow. Median
longitudinal groove on hcad extending up to thc base of occipital
process. Barbels 4 pairs, maxillary pair reaching sometimes beyond
rayed-dorsal. Length of head 4.2-4.5 and body height 7.5-8.0 times in
total length. Dorsal spine weak, rugose as long as snout. Pectoral
spine stronger than dorsal spine, serrated and almost half as long as
head. Base of adi!,ose dorsal as long as or even longer than
rayed-dorsal.
ColoU1~ Brownish-grey above and silvery on sides and abdomen.
Black spot at the base of adipose dorsal on hind end.
Distribution: Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam,
Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Deccan Plateau down south of Krishna.
Bagarius bagarius (Hamilton)

Thegoonch, Bagarius bagarius(Plate V, 3), are as ugly as they arc
unpopular and are taken in the same water as the mahscer. The fish
has a remarkable power of adhesion and when hooked can hold on to
the bottom of the river. It attains about 1,500 mm in total length and
over 250 lb (113.4 kg) in weight.
Distinguishing characters: Body elongated and compressed.
Head moderate and rounded. Eyes small. Upper jaw longer. Gape of
mouth about half of head length. Length of head 4.0-4.2 and body
22
SPORT FISHEJUES OF INDIA
.. ,=~-~.
.. _
. - , ....
Plate V.
"
,-"'I"
'''''''''\~~~~'\~~~~~~'
,0,;"1
I, Eutropiichthys vacha (Hamilton); 2, Mysllls (Aorjcllthy.~) .~een

glJala (Syke ... ); 3, Bagarius bagarius(Hamilton); 4, Channa marulius
(Hamilton); 5, Channa striatus (Bloch).
23
height 7.D-7.S times in total length. Dorsal spine smooth, the bony
portion as long as head without snout. Pectoral spine stronger than
and as long as dorsal spine. Base of adipose dorsal as long as
rayed-dorsal. Caudal deeply forked, its upper lobe longer than the
lower.
Colour: Skin with scars, greyish-yellow with large irregular
brown and black markings and cross bands. All fins with a black base
and often a dark band.
Distribution: Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bangal, Assam,
Manipur, Orissa, Maharashtra and Deccan Plateau.
Cllanna maJ'Ulius (Hamilton)
C. rnaru/ius (Plate Y, 4) belongs to a group of large-size snakeheaded fishes, popularly known as munels. By virt ue of possession
of accessory respiratory organs they can live in any kind of foul
water. They alUlin a length of about 1.200 mill.
Di~tiIlgllishiT1g characters: Body sub-cylindrical tapering from
the flattened snake-like head to the rounded caudal fin. Cephalic pits
mUltiple. Maxilla ex.tending beyond the eye. Length of head 4.0-S.0
und body height 7.0-7.S times in total length. Pelvic fins 2/3 as long
as pectorals.
Colour: Colouration varies with environment. Generally greyish
green becoming lighter below. Young ones with brilliant orange
lateral bands and adult ones with S-6 cloudy bands below laterulli ne.
A large black ocellus at upper part of the base of caudal.
Distriblltion: Andhra Pradesh, K.arnataka, Kerala, Gujarat,
Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
Channa striatus (Bloch)
C. striatlls (Pl3te Y, S) is smaller than C. mnrllliu.'i in length. This
species frequents swamps, muddy rivers and tanks. It grows to a
length of about 900 mm.
DistinguisiJing characters: Body cylindrical. Lower jaw longer.
Maxilla reaching to below hind border of eye. Cephalic pits multiple.
Length of head 3.3-4.0 and body height 6.0-7.8 times in total length.
COJOllI~ Dark brown above, the lateral line extendi ng below the
line in irregularly shaped streaks, roughly parallel. Abdomen yellow
or orange. Young ones (5-8 cm long) orange-red with a large black
ocellus at the end of base of caudal. Fins greyish.
Distribution: Throughout the plains of India.
24
SPORT FlSHERlFS OF INDIA
Anguilla bel1gaiensis (Gray and Hardwickc)

The freshwater eel, A. bcngaiensis (Plate VI, I) is a cat ad romous
migratory freshwater sna~e-like fish which migrates to the open sea
for breeding. Eel, as it is popularly called, is an irritable creature
swelling its head. whenever angered. It attains a length of 1,200 mm
and beyond.
Distinguishing chaI [Jeter.'): Body snake-like. Head broader (han
the body with a prominent lower _iUw. Snollt not broad, lower jaw
prominent. Cleft of mouth deep. Lips well-developed. Origin of
dorsal fin nearly in the middle of the interspace between gill-opening
and origin of anal.Distance between dorsal and anal origins almost
equal to the length of head. Pectorals less than length of head.
C%ur: Rrnwnish above becoming yellowish on the sides and
beneath. Sometimes back covered with black spots and blotches.
Anal fin with dark marginal band and a light outer edge.
Distribution: Freshwaters and seas of Indian sub-conlinent.
Mastacembeills armatlls (Lacepede)

This is the spll1y eel (Plate V I. 2) and is relished as nice eating fish.
It attains considerable length, beyond 700 IllI11.
Distinguishing characters: Body elongate and cylindrical. Width
of body 2/ J of its height in young; almost equal in the adult. Snout
trilobed 'l.t its anterior end with long fleshy appendages. Maxilla
reaching to below the front margin of the eye. Length of head 6.5-7.5
and body height 11.0-12.0 times in total length. Dorsal long with
32-39 stumpy free spines. Origin of soft part behind anal origin. Anal
fin with 3 spine~. Caudal fin united with dorsal and anal.
Co/OtiC Brownish on back and lighter below with a row of black
spots along base of sort dorsal.
Distriblltion: Fresh and brackish waters of the plains and hills of
India.
ESTUARINE AND SEA GAME FISHES
MegaJops cypfinoide.~ (Broussonet)

M. cyprinoides(Plate VI, 3) attains a fairly large size in freshwater
and estuaries of India. It 8ttains a length of about 450 mm.
Distinguishing characters: Body laterally compressed. Eyes hig
and provided with narrow adipose lids. Cleft of mouth moderately
oblique; maxilla extending up to eye. Lower jaw prominent with a
narrow symphyseal gular plate. Length of head 4.5-5.0 and body
2S

~OCf.1,._;
__
aaL;
--:'
__
ik..............
i,"""'...__, . - -
41(",.-
,,.
~'
.'
'"
--"
"-'1"
-:#
..
Plate Vl.
J, Anguilla bcngnlcnsis (GUIY and Hardwide); 2, Mastacembe!us

(Laccpede); 3, Mega/op" cypnnoides(Broussond); 4, Lates
ca/carifer (Bloch); 5, Eleutheronema tew!dactylus (Shaw),
!II matu,
26
height 4.5-5.0 times in total length. Dorsal origin opposite pelvics

and about midway between caudal base and snout end. Last ray of
dorsal prolonged.
Colour. Summit of head dark olive in adults; lighter in young.
Abdomen silvery with bluish markings.
Distribution: Estuaries of West Bengal, Chilka, Tamil Nadu and
Kerala.
Lnies cn/carifer (Bloch)

The Cock-up, L. calcarifer (Plate VI, 4), popularly known as
'Bekti', is found in the sea frequenting the estuaries. They have a
humped back and are caught on spoon. It is claimed that owing to
their nocturnal habits and large eyes they are to be taken in coloured
water. It attains 900 mm and above in total length.
Distinguishing characters: Body humped-back. Mouth armed
with minute file-like teeth. Maxilla extending beyond eye. Opercle
bones finely serrated. Length of head 3.6-4.0 and body height 3.5-3.6
times in total length. Two dorsals united at their bases. Anal fin with
3 spines. Caudal rounded.
Colour. Grey shot with green above, silvery below during the
monsoons with a tinge of purple.
Distribution: Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa and West Bengal.
Elcutheroneiij:l tetradactyJus (Shaw)
The balmin, E. tetradactylus (Plate VI, 5) is the best of the

estuarine fishes from sporting point of view. It attains 1,800 mm
and upwards in total length.
Disti1lguishing characters: Mouth set below with upper portion
carrying the nose; very prominent with bold large eyes. Mouth armed
with minute file-like teeth. Maxilla reaching beyond the eye. Length
of head 5.0-5.2 and body height 5.0-6.0 times in total length. Pectorals with 4 free rays extending to pelvics. Distance between pelvic and
anal bases equals to 3/4 length of head.
Colour: Silvery-green above becoming yellowiSh-white below.
Dorsal and caudal greyish, pelvics and anal pale orange in their outer
halves. Dark shoulder spot present.
Distribution: Gujarat, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa and West
Bengal.
Lutjanus argentimBculata (Forskal)

The blue-spotted rock perch; L. argcntimaculata(Plate VII, 1), is
27
a sturdy and powerfully built rock perch. The fish is expert at

snagging and applies its enormom strength very determinedly. It
attains 600 mm in length.
Distinguishing characters: Maxilla reaching the front border of
eye. Length of head 3.2-3.5 and body height 3.0-3.5 times in total
length. Anal with 3 spines. Caudal emarginate or rather deeply
lunate.
Colour. Cherry-red, young with 6-9 vertical silvery-white bands
disappearing with age.
Distribution: Gujarat, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa, Tamil Nadu
and West Bengal.
Scomberomorus commersoni (Lace pede)

The surml!i (Plate VII, 2), S. commersoni (striped seer fish or
Spanish mackerel), is a stream-lined tiger of the sea, a true speed
merchant and high flier. It attains about 1,200 mm in length.
Distinguishing characters: Body true mackerel-shaped, somewhat laterally flattened torpedo. Head somewhat compressed. Snout
coming to a sharp poinl. Cleft of mouth deep. Jaws with lancetshaped teeth. Maxilla reaching to the posterior end of eye. Length of
head 4.5-4.7 and body height 5.5-5.7 times in total length. Dorsals 2,
the first with 16-17 weak spines. Anal with 3 weak spines and 9-10
finlets behind anal. Pelvics small. Caudal peduncle slightly keeled.
Colaw: Bluish above, silver below with numerous wary, narrow
greyish vertical bars on the body. First dorsal black anteriorly in
young. Other fins bluish grey.
Distribution: Gujarat, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa and West
Bengal.
Scombel'Omorus guttatus (Schneider)

The spotted surmai, S. guttatus (Plate VII, 3), follows the same
tactics as surmai. It attains larger size, up to 1,tWO mm in length.
Distinguisbing cbaracters: Body torpedo-shaped. Maxilla reaching to hind border of eye. Length of head 5.0-5.3 and body height
5.0-5.2 times in total length. First dorsal with 16-17 weak spines and
8-9 finlets behind second dorsal. Anal with 3 weak spines and 7-9
finlets. Pelvics small. Caudal peduncle keeled.
Colour: Dark above and silvery below with 3 horizontal rows of
elongated spots. Spinous dorsal having front part blackish; other fins
dark.
Distribution: Gujarat, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
28
SPORT
FISH~
lUES OF INDIA
Plate VII.
I, LutjBnUS argcntinlilclllata (Forskal); 2, Scomberomorus COllllllcrsoni (-) Lacepede; 3, Scomberomorus guttBtus (Schneider).
29
Plate VIII.
I, Sparus berda Forskal; 2, Sparus datnia (Hamilton).
30
Sparus berdAl Forskal

,
The sea perch, S. beJ'da (Plate VIII, I), IS an average lype game
fish attaining about 760 111111 in length.
Distinguishing characters: Dorsal profile more convex t han ventral. Snout pointed. Length of head 4.0-4.2 and hody height 2.5-2.6
times in total length, Single dorsal with 11-12 rigid normal spines.
Anal spines 3, second the largest; pelvis not rcaching anus. Caudal
emarginate.
Colow: Silvery-grey, fins dark edged. Dark band along base of
anal fin.
Distribution: Gujaral, Mahllrashtra, Orissa, Tami[ NadLt and
West Bengal.
Spal'us datnia (Hamilton)
S. dlltnin (Plate VII1, 2) is a pretty little fish caught frequently. It

attains a lengtl1 of about 450 flll11. The fish ascends tidal rivers and
estuaries.
DistinglJisiJing characters: Donal profile much elevated. Snout
pointed. Length of head 4.0-4.2 and body height 2.S-2.7limcs in total
length. Dorsal single wilh 11-[3 rigid normal spines, the spiny part
longer than sort parl. Pclvics not rcaching anus. Pectorals longer
than head length. Caudal emarginate.
Colour. Silvery-grey with longitudinal lines u[ong seale rows.
Dorsal and caudal dark-edged. Dark band each 011 sort parts of
dorsal and anal.
Distribution: Gujaral, Maharuslltra, Orissa, Tamil NatJu and
West Bengal.
CHAPTER 4
FISHING EQUIPMENT AND FISHING METHODS

FISHING tackle or equipment used by today's sportsman is a result of
experimenting and testing primitive types for centuries. Some of the
fishing tackles and their basic structure were developed so early that
there is hardly any record of which man or even nation first used
them. The net and the spear are perhaps th~ earliest reference to
fishing methods. Primitive anglers undoubtedly were concerned
almost wholly with the aim of landing out of water some fish to eat
and the tackle developed by them met this requirement very efficiently. It makes little difference to the present-day angler who first
devised which tackle or lure. To him it makes no difference whether
the 'spoon' came first or the 'plug' or the artificial 'fly'.
The various units of fishing equipment or fishing tackle starting
with the lure ale in the sequence as follows-lure, hook, leader, line,
reel and rod. In addition certain accessories like sinkers and swivels
are universally added. In the following account classification and the
wide array of various items, from which the angler may select equipment to meet his fishing needs, are given.
LURES
The principal part of the tackle, the lure, is further sub-divided
into (a) spinners and spoons, (b) plugs or lures with body, and (c)
flies. All the 3 sub-divisions of the lure are further divided into
various kinds of devices, all aimed to land a fish. The construction
and types of each of the 3 sub-divisions arc described below.
Spoons and spinners
The spoons and spinners are of different kinds, viz. spoons that
wobble on the retrieve and spinners that whirl. The spoon-spinner
combination of lures is perhaps the oldest of all artificial lures. It is
simplest in much of its basic construction. The principle of its construction is that the metallic or any other material used to fabricate
its blade provides resistance to the flowing water as the lure travels.
The simplest is the wobbler type and is a universal lure used by all
anglers.
32
Fig. 2.
Typical wobbler spoon.
33
The fundamental part of a wobbIer spoon (Fig. 2) is a dishedblade, which is either symmetrical or asymmetrical over the central
axis of the spoon. A hole in the forward end usually is fitted with a
split or swivel with the hook or hooks solidly attached to the blade
itself or free-swinging on a split ring through a hole in the rear end of
the blade. The dish has planing surface which gives the spoon action
as it moves through the water. The water pressure on the dishedsurface throws the blade from side to side (Fig. 2). The water pressure
in a symmetrical oval spoon, evenly dished from its perimeter toward
the centre, remains to some extent across the miJdle of the spoon.
The deep dish will throw the blade from side to side in wider dives,
and wriggles more than the blade which has a shallower dish. The
blade of the lure is attached to the leader at one end, and causes it to
whip and wobble from side to side as it is drawn through the water.
The hook attachment in a wobbler spoon is the basis to distinguish its
Fig. 3.
Standard wobbler sIlver minnow spoon.

A, Upper side; E, lower side.
34
Fig. 4.
Different kinds of spoons.

A Symmetrical old lob with frc() swinging hooks; B, symmetrical buel with
fr~e swinging hooks; C, asymmetrical limper with free sWinging hooks; D,
asymmetrical buel with free swinging hooks.
2 variables, viz. fixed hook and free swinging hook. The typical fixed
hook wobbler spoon may have the hook attached by soldering or
modlfied so that the hook can be fixed by a screw and can be
removed, as and when desired. The standard wobbler and silver
minnow are some of the typical examples (Fig. 3). The free swinging
hook wobbler has a hook attached to the lower end of the blade with
a split ring. Typical example of this type of spoon is a fine lander
(Fig. 4).
The principle of construction of a spinner is that it is made with
thin blades of metal or other material which whirls with a circular
motion around the axis of the line aftraction. The spinner has either
single-blade attached at one end, each blade turning independently,
or it has 2 or more blades on the lure but they have no attachment to
each other. The spinners are classified on the basis of atta,chment and
the shape of the blade. In some cases the blade is attached and the
Fig. 5.
35
Different kinds of spinners.

A, Blad~ and hooles attached by split ring; B-D, spinners which revolve
around fixed shaft; E, propeller type.
shaft is absent. In other kinds of spinners the blade or blades rotate

freely around the bearing on a shaft. The bearing is either in the form
of a hole at the attached end of the spoon or eye-let of wire soldered
or welded to the end of the spoon and encircling shaft/by a clavisshaped 'collar' or 'saddle'jby a hole or 'loop' provided in the upper
end of the spoon blade! flasher or multiple series where several
spoons in number, simple blades or shafts are linked in a line on the
basis of the shape and type of blades used. The spinners have been
, classified into circular, broad oval, narrow oval, shoe-shaped, egg, shaped willow-leaf, kidney-shaped, flinted etc. (Fig. 5).
The propeller-blade spinner has double blades and is propeller
shaped, rotating around the shaft on a bearing in the centre. It may
be a simple propeller type where 1 or more spinners, often 2, on a shaft
rotate in opposite direction to neutralize twisting of the line. It is a
moving unit and is not attached to any other part of the lure. This
type is attachf>d before plugs or flies.
36
SPOR"]" FISHERIES OF INDIA
Plugs (lure with body)
The lure with body (= plug) is either floating on the surface or

sub-surface. It floats when traction is stopped and sinks otherwi~e
because of the weight to enable it to reach up to deeper zones of a
pool. The plug more or less resembles a small fish or other live bait.
The first marketed plug was made by woven hair or wire. The
modern plug is a wooden structure which too in recent years has been
replaced by pJastJc which has proved to be an excellent material to
prepare plugs of different types. The plugs have broadly been classified into 3 categories on the basis of their immersion in water, planing
surfaces and centre of weight. These are (a) floating-cum-surface
disturbance, (b) sub-surface, and (c) deep-cum-sinking (Fig. 6).
Fig. 6.
PI ug type lures.
A, Plug with cavity in the bead as planing surface; B, propeller equipped
plug; C, sub-surface, planing surface attached exteriorly to head; D,
planing surface exterior attached to head, underwater.
The floating-cum-surface disturbance is a group of plugs which

float on the surface of the water. They can be made to sink by putting
weight or sinker. Their function is to stimulate something to struggle
or move on the surface. In construction, their planing surfaces will
make them to dart from. side to side. Certain floating plugs have
spinner or flapping bladc:s to agitate the water. They are of 4 types,
viz. (i) fish or other small animal like; (ii) spoon-spinncrs attachment;
(iii) with planing surfaces that cause darting or wo b bling movements;
and (iv) popper lures rcsembling small fish or body lure.
The sub-surface plugs are of many categories and have been
classified on the basis of their property of sinking when traction is
applied. The various categories are: (a) planing surfaces in the shape
37
of lure 'head'; (b) planing surfaces curved in 'head' and 'body'; (c)
planing surfaces with a metal diving plate parts 1ll plug head; and (d)
metallic plate not recessed attached outside near' the 'throat' of the
plug.
The deep-cum-sinking plugs are designed to wobble. The lure
follows lines of traction without making motion sideways. The
flashing movement is provided by the propeller spinner. The planing
surfaces are either head shaped or both head and body shaped.
Sometimes planing plates are attached. Hence the nature of planing
surfaces causes the lure to dart and wobble.
Plugs, as lures, are used in almost all kinds of sport fishing, and
their appeal to fish is based on its simulation of a 'chunk of meat'
(being coloured differently) or a small fish or an animal or a bird.
They are principally used in casting but they troll as well.
Flies
Flies used in fishing are of two types, viz. 'dry' and 'wet'. Dry flies
float on the surface (Fig. 7). They are sometimes varnished to resist
wetting. Wet flies, induding nymphs and streamers, are often soaped
or dipped in a detergent to make them sink, a property which
qualifies them to be called 'wet'. In addition sometimes metal spoons
or spinners are with wet flies. Fly-fishing is most popular for taking
trout in the streams. Patented spinners used are Halcyon, Phantoms,
Pennell, Devons, Fly Minnows, etc.
The flies simulating insects or bugs in most patterns have the
greatest number of variations because of difference in their structural
features. They are in the shape of nymphs, hackles, palmers, spiders,
etc. 'Based on the shape the wings are known as closed-wing, f anwing, split-wing, bivisibles, double wing etc.
The streamer flies and bucktails are lures which imitate a minnow
qr any other type of fish on which the sporting fish feed. These are
long flies and dressed normally on long-stalked or tanden hooks,
when tied with a long wing. These are all lures of wet-fly type and are
not always taken by game fish because they are dressed to resemble a
fish. The principal differences between the streamer and bucktails
are: (i) streamer flies have feathered wings while bllcktails have wings
of hair or fur from any animal other than deer; and (ii) bucktails may
have topping of small feathers of peacock or ostrich and may have
predominantly hairy wings while streamers may have underwing of
hair but predominantly have feathered wings.
Since streamer flies and bucktails imitate food of the fish con-
38
39
cerned rather than the insects or nymphs; they normally are more
attractive than the smaller flies to larger fish. This is because there is a
change in feeding pattern with the age of carnivore sporting fish
predominantly subsisting on fish diet. They are exclusively used in
salt-water fly-fishing since imitation of shrimps and other bottom
animals cannot be successfully carried out. In inland waters, streamers
and bucktails are more useful during spring because the insect life of
the streams during this period do not hatch out, and game fish subsist
on minnows and other benthic animals.
The streamer flies and bucktails offer angling advantages unduplicated by any other lures available for f1y-fishing. As such they are
considered indispensable in the equipment of every versatile angler.
Every angler has his own preferred selection of fly pattern which he
habitually uses. The most preferred patterns used in several parts of
the world are Grey hackle in peacock, yellow and red body, Royal
Coachman, Coachman, Queen of the waters, White miller, March
brown, Wickham's fancy, Blue quill, Pink lady, Red ant etc. Flyfishing is popular both for trouts and mahseers.
Fig. 8.
Miscellaneo us artificial lures.

A, Frog; B, ll,1innow; C, bug; D, swimming mouse; E, worm; F, popper
bug.
40
Miscellaneous artificial lures

In addition Lo the spoons, spinners, plugs and flies there a~e other
artificial lures imitating bugs, mice, frogs, fish, worms etc. (Fig. 8).
The bug lure is intermediate between the plug and the fly; its body is
made of hair, wool, silk etc. The natural imitation of mice, frogs, fish
worms etc. in rubber and other synthetic material are some of the
genuine lures used to land a game fish.
Hooks
A hook, the end part of the tackle assembly, is the catching
device. The highest efficiency of a hook is performed when the line of
penetration of the point coincides with the line of traction (Fig. 9).
The curve of the hook from shank to point influences the degree of
divergence of the line of penetration and line of traction. The length
of shank and the straight part of the hook also have an effect on the
efficiency of the hook. The hookl> vary very much in size depending
not only on the different manufacturers but even by the same manu-
Fig. 9.
A, Relation between direction of line of pull (solid line along with the
attached hook) and line of penetration (broken line); B, ordinary bend and
point hook.
A
Fig. 10.
41
Four types of hooks. A, Kirby; B, Pennell; C, Limerick; D, Treble.
facturer. Their numbering and letterings have become highly complicated in recent years (Fig. 10). Under these circumstances a scale
of Limerick has been found to be the easiest to express the size and
variety of hooks freq1lently used tn game fishing (Fig. II).
Fig. II.
Limerick hooks and their actaal size nomenclature.
Leaders
Next to line in tackle assembly is the leader. The provision of a
42
SPORl FISHFRIES OF INDIA
~=~B==~
Fig. 12.
Piallo wire \cadels.

A, Snap and sWiVel on termmal end and swivel on the line end; B, snap
on plo\llll.ll ~ll(.1 and swivel on the 11l1c end
leader in a fishing rod belween line on one end and the lure on the
other is principally reinforcement at a point where breakage and
severance is most likely to occur in bait-casting. Hence the leader is
made of material to resist cutting or breakage. The other advantages
of the leader are: (a) a large fish, when hooked, has the capacity to
engulf the lure and hence it gaurds the line from breaking into two
pieces, and (b) when a hooked fish trying to free itself rams its head
under a bit of rock or other obstruction it is the leader section which
rubs against a cutting edge thus saving the line from shearing. The
most common material used to prepare a leader are piano wire,
braided bronze wire and oc ;asionally heavy natural or synthetic gut.
The average length of the l~ader ranges between 25 and 30 em, and is
used prin..'i!1ally in fly-fishing. [n fly-fishing leader is either a level
type or a tapered type. The level type has a uniform diameter
throughout its length. The tapered leader is heavier at the line end
and its diameter decreases gradually towards the lure end (Fig. 12).
The length of tapered leader for fly rod ranges from 1.0 to 2.0 m, the
average length being 1.5 m. The level leader is used in 'wet' fly-fishing
in clear transparent waters. Its length ranges from 1.0 to 2.0 m. It has
an end loop and I or 2 'dropper' loops along its length where
additional flies may be attached. The original fly at the extreme end
may be fished in deeper waters while the Dies at the 'dropper' loops
above can cover sub-surface level, thus offering additional chances of
catci1ing a I"ish and to a certain extent indicate when fish is working in
the sub-surface level against the deeper level.
Lines
Lines are classified according to the type of fishing to be done.
There are lines made for bait-casting with the multiplying reel,
salt-water fishing, ny-fishing, spinning etc. For salt-water fishing
lines are usually made of metal or fibre. The hait-casting line is
FISHlNG EQUIPMENT AND FISHING METHODS
43
usually made from brajded silk which in recent years has been
replaced by nylon. In actualfishing a line of a given test can handle a
catch far greater in pounds than its pound-test rating. The rating test
is judged by a direct force to the straightened line. While a hooked
fish will have the bend and flexibility of the rod, the handling of line
by the angler, the friction of water and more or jess stretching of the
line itself, small as it may be, absorb the shock of jumps and lunges by
the hooked fish etc. Some lines are of lesser strength when wet but
the linen lines become almost 50% stronger.
The lines used are braided-silk, dressed enamelled, oiled-silk and
nylon. Enamelled lines do not do well in tropical climates. They are
expensive and a constant source of trouble getting tacky and brittle
in tropical condjtions. According to their ability to stand stress and
strain, lines of grades' A' to cR' in inverse order of strength are
manufactured, the stoutest bei.ng 'A' grade. The usual grade recommended for line in fly-fishing is 'D' because it is sufficiently heavy to
'carry out' the lures, since a fly has negligible weight. Tapered lines
run from a heavier weight 'c' grade at one end to a lighter weight 'E'
grad~ at the other. Tu bular lines are also being manufactured in
recent years making the line float. This bestows the advantage of
visibility of the position of line.
Fig. 13.
Common type of spinning reel,.
44
SPORT Fl H ER1ES OF INDlA
Reels
The direct progression of tackle assembly from lure to angler puts
the reel as the next unit after the line. There are 4 principal types of
reels, Vl7.. (a) the s ingle-action , (b) the automatics, (c) thc spinning,
a nd (d) the multiplying. The 4 types are differentiated principally by
their construction, method of manipulation and type of fishing they
a re s uited to (Fig. 13).
Rods
In fishing eq uipmen t rod is the last unit starting [rom the lure.
Fishing rods have 3 major functions to perform. The rod provides
leverage and length in putti.ng out lure or bait including fixed-line,
still fishing with a cane pole etc. The rod supplements the length of
the arm of an angl e r so that when the bait or lure is in the water he can
manipulate it with greater facilities. The movement of the rod in
guiding a lure 111to llkely spots or imparting motion to the lure is
another advantage of the rod . Lastly the rod becomes a major part of
the play in landing a fish, absorb ing tTluch of the shock when t he
strike is fierce, bending to pit its resilience against the t1..1 g of the fis h,
as it fights. The construction of fis hing rod is once again based on
functions i.n each type of fishing and the particular species sought.
Fig. 14.
Different k:inds of fishing rods.
45
FlSHING EQUlPMENT AND FISHING METHODS
@
3-0
2-0
1-0
10
10
~4
~3
Fig. 15.
Actual sizes and code Jlumbers of tackle accessories.

A, Sw ivels; B, ringed sinkers; c, lypi a t snaps, and s l~ ap a nd swivel
combinations.
46
The types of fishing include fly-casting, spinning, bait":casting, saltwater surf and deep-sea fishing. The material used is once again
dependent on fishing type and in general it ranges from splitbamboo, solid steel, light weight tubular steel to fibre glass.
The universal fly-rod is 2.2-3.0 m in total length in 2 or 3 pieces
with a spare top. Each piece has agate or chromium steel rings
towards its two ends, with a strong steel ring in central part. The rod
is light and pliable so as to provide play to a fish of 500 g and be
capable of standing fOLa fish weighing up to 10 kg (Fig. 14). .
Tackle accessories
In addition to standard fishing tackle like lure, hook, leader, line,
reel~and rod there are certain accessories which every angler uses at
one time or the other. These are swivels which help to prevent the
twisting of one unit from being transmitted to another unit along the
line, sinkers to help the lure to go down deeper when desired and
snaps which work as safety-:pins made of spring wire without the
point with one end of the lure solidly sealed and the other readiiy
depressed to open the snap (Fig. 15) .
. In addition to the standard fishing equipment described above.
an indigenous fishing rod has been described by Goldschmidt (1957).
The length of the rod is about 75 em made from ordinary bamboO'
which has a naturally grown 'pistol grip' (Fig. 16) butt. T ~ this a tip of
40 cm length is fixed by a blacksheet sleeve. The tip is made from a
buffalo horn tapered down from about 5/ 16 to 1/32 inch (0.795 to
0.79 em) at the tip. To this tip is tied a small loop of red siik thread to
serve as the end ring. Such horn tips are hand-made with a knife
looking like a'h antenna. This is said to be a standard fishing rod used
in Hyderabad. Fish up to 50 Ib (22.68 kg) and over are being taken on
it from the local tanks. The line is kept on a wooden reel which is
similar to the one used for flying kites. It runs through a small hole
drilled through the butt end of the rod and then through the silk loop
at the tip.
Handling thetackles
Reasonable amount of practice and skill is required for able
75c m,
45cm "
---~~-
I; Bamboo
Fig. 16.
I-j
- - - -.____.,. .
Horntip
Anindigenous type of fishing rod used for fishing in tanks in Hyderabad.
47
manipulation of sport fishing tackle. The objective of good tackle

handling is to permit the angler to lay his lure so that it will attract
fish. Many of the fundamentals of manipulation of bait and fly
casting are so similar that what is applicable to one closely parallels
the other. The use of the wrist, the motion ofthe forearm, the spriI'\g
ofthe rod on the back cast, the points at which motion takes place are
quite similar in both the types.
CHAPTER 5
HOW, WHEN AND WHERE TO FISH

CHARACTERS and quality of water differ in different geographical
regions of the Indian sub-continent. These in turn produce a variety
of sport fishing both in the fresh and salt waters of the country.
Sufficient information on baits, lures and tackles for sport fishing
has already been given in Chapter 4, but it is always wise to obtain
local information from sporling goods stores, fishing resorts or local
representatives of the State Fisheries Departments (Appendix 1).
Such information is usually more exact and timely than the general
statements, no matter how accurate they might be. In the paragraphs
which follow brief description pertaining to the information as to
how, when and where to fish the principal game fishes is given. It is
hoped that such an information will serve as a guide to the sporting
fishermen who travel long distances to indulge in their favourite
sport. Appendix II lists important fishing localities known for a
particular variety of fishing which may provc a useful tool for the
anglers.
FRESHWATER
Mabseer
The mahseer, one of the mightiest sport fishes of Asia, needs
fisherman who can circumvent it. The fish has a power of smashing
the tackle by compression. To circumvent the great fighter, the
mahseer, the angler has to show his skill in following different
methods he employs. There are 5 principal ways of circumventing the
mahseer, viz. (a) spinning, (b) fly-fishing, (c) live-bait fishing, (d)
gram fishing, and (e) paste fishing.
In spinning spoon, phantom, minnow and other imitations are
used. The spoon bait is nothing but a crude imitation of a fish. In
water when it is in motion the mahseer takes it. Outer side being
copper or gilt and inner side silvered it flashes as it revolves. In case it
rotates sufficiently and gives it an imitation of a live object the spoon
can be profitably employed in runs and eddies of the streams. Tn still
pools if spoon can be made to revolve rapidly without pulling it faster
through the water mahseer can be hooked and landed. Since spoon is
49
chiefly employed in running and rapid waters the spoon should be

somewhat heavier. Light spoon comes to the surface and ceases to
spin. Due to bottom feeding habits of mahseer it is preferred to spin
in deep waters. The other advantage of the spoon is that it is much
lighter than a dead fish.
With a pliable 5.0 m long salmon rod spoon of any size up to 6.5
em in length can be safely used. When double-handed trout rod of 4.0
m length is used it is better to provide a spoon having a length of
about 4.0 em.
Of all the baits used for spinning, the most killing, when availa-
ble, is a dead fish on light spinning tackle. The totallcngth of the dead
fish ranges from 7.0 to 15.0 cm. The mahseer takes its bait raising at it
and descending quietly to its old place at the bottom till it feels the
hook. Its first rush after having felt the hook is much more violent
than of the trout. This first rush is considered thc glory of mahseer
fishing. In spinning, mahseer does not take its fish q uictly. It seizes it
usually with an angry approach that gives a sudden jerk to the line.
.ometimes it comes at the fish bait with a swoop like a hawk and
after seizing it goes back swirling by at a great speed. The angry temperamen! of the fish with the rush can be felt by the restraint of the
hook and line. The fish is too quiCk for an angler and sometimes the
fish smashes down the tackle and escapes. Much of the violence of
mahseer can be neutralized by using a pliable fly-rod in preference to
a stiff trolling rod. It is better not to have a top spinning j oint. The
rod should be the only connecting link between the fish and the hand.
The bait (dead fish) is prepared by i~serting the baiting needle
point first at the base of the pectoral fin and bring it out at the open
mouth. Before pulling it through, hook the loop of the gut on to the
eye of the baiting needle (Fig. 17). Then pull the baiting needle out at
the mouth drawing the gut after it through the body of the bait fish
till the hook comes close to the anus. Treble hooks ranging from No.
5 to No.7 are used. Care is taken to see that one of the three hooks is
embedded in the fish while the remaining two lie close to it. The
preparation of bait is done very neatly because subsequent efforts
centre on delicacy or nicety of baiting. Then pass the baiting needle
through the loop or ring attached to the sinker and run the sinker
down the line so that it is concealed in the mouth of the bait. The
baiting needle is then removed and the line held so as to come out of
the bait's mouth exactly in the centre and makes the bait spin. The
lead sinker is concealed by sewing the mouth of the bait by a common
sewing needle and thread. It is, however, difficult to say whether
50
co
51
Fig. 18.
A, Minnow tackle (unbaited); B, the same (haited); C, Green Richmond
(un baited ); D. the ~ame (baited); E. C(iXOIl (linbaited); F, tlJC same (baited);
G, Archer (unbaited); H. the same (baited); I. Chapm~n (unbnited);J. the
same (baited).
mahseer has preference for any particular species of fish since they
take them all alike whichever is hardiest. Mahseer is said to take
Garra gotyla, young of Chela argentea etc. as its favourite bait. The
. fish should, however, be notdishevelled in preparing the bait. Hence
most people prefer snake-headed Ophiocephalid fishes like Channa
gachua (called iri. Kannada morant, in Tamil koravai and in Hindi
dok). It serves as a good bait beQause it is much tougher and keeps its
52
good looks. The mouth being wide it can take in a large sinker. Any
other fish having loach-like body can also be used. Several types of
spinners like Dee minnow tackle, Geen's Richmond, Coxon, Archer
and Chapman are used for mahseer fishing (Fig. 18).
Himachal Angling Association (1979) recommended two main
types of spoon for mahseer spinning rod in Beas river. These spoons
are from oval to willow-leaf shaped with a slight bend for movement
in the water. They are mainly of silvery shine and 15-20 g in weight.
These spoons run in a smooth zig-zag line which is more attractive
for the fish. Based on mahseer fishing experience in the Beas, Paul
Boote (1979) recommended Ehrich spoon. It is an insignificantlooking silver bar spoon 218" (6.68 em) long with no bend or bowl,
merely an elongated sprat-like lure. According to him plug is a good
bait on most of the remaining northern mahsecr rivers and it usually
finds a larger fish. Plugs of 3-4y,;" (7.62-12.295 em) in fairly sombre
colours are best and these (like all spoons) must be fitted with extra
strong trebles-very securely anchored in the body of the plug.
Ma.hscer often tears off the hook cradles of commerciaHy made
plugs.
To cast the bait with a pliable rod it is convenient to hold the rod
with a middle finger of the up per hand above th~ runnitlg line and the
other fingers below it. To swing the bait for a throw close the upper
finger on the running line to prevent its being jerked out. When
spinning, take it off so that the line is perfectly free to run out the
instant mahseer strikes.
Fly-fishing reters to single-handed rod and very light tackle used
in trout angling. Although mahseer fishing is best performed by
spinning yet fly-fishing is common. There are several opinions about
the kind of fly to be used since none of the salmon Or trout flies is
found satisfactory for mahseer. There is hardly any principle underlying the colour of a mahseer fly. The angler uses a fly he believes in
for hooking the fish. The angler cannot possibly fish well if he ha~ no
faith in his line. The black-coloured fly gives the best result. Perllaps
it is readily seen in clear water against a clear sky and hence is used
with more reliance than other colours. 'Black-a-amoot', 'Cock-a-the
Walk' and 'Smoky Dun' are some of the standard flies recommended. Any arrangement with a fast-sinking line with sufficient
back-line and a fairly stiff rod will serve the purpose. The size of the
fly ranges from No.3 Limerick to No, 10/0 Limerick, the latter 0eing
as large as swallow. Many of the experienced anglers used No.3
Limerick size. However, for mahseer fishing in the Beas in Kangra
53
VaHey, the Himachal Angling Association recommended whilecoloured streamer on Limerick Hook No.4 to No.1 against No.2
recommended by Thomas (1897) and Macdonald (1948). With every
casting, the f1y should not be drawn with a steady pull through the
water but with a succession of little jerks with slight pauses between.
This will give the fly a shrimp-like motion; the principle behind is that
with every jerk the feather will be compressed against the hook and
with every pause they will spread out again simulating the behaviour
of a live fly. The constant twitching of the line only disturbs the water
and tends to frighten the fish. The rod should be held almost at a right
angle to the direction of the line so that the fish when taking the fly
and striking it~elf by its body weight may only do so against the full
plaif ofthe elastic rod. In case the rod is held with the point towards
fish it is a straight pull on the line direct from the reel, with no spring
to ease off its suddenness resul ting in the breakage either of tackle or
hook-hold.
According to many anglers fly-fishing is recommended from
mahseer of 4 pounder (1.814 kg) or less in the tributaries of the
principal rivers. Based on the experience of Paul Boote (1979) mahseer of about 8-10 pounder (3.6-4.5 kg) can be hooked in the Ramganga by sea-trout fly rod with a floating line.
Live-bait fishing was once considered to be an effective method to
land the mighty mahseer even in the muddy water whether from
snow melting or from heavy surface run off during monsoon. This
method of fishing was first discovered by Col. J. Parsons who landed
87lb (39.5 kg) of mahseer in 5-day fishing at Tangrot, downstream
the confluence of R. Poonch with the R. Jhelum in March 1880
excluding one 70 pounder (31.8 kg) lost by breaking of the line. Col.
Parson's method of live-bait fishing was an improvised technique
from the conventional method practised in the Yamuna.
The live bait may be of any size but not exceeding 200 g in weight.
A bullet is secured to the line about 1.0 m from the live bait to
facilitate free swimming of the fish. The end of fishing line with bait
and bullet is deposited in any suitable place in the river. The rod is set
on the bank with the reel free to run, when required. The most
suitable place to put in the live bait is one of the eddies near the head
of a rapid, preferably in the backwaters of less than 1.0 m depth
between two channels of a rapid. Since spinning or fly-fishing in
turbid water is totally ineffective, this is the only method recommended for such situations.
To prepare live bait, thc body hook is inserted while the point of
54
Fig. 19.
Preparation of live-bait for mahseer fishing.
shank is held close to the tail and then turned"over so as t6 allow the
shank to lie on the side of the bait. The bait should not be curved. Then
the mouth hook is inserted (Fig. 19). The bullet is then attached with .
. a piece of thread to the 11m;. The curve of the .side hook stands out at
right angles to the side of the bait so that it may immed iately act when
the bait is taken. The mouth hook (A) is passed through the thin flap
in the upper lip while the body ho.o k is under a bit of skin (dotted line
at B). The points of both hooks are well-exposed. About 100 m long
line is enough for this variety of fishing. The hooks originally used
by Col. Parsons were eyed, and correspond to Limerick ordinary
tappered No, 6/0 and 4/ O. Another recommended tackle used is
Jardine tackle extensively used for live bait fishing in Europe. Here
live bait is held captive by free end of the straight wire passed through
the mouth and out at the gill of the, bait without any injury and
interfering with respiration. The hooks are kept in position either by
elastics or by passing through the thin layer of skin. Live bait fishing
may occasionally succeed when the water is clear particularly where
the steam is rough but not so well as in thick muddy water.
Gram fishing is a unique method of circumventing the mahseer. It
is practised in the Narbada. This method was first discovered by
Major Geoffrey Nightingale. He caught a 40 pounder (18 kg) mahseer
on a single line. Each scale of this fish measured about 6.0 cm in
diameter (Field, 9 October 1869). Thomas (1897), however, tried
with the seed of the banyan tree but failed to hook arty fish. In the
N arbada parched gram is used as a bait. The loosely covered cracked
outer shell of the parched gram is first removed.. and then a hole is '
drilled large enough for the gut and shank of the hook to pass
55
through. The drilling can be done easily without crushing the gram
with a small flat and sharp ne(.;cllc of the size of a head of a pin. Ducto
its flat nature it pierces the hole without splitting o[the gram. Several
holed grams arc kept in a box to be taken for fishing. The gram
becomes sodden in water and hence after 5-10 minutes it breaks away
and then another has to be put. Sometimes artificially made grams
from white hard wood are equally successful. They are thinly coated
with shellac varnish thus giving an appearance of ycllow tint of the
natural gram and prevents it from get ting dirty und wet in water For
a casting line double gut is t"wisted just enough to keep the strands
together. Limerick hook No.7 or the same size Sneck bend is also
tied on double gut but the loop for joining to the casting line is tied
with silk but not knotted otherwise, the knot will not pass through
the hole in the gram. Limerick No.7 hook is just to hold two grains of
gram and is not heavy to sink. Before casting the line, a handful of
grams is broadcast at the head of the run. The floating grams flow
downstream and attract mahseer for a long way down. In a short
time they all collect in the pool, the biggest one ncar the head of the
run. Then the first tluow is made and one is likely to hook 2-3 fish;
the rest would not come again till the following day.
Paste-fishing is equally effective when live bait is not available.
Use of paste-bait was once a common practice to catch mahseer in
the Yamuna at bathing ghats of Delhi with hand-lines. The line is
held in the hand while the fingers feel jerking following the bite.
Thomas (1897) tried to standardize paste-fishing technique in a
shingly bed in the deepest pool with balls of l'agee (Eleusinc coracana) paste. The paste-bait is thrown not too far, the reel is planked
vertically on thc bank and has an arrangement of an alarm bell to
signal a bite. The line has a couple of turns around a stone of 2-3 kg.
Sometimes these stones jerk 3 m away into the water due to excellent
fighting capacity of the mahseer. Primrose (1921) described an interesting method of angling for chocolate masheer (Acl'Ossocililus hexagonoJcpis) improvised by him in Daiguring stream in Golaghal
sub-division of Assam. He described a native bait made out of white
petals of a forest tree, camel-foot tree (Bauiliniu purpllfcCI) which
flowers from early October till the end of November. On a light
bamboo, 4-5 m long line of stout 'moongha silk' with No.6 Limerick,
petals of camel-foot tree arc bound as a bpi! as shown in Fig. 20. In
the beginning the inventor found several drawbacks in his tackle. The
lightness and brittleness and the pelals cause the bait to float and
become out of reach for the fish in the swirl caused on rising. Out of 3
56
Fig. 20.
SPORT FISHERlES OF INDIA
Preparation ofbai.t from flowers of camel-foot tree for chocolate mahseer

angling.
A, Assamese method of binding petals; B, Primorse's method of binding
petals.
on 2 occasions the unbaited flower was either missed in toto or at the

most fish took a chip out of it. Even with baited hook the same thing
happened. In case the line was slack the fish removed the flower all
round in circle rQund the tail hook or cut a large chip out of one
side.
To overcome these difficulties the author allowed the bait to float
down ahead of the one on a tightly drawn line and following it by
wading very quietly at the speed of the current. The moment the
slightest drag occurs the line should be recast irrespective of the
colour of the steam water. Further, to hook the fish successfully
flowering branches of camel-foot tree are cut and a few petals are cast
about 10-15 m away from the point when angler stands in the water
to locate the shoal of mahseer taking petals. It is generally seen that
the moment the shoal locate the petals they jump at them. At this
point of time the bait is immediately cast in amongst a crowd of
floating petals. Suddenly the fish rises at the bait and is hooked.
Early morning is the best time for fishing. Fish of 6.0 Ib (2.8 kg)
and above are easily hooked by this method.
57
As to when the fishing is to be done is governed by a single factor

of stream water getting cleared after monsoon floods. This takes
place during different months of the year depending on climatic
conditions prevailing in each region aHhe country. On the west coast
of southern India due to south-west monsoon the rivers remain in
high flood from mid-June to end-September. Hence mahseer fishing
may be done from October to April in this part, although in the
headwater of these rivers water becomes clear at the end of September. The best period for fishing i~ from October to mid-December
because subsequently the winter sets in and mahseer may go in
deeper water to ward off the low surface temperature. For the larger
rivers of east coast of the southern India the conditions prevailing are
the same. In the upper reaches ofthe Godavari, however, the season
lasts from December to June. In the northern Indian rivers winter
fishing in the foothills of the Himalaya is the best. Himachal Angling
Association (J 979) recommended reliable fishing period as from 15
February to 20 May and 15 September to I5 November every year in
the Beas.
The time offishing is another factor to be considered for successful angling. The optimum hours for mahseer fishing are before 9.00
AM and after 4.00 PM till sunset. Immediately after sunset they cease
running at a spinning bait although they may take a night line. It is
because mahseer is a sight-feeder. They are unable to see well the
moving bait at dusk but are guided to the stationary bait ofthe night
line chiefly by smell. Paul Boote (1979) in the Beas found early
morning (6.00-10.00 AM) and evening (4.00-6.30 PM- darkness)
to be the ideal hours of the day for mahseer fishing.
The mahseer is primarily an inhabitant of the rocky mountainous
parts of the perennial streams of India. They are not available in the
areas where the river grows broader and shallower and has a sandy
bed. They are found in deep still pools without a rock in them. The
best fishing spots are the rocky mountain part of the stream. The fish
congregate in deep runs especially where a fall enters a pool and in
the eddies of these runs. It is better to fish in the runs, the best area
being the middle portion of each run. The still deep pools are equally
good and can be approached by a boat.
Brown Trout (Sa/rno trutta lario)

The brown trout (Salmo truttafario) is said to be temperamental
because it feeds when the mood strikes it. Introduced from Europe
during the turn of the present century in the N. W. Himalaya, the fish
58
has become almost endemic in the streams and lakes of Kashmir and
Himachal Pradesh but lesser in Uttarkhand Division of Uttar Pra
desh. Though not as sporting as other species of trouts and salmon, it
is still popular as a sport because of its abundance in tourist resorts.
Due to its cautious feeding habits it is more difficult to catch than
possibly other species of trouts. It feeds more regularly at the surface
than do the rainbow and prefers the 'dry' fly to 'wet' fly. In nature
brown trout takes several species of insects, worms, spiders, snails,
frogs, even mice and young birds, if they happen to fall into the
water.
The brown trout particularly in the even'ing takes spinners,
spoons, wobblers and minnows. The smaller fish will take worms on
regular bait hooks. In autumn fishing the large-sized trout are caught
on buck-tail flies or streamers. They take these lures cautiously
without lusty jerk.
In Kashmir waters a light fibre glass or split cane rod of 20-25 em
in length is recommended far trout fishing. Tapered king fisher line
or bubble line on light reel gives best fishing. The common flies found
useful for brown trout fishing are Peacock, March brown, Watson's
Fancy, Coachman, Wood Cock, Teal and Green, Jockscot, Invicta,
Butcher and Junger Quill. Fishing in the Himalayan foaming torrents in the afternoon during May-July with an occasional gentle
current around the boulder can land a big trout. Spinning is useful in
streams but fishing with 'wet' fly and weighted casts produces very
good results requiring the skill and art of the angler to hook and land
the fish. In Kashmir, however, there is a ban on spinning since 1975.
In Kashmir trout waters Alexander, Peacock, Brown Hackle on
dropper, Golden Lion, Watson's Fancy, Silver Doctor, artificial
minnows etc. are some of the flies and baits recommended by Crowe
(1955). Macdonald (1955) observed that dark rather than lightcoloured flies are suitable in Kashmir streams during June-july.
Even the popular Coachman was discontinued for Zulu, Watson's
Fancy, Dunkeld and Mountain Lady, Peacock LInes, March Brown,
Teal and Greens, and tadpoles and frogs as live baits. Macdonald
(1955) even designed his own fly-Peahen wing feather for the swing
and a silver and yellow body that worked well, and as a dropper a
black body and a tail with a heavy black hackle and without wing.
This fly hooked brown trout in streams flowing through the ricegrowing areas of Kashmir.
The brown trout, however, takes best bite in September-October
both in the streams and lakes. Early mornings and late evenings are
w
59
comparatively better fishing hours. During mid-day in bright sun the

brown can be lured by a 'dry' fly allowed to remain on surface for a
longer time than during an ordinary cast. At times it takes as much as
15 min in deciding to leave deep pool and come to thesllrface to take
a bite.
Submerged rocks and other objects and overhanging banks are
ideal places to fish for brown. Fish of various sizes collect at lower
ends of large pools and remain behind or just ahead of rocks protruding from the surface.
Rainbow Trout (Salmo gairdneri)

Rainbow trout (5a1rr1O gairdnen) is one of the bold adventurers
of the trout family. The steel head variety of rainbow like the brown
has been transplanted from Europe in Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh,
Meghalaya and Nagaland. In Peninsular India the s]Jasta and irideus
varieties transplanted from Sri Lanka are available in the Munnar
High Range, Nilgiris, Kodai hills and Kamengundi hills. 1n-1964-65
golden variety of rainbow from J allan was introduced in the Nilgiris,
and is now available in all the reservoirs of the Nilgiris. The steel head
rainbow failed to establish in the streams of Kashmir and Himachal
Pradesh, but is amenable to artificial propagation in trout culture
farms of the two states.
Acclaimed by most trout anglers as the greatest fighter of all the
trout species, the rainbow possesses and displays all the qualities of a
game fish. With a robust-built body the fish combines great strength
with a willingness to scrap. It just breaks 'water like an explosion,
when hooked. It strikes viciously and does not give up fighting as
long as the fins function.
The feeding habits of rainbow are quite unifofl11. They have
preference for mature stages of insects, minnows and crustaceans.
The fish is so vicious to strike for food that sometimes even pieces of
aquatic weeds, moss, small gravel and even wood arc found in its
stomach.
Fly-fishing anglers find rainbow to yield to both 'dry' and 'wet'
flies. In heavy discoloured waters 'wet' flies are more useful. The fish
has preference for streamers, bucktails, spoons and fly-spinners
combination. The plug-casting will hook them on smaller plugs or
wobbler spoon with a conventional fibre-glass or a split baml)Qo
casting or spinning rod. In the lakes troller with large pop gear type
of lures baited with worms or dead minnow is useful. With baits one
can even hook his bag full by casting them from the bank oflakes and
60
reservoirs. To witness spectacular leaps one should attempt to take

rainbow on a light tackle with the small lures mentioned earlier for
brown trout.
The fish likes swift waters. It is found in the fast current under
overhanging banks or willow clumps or in a fast riffle. It can seldom
De taken in sluggish part of the stream. One should work along the
edge of a strong run or at the head of a riffle. In the under current
along the stream banks where water runs swiftly, it is easy to hook the
fish. The fish equally feels at home in deep reservoirs and natural
lakes of southern India. The fish seems to find well-aerated cold and
warm waters (up to 25'C surface temperature of lakes and reservoirs
in Munnar High Range and the Nilgiris) congenial.
Carnatic Carp (Puntius carnaticus.)
The angling can be done by a 5.0 m long light-made pliable
salmon rod with 125 m long line using fly as a bait. Three flies are
used, the two end ones on N o. 5 to 6 Limerick hooks and the first one
on No.6 Limerick. The flies used are nearly of the same colour. All
peacock-tail body, Blackamoor etc. are used. Fis!l up to 2.0 kg or
even more are caught on this rod.
Like mahseer this fish can be taken on spoons of all sizes used for
mahscer spinning even as big as a desert spoon. But a small hogbacked fly spoon of 2.0 cm in length is more than sufficient.
The Carnatic carp (Puntius carnalicus) is a small mouthed carp
found in the Peninsular rivers. The fish prefers eddies near the shore
where banks are steep and high. They also prefer edges of the runs
and backwaters between the two runs and where stream is losing its
force in the deeper water of the pools. The big fish is found in the rocky
area of deeper middle part of the pool having high transparency and
in gentle eddies in the deep pool. The fish can be caught as far as the
slightest eddy in the water is present.
The best hours for fishing are from dawn to 11.00 AM and fronl
3.00 PM to dusk.
The Cheroo (SciJizothoraichths esocinus)
The chel'oo takes to fly, spinning, duck liver, frog etc. On a hot
summer day the fish, which has shoaling behaviour, particularly the
smaller ones (12-15), takes hackle fly by detaching itself from the
shoal and comes up with a rush for a quick strike. While doingso the
fish jerks out of the water at a distance from the shoal. Iffly is taken a
little play is essential before next casting. This will enable the angler
61
to hook 4-5 specimens. The shoal hardly takes note of the loss of its
members. During November-December the cheroo gives best fight
on a spinner or on a piece of duck liver or a frog.
In fast-rapid flowing water of the Sind, and a side stream of the
Ihelum near Ganderbal, record takings of the cheroofemales over 20
Ib(9.08 kg) and males 6-7 lb (2.7-3. 1 kg) are known {Mitchell, 1911).
The C/lilwa (Chela spp.)
The Chilwa is one of the commonest fishes. About 10 species
occur in all the major rivers of India. Although most of them are of
small size yet some of them like CheJac1upeades, C. algentea and C.
gam grow even up to 50 em in length. Being very thin and of
narrow-built these fishes in terms of weight are highly disappointing
for game when compared with large game fishes.
The chilwa is mostly fly-taker spinning into the air after the fly.
Due to small-sized mouth it prefers, smallest possible 11y and
strikes very quickly. Any type of black or dun fly with stiff fly top can
be used. Ordinary trout flies like black or light dUll tied on No. 14 of
Sneck bend hook are used on fine drawn gut. They can also be taken
easily with a float. The bait, either a single grain of boiled rice or a
small pellet of rice on a minute hook 000 Sneck bend, is allowed to
hang about 30 em below the surface. The float used must be very
sensitive while the rod should be light, stiff and short so that it can be
cast quickly. Sometimes a little bit of pith or quill less than 3.0 cm
long and a straight part of small bamboo tip are used. By fly or
bait-fishing, chilwa can be caught in dozens both in the rivers as well
as in ponds.
The record fishing of chilwa was described by Thomas (1897)
who found it as a good sport. It bites more readily than any other fish.
From a pond at Ajmer in Rajasthan in 1 Yz hours commencing from
5.00 PM 150-162 fish were bagged in one sitting with 3 flies and a
short rod.It amounts to 9 fish per 5 minutes.
The Black Spots (Puntius liJamento.<;u.1j and P. sarana)
The black spots take the fly with a very gentle suck. Any light dun
or black fly mounted on No. 000 Sneck bend hook is suitable. The fish
is shy and hence it is betterto lhrow the line as long as one; can manage.
The line should fall straight so that it can strike quickly. The fish
frequently rises as the fly touches the water although 'wet'fly is equally
suitable. The fly should not be drawn very close to the angler because
the black spots have habit to follow the fly and in doing so they can
62
easily spot the angler. If it happens, this may be considered the end of
the game for that day. The fly may be cast repeatedly in the same spot
and should be drawn very slowly.
The fish prefers smaller streams where the water flows more
gently and even the still water. It prefers having parts of the streams
with thick patches of aquatic vegeration. It feeds on the insect life
associated with aquatic vegetation. It can be seen in shoals in still
pools of the streams.
In the rivers the black spots do not bite so well in the mornings
(not till 08.00-09.00 AM) as in the evenings. After 02.00 PM they take
the lure and keep at it till sunset. In ponds one can fish easily in the
morning hours. In a pond at Warangal in Andhra Pradesh, Thomas
(1873) hooked 66 fish between 8.00 and 11.00 AM.
Indian Trout (Raimas bola)
The fish is taken with the fly or small spinning bail. A small-sized
phantom is an excellent bait. Due to its exceptionally large wide open
mouth, the fish takes a fly most boldly. No striking is required as they
do it for themselves. The fly is seized and do not suck it down as the
brown trout does. The wide gape of the mouth affords a good hold
for the hpok and allows the fish to fight most gamely. It is advisable
to draw the fly upstream rather than downstream after every cast.
The fish pursues the fly coming after with their head and dorso-Iateral
eyes above water. In case the fish rises and misses the fly it is better to
keep on throwing over the place repeatedly. The recommended
colour of the f1y ranges from silver tinsel to legs grey, hackles of the
jungle cock wings with a glistening hard piece like the hard wingcover of a beetle mounted on No.5 Limerick hook.
Since Indian trout inhabits the localitIes dominated by mahseer it
is difficult to catch them in the presence of mahseer in its vicinity.
Such an experi~nce is particularly felt by many anglers who fish in
the Yamuna and the Ganga in Doon Valley.
Live-bait fishing is also practised in Markanda and Giri tributaries of the Yamuna in Sirmark district of Himachal Pradesh. The
weighted line of horse-hair nooses dextrously the sling across the
stream well ahead of the fisherman. The fish dives to the bottom to
evade the angler. Since the line is weighted with nooses all along
across the stream it is trapped in the loop.
The fish chiefly occurs in running pools, among rocks especially
at the head of the pools where the run enters but sometimes it prefers
shallows also.
63
The fly-fishing is done at the end of November. Even small

spoons about 2.0 em in length are recommended.
In Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh good fly-fishing is effective
during post-monsoon period from October till February. In Banas
stream spinning from March to May is good to hook fish up to 500 g.
Indian Carps
The Indian carps include rohu (Labeo rohita), kalabanse (L.
calbasu), L. fimbriatus, L. nigrescens, L. bata and L. gonius, mrigal
(Cirrhinus mrigaia) , white carp (CirrhiI1!1s cirrhosa) and catla (CatIa
catla). These species are angled in tanks and pOl1ds but rarely in
rivers, lakes and reservoirs.
The fishing of Indian carps is mostly done by ground bait with a
float. Rohu and caUa have also been taken with small fish, spoons
and phantoms but paste is said to be the standard bait for carps.
About 100 m long line and sensitive float, with Limerick No.9 hook
provided with a sinker is the fishing-tackle required.
The paste is made either from finely powdered groundnut and
rice bran or wheat flour. From the wheat flour stiff dough is made
and rolled into small balls. The wheat flour balls are put into a pot
containing boiling water and uver a quick fire they are boiled for
15-30 min till they become sticky and agglutinized. The balls are
taken out and cooked and then knead thoroughly. It results in a stiff
white paste. Then some scent is added. The stiffness of the paste
should be to the extent that hook is able to pass through it easily.
Even roasted linseed mixed in clay makes a good smelling ground
bait. Even a mi.xture of rice bran and asafoetida serves as an
excellent ground bait for carp fishing particularly catla and rohu.
Another interesting method followed for carp fishing is the one
practised in West Benga1. In this method a long bamboo is taken, and
its thinner end projects about 1.0 m above the water surface while the
stout part is firmly stuck into the bottom of the tank (Fig. 21) at a
convenient casting distance from the place where it is proposed to
fish. At a suitable depth almost halfway down the bamboo, aquatic
weeds are tied to act as a cushion. Outisde this cushion a handful of
worms tied together with a string are firmly bound to the cushion. It
forms a kind of a ball having weeds inside and worms outside. The
cushion avoids the worms from being crushed against the bamboo.
The line is then adjusted in a fashion that baited hook lies in level with
the ball of worms. The ball of worms will first attract small fish
including chilwa. Then comes Tobu which is signalled by jiggling of
64
--_--
_-_-----
;---
Fig. 21.
__
Carp fishing with bamboo pole.
the bamboo to and fro by tugging action of fish on wotms. The

baited hook is then gently dropped as close to the bamboo as possible. The hooked fish is then dragged away from the bamboo to avoid
frightening of other fish in the tank.
The bite varies considerably with weather, place of fishing and
change of weather conditions like cold, thunder and impending rain.
The carps bite well in the light rain. An occasional warm weather
sometimes brings fair sport. Some of the record takings of Indian
carps in ground-bait fishing are: rollU -541b (24.5 kg), kalbanse-20 lb (9.07 kg). Labeo gonius -70 Ib (31.8 kg), mrigal-34 lb
(15,44 kg) and catla -(lOa lb (54.4 kg).
In eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar the fishing season commences
from july to November, the best months being September and
October. In Punjab and Haryana tank angling season ranges from
September to October, while in West Bengal fishing stops after
September. In Yamuna near Delhi middle of March to beginning of
Fig. 22.
65
Gorge hook used for freshwater shark fishing.
April are the best months. Tn southern India March to October is the
fishing season with May-June being the best months.
Freshwater Shark or Muller (Williago attu)
The freshwater shark comes under the category of tank or pond
angling although it gives a fair sport in reservoirs. It is said to be
remarkably good to eat, when taken from clean waters.
A stout hand-line with a dead minnow on the weighted hook
when thrown at the botttom of the tank is sure to hook one muIIey.
The fish gives plenty of sport. On a salmon rod spinning with a small
fish or with a fingerling of 4-5 cm length mUJley can be taken at any
time of the day. With such light tackle mulley gives excellent sport in
reservoirs. According to DIm (1923) the freshwater shark takes fly,
66
SPORT FISHERIES OF JNDJA
spoon and spinning bait in rivers and occasionally rises to take fly in
tanks. When hooked the fish springs out of water. The freshwater
shark also takes adead bait or gorge hook (Fig. 22). Here the weight
is neatly stowed inside the bait and the hooks are so modified that
they arrange well closely against the mouth of a bait and go down the
throat. For the fingerlings as a bait the Richmond orCoxan spinners
mounted on No. 4/10 wire gimp with No.9 treble hooks have been
found to be suitable. The pliable compound metal wire which does
not rust is preferable to gut or nylon lines. In Table 1 the gimp No.
and breaking strain of mulley are given.
Table 1. Gimp No. and breaking strain of metal wire used to fish
mulley (Thomas, 1897)
UimpNo.
Breaking
(lb)
5/0
4/0
3/0
2/0
I/O
1
2
3
8
[2
21
strain
(kg)
3.62
5.44
9.52
25
30
13.61
40
60
18.14
27.22
11.34
For W. attu fishing a gaff (Fig. 23) is useful. The hooked fish may
seem dead, but it is advisable not to take out the hook without
securing against closing a powerful jaws' on the hand by firmly
wedging its mouth open with a log or stone or a gag.
The Goonch (Bagarins bagarius)

The goonch is another ugly-looking predatory catfish big enough
to satisfy anyone. This is perhaps the largest fish yet caught in India
on rod and line.
The strongest tackle used is either a male bamboo or a ringol. The
fish is allowed to play till it sulks. The goonch is simply hauled out
hand-aver-hand on a cord as thick as a pencil. It takes both spoon
and minnow.
The record catching of the goonch in 4 days of fishing in the
Yamuna at Okhla near Delhi with a single rod was 14 fish, weighing
67
Fig. 23.
Accessories used for angling of freshwater shark. A, Disgorger; B, tele-
scopic gaff hook; C, accessory to fix gaff on a bamboo; D, gaff hook; E,

gaff hook screwed on a socket with handle; P, gag used to remove hook
from the mouth of freshwater shark.
1,0651b (483.08 kg). The biggest was 164 pounder (65.6 kg) and the
smallest 18 pounder (8.16 kg).
The goonch occupies the very head of a rapid. The fish lies
motionless in the white water among boulders with apparently no
effort to move. It invariably lies with its back just out of water and
can easily be shot. The fish accepts the bait as soon as it touches the
water.
The Silond (Silonill silondia)
The sjlond is a large-sized catfish. It provides a good game. It has
asplendid fighting capacity and makes magnificent rush up to 100 m.
Fishing for silolld is done in the same water as for goonc]J
excepting that the former prefers strong current flowing stream in the
whitest deep water. When taken out of water it has a golden colour
68
like the mahseer. The colour quickly fades and changes into a steel
blue back with a white stomach.
The fish takes spoon or fish baits. The record taking for this fish is
42 pounder (19.05 kg) caught at Okhla near Delhi.
The Tengara (Mytus) Aorichtl1ys (seenghaJa)
The tengara grows to a large size and is a good eating fish liked
most in northern India.
The fish can be best taken with a small live-bait ranging from 5.0
to 6.0 em in length picketed at the bottom on a single lip hook. The
tengaracan be taken at the bottom with constant warts in a run or at
Fig. 24.
Jardine live bait tackle used for tengara angling.

A, Tackle switched on the body; B, tackle with wire pussing through the gill.
body.
69
the edge of a run. As reported by Welborne (1879) one treble hook

beneath the dorsal fin and one hanging freely below the stomach with
150-200 g live bait and a 50 g sinker attached 1.0 m away from the bait
is an efficient tackle. The bait is allowed to hang about 1.0 m from the
river bed taut from the rod top over the side from a boat sailing down
in the gentle flow from head to tail end of the pool. The casting can be
repeated from the edge 01 the pool, if required. Even the same angler
recommended a spoon. In other words the bait must hang very near
the boat imitating a great dark living object against the light. Instead
of keeping the boat very close to the bait a large float or bung or a
string of 2-3 bottle corks will equally suspend the weighted lure and
bait. Jardine live bait tackle (Fig. 24) is useful for tengara fishing.
The fish is best hooked in the afternoon of warm months.
The Batchwa (Clupisoma garua)
The batchwa, unlike other catfishes, does not grow more than 1.0
kg. Spinning at the surface with small Mugil cascasia as a bait will
take large batchwa. The small-sized fish is taken on a trout fly or even
on a small spoon on No.9 to No.4 Limerick hook. The smaller ones
take fly &0 easily that on a 3-fly lure, 3 fish can be hooked. The orange
or black flies are found suitable.
As stated earlier, surface spinning does not require any sinker.
The sinker may be required, if only the batchwa do not show at the
surface. In that case fishing may be resorted to at 1.0-1.5 m depth.
Spinning may be done in the rough water and against the flow of the
stream. In case it is not possible to reach the right spot where the fish
is congregating, it is better that the fly is allowed to drift down as far
as one can afford along with the current.
The batchwa bites well from end of March till November but
April-May are the best months. They prefer to bite on coloured
snow-melt water near the anicuts.
The Pangas (Pangasius pangasius)
In northern India shingly bed of the deepest pool is groundbaited in the evenings with fist-size balls of ragee (Eleusine coracana)
paste. Usually 3-4 reels, each with 300-400 m line, are used. The line is
not thrown too far and is given a couple of turns roun~ a stone of
1.0-2.0 kg to strike the fish. Even baits like buneh of big crabs and
fowl's intestines are used. The record catching of pangas is about 14.0
Ib (6.35 kg).
70
The pangas can be fished only at night. It is difficult to angle this

fish during day time. The use of paste-bait is useful fish at night.
The Cilitaia (Notopterus chitala)

The fish is flat-sided and very silvery. The mouth is remarkably of
small size in comparison to its body length. Spinning tackle of
single-tip hook and a No.6 treble with a sinker is ideal to hook
large-sized chitala. Small~sized MugU cascasia jumping up the fish
ladder in weirs, anicuts, etc. in any of the rivers is ideal live bait. The
pulling of the tackle at the bottom very slowly and a pause at short
inverval, allowing the bait to rest for a minute or two at the bottom, is
practised. Gentle nibbling of bait by chitaJa can be felt if sensitive rod
oftrollt fishing is used. As soon as the fish strikes there is a swift rush.
The rod sometimes bends and yields and the line flows. The fish rolls
the body on the surface during play. Geen's Richmond Spinner trout
size hooks and a gut are suitable for chitala fishing. The chitala has
also been caught on worms and even on leech as baits in the Yamuna
at Okhla. In the evenings of March-April the fish can be taken on a
spoon.
Some of the record takings are about 40 pounders (18.14 kg), but
the average size caught is 16 lb (7.26 kg).
The MUl'reJ or Snake-headed (Channa maruJills and C. striatus)
The murrels inhabit tanks, rivers, reservoirs, fort moats and even
wells. These fish survive the annual drying up of tanks owing to their
possession of air-breathing organs to breath atmospheric air in addition to the gills. They come to the surface [or basking and are equally
tolerant to cold. The fish at times are seen roaming about in search of
food instead oflying under the rocks and wait for the food brought
by the current of the stream. At times the fish lie hidden perfectly
motionless behind weeds near the bank with snout protruding out to
watch for the prey.
The murrel may be spun with the same bait and tackle as has been
described earlierfor mahseer spinning. Since the fish does not give as
powerful playas the mahseer it is advisable to use a light rod with a
bait. Geen's Richmond Spinner or Coxton Spinner can be used.
Since dead bait on a light spinning rod cannot be so easily lifted as the
live one it is recommended to use 10-12 em long live fish against 8-9
em dead one.
Sinee murrds feed on frogs the same can be made use of to fish
them out. The method includes preparing a dapper with a dead frog
>
71
Fig. 25.
Preparation of frog-bait for angling of snake-headed fish.
on No. 0 Limerick hook run through the head of the frog. The hook
excluding the barb is brought out through the skin under the chin.
The legs of the frog are extended up the line and bound together on
the line. The frog is dapped on and between the aquatic weeds in a
pond. A stiff rod with a stout line is required to lift the line at once
after bite. A single hook of about the size of No. 4/0 or 3/0 Limerick
will do well on a stout line. Many anglers in southern India place the
butt of a stiff bamboo pole in a leather socket at the waist so as to give
them leverage in using the pole (Fig. 25).
Another metHod to fish murrels IS !o fix 3 thin pieces of bamboo
sticks into the mud with their bases apart and their tops together to
act as a tripod. At the meeting point of the bamboo tops a frog is
dropped and the other end of the line is tied on the shore. One angler
manages 3 lines, 2 underneath his feet and 1 in the hand so that he can
feel the twitch of a bite. Even mole crickets and cockroaches are used
to angle murrels.
l
72
SPORT FlSHERIES OF INDIA
The Eels (spiny eel - Mastacembell1s armatl1S and freshwater eel

~
.Anguilla beJ/gaJensis)
Of several species of eels only spiny eel and freshwater eel are
worth of the angler's notice both taken on live andl or dead bait.
The fishing is done by a dead bait (10 cm or so in length) hung on
a common double hook on wire attached to alight line by passing the
baiting needle down the throat and out at the centre of the tail. The
hooks are drawn till they are concealed in the mouth of the bait. It is
then attached to the line. The sinker either a bullet or any other
metallic piece is attached to the line. The line is thrown into a deep
still pool securing it on the shore because it is to be kept for the night.
If 6 such lines are put 2-3 eels may be taken. Still better type of hook is
a common pike gorge in which the sinker is :stowed with the hook and
hence can be concealed.
SALTWATER
]ndian Salmon (EJeutheronema tetradactyJus)
The Indian salmon is one of the best sporting fishes found in the
estuaries. The fish has general similitude of shape and silvery colour
of the salmon. But there is ,t general belief among all anglers that it is
much more powerful tha'! the salmon.
The best rod for fishing is a pike bamboo short rod but not more
than4.0 m in length. The reel should have maximum length of 150m
of 9 ply smooth running spinning line. The spinning is done either
from a bridge or from the banks. A small grey mullet (7-8 cm in
length) is the best bait that can be used and is easily available. When
taking bait the fish does so with a violent rush in the most determined
manner. After having gone a few metres it is better to strike the fish
2-3 times so as to drive in the hooks. Otherwise. once the line
slackens the fish will get rid of the hook which should always be
prevented.
The actual catChing of fish can be done wh~n the tide steadies into
a stream and small mullets are seen darting in different directions and
the Indian salmon are chasing them. It is at this point of time that the
line is to be properly controlled. The bait is allowed to trail and spin
in the water. The rod is held with both hands across the chest with the
point rather elevated. The iuain criterion is that the bait should be
allowed to spin well. The anglers use strong cord with a large seahook on a piece of bell lure to take Indian salmon.
The best place for fishing of Indian salmon is in the tidal back-
73
waters having swift deep runs. They inhabit areas where low and high
tides produce a quick fast-flowing streams with strong ripples and
narrowed between submerged rocks having swift run and broken
surface. The side eddies are favourite spots for angling. In the West
Coast they are found among the piers and piles of wooden or iron
bridge. The fish take more readily on the ebb tide though it is also
possible to catch them on flood tide.
[he best fishing season is from October-November III the West
Coast. The record size caught on the live bait is 12 pounder (5.44 kg).
The Bekti (Lates calcarifer)
The bekti of Bengal or cock-up of Europe is originally inhabitant
of the sea [reqttenting the estuaries in association with the Indian
salmon. At the time when south-east monsoons bring lot of muddy
water from the inland catchment areas of the principal rivers the
bekli enters the backwaters.
The tackle used is the same as for the mahseer or the mulley. The
only difference is that the bait used is larger (about 15.0 em), and a
third hook leaving a space of about 3.0 cm below the other two is
provided. The size of trebles can be increased from No.8 to No.6.
Rod, line trace, 5nood and hooks should all be strong. This is
essenlial because the fish moves a long distance, sometimes as high as
up the nvers with the line. On several occasions trace and snood
break away. There are records, when bekti after having hooked
travelled nearly 1/2 km before it stopped. The spinning should be
done slowly and deliberately.
The timings to fish this species vary considerably. During the day
they seem to take best when the water is most discoloured coming in
with the flood tide. The species possesses a pair ofl:lrge eyes enabling
it to see well in turbid waters keeping itself concealed from other fish
which have poor vision. The fish is said to be nocturnal in nature
feeding mainly during night. At other times when the rivers and
backwaters are clear, fishing Can be done after sunset till late night.
Some of the record takings of bekti are 50-60 pour-Jers (22.7-27.2
kg) on a spinning rod.
The Red Perch (Lutjanus argelltimacuJatm')
The red perch is an estuarine species frequenting the rocky
shores.
The spinning is done with a smaller bait (about 6.0 cm in length)
and the tackle is mold with a wire gimp No. 4/0 with a breaking strain
74
of 12lb (5.44 kg). The fish has also been taken in freshwater ponds.
The Grey Perch (Sparrus berda and S. dentria)
The grey perch is another estuarine species associated with red
perch. It is taken with a small bait on a spinning rod. Certain anglers
prefer to use prawn as a bait. The bait can be prepared by inserting
the needle just below the tail of the prawn and bringing out at the
thorax near the eye while the shank of the tail treble hook is pulled
inside the prawn's bod y. The tail part of the prawn is made fast to the
trace by giving a turn or two with any dark thread. The tackle may be
fixed on No. 4(0 wire gimp.
The record takings of grey perch on spinning rod is 3-5 pounder
(1.36-2.2 to 8 kg).
The Megalops (Megalop.~ cyprinoides)
The rnegalops frequents the estuaries in shoals. It is taken on a
mayfly provided on a light trout rod. It jumps nearly 0.5 rn in the air
to take the fly and gives fairly a good fighting.
This fish is easily accli!llated in freshwater ponds.
ThelSeerr(Scomberomorus commersoni and S. guttatus)
Like the Indian salmon, the seer can be taken near river mouths.
In all there are about 5 species available in the Indian sea attaining a
length of 1 m or so. The fish enters the estuaries after a month of
closing of south-west monSOOn in chase of small fish ascending the
rivers. Like the Indian salmon the availability of the seer depends on
tidal effect.
In the sea a crude imitation offish shaped out of the white kernel
of coconut is made and placed on a big hook about the size of 10/0
Limerick. Three baited long lines ~l 0' trailed behind the vessel as she
sails, one from each arm of the yard and one from the mast head to
keep well-apart to avoid tangling. A bridle or a connecting line one
from each of the fishing lines is provided to make out whcn the fish
strikes. The line is then immediately pulled out.
The record taking of the seer in the estuary is about 15 pounder
(6.8 kg).
The foregoing account briefly gives the varieties. of methods
employed by the anglers of fish in fresh and salt waters of the
country. The description of each ofthe angling method is of a general
nature. These can be modified to meet the local conditions by the
ingenuity of a keen and expert angler.
CHAPTER 6
MANAGEMENT OF SPORT FISHERIES

MANAGEMENT of sport fisheries involves application of all available
scientific data and of all other facts and knowledge enabling watcr
bodies to produce, support and yield a maximum sustained crop of
usable aquatic life. In other words fishery management is the use of
good judgement in getting the most out of fisheries resources. Conservation of aquatic resources to achieve the above-mentioned objectives also calls for legislative measures and their effective enforcement. In India even during the early history of the sub-continent
references to fishery legislation with the sole aim of conservation and
management have been made. In Ashoka's Pillar Edict V (246 B.C.)
inscriptions, the laws for protection of aquatic life including dolphins
were very simple and applicable throughout his kingdom. Periods of
prohibition to catch fish were evenly spread over the whole year thus
entailing no hardship either on the consumers or on the fishermen.
Ashoka prohibited the sale of fish, even from tanks on certain days
and therefore the enforcement of his laws was very easy. These
legislative measures were based on proper understanding of the
migratory and spawning movements of the principal food fishes of
India.
The present-day fishery legislations are based on the India Fisheries Act, 1897. The Indian Fisheries Act defined the functions and
responsibilities of the states to protect fish resources. The state fisheries departments were created to protect and increase fish stocks, and
to assume that good fishing would continue and improve. The fishery
regulations are intended to take several steps, viz. (a) prevent
impairment of breeding stocks through excessive withdrawals or
catches (creel-limits); (b) prevent impairment of reproduction by
assuming that fish can reach sexual maturity before being caught
(size-limits); (c) a ban in taking of any species of fish during actual
spawning period (closed-season); and (d) spread the available catchable stock among as many fishermen as possible (catch-limits).
Regulatory measures of the foregoing types are still followed in
most of the states not withstanding tlie fact that the scientific
investigations have proved many of these unnecessary and obsolete.
In India, both in fresh and saltwater sport fish, hardly any ele-
76
ment of research has gone. Most of these rules and regulations of

sport fishing were based on Indian Fisheries Act. These too have
been formulated by certain local angling clubsl associations. Many
ofthesc clubsl associations after independence ofIndia in 1947 have
either been taken over by the state or they themselves lost their
entities due to illegal fishing, poaching etc. In addition to the illegal
methods, competition for the same species between sportsmen and
fishermen (mahseer, snow trout etc.), effect of engineering complex
to develop river basins influencing fish environment, flow of industrial, domestic and pesticide wastes etc. were some of the principal
factors causing dwindling of fish stocks. In several states there exist
angling associations managed by keen anglers and sporting public to
protcct and equal aportionrnent of available fish stocks. Most of
these angling associations, however, lack scientific management
programmes. Their responsibility includes mainly maintenance of
sport fishing watcrs by transplantation, regulating the number of
anglers and bag limits. In the following paragraphs relevance offish
culture and hatdiery operation, farm ponds, transplantation, creel
census, commercial fishing and environmental changes brought
about by human and natural agencies in sport fisheries are discussed.
RELEV ANCE OF FISH CULTURE
The relevance of fish culture in sport fisheries lies in the production of healthy and disease-resistant stocking material of various
species of game fish for transplanting of natural waters with the sole
aim of providing quality fishing. The transplants improve on natural
processes to provide qualitative and quantitative fishing to the
anglers. In India brown and rainbow trouts, mahseer and common
carp are artificially propagated in hatcheries and farms to produce
seed (eggs, young fry, fingerlings etc.) for transplantation of rivers,
streams, lakes, reservoirs etc.
The aquaculture of brown and rainbow trouts are carried out in
hatcheries by egg-taking of ripe females and artificial fertilization
with milt stripped from males. The fertilized eggs are incubated in
specially designed hatching trays and troughs having continuous
inflow of silt-free water. During long period of incubation the hatching troughs are subjected to various chemotherapies against common diseases. After the eggs hatch into sac-fry (aJevins) and swim-up
fry (after complete absorption of yolk-sac) they are transferred to the
nurseries. The transition phase from fry to fingerlings is a critical
77
period in thc life of young trout because it involves a change from

dependence on nutrient stored up in the yolk to reliance on food from
outside sources. This results in high percentage of mortality in the
Indian hatcheries. Hence the trout waters are invariahly transplanted
with eyed-eggs, fry etc. Traditional methods of hatchery practices
result in poor rate of survival. Scientific lllvestigations in the trout
hatcheries of the country revealed that poor rate of survival is mainly
due to unsatisfactory water supply, poor maintenance of brood
stock, diseases breaking out in the hatching boxes, over-crowding
and lack of nutritive diets at fry and fingerling stages (Sehgal et al.,
1979). Chemotherapy against discases, thinning operation of hatching boxes at eyed and subsequent stages of incubation, augmenting
level of dissolved oxygen by additional supply of water to the hatching troughs directly from the source are some of the package of
practices developed to modernise trout hatchery operations in India
resulting in cumulative rate of survival between 80.9 and 87.8% from
):'reen egg to swim-up fry (Sehgal et ai., 1979). Use of nutritive
formulated diets to increase the survival from young fry 10 fingerlings of brown and rainbow trouts in race-ways has resulted in an
average survival of 42.9%. Pellets containing 35.0-39% crude
protein levels have been used. The feed efficiency was 56.8 to 76.3%
in brown and [rom 57.0 to 69.2% in rainbow trouts, while conversion
rates were I: 1.4-1%9 in browll and 1:1.5-1.7 in rainbow trouts, (Sehgal
el aI., 1976). The package of practices evolved to improve yield of fry
and fingerlings of brown and rainbow trouts in Kashmir hatcheries
are some of the measures sllggested to increase production of
stocking material.
TRANSPLANTATION AND MANAGEMENT OF
FISH STOCKS
Transplantation of sport fishing waters in India is practised only
for brown and rainbow trouts, Much of the stocking programme is
carried out in waters where stocks have been depleted or even in
waters having adequate population with the hope of increasing the
number offish. It is genf~rally assumed that putting in more fish is all
that is necessary to provide good fishing. Such a practice has, however, failed to show promising results. Limits are placed on the
number offish that can be taken by the angler and legal size limits of
fish that can be hooked. Fish refuges are set up in sections of streams
and many water bodies are closed to fishing for one or more seasons.
78
Whether or not they are needed is a question open for discussion.

Eyed-eggs and fry are dumped from the hatcheries, and often
whether or not they are suitable for trout environment is another
point of controversy. Invariably due to unhygienic conditionllwhich
prevail in most of the hatcheries bulk of the fry are in weakened and
diseased conditions when released in the natural waters. Planting of
fry and eyed-eggs is oflittle help in building stocks of sport fish. This
is also the experience in other countries like the USA, Europe,
Australia and New Zealand. Hence many of these countries have
switched over to planting of yearlings and even legal-catchable trouts
directly. It has been determined through accurate creel-census
methods that a stream will produce annually a given poundage of
trout regardless of the number offishermen visiting the water body.
It has been further demonstrated that if fry and fingerling trouts are
stocked in excessive number, the available food divided among the
increased number of fish is sufficient to provide only a maintenance
diet. This could result in a stunted population. Due to lack of food
and shelter, a large number of trouts never attain legal size. Under
such conditions stocking can be harmful since it reduces the number
of legal-sized trout for angling. Considering the result of transplanting of rainbow trout in lakes, ri,{ers and ponds by the Munnar High
Range Angling Association, Munnar, Kerala (1969), the percentage
of recovery of the fry transplants of rainbow (50-70 mm in length)
during 1941-67 ranged from nil to 5.5% of rainbow trout except in
Raj am allay I Pettimudi rivers which seem to have self-sustaining
capacity. In the natural lakes the percentage of return of the stocked
fish is between 0.5 and 14.5% against nil and 11.5% in man-made
lakes (Table 2). The streams, where rate of recovery of transplanted
fry is comparatively high, th.ere is high density of quality benthic
invertebrates which constitute the most preferred diet of rainbow
trout (Anonymous, 1970). The three streams, viz. Kanniamallay,
Sevenmallay and Rajamallay, have predominantly larvae of caddis
flies, two-winged flies" and nymphs of stone and mayflies (Table 3).
Majority of these groups of insect larvae are the preferred food
groups of benthic invertebrates (Sehgal el a1., 1980). Such ecological
conditions have perhaps made the fish to establish well in the region.
Along with the transplantation of sport fish, programming of
stream improveI\1ent to maintain ideal ecological conditions for the
well-being of transplanted fish is equally important. Hardly any
attention is paid to this aspect in the region where trout is transplanted. In Kashmir, however, to protect the brown trout from
79
o 0 0 a 0 '"
0
"9~"9"9"90
j
~0
I
("j
Q)
("I'")OM
9"17
O'I'..Q 00 Vi 1..00'1
MNod-':r-lrr:
~q-NO"'='t~
MMtrl-.::t"",,:
0\0\0'\0\0'-.0\
~,-?"9"?'f'9
DOIXlOOOOOOQrJ
.....
;:::I
o
1:1
1.O\o\.C;l\O\O"-C
0'1 C"I 0'\0'\ 0"1 0..

,.........
,._,,.....,.--.-~
80
SPORT FlSHF,RIES OF INDIA
Table 3. Qualitative analysis of benthic invertebrates recorded in

three streams of Munnar High Range, Kerala (Anonymous,
1970)
Benthic
Invertebrates (%)
Nymphs of mayflies
(Ephemeroptera)
Nymphs of stone-!lies
(Plecoplera)
Larvae of caddis-flies
(Trichoptera)
Larvae and adult beetles
(Coleoptera)
Aquatic bugs
Larvae of flies
(Diptera)
Crabs, prawns etc.
Tadpoles of frClg
Total
mally
Sevenmally
1:2.1
68.3
Kannia-
R'\JomalIy
52.5
24.2
4.8
42.4
19.0
3.0
2.4
15.1
4.9
4.8
21.9
3.2
2.5
100.0
100.0
IH.9
100.0
poaching and illegal fishing in shallow spring-fed streams, artificial

pools with central spillways have been created. In addition, willow
trees are transplanted along stream banks to provide shade and
falling aerial insects as trout food,
CREEL CENSUS
The data on creel census available [or the trout waters of India are
not much reliable. Because of this it is not possible for the fishery
scientists to estimate the a!lllual poundage of trout regardless ())f the
number of anglers visiting the trout waters. Based on catch returns
provided by each angler, conclusions have been drawn on trout
catches, and quantitative and qualitative analyses of trout fishing.
The recording of creel census data In recent years has not at all been
satisfactory. The anglers have failed to give any account of the
number of brown trout retained and the number of under-sized fish
released back. The information supplied by Crowe (1955) and Macdonald (1955) as early as in 1954 trout fishing season in Kashmir
indicated that the number of under-sized fish caught by them varied
between 66.0 and 10D.D% in Kashmir streams. Whether the undersized fish released back, which survive to maturity and escape recap-
MAN AGEMENT OF SPORT FISHERIES
81
ture, will make any useful contribution to trout stock needs investigation. According to another view the percentage of under-sized fish
captured does not necessarily afford any indication of the relative
abundance of small and large fish.
The question of minimum legal-size trout is a complex one. The
trend towards fixing progressIvely higher size limit as being practised
in Kashmir is based on surmise that they are desirable rather than on
any scientific data. These are essentially precautionary measures.
The present practice in Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh to record
trout catches in the log books giving number and weight of fish
caught, time of fishing, lure used etc. seems to have several drawbacks. When data on weights entered in the log books by the anglers
were checked by the author with the actual weight of trout in Kashmir during 1971-74 the percentage of error was 47-269%. Sport
fishing of brown trout prohibits hooking of fish less than 30 em in
length. In reality 70-75% ortrout catches in Kashmir streams are less
tha)l 30 em in length (Table 4). This calls for rationalizing the
collection of creel census dala. It should be made mandatory for the
anglers to provide correct information on trout catching on the lines
suggested in Appendix III. The anglers, at the time of issuing a
fishing licence, may bc provided a printed card with pre-pai"! ?ostage
charges (incorporating all querries) addressed to the State Fisheries
Department.
Creel census figures for mahseer are lacking. Majority of the
Himalayan rivers provide mahseer angling when they reach near the
foothills. Record taking of different species of mahseer in these rivers
has only become a matter of past. The creel census data on mahseer
angling is not maintained in log books like the trout. To give a rough
estimate about mahseer catches made by anglers, data on angling
competitions arranged in Himachal Pradesh and published records
by individual anglers can be considered (Table 5). Table 5 shows fast
deterioration in number and size of golden and other species of
mahseer, and grim picture of the mahseer as a large game fish.
COMMERCIAL FISHING VS SPORT FISHING

The Union of India has the legal responsibility for preserving the
entire fishery resources of the country. Hence it finds itself involved
invariably in the conflict between the sport fishermen and those who
take fish for commerce. The government agencies are frequently
blamed or criticized by the anglers as being too commercial fishery-
82
"i'
"i'
00 <'1
......
......
<rl
d:.~N
~~~
Vl
<'1
I
"CJ
.5
Ul
pd
"i'
83
Table 5. Creel census data of golden mahseer in Kangra Valley

conducted by Air-India during 1977
Date
Locality
16.10.77
Chamha
Pattan
(Ib)
Nadaun
16
(7.26)
14 each
(6.26)
13
(5.9)
10 each
(4.53)
8 each
(3.62)
6 each
(2.72)
4 each
(1.81)
Kunah-Beas
2.5
11
(4.99) .
(2.72)
6 each
5 each
(2.72)
3 each
(1.36)
2
19.10.77
(kg)
2
18.10.77
Weight
Hours of Catch
fishing
(2.26)
confluence
28.10.77
Mann-Heas
confluence
30.10.77
Sari-Molag
4
1
15
(6.80)
10
(4.53)
8 each
(3.62)
(2.72)
(1.81)
'Stream length fished per angler was 2 rapids and 2 pools.
minded. Contrary to this commercial fishermen refer over-emphasizing the recreational values of a particular fishery. The second type
is tare because we have not been able to declar~ certain waters purely
for recreational fishing. The rational approach of the s tate should be
judicious utilization of the fishery resource of a particular fish species
whether that be for recreation or for food purpose.
The waters holding brown and rainbow trouts are not subject to
commercial use and are reserved solely for game fishing. Here there is
no conflict between the two interests. Mahseer (Tor spp.) has suffered in thc hands of commercial fishermen. poachers etc. Fate of
the golden mahseer (Tor putitora) in the Himalayan region from
Kashmir in the west to Sadiya in the east is a sad commentary. The
species is facing near-extinction because of indiscriminate killing by
legal and illegal methods including dynamiting and poisoning.
84
Hardly any data are available on the extent of decline of mahseer

fishery in different river systems of the Himalayas. However, the
gill-net commercial catches in man-made lake Gobindsagar in Hih1aehal Pradesh and Kumaon lakes in Uttar Pradesh do reveal the sad
state of fishery of the golden mahseer. It is unfortunate that the
fisheries departments of the concerned states have not taken concrele
steps to combat with mahseer becoming near-extinct except voicing
about the fate of mahseer in meetings, seminars, symposia etc. In
Kangra Valley of Himachal Pradesh legalising of certain traps
(Chips and Barpalta) has contributed to the sharp decline of golden
mahseer catches ill Punjab in the Beas and its tributaries resulting in
almost complete diasappearallce of the species (Jhingran and Sehgal,
1978).
In reality the interests of both groups, viz. commercial fishermen
and sporting fishermen, are identical in so far as the conservation of
the available resources including regulation of mesh-size limit, artificial propagation of sport fish, transplantation, and over and above
aU watch and ward. Proper management measures do not necessarily
mean elimination of either type of fishing, but means the adoption of
regulations that will permit the resources to be maintained at a stable
or optimum level to obtain sustained yield. But unfortunately commercial fishermen abuse their privileges and they try to oppose all
attempts to correct the situation by adopting suitable regulations.
To conclude it can be said that commercial interest should recognize the very legitimate claim that the anglers have ajoint share ofthe
resource and sporting fishermen should recognize legitimate commercial interests.
Role of dams (barrages, ankuts etc.)
Dams, barrages and weirs which have been built across the major
rivers of India for irrigation, power generation, flood control, etc.
have proved impassable physical barriers for migratory fishes including mahseers, trouts, snow trouts, Indian carps and large catfishes.
Many of the stocks are already showing indication of decline in
productivity and abundance. The denial of migration may result in
permanent and irrevocable reduction of fish population ranging
from all time low level of production to complete extermination.
Dams and weirs have existed on the Indian rivers from time
immemorial but they had mostly become ineffective before the British occupation. It was notuntil19th century that most important of
them were constructed or renovated across the principal rivers in
85
India. Day (1873) designed the first fish pass in the form of a
modified under-sluice put at the lower anicut of the Coleroon river in
southern India. Subsequently several fish passes have come in existence, most of which are located in Punjab at the head works of the irrigation canals. Since most of the fish passes were designed on the basis
of those existing in the West without due regard to the performance
and behaviour of the fish species that might make use of the pass,
their utility proved hardly of any value. Hence they have proved
unsuccessful. These serve as traps for fishes rather than aid their
migration. Since most of the important sporting fish like the mahseers, carps, catfishes undertake breeding migrations, the gravid fish
becomes heavily built and isin a delicate stage of its life span. They
fail to negotiate the strong current in the vicinity of the dam, barrage,
etc. As a result of physical obstruction at the dam site the fish
congregate below the dams etc. and suffer indiscriminate killing.
The effect of dams, weirs, barrages, etc. on mahseer and other
major carps have been studied mostly in Punjab (Khan, 1940; Rai,
1947). These studies found most of the fish ladders provided at
headwaters of irrigational canals ineffective for large-sized fish such
as golden mahseer, catla, rohu and mrigal. The disadvantages of
these fish ladders are: (i) majority of them are too steep and too
narrow; (ii) upstream inlets are small; (iii) downstream openings are
too small and therefore too inconspicuous to be perceived by the
ascending fish, i.e. fish ladders are not self-advertising where fish
could congregate before ascending; liv)water supply in the ladders is
not available during migratory phase of fish; and (v) majority of
them act as traps for catching fish.
The advcrse effects of irrigation projects on mahseer and other
fishes can be considered while examining the specific cases. As a
result of Tajewala Head works on R. Yamuna, golden mahseer has
been deprived of the opportunity of ascending the hill tracts in search
of spawning grounds (Khan, 1940).
The mahseer starts ascending in April and May and its passage is
obstructed by the weir at Tajewala. Towards the end of September
the fish from the upper reaches above the weir descends with the
diminishing volume of water after the monsoon precipitation. At
about the same time the sluices and the weir shutters at Tu,jewala
headworks are completely closed and no water escapes into the river.
The descending mahseer consequently pass into the canals. After
having entered the canals the fish have no access to the river as 18 km
down the Western Yamuna Canal there is rapid of about 60 m length
86
SPORT FISHERIES OF INOlA
with a fall of about 5 m and it is almost impossible for any fish to negotiate this rapid. Mahseer congregating below the fall are indiscriminately killed during closure of the canal. Similarly below the headworks at Suleimanki 011 R. Sutlej large carps like catia, willi and
mriga/ can be seen leaping against the iron shutters of the undersluices of the weir at lhe places where water leaks through the
interspaces between the shutters and the wall of the weir. On attempting again and and again to negotiate the narrow vents of the undersluices the fish get injured and fall down ex.hausted on the floor of the
apron of the weir and baskets full of fish are indiscriminately taken
out. At Madhopur Headworks on the Ravi the fish pass is located in
a divide wall of the weir and is not self-advertising. The mahseer
prefers the rafting bay which is about 6 m wide and lies adjacent to
the fish ladder. The fish congregate in the bay and invaribly can be
seen running up the channel. Spawning movements of catla in the
rivers of Punjab have been adversely affected by the irrigation headworks. The species does not make use offish pass due to heavily-built
body and its ~hy and timid nature. The fish which enter the canals
along with the river water at the weir are considered lost. The
passages from the canal to the rivers are absent and hence fish cannot
go back into the rivers.
In recent years mahseer catches have shown steep decline in
Gobindsagar from 40% in 1961 to 0.5% in 1980 (Natarajan and
Sehgal, 1981).
The first reference to the decline in catches of mahseer as a result
of irrigation projects was made by the Honorary Secretary, Dehradun Fisbing Association (1945) who felt that mahseer was being
gradually wiped out, and the question of conservation of the species
was a matter of much importance as to deserve the most careful
consideration.
With large scale coming up of river-valley projects in the Himalayan region the game fishes like snow trout and brown trout which
undertake thermoaltitudinal migration are likely to be adversely
affected. The dam over R. Beas at Pandoh under Beas-Sutlej Link
Project is likely to affect the down and up migratory movements of
the two species. Winter catches of brown trout in dowIlstream stretch
of the Beas river at Mandi and regular winter fishery of snow trout
further down up to Nadaun are already on the decline. The approximate distance between headwaters of the river at Manali to Nadaun
is 350 km. Even certain tributaries of the Beas like the Nigal (=J
Neogil) and Banerprovide suitable spawning areas for the snow rout
87
during winter. The Saial dam on the Chenab already under construction and the proposed river valley projects at Rudraprayag, Alaknanda Barrage at Vishnu Prayag, Bhagirathi high dam at Tehri and
Uttar Kashi and Ganga Barrage at Lachmanjula are likely to affect
adversely mahseer and snow trout fisheries in Gharwal Himalaya.
Under the circumstances it is not advisable to insist providing of
fish passes in the dams, barrages and weirs that exist now and are
likely to be completp.d or constructed in the near future. But such an
exercise may be limited to selected river-valley projects from the
point of view of conservation of our precious game fishes. In
addition, other measures of consefVation may also be adopted. The
present unabated continuous downward trend of the commercial
and recreational fishing catches of mahseer can be perhaps controlled
by two possible remedial measures. These are (a) conservation of
migratory sport fish by legislation; and (b) artificial propagation of
near-extinct species to produce stocking material for augmenting
fish stock in the river stretches above the dam, barrage, weir etc.
ROLE OF DOMESTIC, INDUSTRIAL AND PESTICIDES
WASTES
Influenced by custom and implemented by Jaw usage of available
water resources inc! ude those for domestic, irrigation and naviga"tion
giving practically no consideration whatsoever to the needs of the
aquatic fish and wild life. The majority of our rivers and other
waterways act as dumping ground, and are defiled with sewage and
factory effluents. The effects upon aquatic animal resources have
been so wastefully destructive that aquatic pollution is now one of
the serious and complex conservation problems. Regardless of their
source, pollutants can be grouped into 3 categories, viz. (i) those
which disturb the balance and general natural conditions required to
maintain aquatic life; (ii) those which have specific toxic action on
fish and other aquatic life; and (iii) those which combine both
hazards. The first category includes effuents, both municipal and
industrial, which reduce the dissolved oxygen, alter the acid and
alkali balance of the water, increase turbidity and reduce penetration
of light, blanket the bottom with unproductive waste material etc.
The second and third categories pose common hazards of toxicity to
living things and include effluent from metallic, acids, alkalies, dyes,
organic compounds and sulphur derivatives, chlorine, methane gases
and compounds from cyanide industries which enter the waterwa~s.
88
The inflow of domestic wastes and its adverse efffect on sporting

fish IS exemplified by R. lhelum and the interconnected Dal and
Wular lakes in Kashmir. The DaJ lake and R. lhelum are fast
eutrophicating, much of which is due to inflow of organic load as of
anchored house boats, city sewerage and washingS' from terraced
fields located all along the perimeter of the lake. With deteriorating ecology accompanied by introduction of common carp endemic
schizo thor acid sporting fish have almost disappeared. Another
example of similar changing ecology is the N aini Tal lake in Kumaon.
Winter kill of mahseer, schizothoracids etc. have been reported in the
lake (Pant and Sharma, 1978). The lower concentration of dissolved
oxygen and the higher concentration of ammonia and hydrogen
sulphide are attributed as the possible factors for winter kill. The
authors have not considered the thermocline and temperature factor
and turnover of water which are of equal importance to be the causes
of winter kill in N aini Tal lake.
The industrial pollution, depending upon the sites of the factories, is distributed far and wide in all river systems. Certain riversectors of India, notably around big cities, form major pollution
zones. These pollution zones produce enormous volume of c:omplex
wastes drained mostly in an untreated condition into the neighbouring rivers and streams. The amount of clean water for diluting the
water is being gradually.reduced day by day due to multiple use of the
available water for irrigation, drinking, generation of electricity and
flood control through construction of dams, barrages, weirs, anicuts etc. This affects the natural purification of the stream and limits
production of fish.
Highly putrescible organic wastes create pollution hazards in the
aquatic system, particularly during summer, by altering the physicochemical parameters (high turbidity, nil or low dissolved oxygen and
very high biological oxygen demand) and biological characteristic~
(bottom living aquatic plants and animals - benthos). This takes
place when the volume of such waste exceeds the load-bearing
capacity of the receiving water. Rivers like Yamuna (Delhi), Ganga
(Kanpur), Sone (Dalmianagar), Gomati (Lucknow), KaU (Meerut),
etc. are some of the important pollution zones of Ganga basin. The
pollution hazards are resulted from wastes of tanneries, and
industries of textile, paper and pulp, sugar and distillery, rubber,
paints, detergents, rayon etc. In some of the rivers fish mortality is an
annual feature.
The release of effluents by IFFCO fertilizer plant near Allahabad
89
caused heavy fish mortality during 1980 (about 50 quintals) in the

Ganga due to high percentage of dissolved and suspended solids,
high ammonia and the nitrate nitrogen content in water at the
outfall. The other hazards produced as a result of inflow of factory
effluents into the various rivers are destruction of spawning grounds
and migration of fishes. The indirect effect on sport fish is destruction of habitual food organisms as a result of covering of the river
bottom by a coating of waste material. This greatly reduces the
chances for the fish to prey upon most preferred food organisms in
the river system.
Fortunately many of our high-grade sport fishes like trout, mahseer and sno!y trout have so far escaped [rom the pollution hazards
due to their being mainly inhabiting clean water of the mountain
streams which are yet more or less free from industrialization.
However, the worst affected are the carps and catfish which are constantly facing pollution hazards.
The problems of pesticides is largely due to large-scale introduction of the chemicals in agriculture to obtain high yield of food and
commercial crops. The pesticides enter the aquatic ecosystem mainly
through surface run off from agricultural fields. Of the various
pesticides used non-biodegradable ones like DDT, BHe, aldrin,
dieldrin, malathion and parathion are largely used in the country.
These pesticides make the water and soil sterile, impair fish reproduction, destroy micro-organisms in the water and accumulate in
fish body. Use of pesticides in intensive horticultural practices in the
Himalayan region accompanied with use of non-biodegrad able
pesticides are likely to produce pollution hazards in the pollutionfree zones of our great rivers.
In addition to the aquatic pollution due to industrial, domestic
pollutants, etc. sporting fish are facing fast degrading of the aquatic
ecosystem as a result of man-made and natural agencies in the
mountaneous region of the country, particularly in the Himalayas.
Human activities like denudation, alterations of vegetation on
stream banks, abstraction or diversion of water for agriculture on
irrational basis with absolutely no consideration about the water
requirement of aquatic life, etc. have adversely affected the sport
fish in the mountain torrents. Large-scale removal of bottom stones,
gravel, sand etc. as building material from streams have adversely
affected the spawning grounds of brown trout, mahseer, snow trout
etc.
The sharp-edged barren mountain tops above the original bush
90
line, ancient landslides blocking valleys, loose shingle river beds,

glaciers etc. are tell-tale evidence of protracted denudational processes which have brought environmental changes in the Himalayan
region. Nearly 31 major landslides have occurred alone in the N.W.
Himalayas covering about 120,000 km spread over eleVation ranging
from 400 to 3,000 m above fisl (Raina et aI., 1978).
The conservation of already degrading environment of the sport
fish should involve the management of aquatic life including fish
and multiplicity of uses of the whole ecosystem including amenity,
tourism, etc. It is essential that the aims of management are clearly
defined before any research and development work is carried out.
CHAPTER 7
SPORT FISHING AND TOURISM

SPORT fishing satisfies diverse tastes and pursuits. It is a source of
recreation to millions of tourists, both from nome and abroad, who
visit summer and or winter resorts spread over different parts of the
country. With fa~t increasing urbanization there is an accentuated
search for outdoor recreation, and sport-fishing deserves to be
imparted the status offamily recreation. Angling has already become
a source of family recreation to people of all ages, and soical economic strata of the society in different countries. Like any other
outdoor recreation family-fishing must be geared to provide pleasant
experiences to members of both sexes and of widely Varying ages. A
meaningful perspective of recreational fishing cannot be fully developed
without considering first the reason of people undertaking long
journeys as tourists to fish. Emphasis is on recreation although
eating part of the catch remains an important element of enjoyment
and satisfaction derived from sport fishing. It is, however, essential
to maintain the sanctity of si~e and number of fish hooked in fishing
enjoyment. Nevertheless catching fresh fish for food is an important
catalyst in angling. In a case study carried out in the USA nearly 35%
of resident anglers polled said that their most important objective
was to catch some good eating fish (Stroud, 1977). The other elements of importance in sport fishing is natural environment, water
quality, natural beauty, privacy etc. Increasing numbers of medical
authorities say it is healthy for people to go fishing.
India, one of the many countries of the world, earns considerabLe
foreign exchange through tourism including fishing. Among the
carps of India, several of which give good sport, mention must he
made of the mahseer which rivals the salmon in size and strength.
The mahseer is fished in much the sau!e manner as the salmon. The
fish has a two-fold reputation-as a sporting and as a commercial
asset. The mahseer sport is perhaps the most valuable possession of
the Himalayas and Deccan Plateau. It is comparatively in recent
years that its value in the true sense has been realized when the most
important fighter, the golden mahseer, Tor putitora is facing nearextinction all along the Himalayas due to indiscriminate fishing,
dynamiting, etc. in rivers and streams. There is a conflict between the
92
genuine angler, the professional fisherman, conservationist, farmer

and politician. While they fight it out the poacher works overtime
dynamiting, poisoning, etc. to kill as many fish as he can. Two bright
spots, however, stand out in the encircling gloom. In Karnataka, a
band of dedicated anglers and wildlife enthusiasts who are members
of the W ASI (Wildlife Association of South India) succeeded in
persuading the authorities to lease a stretch of the Cauvery river to
their Association. By strict patrolling and equally strict restriction of
licencing lhey have been able to conserve the fish. The second bright
spot is a mahseer belt in Beas river between Sad Molag and Dehra(Dehra
Gopipur) in Kangra valley of Himachal Pradesh. This stretch is being
taken care of by a group of protection-oriented sport anglers of Kangra
Valley who in 1978 formed the Himachal Angling Association. This
Association has succeeded in convincing the Government of Himachal Pradesh to requisition services of 16 home gaurds which patrol
up and down the river stretch of about 95 km between Sari Molag
and Dehra. According io the office bearers of H.A.A. poaching in
this stretch of the Beas has almost stopped.
Considering the quality of fishing which India can provide, it may
be mentioned that there are about 20 million anglers in the USA
and 4 million in Britain who pay enormous sums of money to
catch 'tiddlers' which we in India usefully utilize as bait to hook
mahseer and other large sport fish. Considering the fighting quality
of the tiger of the Indian rivers, the mahseer, these anglers would pay
anything for the thrill of catching a mahseer. But if this tourist
potential is to be successfully tapped much has to be done to protect
this species before it is too late. Hardly any purpose will be served to
look back to the golden years of mahseer fishing in the country.
Major Rivett-Carnac landed mahseer each weighing 107, 104,81,
100, 102, 92, 71 and 96 pounds (48, 58, 47.22, 36.77, 45.4, 46.3,
41. 76, 32.2 and 43.58 kg); I. dewet Van Ingen caught a 120
pounder (54.48 kg), an all-India record since 1946 (de Mellow, 1981),
in upper reaches of Kabbini river.
Efforts to attract foreign tourists and anglers for mahseerfishing
from different countries of the world, Air-India got the survey of the
Beas River undertaken by TREK-N-TOUR, Himachal, located
at Pa[ampur with the aim of developing mahseer fishing for tourism.
The objectives of this survey were many folds, viz. (a) to loc'ate
fishing spots in the Beas: (b) to assess potential in regard to the
availability of assured mahseer fishing; (c) to determine and assess
93
the accessibility to these areas from important road, rail and airterminals; (d) to assess the existing and the possible accommodation
facilities in the region; (e) to prepare a relevant map setting forth the
routes, distances and direction; (f) to prepare and suggest suitable
package holidays for 1 or 2 week trips inclusive of all expenses from
the nearest raill air tehninals; and (g) to determine the statt;'s existing
attitude and its reaction to proposals regardi11g development of
tourism through assured mahseer fishing (Anonymous, (978).
In another feasibility study carried out once again by Air-India in
1977 services of two angling experts, one each from West Germany
and France, were requisitioned for investigating the possibility of
developing angling tourism in India. The experts, after the survey of
the HlInalayas, concluded that for trout fishing alone hardly any
foreigner will make the far and expensive trip of India. There is,
however, possibility of promoting angling tourism in India, provided
the country is able to ensure good mahseer fishing in the Indian
rivers.
Consequent to the results of this survey the Department of Tourism, Government of India and Air-India jointly sent a mission to
present facts about sport fishing in India with audio-visual aids to
Australia, West Germany, France, Switzerland and Italy in an effort
to promote tourism through mahseer angling in Himachal Pradesh
and trout angling in Kashmir. These audio-visual presentations were
attended among others by the office-bearers of various angling asso'ciations, editors of fishing journals, representatives of the government departments oftou[ism and fisheries, etc. of these countries. As
a result Penthouse Mutual Travel in Association with Air-India and
TAA conducted 22-day tour in 1979 offering sight-seeing with
mahseer and trout fishing. The success of promotion of tourism
through this venture can be assessed from the fact that India started
receiving tourists for mahseer angling. These tourists left behind
their experiences and comments on sport fishing (The Ken Knox
Fishing Column, Sunday, August 6, 197H and Walk about October
1978). The most widely travelled anglers Paul Boote and his wife
Anita have given their comments on 6 months of masheer fishing in
the Himalayas and the Deccan Plateau during 1978-79. Two Englishmen, Martin Clark and Robert Hewitt in 1980, set out independently in search of mahseer fishing pleasures, made use of their rods in
the rivers of Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh,
Maharashtra, Goa and Tamil Nadu without hooking'a single mahseer. In their desperate mood they visited Karnataka to fish the
94
Cauvery about [00 km from Bangalore. They camped near a stretch

ef the Cauvery river leased out by the State to the Wiid-life Association of South India (W ASI). After fishing for almost a month in the
river with the best possible equipment in the world and with no
mahseer on the line, the team decided to use ragi-paste. After a few
casts the team had their first mahseer and during fishing for some day
they bagged the b,iggestfish weighing92lb (41.76 kg), 1.7 m in length
and l.0 ill in girth (de Mellow, 1981). In 2~ months offishing in the
Cauvery they caught 40 mahseers, but all of them were released
back.
The Clarke's team decided to return to Britain and come back
again in the following year with a televis~0n crew to project in
different countries of the world abqut mahseer and irs fi~hing to
muster active participation from various agencies in the world to
protect the fish and its waters. Thl! team thought and sej,id with
conviction that the mahseer must survive.
Although the comments made by foreign anglers as given in
preceding paragraphs may hardly have any value for the common
man, but this is a matter of great concern for the authorities who are
supposed to be the custodians of this large game fish. Hardly an!y
feasible steps have been taken so far by the c')llcerned st,ate governments tn this direction except voicing about near-extine.tion of the
mahsetr.
Some of the keen anglers in Himachal Pnadesh as stated earlie,r
formed an anglins a,ssociation wit,h the prime ~im of conser~ation qf
the golden mahseer, 01.1'1' hatipnal wealth. This associatio~l is trying to
introduce sport fishing ethics to anglers, assisting in making the
fishing gear available to its members, holding,of community activity
like seminars, fish~ng competition and educational camps, encouraging people involved in conservation methods by granting awards for
successful performance, and promoting natit1)nal and international
tourism through sport fishing. The associatio~ with the assistance of
the State Fisherie~ Department has declared a stretch of abmJt 70 km
of the R. Beas and its tributaries as a~sul'ed mahseer fishing belt and
divided it illto 8 sections (Fig. 26). Since its in~eption the association
has been holding f;ishing competitions for mahseer angling involving
natio:q.al and intennational tourists. The results of such competition~
are shown in Table 6. The popularity of fishing competitions in
Himachal PraQ_esh induced Chandigarh Administration
to organize similar competitions of fishing for carps in Sukhna Lak(),
Chandigarh. In the second Chandigarh Angling competition organized
Fig. 26.
95
Map oflhe Beas drainage showing important angling sites managed by the
Himachal Angling Association, Palampur.
I, Sari Molag; 2, Harsi Patlan; 3, Binun Khad confluence; 4, Mann Khad
confluence; 5.. Neogil Khad confluence; 6, Nadaun; 7, Bharoli, 8 Viceroy's pool.
in August 1982 nearly 77 anglers participated (Banerjee, 1982), The

percentage of successful anglers was 10.4% only. The maximum
number offish bagged qy a single angler was 19, the largest being 2.4
kg rohu (L. l"ohita). In 1984 an Angling and Aquatic Conservation
Society of India was constituted under the Presidentship of the
Union Minister of Agriculture, Government of India, with its
Registered office at Badkhal Lake, Faridabad, Haryana. The
primary objective of this Society is t.o promote, on a sustainable
basis, angling of fish in India for sport consistent with the principles
of conservation and to create better awareness, appreciation of
enjoyment of the fish resources and other aquatic fauna.
Brown trout (Salmo trlltta [ariD) is the other sporting fish which
96
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SPORT FISH[NG AND TOURISM
97
attracts considerable national and international tourist traffic. Trout

angling is mainly towards Kashmir rather than in Himachal Pradesh.
The Kulu Valley of Himachal Pradesh, has bcen badly affected by
faulty management measures and fast deteriorating conditions of
stream ecology.
Even in Kashmir the conditions are not so encouraging but due to
its location in a comparatively low rainfall zone the region has lesser
problem of now of silt-laden water. For most part of the year,
excepting during spring and summer when the streams receive high
waters due to snow I glacier-melt, the water remains clear.
In the streams, lakes and reservoirs of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and
Karnataka, Rainbow trout (Salmo gairdnen) provides angling
attraction, but this region had hardly any organized tourist traffic for
fishing.
The objective of management of trout and mahseer waters
should be to subserve the anglers' needs Whlle assuming that the
tish resources continllc to nourish on recurring basis. In other words
the management of sport fishing waters involves cnhancement of fish
populations and their availability. As mentioned in the earlier
chapter there has taken place a progressive deterioration of size and
number of the two groups of sport fisheries in streams, lakes and
reservoirs ofIndia. At the same time there is continued increase in the
tourists for fishing, particularly in Kashmir Valley for brown trout,
and in Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka for mahseer
fishing. To effectively manage the sport fish popUlation over a long
term to achieve optimum angling of comparatively large fish, when
angling pressure is high, catching of fish should be restricted to
moderately low bag levels. Evaluations of carrying capacity of trout
mahsecr streams is another important step toward their management.
Stocking policy to transplant game fish needs to be worked out. Such
a step will involve gearing of the hatchery systems to provide diseaseresistant stocking material.
It is the sporting aspect of mahseer and trout which attracts
tourists from all over the world and helps in earning foreign
exchange. It may be borne in mind that today international anglers
understand that there are very few places in the world that offer good
freshwater fishing. In the Western countries mahseer fishing is most
sought after. It too is facing danger of extinction. Trout fishing also
will before long have to be placed in the same category unless proper
management tools based on scientific principles are adopted. .
As a result of audio-visual presentation about mahseer and its
98
fishing abroad a number of fishing journals in Europe and Eurasia

have already given wide coverage to the mahseer fishing potentials of
the Beas river system in Himachal Pradesh. The country must not
loose such an initiative and every effort be made to attract anglingtourism. Under these circumstances it would be most desirable for
Himachal Pradesh in the North-West Himalaya and Karnataka in
peninsular India to take the lead and place the two regions, though
widely separated geographically, on the international fishing map of
angling-tourism. Such an objective can be achieved by proper projection of the facilities the country can provide.
The overall angler expenditure, when out for recreational fishing
can be split up into: (a) primary fishing equipmentincluding rods, reels,
lines, lures etc.: (b) fishing lines; (c) fishing guides; (d) auxillary equipment including camping articles; (e) food and lodging (in excess of what
would normally have been spent at home); (f) transport charges; and
(g) miscellaneous expenditure. According to one estimate the expenditure of angling-tourism on an average turns out to be 10 times
more than common indoor form recreation. Every international
angler nearly expends about Rs 3,000 in a week against Rs 500 by a
national angler (Sarin, 1979). This expenditure is shared by the
boatman, the gilly, the grocer, the taxi driver, the handicraft salesman, P. W.D. and forest rest houses, tourist bungalows and private
hoteliers. These international/ national anglers when they go back
act as the unpaid promoters of angling-tourism for this region provided they are able to enjoy good fishing and hospitality of the local
people.
The other side of angling-tourism is that both the concerned
authorities of the states and the local people should not put the
visitors to any inconvenience. They should be provided with quality
fishing. Given the deserved importance the tourism industry of which
angling-tourism is an essential part has a vcry significant part to play.
It can earn considerable revenue for the concerned state as well as
improve the economic status of the local inhabitants. Although no
data are available about the economic value of angling-tourism in
India but the published data from USA are worth considering. Such
data may not be fully relevant to the prevailing conditions in the
Indian sub-continent, but do provide indirect value of recreationally
caught fish and its impact on economy. In 1975, the expenditure on
angling in the USA was estimated at about 8.4 billion dollars
(Stroud, 1977). Marine angler's expenditure, particularly along the
Atlantic and Gulf coasts, probably averaged $ 33.6 per pound offish
99
caught and taken home against $ 6.1 of freshwater fish. An economic evaluation of fish, and wild-life oriented recreations in the
south-eastern United States was carried out by considering qualitative measures, viz. (a) monetary valuations, and (b) actual expenditure. The case study also included questionnaire as to how much
money anglers would require in compensation to give up a day of
participation in angling. The study revealed that the compensation
demanded was $ 59.8 per day for saltwater fishing, $ 40.8 for warm
freshwater fishing and $33.6 for cold fresh water fishing.
The economic values of different kinds of recreational fisheries
are truly enormous. The value is precisely nothing if we are not able
to maintain good condition of aquatic resources base which make
recreational fishing possible. Virtually important to attract tourism
is maintenance of clean environment of water amply endowed with
requisite spawning and nursery facilities for sport fish plus abundant
vegetation cover. It is a documented evidence that sport fishing has
little demonstrable effect on water quality. Recreational fishermen on
the other hand have in fact helped to control massive water pollution
essential to civilization.
In the freshwater fisheries presently low daily catch rates are
required to be maintained with intensified management of both fish
and their habitats. Effective means of helping to maintain the
fish/ angler ratio include multiple use oflarge man-made and natural
lakes, construction of artificial fishing piers, adding anglers outwalks to bridges and opening to fishing of inaccessible or poorly
accessible esturaries, coastal lagoons, bays and beaches, streams,
rivers, lakes and reservoirs.
The research needs of the angling-tourism include study of lifehistory, ecology, behaviour and popUlation dynamics of sport fish in
both fresh and saltwater, most important aspect being food-chain
relationship. There is an urgent need to understand scientifically the
efforts of various man-generated external influences resulting from
agricultural, industrial, commercial and residential development.
Eventual quantification of the variety of factors entering into estimation of optimum yield under a wide r.ange of socio-economic and
biological fish management objectives need careful consideration.
Another important aspect of sport fishing and tourism is the kind
of environment the authorities can provide to promote this industry.
It is not fair to expect that the ends can be achieved by the creation of
Tourism Development Corporations alone which are ill-equipped as
100
far as fishing is concerned. Various departments of the government

should render all help and co-ordination to make angling-tourism
popular. The departments concerned are PWD, Forest, Transport, etc., in accommodating touri~t traffic. To promote recreational
fishing further, certain basic facilities are to be provided to the
angling tourists when they go for fishing. Most of the trout and
mahseer streams in India are not well-connected by roads and whenever they do exist they are not smoothly motorable. All important
fishing areas should be connected by smooth motorable roads with
the main highways. For mid-day rest or overnight stay of the anglers
in the vicinity of the fishing streams, lakes, reservoirs, etc., camping
units or lodges with modern amenities need be provided. The abovestated facilities to an extent have been created in the states of Jammu
and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.
The issue of fishing licence is another bottleneck in promoting
angling tourism. The issue of licence by the state fisheries department
is only at state or district headquarter. At times it is not possible for
an angler to reach state or district headquarters of the fisheries
deparlment either due to logistic problem or lack of time. This
deprives the angler of the sport and the state of its revenue. This
problem can be solved only when the fisheries department authorises
some other agency which has a network of organization in the whole
state to issue licence.
To summarize the present status of sport fishing and tourism in
India it can be said that we have to take measures to protect our
major sporting fish and fishing waters by law just as to protect our
game animals, birds and forests. Before enforcing these laws we must
realize greatly decreased fish stocks of game fishes. Public should be
educated to protect our valuable resources. particularly in areas
which provide angling-tourism. It is only through the concerted
efforts of various ofIiciai and non-official agencies that tourism for
angling can be developed. The state fisheries departments have to
maintain proper anglers/ fish ratio in public waters through scientific:
principles of management of fishing waters. In each state dedicated
anglers and wildlife enthusiasts should be encouraged to manage
certain stretches of major rivers holding large and small game fishes.
The state can provide these stretches on a nominal lease. The other
conservation measures may include enforcement of fish laws with the
help of homegaurds posted along the stream banks.
Our population is searching more for outdoor recreation including
fishing. Many of our fishermen/ anglers obviously spend considerable
101
money with little or no return. Fee-fishing can provide instant fishing

in population areas where the angler pays a daily fee for the privilege
to fish. The angler usually has the right to keep the fi~h but he may be
required to pay an additional charge for the number a r weight offish
caught. Good number of urbanites who do not fish represent a huge
potential market for fee-fishing, if we cunlocate such areas very close
to the urban population. This can be done even in the private ponds
owned by commercial producer offish. There are two Ways by which
such an objective can be achieved, viz. (a) fishing in production tanks
(catch-out ponds), and (b) put-and-take ponds. These ponds, however, provide consistently good catches or business will surely fail.
The construction and landscaping of catch-outponds may be
designed to suit economical production needs.
REFERENCES
ANONYMOUS. 1978. Investil!ative Study on the Availability of Mallseer-For Sport
Fishing-in Rimae/wI Pradesh, 1lldlil. pp. 18 TrecK-N-ToUl\ Palampur, Himachal Pradesh.
BANERJEe, DONALD. 1982. Angling for honours. The TribuIlt114 August 1982.
BOOH, PAUL. 1979. Mahsecr Mission. I-IV. Angling, August-November, 9-11,21,
26-29 and 22-25.
CIFRI. Barracknore. 1970. Report on Coldwater Fisheries in Kerala. pp. 12. Mimeograph, Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackporc.
CRO\VE, PHILIP K. 1'155. Trout fishing in Kashmir. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Sac. 53:
217-28.
DAY, FRANCIS. 187.1. Report on tbe Fresbwilter Fish and Fisheries of India alld
Burma. pp. 118. Supnntendent, Government Printing Press, Calcutta.
DEMELl.ow, MEl.VILLE, 1981. And now a siren for the angler. The Times of India,
Delhi, 19 July 1981.
DHU, S. 1923. The Anglers in Indw on tlle Mighty Mallseer. pp. IRO. Government
Press, Allahabad.
FIJJi.D, The 1869. October 9: 11-12.
HIMACHAl. ANGLING ASSOCIATION. 1979. Fishing ill RJver Beil.~ of Kilngm Valley.
H.P. pp. 16. Himachal Angling Association.
GOLDSCHMlIlT. P. 1957. An indigenous fishing tackle and rod. J. Bombay nat. Hisi.
Soc. 55: 953.
HORA, S. L. 1937. The game fishes of India. I. The Indian trout. J. Bombay nilt. Hisl.
.'inc. 39: ICJ9-210.
HORA, S.L. 1937a. The game fishes of India. 2. The Batchwa or Butchwa. J. Bombay
nat. Hist: Soc. 39: 43136.
HORA, S.L. 19376. The game fishes of India. 3. Garua or Bachacha or Gaurchclla. J.
Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 39: 65978.
HORA, S.L. 1938. The game fishes ofIndia. 4. The Silond catfish. 1. Bombaynat. Hist.
Soc. 40: 237-41.
HORA, S.L. 1938a. The game fishes ofIndia. 4. The Silond catfish. J. Bombay nat. Hist.
Soc.,40: 35566.
HORA, S.L. 1938b. The game fishes of India. 6. The Goonch, Bagarius bagarius
(Hamilton). J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 40: 5&3-93.
HORA, S.L. 1939a. The game fishes of India. 7. The Mulley or Bollli, WIIlJagonia [lttu
(Bloch & Schn.) J. Rombay nat. Hist. Soc, 41: 64-71.
HORA, S.L. 1939b. The game fishes of india. 8. Tfie mahseers or the large-scaled
barbels of India. 1. The putitor mahseer, Barbus (Tor) putitora (Hamilton). 1.
Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 41: 272-85.
RORA, S. 1. 1940. The gamefishes ofIndia. 9. The mahseers or the large-scaled barbels
of India, 2. The tor mahseer, RaJ'bus (Tor) tor (Hamilton). J. Bombay nat. Hist.
Soc; 41: 518-25.
RORA, S.1. 1940a. The game fishes of India. 10. The mahseers or the large-scaled
barbels of India. 3. The mosal mahseer Barbus (Tor) mosal (Hamilton). J.
Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 41: 784-94.
REFERENCES
103
HORA, S. L. 1940b. The game fishes of IndIa. I I. The mahseers of the large-scaled
barbels of India. 4 ..The bo kar of the Assamese and Katli of the Nepalese, Barbus
(Lissocheiltls) hexagonolepis McClelland. 1. Bombay. nat. Risl. Soc. 42: 78-88.
HORA, S.L. 1941. Tht: game fishes or India. 13. The mahseers or the large-scaled
barbels ofIndia. 6. The.Tungha of the Assamese Barbus(Tor)progeniu8 McClelland. 1. Bombay nllt. Hist. Soc. 42: 526-32.
HORA, S.L. 1942. The game fishes of India. IS. The mahseers or the tatge-scaled
barbels ofIndia. 8. On the specific identtty of Sykes species of Barbus from the
Deccan. J. BOl1Jbay. 1Iat. Hist. Soc. 43: 163-69.
HORA, S.L. 1943. The game fishes of India. 16. The mahseers or the large-scaled
barbels of India. 9. Further observations on mahseers from the Deccan. J.
Bomhay nat. HL~t. Soc. 44: 1-8 .
.THING RAN, V.G. and SEHGAL, K. L. 1978. Coldwater Fisheries oflndia. pp. 249 Inland
Fisheries Society of India, Barrackporc.
KEN-KNOX FISHING COLUMN, AUSTRALIA. 1978. Fish to catch the tourists. Sunday, 6
August 1978.
KHAN, H. 1940. Fish ladders in the Punjab. 1. Bombay nat. Hist Soc. 41: 551-62.
MACDoNALD, A. ST .T. 1948. Circumventing the mahsecr ;<ad other sporting fish in
India and Burma. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 49: 306.
MACDoNALD, A. ST.T. 1955, A fishing holiday . .T. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 53: 346-56.
MITCHELL, F.J. 1911. A sporting Kashmirfish, the ClJeroo, Schizothorax esocinus. J.
Bomb,IY 1Iat. Hist. Soc. 21: 285-86.
MHRAA, KERALA. 1969. 'Proceedings of the 36th Annual General Meeting'. pp. 14.
Munnar High Range Angling Association, Kerala.
N ATAR,\.I,\N. A V. and SFHGAL, K.L. 1981. State of art report on biological behaviour
of migratory [t,heN in context of river-valley projects. pp. 42. CIFR I, Barrackpore
(Mimeographed).
PANT, M.C. and SHARMA, P.C. 1978. 'Observations on some possible casual factors
governing the mortality of winter fish in the Nainitallake'. pp. 248-54. Proceedings of the N~tional Seminar on Resources, Development and Environment in
the Himalayan Region, New Delhi.
PRIMROSE, ALEX M. 1921. Angling for Barbus hexagonolepis in Assam. J. Bombay
nat. Hist. Soc. 27: 957-59.
RAJ, U.S. 1947. Effcct of weirs at the canal headworks on the distribution of Catla
cltJa (Hamilton) in the Punjab. J. Bombay nlll. Hist. Soc. 47: 449-54.
RAINA, B.N., HAKKU, B.M. and CHALAPATHI Rao, R.V. 1978. 'Geologicalfeatures of
Himalayan region with special reference to their impact on environmental
appreciation and environmental management'. Proceedings of the National
Seminar on Resources, Development and Environment in the Himalayan
Region, New Delhi, pp. 1-19.
SARIN, N AYIN C. 1979. Protection offish and its impact on national and international
tourism. Indo-German AgJ'iculture Project, Palampur, Newsletter 4(6): 8-12.
SEHGAL, K.L., WANI, A.R., BHATT, G.M. and KUMAR, KULDIP. 1976. Experiments on
the efficiency and cost of dry compound pelletized feed in relation to conventional feed in Kashmir trout farm J. Inland Fish. Soc, India 8: 1-12.
SEHGAL, K.L. and others. 1979. 'Result of rearing eggs, alevins and fry of brown
(Salmo trut/a (aria Linnaeus) and rainbow (Salmo gairdneri Richardson) trouts
in running water hatching bOKes at Harwan and Laribal farms during 1968-71 '.
Symposium on Inalnd Aquaculture (Abstr), pp. 67-68.
104
SPORT FISHERIES OF INDiA
SEHG,\I. K L, KIiMilR, KliLDIP and SIINDFR, SHYilM. 19t14. Food prclerences of

brown [lOlli, Salmo tmtta filIlO (Linnaeus) in five streams 01 Kashmir during
1971-74. InJwn.l Anim. Sci. 54(7): 675-82.

STROUD, R.H. 1977. Changing challenges in recreational fisheries (Chapter IV).
In
Wildlife ilnd America. pp. 37. Council on Environmental Quality, Wahsington,

THOMAS, H.S. IS73 Tank Angling. pp. 182. Thacker Spink, London.
THOMAS, H.S. 1897. The Rod in lndia. pp. 435. William Clawes and Sons, London.
TILAK R/\j. 19R2 SpOil fish and fisheries in India. Mohan Singh Rishell Singh
Publtshers. Dehradun, pp. 259.
WALKOBOUT, The 1978. Fish the Himalayas. October 9.
WELBORNE, J. E. I X7lJ Po. 'lgah (Assamese) fishing in rivers. Asian, 22 July and 2
September.
APPENDIX I
Region-wise list of State Fisheries Departments, Angling Associations, private entrepreneurs etc., providing fishing equipment and
other facilities on payment basis
Region
1
State
Organizations
Eastern
Assam
Angling Association, Tejpur Equipment
West Bengal Fisheries Department, Mirik, Licence
Darjeeling
Private dealers located in
All kinds of equipments
Lenin Sarani, Calcutta.
Western
Maharashtra Fish Association of Powai

Lake, Bombay
Tata Hydroelectric
Northern
Himachal
Pradesh
Jammu &
Kashmir
Uttar
Prauesh
Facilities
4
Equipment,
licence elc.
Licence and lodging
Works, "Lonavala
Himachal Fisheries
Department at Katrain,
Barot, Rohru and Sangla
facilities
Licence and fishing
lodge at Scema,
Rohl'll
Himachal Pradesh Angling

Associatioll, Palampur
Guide for mahseer

angling from Sari
Molag to Dehra
and equipment
District FIshery Officer,

Dharamsala
J&K Department of
FIsh Preservation,
Srinagar, Kashmir
Fishing licence
H. Goffara & Sons,

The Bund, Srinagar,
Kashmir
Municipal Corporation,
Naini Tal
Se11lOf Inspector of
Fisheries, Bhimtal
Forest Department, Ultar
Pradesh, Corbett National
Park. Dehra Dun Fishing
Association, Dehra Dun
Licence, lodging
equipmcnt and guides
Equipment and guides
Licence for fishing

in N ainital lake.
Licence for fishing
ill Kumuonlakes.
Licence for fishing
in Ramganga
Guides
106

3
Delhi
A~~i,tanl Warden of
Fisheries, Delhi Administration, Okhla Barrage,
Okhla, New Delill
Equipment, lodging
and liccnc~
Punjab
PanJltb Fishcrie,
Depal tment, Chandlgarh
Fishing licence
Sukhna Lake.
Chandigarh
Fi,hlllg licence
Southcl n
or
Tamil Nadu A,si,tant Dllcclor

Fisheries,Ootacamund,
Nilglris
Palnr Hills Game
Association. Kodiakanal
Kafllataka Wildlife A,sociation
of Soulh India,
Banglore
Kerala
I-ligh Range Angling
Association, Munnar
fOI
Fishirlg licence
and guide,.
Fishing licence.
equipment and guides
Fi,hmg licence
alld guides
P.S. The angler can da no better ta contacl ather fishing associatIOns, if any, in the
locality he may go for anglIng.
APPENDIX II
Important fishing localities for fresh, brackish and saltwater game
fishes of India
State
Andhra
Pradesh
Water body Localities
Hussain
Sagar
Mir AI am
Lake
R. Krishna
Hyderabad
Best
season
4
MarchApril
Hyderabad MarchApril
Dcversugur, NovemberMarch
Raichur.
Kumool
R. Bhima
At the con- Octoberflue nee with December

Krishna
R. Godavari BhadraJanuarythallam,
March
about 60 km
upstream of
Rajahmundry
Species
Remarks.
if any
6
Kalabanse
Kalabanse
Mahseer
Mahseer
Mahseer
Krishnapat- After north- Cock-up,

nam, about east monsoonBamin,
25 km [rom
Megalops
Nellore
Vatukuru,
15 km from JuneKodavalaru December
Rly Stn near
the mouth of
Poneru
Singarayakonda
Vetapalam
JuneDecember
JuneDecember
Kottapalem Junemouth of
December
Krishna
about 45 kill
from
Machhali-
Cock-up
Cock up
Mullets
Cock-up.
Bamin,
Megalops
and
Perches
Fish up to
40 pounder
(18.J6 kg)
recorded
108
Appendix II (Continued)
2
patnmn
Machhalipat- June-
Boat fishing
nalll
August
Coli air l.ake, After N.E.
Kaikalur Rly monsoon~
Stn
for seer
Cock-up
Kakinada
Boat fishing
101' seer
Cock-up
Pentakota
10 km from
Assam
JuneAugust
JuneAugust
Tuni. Rly Stn

SarkhovaNovemberghat
March
Sadiya
R. Dihing
NovemberMarch
R. Dibang Sadiya
NovemberMarch
R. Dhansiri Jaunguri
OctoberApril
R. Subansiri Dabingmukh NovemberMarch
R. NangaNcar
Octobernodi
Lakhimpur April
R. Boroi
Halem
October,
FebruaryMarch
R. Lohil
Golden
mahseer
Golden
mahseer
Golden
mahseer
Chocolate
mahseer
Golden
mahseer
Chocolate
mahseer
Chocolate
mahseer
Fish up to
16-18 poundeI'S
(7.26-8.D7 kg)
R.Jia
Bharoli
Chard u ali,
Tejpur
NovemberMarch
R. Dhansiri Doolguri
NovemberMarch
R. Manas
MithanguFi
NovemberJanuary
R. Aie
Buree Jhar
OctoberNovember
R. Champamati Ranikhata MarchApril
recorded
Golden and
Chocolate
mahseers
Golden and
Chocolate
mahseers
Golden
Fish up to
mahseer
60 pounder
(27.24 kg)
recorded
Golden
Fish up to
mahseer
25 poun.der
(11.3 kg)
re.:orded
Golden
mahseer
109
APPENDIX II
2
R. Sankoshi Kochugaon
NovClOberJanuary
Chocolate
mahseer,
Indian tr()ut
and gold~n
mahseer
Arunachal
Pradesh
R. Subansiri Near confluence of

Kamala
OctoberFebruary
Golden
mahseer
Bihar
R. Gandak
Tribani,
north of
Bagaha
NovemberMarch
Golden
mahseer
R. Burhi
Gandak
Champaran,
Mehsi, Pus a
and Daulatpur
Motihari and
Muzzafarpur
Dhang and
NovemberMarch
All the
year round
November-
Hayaghat
March
Ox-bow
lakes
R. Bagmati
Gujaral
R. Kosi
DecemberNorth
Bhagalpur
January
and Kursala
R. Parr
Bulsar
R. Kolak
Udvad
R.
Dhamand
Dhamanganga
R. Sanjan
R.
Sabarmati
Fish up to
40 pounder
(18.16 kg)
recorded
Batchwa and Silond
Cat fishes
Mahseer in
upper rea~hes
while
Batchwa rlUd
large catfishes in
lower reaches
Golden
mahseer
OctoberDecember
OctoberDecember
OctoberDecember
Deccan
mahscer
Deccan
mahseer
Deccan
mahsccr
Sanjan
OctoberDecember
Near
OctoberAhmedabad December
Deccan
mahsecr
Deccan
mahseer
Cantonment
Rayasan
Mchmadabad
and rohu
110
SPORT FISHERlES OF INDIA
2
R. Mahe
Banswara
and Durgapur
Few kilometres below
Sirohi
OctoberDecember
Deccan
mahseer
OctoberDecember
Deccan
mahseer
Dhamanganga and
Sanjan
MarchApril
on ebb tide
Indian
Salmon
During
Monsoon
Cock-up and Fish up to

Bamin.
50 pounder
(22.7 kg)
recorded
Red Perch
a nd mackerels
R. Western
Banas
~stuaries
near Surat
Malwan
rocks
Haryana
Himachal
Pradesh
R. Yamuna
SeptemberOctober
TaJewala and NovemberMarch

Jagadhu
Lake
Faridabad
Badkhal
R. Markande Near Umb
OctoberNovember
OctoberDecember
R. Ravi
AugustSeptember
Chamba
R. Beas
Between
Novembermcluding Dehra and Sail January
its tributar- Molag
ies Chakki
and Mandi
Dehra, Gaj
Baner, Neogil
Sinwa Rana,
Suket
AprilBal and
R. Uhl
September
Barot
R. Beas
KuluApnlManali Road September
Pong
Dehra and Novemberreservoir
Pong
February
GoldclJ
mahseer
Carps
Indian
trout
Golden
Occasional
mahseer and fishing for
snow trout mahseer
Golden
mahseel'
Brown
trout
Brown
trout
Boat
Golden
mahseer,
fishing
freshwater
shark, siland
etc.
III
APPENDIX 11
Appendix: II (Continued)
Jammu &
Kashmir
R. Baspa
Sangla
R. SatluJ
Dilaspur
Gobindsagar
reservoir and
its arms
Ghambar,
Seer, Ali
and Suker
R. Paber
(Yamuna
system)
R. Giri
Bilaspur
ApnlSeptember
November
March
NovemberMarch
Brown
trout
Golden
mahseer
Golden
mahseer
Rohru and
Seema
AprilSeptember
Brown
, trout
Dadahu
R. Yamuna
Paonta
Lake
Renuka
Renuka
NovemberMarch
NovemberMarch
All the
year round
Golden
mahseer
Golden
mahseer
Common
carp
AugustSeptember
Golden
mahseer
MarchSeptember
MarchSeptember
MarchSeptember
MarchSeptember
Brown
troul
Brown
trout
Brown
trout
Brown trout,
Chush
and Chiroo
Brown trout,
Chush
and Chiroo
Gujarbal,
Baramulla
and Ningle
R. MadhmatiBandipore
R.lhelum
R. Erin
Bandipore
R. Kishenganga
R. Sind
Gurez
R. Lidder
and its
tributaries
R. Bringhi
R. Verinag
Between
Sonamarg
and Woosan
Between
MarchChandanwari September
and Seer
Between
DYliS and
Larun
Verinag
R. Kokernag Kokernag
MarchSeptember
MarchOctober
MarchOctober
Occasional
fishing
Fish up to
16 pounder
(7.26 kg)
recorded
Brown trout, Chush and
Chiroo
Brown trollt, Chush and
Chiroo
Brown trout, Chush and
Chiroo
112
R. Vishav
Near
Rulgam
MarchSeptember
R. Poonch
Poonch
R. Neeru
Bhadarwah
NovemberMarch
MarchSeptember
Brown trout, -Chush and

Chimo
Golden
mahseer
Brown
trout
R. Chenab
Karnataka
Akhnoor and NovemberReasi

March
Rajauri Tawi Dharamsal NovemberMarch
Jammu Tawi Nagrota and AugustRanbirSeptember
singh
Para
Golden
mahseer
Golden
mahseer
Golden
mahsecr
R. Bhadra
Deccan
mahseer
Goonch and
other
catfishes
Deccan
mahseer
Sacrebyle
ncar
Shimoga
SeptemberNovember
Sharavati
reservoir
Jog falls or Malchabove hydro- June

electric
Project,
Shimoga,
Hansoor to
Chunchikutty
R. Cauvery VerajendMarchreservoir
rapet
June
near Coorg
R. Kabbani Kakankote, MarchSargur and June
Heggada
Devenkote
Krishanraj Seringapat- MarchSagar
nam
June
Vanivilas
Sagar
Doddinamadu
MarchJune
Deccan
mahseer
Deccan
mahseer
Carnatic
carp, and
Deccan
mahseer
Carnatic
carp, and
Deccan
mahseer
Fish up to
100 pounder
(45.4 kg)
recorded
113
APPENDIX II
Tungabadhra
Honnali
MarehJune
Go oneil
South
Kanara
streams
MarchHulikalHosangadi June
Road
R. Sitanadi Someshwar-MarehHebri Road June
MarchMala and
R.
June
Swarnanadi Miyar
MarchR. Gurpur Yenur,
Marur and June
Naravi
MarchR. Netravati MudginMangalore June
Road
MarchR. PayaswaniSulya
June
Kamengudi Throughout
Shankar
hills
the year
FilUs
Estuaries
Mangalore After
around
monsoon
Mangalore
Deccan
mahseer
R. Kabbini Aralam puzha, MarehKozhikode

April
R. Beypur
Kozhikode MarchGudalur
April
Road
Deccan
mahseer
Deccan
mashee)
R. Holadi
Kerala
Milk Falls
Below
Pulliary pass
at Papavinasam
R. Taracadu Anglicoorchi
Deccan
mahseer
Deccan
mahseer
Deccan
mahseer
Deccan
mahscer
Deccan
mahseer
Rainbow
trout
Milk fish
Fish up to
15 pounder
(7.8 kg)
recorded
June and
Deccan
Septcmber- mahseer
January
November
Deccan
mahseer
Trichanapoly Trichur
September- Carps, fresh
Anieut
October
water shark,
tengara etc.
R. Kalaar
MunnarHigh September- Rainbow
trout
Range,
May
Kalaar
R. Kannia- Kanniama- September- Rainbow
Ideal fishing
114
Appendix II ( Continued)
May
allay
Mallay
SeptemberR. RaJamallay Kanniamallay,
May
Rajamallay
KundalJay
K.undallay SeptemberreserVOl1
May
Madupatty Madupatty Septemberreservoir
May
Munnar
SeptemberElephant
Lake
May
Devicolam Devicolam SeptemberLake
May
Mouth of
Cannanore MarchApril ebb
Maha
tide
Billipatnam Kozhikode MarchBackwater and Beypur April ebb
tide
trout
Rainbow
trout
ground
Ideal fishing
ground
R. Wainganga
Near Chanda NovemberMay

and
Ambgaon,
15 km north
of Bhandara
Mahseer
Fish up to
20 pounder
(9.08 kg)
recorded
R. Hasdeo
Seori
NovemberNarayan and May
Banjo
Mahseer
Fish up to
20 pounder
(908 kg)
recorded
Rainbow
trout
Rainbow
trout
Rainbow
trout
Rainbow
trout
Indian
salmon
Indian
salmon
Madhaya
Pradesh
Bhandara
BJ1aspur
ChandrapuJ
R. Mahandi Padampur
and between
Seod
Narayan and
Chandrapur
R. Maniari Lorni, 20 km
south-west
of Bilaspur
R. Seonth
Nandaghat
NovemberMay
Mahseer
NovemberMay
Mahseer
NovemberMay
Mahseer
R. lndravati Bhomragarh, November-
Golden
mahseer
Challda
ScmnapaUi March
and Dhamarincha
Fish up to
80 puunder
(35.32 kg)
recorded
115
APPENDIX II
App~ndix II (Continued)
R.Wainganga
Chanda
NovemberMarch
NovemberMarch
Golden
mahseer
Golden
mahseer
R. Panchi
Chhindwara NovemberMarch
Kundlai and NovemberMarch
Alikutta
Golden
mahseer
Golden
mahseer
Nohta
OctoberMarch
Piperia
R. Ken
Octoberghat
March
R. Indravati Darnoh
OctoberMarch
R. Sonar
Narsinghpur OctoberMarch
Golden
mahsecr
Golden
mahseer
Golden
mahseer
Golden
mahseer
R. Narmada Bindraban,
Karraghat,
Narndapa
and
Gadarwada
Golden
mahseer
R. Pranhlta Chanoa
ChhindwBra
R. Jullmilli
Darnall
R. Bearma
Fish up to
30 pounder
(13.62 kg)
recorded
Hoshanghabad
AprilMay
Atta-bait
gives good
result
Panchmarhi
R. Denwa
Matkuli and April-May

Panchmarhi
Golden
mahseer
lilOHlpur
R. Narmada Bargi,
OctoberBahoripar
December
Guwarighat,
Tilwaraghat,
Larnheti,
Behraghat
and Notha
R. Bearma Notha
October
R. Belkhund Dhanwani
Chugra
R. Gaur
Guraiyaghat
on Mandla
Road,
July
October
July
October
Deep bodied mahseer
Mahseer, silond
and batchwa
Mahseer
116
Kasarnghat
and Pararia
JulyGaniari
R. Hiran
November
JulyR. Mahanadi KatniNovember
Shahpura
Road and
Wasari
Upstream of JulyR.Ternari
confluence November
with Narmada near
Basanpani,
Temar and
Bargi
. Mahseer
Mahseer
Mahseer
Khandwa
Mahseer
R. Katbi
Balkhund
JulyNovember
JulyNovember
R. Sipna
Melghat,
JulyNovember
Semadoh
Rakhidih and
Harisal
Mahseer
JulyR. Narmada Dindori,

SahasardharaN ovember
and Irndhi
R. Thanwur Padregung JulyNovember
Mahseer
R. Ganga
Dharni
Mahseer
Mandla
Mahseer
Narsinghpur
R. Narmada Barham to Julythe north
November
where the
Saugar Road
Mahseer
crosses
Nimar
R. Narmada Dhariga
fall
Monsoon
and
- FebruaryMarch
R. Narmada Bir, ManJuJydhata, Mar- October
takka-Kalghat Road
Mahseer
Live-bait
fishing
Mahseer
Fish up to
20 pounder
(9.08 kg)
recorded
Saugar
R. Bctwa
Billa and
Kanjia
JulyOctober
Mahseer
APPENDIX
Appendix
117
n (Continued)
2
12th mile
from Damoh
Road
R. Dhasan On Jhansi
Road
Maharashtra and Karnataka
Be1gaum
R. GataprabhaSulgatti and
Punderi
R. Bewas
JulyOctober
Mahseer
JulyOctober
Mahseer
JuneNovember
Deccan
mahsecr
R. Tamrapani
Dhupdal
L::.ke
Gokak falls
Tambulwadi JuneNovember
Dhupdal
JuneNovember
5 km down- Scptemberstream of fall November
Deccan
mahseer
Deccan
mahseer
Deccan
mahscer
R. Krishna
Gataprabha SeptemberNovember
Deccan
mahsef.r
R. Kalu
(non-tidal
stretch)
Neral
Deccan
mahseer,
mulleyand
murrels
Deccan
mahseer
Fish up to
20 pounder
(9.08 kg)
recorded
Bijapur
Bombay
JuneNovember
Lonawala. Juneapproachable November

from Whal- '
wan and
Sherawati
Lake
Bhiwandi
JuneBhiwandi
November
JuneLake
Beale and
Nipand
November
Beale
JuneLake Arthur Igatpuri
November
Hill
Lake Andra Andra, a few Junekm east of November
Bhorghat
Ghat Lakes
Deccan
mahseer
Deccan
mahseer
Deccan
mahseer
Deccan
mahseer
North
Kanara
OctoberNovember
Deccan
mahseer
OctoberNear
Khadakwasla November
Deccan
mahseer
R. Kalinadi Gangawali,
Tadri,
Sharawati
below
Gersoppa
falls
Pune
Lake Fife
Mahseer up
to 15 pounder (6.8 kg)
recorded
Permission to
be obtained
from Tatas
at Bombay
118
5
Upper waters Rainy

especially
season
Pangaon and
Nandgaon
Deccan
mahseer,
mulleyand
murrcls
Fish up to
30 pounder
(13.62 kg)
recorded.
Cllapatiand
triangular
slice of
coconut spun
like a spoon
are good
baits
Rainy
Mirkee to
Kooljee Lake season
Ambegaon, SeptemberDehu and
October
Sirur
Deccan
mahseer
Deccan
mahseer
R. Bhima
R. Mula
R. Ghod
R. Indrayani Shelavadi on September- Deccan

Lonavala- October
mahseer
Pune Road
SeptemberOctober
Del;can
mahseer
Doughaghat, SeptemberNovember
Padregunj
and upstream
of Laknaganj
gorge
UIhas estuary Bassein to
AugustKalyan
October
Deccan
mahseer
Lake
Whiting,
R. Nira
Bharalgarh
and lng
Fish up to
50 pounder
(22.7 kg)
recorded
Fish up to
40 pounder
(18.16 kg)
recorded
Amraoti
R. Wainganga
Bekti and
bamin
Bekti up to
50 pounder
(22.7 kg)
recorded
Fish up to
60 pounder
(27.24 kg)
recorded
Manipur
R. Barak
North
Manipur
NovemberFebruary
Chocolate
mahscer and
Golden
masheer
Meghalaya
Barapani
Reservoir
Barapani
NovemberFebruary
Chocolate
mahseer
Nagaland
R. Dhansiri Dimapur
NovemberMarch
Golden
mahseer
119
APPENDIX II
Orissa
R. Diyang
Woklm
R. Dikhu
Tuensang
R. Dzuku
Dhzulaike
R. Razaru
Phck
NovemberMarch
NovemberMarch
MarchSeptember
NovemberMarch
Golden
mahsecr
Golden
mahseer
Brown
trout
Golden
mahsecr
R. Mahanadi Above the tail Novemberend of

March
Hirakud,
SambaJpur
Mahseer
Kalahandi
NovemberMarch
Mahseer
R. Brahmani Near conflue nee of

Gangpllr
stream
Estuaries & Sonapur
Sea
Gopalpur
NovemberMarch
Mahscer
R.Tel
NovemberJanuary
NovemberJanuary
Ganjam near Novemberold mouth of January
R. Rushikulya
Chilka
Lake
R. Astrang
mouth
Ranilanka
mouth of
Chilka
Charla
Rambha
Puri
November
NovemberJanuary
Bamin and
Bckti
Bekti
Small Bekti
and
Megalops
Small Bekti
and
MegaJops
Small Bekti
and
Megalops
NovemberJanuary
NovemberJanuary
Bekti
Post-monsoon
Bekti
Chandipore November-
Hekti
Konarak
Mahanadi
estuary
NovemberJanuary
Kujang
Bekti
Good fishing
for Bekti in
deeper waters
120
Punjab
R. Satluj
NovemberH:ead of
March
Sirhind
Canal. Ropar _
7 km from NovemberJalandhar MarchCantt.
NovemberMukerian
March
and
Gutdaspur
Madhopur Novembercanal of the March
R. Ravi and
H:eadwaters
of Lower
Bari Doab
Eastern
Basin
R. Beas
R. Ravi
Golden
mahseer
Golden
mahseer
Golden
mahseer
Golden
mahseer,
Batchwa,
mulley,
Seetul and
Rohu
Rajasthan
Udaipur
Lake
R. Banas
NovemberMarch
NovemberNear conf1uence with March
Chambal
near Swai
Madhopur
Udaipur
Golden
mahseer
Mahseer
R. Chambal Tributarie~2fjOctoberR. Chambal November

rising from
1(ota,. Bundi,
Narwar and
Detia
Mahseer
R. Bhawani Coimbatore July-September and

JanuaryFebruary
Upper
Throughout
Nilgiris
Bhawani
the year
reservoir
Emarold
Throughout
Nilgiris
reservoir
the year
Avalanche Nilgiris
Throughout
reservoir
the year
Mukruti
Nilgiris
Throughout
reservoir
the year
Pykara
Nilgiris
Throughout
Mahseer
Tamil Nadu
Rainbow
trout
Rainbow
trout
Rainbow
trout
Rainbow
trout
Rainbow
121
APPENDIX II
reservoir
R. Cauvery
the year
JanuaryMarch
trout
Mahseer
From Sivasamudram
fall to the
tail end of
Mettur
reservoir
Hogenakal NovemberMettur
Reservoir
fall near
March
confluence of
R. Palar
R.Konalaar Kodaikanal Throughout
the year
R. Pollava- Kodaikanal Throughout
char
the year
Inside
JuneTuticorin
harbour and August
adjacent
Decem berislands
January
Mandapam
Kudigil
Novemberpoint
January
Kilakarai
May-August
Ramnad
Dhanushkodi Dhanushkodi JuneSeptember
Pier
Talaimanar Talairnanar JuneSeptember
Pier
and November-January
Attankurai Near
AprilOchipally
May
Rly Station
Adirampat- Adirampat- AprilMay
nam
namRly
Station
Sethubbiava- Peravaruni AprilChallaram
Rly Station May
North-east
Velankanni Near
Negapatnam monsoon
Rly Station
Porto-novo Porto-novo May-August
Buckingham Madras
February-
Mahseer
Rainbow
trout
Rainbow
trout
Bekti and
Bamin
Red Perch
Bekti
Surmai
Surmai
Trolling
Surmai
On live
prawn bait
Bekti and
Bamin
Bekti ana
Bamin
Bekti and
Bamin
Bekti, Bamin and Megalops
Bekti, Bamin
and Megalops
Megalops
122
2
Canal
Madras
harbour
Pulicat
Lake
Adyar
Estuary
Dugarajapatnam
Madras
March
M"yAugust
Soon after
north-east
monsoon
Madras
Soon after
north-esat
monsoon
Nayudupettai After
Rly Station north-east
monsoon
Ponneri
6
and Surmai
Sea-perches,
Bekti and
Bamin
Bekti and
Mcgalops
Megalops
Bckti and
Bamin
Uttar
Pradesh
Allahabad
Near Rly
bridge,
Allahabad
R. Ganga
Near Rly
bridge,
Allahabad
From Lohaa
R. Tons
to Korhar
3-4 km from
Bridge upstream and
Rewa Road
Macpherson Allahabad
Lake
cantonment
R. Yamuna
R. Balan
NovemberMarch
NovemberMarch
NovemberMarch
Sepll'mberNovember
Mando and OctoberKoolsara

March
Batchwa,
silond
and mulley
Batchwa,
silond
and mulley
Mahseer
Indian major Fish ranging

carps
from 30-nO
pounders
(13.6227.24kg)
recorded
Mahseer and Indian trout
AIm ora
R. Kosi
Kairhna
Octoberreserved
March
forests
R. RamgangaTangel1iOctoberRomeshwar Murch
stretch near
conf1uence of
R. Sarju
Mahseer
Mahseer
123
APPENDIX II
Appendix II (Continuecf)
R. Sarju
21 km from MarchBhugeswar May

on to Pindari
glacier,
Upper Sheraghat 40 km
from Almora
town and
confluence
with Kali
Up to its
Octoberconfluence November
with Kali
JulyNear
Gwaldllam September
MarchGonah
September
.Upstream of Marchconfluence Septenlber
with
Alaknanda
R.Gori
R. Pindar
Gonah
Lake
R. Birahi
Masheer
Mahseer
Mahseer
Brown
trout
Brown
trout
UttarKashi
R. Asiganga Upstream of Marchconfluenct' September
with Bhagirathl
Brown
trout
R. Bhagiralhi 6 km from
Uttarkashi
town
OctoberJanuary
Snow
trout
R. Sharda
Katernian
ghat
OctoberDec~ri1ber
Ncar Kashi
Rly Stn
OctoberDeceIllber
Batcbwa,
silond and
Barallch
Varanasi
R. Ganga
On wormbait
mUllcy
Dehra DlIn
R. Ganga
OctoberMahseer
Deceri1bcr
and MarchMay
OctoberMahseer
December
Mahseer
Western part October-
Lachmanjhoola,
Rishikesh
and below
Ganga canal Patri fall
R. Yamuna
Hal' ki pauri
~al1ctuary
may be
spared
SPORT FISHFRIES OF INDIA
124
4
R. Song
R. Asan
of Dehradun
town and
Kalsi
Between
Raiwala and
Dehradun
Dehradun
December
December
OctoberDecember
Mahseer
OctoberDecember
Mahseer
Gorakhpur
R. Gandak
Tirbham
OctabcrNovember
Masheer
R. Betwa
Parieha and OctoberBarbani near November

Jhansi town
Mahscer
R. Nayar
Bhang ghat
OctoberDecember
Deep-bodied Fish up to
mahseer and 30 pounder
Indian trout (13.62 kg)
recorded
R. Gamti
Near
Lucknow
town
OctoberDecember
Batchwa
Jhansi
Lansdowne
Lucknow
Meerut
Naini TaJ
Ganga Canal In the vicinityNovemberJanuary

of Meerut
cantt
Rindon
November to
Ghaziabad
FebruaryR. Gala
Ranibagb.
March
FebruaryR. Nandhaur Selakul
March
Bhimtal
AugustBhimtal
OClober
Lake
AugustNaukuchia- Bhimta!
tal Lake
October
Nainita!
Nainital
AugustLak.e
October
Mahseer
January
Mahseer
Mahseer
Mahseer
Mahscet
Mahseer
Tanakpur
R. Yamuna Northern
tributaries
in the
vicinity of
Tanakpur
Cantt.
Mahseer
October,
December
and Marcb-
April
125
APPENDIxn
4
R. Ladhya
From Chalti Octoberto its conNovember

fluence with
Sharada
R. Teesta
Sevoke,
Kalijhora
Jaipaiguri
and Barnes
Ghat
R. Runjeet
Upstream of October and Mahseer

its confluence March-April
with Teesta
Upstream of October and Mahseer
with Teesta
Saharanpur
West Bengal
R. Riyang
October and Mahseer

March-April
R. Gilljhora Upstream of October and

with Teesta
Mirik
Mirik
March-April
Lake
Sunderbans MarchHooghly
Estuary
April on
ebb tide
Sunderbans Monsoon
Rocky
portion of
the estuary
SeptemberOctober
Fish up to
45 pounder
(20.43 kg)
recorded
Fish up to
54 pounder
(24.31 kg)
recorded
Mahseer
Mahseer
Transplanted
Indian
salmon
Bekti and
Bamin
Perches
and
Megalops
Fish up to
50 pounder
(22.7 kg)
recorded
APPENDIX III
Possible Proforma to record creel census data fa 1'. recreational
fishing
Species
Date
Sex, if
recognizable
Hours
of
fishing
3
Number of
under-size
fish released back
2
Full name with address
Name of Bag
the
limit
heat
5
4
Name of the
species hooked
other than
sport
3
Number Length
bagged
(mm)
6
Lure
used
Weight
(lb)
Remarks,
if any
Signature
Date

129 2

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SPORT

INDIAN COUNCIL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH

FIRST PRINTED AUGUST 1987

Director (P&I) : DR V.S. BHATT

All Rights Reserved

"I in these flowery meads would be;

2. Nature and Life of Fish

3. Principal Game Fishes

4. Fishing Equipment and Fishing Methods

5. How, When and. Where to Fish

6. Management of Sport Fisheries

7. Sport Fishing and Tourism

SPORT FISHERIES OF INDIA

sport of angling. In this volume there is an enumeration of a large

NATURE AND LIFE OF FISH

SPORT FISHERIES OF INDIA

NATURE AND LIFE OF FISH

the puffer fish and trunk fishes (Tetradontiformes), the spiny-eels

SPORT FISHERIES OF INDIA

fishes have tooth-less jaws. These forms have teeth-like structures in

NATURE AND LIFE OF FISH

migration of fish from freshwater to the sea like eels (AnguiIla) is

PRINCIPAL GAME FISHES

Fig. l. Certain morphometric characters lIsed in the description of common game

PRINCIPAL GAME FISHES

include body shape, nature and characteristics offins, morphometric

Notopterus chitala (Hamilton)

SPO RT FISHERIES OF INDIA

I , Notopterus cbitala(Hamilton); 2, Chela .1Igente.'i Day; 3, R.~imas

PR1NCIPAL GAME FISHES

Raimas bola (Hamilton)

Tor chillinoides McClelJand

SPORT FISHERIES OF INDIA

PRINCIPAL GAME FISHES

Colour: Dark olive about becoming creamy, yellowish-white

SPORT FISH ER IES OF INDIA

I, Tor putitora(Hamilton); 2, Tor tor(Hamilton); 3, Acrossoc/J eillls

cbizo lil oraichthys esocillllS

PRINCIPAL GAME FISHES

Catla catla (Hamilton)

Labeo caJbasu (Hamilton)

SPORT FJSHERIES OF INDIA

1, Calla catla (Hamilton); 2, Labeo calbasu (Hamilton); 3, Labeo

PRINCIPAL GAME FISHES

Distribution: All major rivers of India.

Labeo rohila (Hamilton)

CirrlJinus mrig~J1a (Hamilton)

Wallago attu (Bloch and Schneider)

SPORT FIS.l-IERIES OF IND IA

Distinguishing characters: Large head most conspicuous part of

PRlNCIPAL GAME FISHES

t, Cirrhinus mriga/a. (Hamllton); 2, WaJlago atw (Bloch and

SPORT FISHERIES OF INDIA

Colour: Skin smooth, blui.sh above becoming silvery on si.des;

Eutropiichthys vacha (Hamilton)

Mystus (Aorichthys) :lor (Sykes)

PRINCIPAL GAME FISHES

Distinguishing characters: Body elongate, compressed. Snout

Mystus (Aorichthys) seenglJaJa (Sykes)

Bagarius bagarius (Hamilton)

SPORT FISHEJUES OF INDIA

I, Eutropiichthys vacha (Hamilton); 2, Mysllls (Aorjcllthy.~) .~een

PRINCIPAL GAME FISHES