Fishing on my local River

[rickschoppers]

JP, I have been an avid fisherman most of my life and started with salmon at the age of 5 in Fort Bragg. Both my father and grandfather were avid fisherman and we all spent many days off the California coast when you could catch albacore close in to shore. Once they cut back the kelp beds, I started fishing Mexican waters and then Alaskan waters. Needless to say, I am more a deep sea fisherman than one who fishes fresh water. Originally, I thought Thailand would have good fishing grounds, but soon found that not to be true.

The fishing lakes here don't seem to peak my interest and the only time I had a good time was visiting a Thai friend who was raising fish. I actually have several snakehead in our pond and will probably try fishing it at some point with my son. If I have any luck, you and your wife should drop by for a visit.

[fishlocker]

The first I ever fished the Mekong the brothers took me to a big rock upstream in the middle of the river. I was setting up for catfish using the bottle method. It's where you weight down the bait with a big egg sinker stopped by a swivel a few feet ahead of the hook. Casting downriver you let the sinker hit bottom.

Then reel in until the line is fairly tight. Then lay the rod down with the bail open. That's key or you may loose the whole rig. Then after you drank the beer ,of course, you wrap the line around the bottle.

A fish hits, the bottle Q's you into the strike as it makes a bit of noise. The bail now free to let the fish run a bit. You pick up the rod and close the bail and set the hook.

So here is the surprise. While I'm setting all this up bil jumps in the river swimming with a trotline to tie it to some brush near the next group of rocks. I was like man that's fishing, wtf.

Needless to say we caught a few fish and the next thing I know these guys have a fire lit roasting the fish using sticks to keep them out of the fire. I was like man these guys don't mess around. I had a small taste as I felt it impolite not to share with them. Then broke into some Jack Link's jerky I brought from home and had a few more beers.

[Norton]

Fish a bit with grandson on the Chi river. Try surface lures working shallows just off bank. Looks like your local river would have snakeheads. Great fun to catch. Snakehead don't school so get some exercise walking the bank.

Catching varies but fishing is always good.

[rickschoppers]

The best way to go fishing is always find some locals who know what they are doing and to use the same bait and techniques they use.

[fishlocker]

That same day I watched as two guys, one slowly paddle from the rear of the boat with the other standing on the bow.

They'd go a bit and the guy on the bow would throw a circular net with weights on it. Then he would jump in the river and feel out the trapped fish. This was chest deep water and seemed to work well for the two.

I'll stand on the rocks. Kinda leary as to what I may be jumping on.

[tunk]

When I first came to Ubon, I spent a lot of time fishing the Mun River. Never caught a single fish. Then it dawned on me...its the nets. So many big nets out there. A fish would have to find his way past all those nets, then find my small bait in a very wide river. I gave up. If you are rich enough to stretch a net across the river, then you can have all the fish. I hear they do have laws about how big your net can be. But like everything else, nobody is going to enforce the law.

[terry57]

You're in a great spot there mate. Biking and fishing and a great Gaff.

A total success in my books.

Onya.

[Stumpy]

For some reason I had imagined you east of Chiang Mai, way up on the mountains of Lampang. Can see now that you are a flat lander. Are you near Lampoon?

Misskit, No I am 18kms south of Lampang city area.

We can try for something a little bigger in the reservoir but it's much more an excuse for a day out by the water with a picnic and surprise grill.

That's what happened to us on the reservoir up here in Lampang. Fished for 5 minutes maybe

Try surface lures working shallows just off bank. Looks like your local river would have snakeheads. Great fun to catch. Snakehead don't school so get some exercise walking the bank.

Catching varies but fishing is always good.

All I have is surface and Broken backs that swim at 3 to 6 feet. I entered the snake head fishing contatest a few time at Kaeng Krachan Lake. Caught a few and let them go.

You're in a great spot there mate. Biking and fishing and a great Gaff.

A total success in my books.

Onya.

Thanks Terry. I love my location. Close to many things to do outdoors and always stay busy.

[Stumpy]

JP, I have been an avid fisherman most of my life and started with salmon at the age of 5 in Fort Bragg. Both my father and grandfather were avid fisherman and we all spent many days off the California coast when you could catch albacore close in to shore. Once they cut back the kelp beds, I started fishing Mexican waters and then Alaskan waters. Needless to say, I am more a deep sea fisherman than one who fishes fresh water. Originally, I thought Thailand would have good fishing grounds, but soon found that not to be true.

The fishing lakes here don't seem to peak my interest and the only time I had a good time was visiting a Thai friend who was raising fish. I actually have several snakehead in our pond and will probably try fishing it at some point with my son. If I have any luck, you and your wife should drop by for a visit.

I hear ya RC. Its nothing like fishing in the Pacific West coast area. I grew up fishing the Trinity river as my Uncle lives there. Steelhead, German Browns and of course Salmon. Remember when you could catch Strippers and Salmon off the old Cement boat?. I loved Hat creek up by Lassen with all my Ultralight gear or Fly rod.

My fishing interest isn't as high as it used to be albeit yesterday plugging lures along a stretch of river got me a bit back into it. I think for me I am more curious about what I might catch versus what I know I would. River and ocean off California I knew all the species and used specific gear to catch them, here its an unknown. I doubt I will ever do the catfish deal. I do not like the fish, its a bottom feeder. Never did in the US, doubt I will go after it here.

Snakeheads hit like a Largemouth bass and are fun to play.

[Norton]

Its nothing like fishing in the Pacific West coast area

Wonderful part of the world for outdoors guy for hunting and fishing. In addition to all the fresh water fish, the abundance of salt water species also kept me fishing and diving. Free diving for huge pink abalone and sea urchins followed by spearfishing for snappers, ling cod, kelp bass and cabezon. All cooked up for a big feast on the beach. Great times but long ago and now not so good given overfishing short seasons and limit restrictions.

Agree JPR, Thailand fresh water fish not my cup of tea. Still fun to catch however.

[Stumpy]

Wonderful part of the world for outdoors guy for hunting and fishing. In addition to all the fresh water fish, the abundance of salt water species also kept me fishing and diving. Free diving for huge pink abalone and sea urchins followed by spearfishing for snappers, ling cod, kelp bass and cabezon. All cooked up for a big feast on the beach. Great times but long ago and now not so good given overfishing short seasons and limit restrictions.

Agree JPR, Thailand fresh water fish not my cup of tea. Still fun to catch however.

Oh Yeah, We used to go to our friends in Oregon for the Dungeness crab season. Ate crab until sick or maybe it was the alcohol....

When I was 14 I was a deckhand for Stagnaro fishing company out of Santa Cruz. Did it for a few summers caught some awesome Big Red Snapper cod along with a host of odd fish. Did a few Albacore trips as well. Biggest one I ever caught was 195lbs, took 4 hours to get the bastard on the boat.

I loved when the Ling cod were spawning. Only had to fish in 90 feet of water and all you had to do was hang anything in front of them and they would eat it (Including the sinker). Great eating.

As for here....well nothing like those times but fishing is fishing and it beats working any day.

[Stumpy]

Spent a better part of the day after washing my truck getting all my fishing gear squared away. I re spooled a few that had old P Line on them. I love a challenge and used 8lb test line. Thats Huge for me as I used to use 4 or 6 lb test line. I'd prefer to lose a fish playing it then have 30lb test on and just reel it in...



I have my Daiwa 2550 with my Shimano medium action fast rod ready to go. My mini tackle kit has my Rapala jointed floating plugs along with a few large spinners. We will see.


I took a little ride along the river and found a hidden trail where my trusty ol Wave became a 125 Enduro moto. These are the spots I will try tomorrow if all goes well.....



Saw lots of top feeding with what appeared to be large fish right before the spill way



This section proves to be a good place. Water aerated and focused location for food.



The entire spillway looks to be a good place. After it leaves it drops into natural rapids and then goes to deep water. I saw a guy trying to net fish but no luck.



After the spillway the river slows down and there are lots of places to toss a plug from the shore.

Being its a weekday and people have to work the shore spots are empty except for the ones who are probably trying to catch their dinner...

[Neverna]

I re spooled a few that had old P Line on them. I love a challenge and used 8lb test line. Thats Huge for me as I used to use 4 or 6 lb test line. I'd prefer to lose a fish playing it then have 30lb test on and just reel it in...

I have an interesting question for you, JPPR2.

When I was a lad (1970s) I used to go fishing and used similar strength lines to what you've posted above. However, I recently came across some Thai fishermen and got chatting to them. I checked out their rods, reels and lines and stuff. The rods were nice and light and the reels looked OK, but the lines looked much different to the ones I used when I was a youth. The Thai guys' lines looked "wrong" and weak, almost cotton like (but multi-strand cotton). However, when I asked them what poundage the lines could take, they replied 50!!! Yes, fifty. I double checked with them. Haasip. I've no idea what it was made of but it must be some modern super strong stuff because it wasn't thick or heavy at all. Have you come across it?

[naptownmike]

Looks like some nice spots on the river there.

[diverken]

I have an interesting question for you, JPPR2.

When I was a lad (1970s) I used to go fishing and used similar strength lines to what you've posted above. However, I recently came across some Thai fishermen and got chatting to them. I checked out their rods, reels and lines and stuff. The rods were nice and light and the reels looked OK, but the lines looked much different to the ones I used when I was a youth. The Thai guys' lines looked "wrong" and weak, almost cotton like (but multi-strand cotton). However, when I asked them what poundage the lines could take, they replied 50!!! Yes, fifty. I double checked with them. Haasip. I've no idea what it was made of but it must be some modern super strong stuff because it wasn't thick or heavy at all. Have you come across it?

What they had would be braid very thin but very strong but can be cut easily by another line if they get tangled

[Neverna]

Thanks, Diverken. Yes, that's what it seems to be.

[Troy]

I've no idea what it was made of but it must be some modern super strong stuff because it wasn't thick or heavy at all. Have you come across it?

Probably braid line, which wasn't around when you were a lad. You can get various types and colours that vary in weight for float characteristics. It has a much smaller diameter for same breaking strain, around 1/3 diameter for 50lbs. I use it for making my hair rigs but still use mono for the main line.

That river looks nice and so do those lures.

[Stumpy]

almost cotton like (but multi-strand cotton)

ave you come across it?

Yes I have. It has become quite popular for many. Berkely calls it "Fire line. Its a braid and has same diameter as say a Monofilament 8lb test but has the strength of 50lbs test and it is extremely expensive. I have used it in the ocean but never for fresh water. I prefer P-Line Flourocarbon line. Its virtually invisible in the water and when fishing for challenging fish like Steelhead, German Brown trout, cutt-throat trout and even snakehead fish here they can see line.

I suppose it has its uses and maybe strength is a bigger driving factor here then being stealthy. I will stick with the invisible line.

Cheers

[Troy]

I managed a couple of hours on the local river this afternoon, mainly to check out the local lures we bought yesterday. I spent most of the time untangling the kids line (and the wife's) who failed to cast more than 1 in 3 times without problems. The lures were a bit light and it's new line on the reels, which doesn't help but it put the wife off, which is a bad sign for the future.

The local rules are finding out which stream and which part can be fished over a particular time. It is more strict at this time of year and slackens off around February/March. So far all lures used have worked equally well with zero fish for supper.

Luckily, this isn't my day job.

[fishlocker]

The stuff around here is called Fire Line. If you snag something good luck getting much of the line back.

I prefer the Trylene XL for small stuff. The XT for bigger fish. 14lb is good for Salmon off the pier but for trolling whith downriggers I go with 30lb for Chinook salmon and Coho. For Lake Trout off the bottom in the deep I use wire line a bigg ass lead weight followed by a 10 inch silver Dodger and a green and white Howie fly.

Oh, and a snubber because the wire line has no give. The rod is an Eagle Claw with stainless steel roller eyes. It's best to hold on and bounce the weight off the bottom as the swells move the boat up and down as we troll along.

[fishlocker]

I didn't mean to step on your thread. You really got some cool material here. Feel free to tell me to piss off but I must say I'm not a bull shitter.

[fishlocker]

We roll with Dipsy divers, planer boards, down riggers and all that jazz.

PS.I'm really not the fishlocker...... she's my boat.




the fish.

[Stumpy]

So I went up and down the river casting away over the last few mornings and a couple evenings. Nothing serious, just a relaxing time to have some fun.

I was fishing the section below the spill way and on a Mepps spinner caught a 8" long fish. These Thai guys saw me and came over as I let as it shook itself free of the lure. They said the big fish are on the other side of the spillway but you have to use bait. I went over where 5 guys were fishing and started plugging lures. After about an hour I gave in and tried their glob of bait and slider weight scheme. I figured what the hell and they were very willing to give me some of the bait they had in the bucket.

So as I tried to chat it up with them in poor Thai and Poor English we managed to carry on. It was about 10am in the morning and the Leo's were already flowing. They offered me some and I said WTF...why not. No more then 5 minutes later my pole bent over and it was fish on. It played pretty well and I was just holding it and letting it run around and the Thai guys were after me to reel it in.. I had no net as I don't keep what I catch. I just was enjoying playing it.

Anyway as it got close to shore one of the Thai guys grabbed his net and waded into the water, netted it and threw it up on shore.



It was a nice size fish and its common in Thailand, I have seen these are market. No idea the name. I gave the fish to the old guy who netted it.

Regardless....Fish on the shore. Win!

[Stumpy]

I went by to see how the "Boys" were doing on the fish catch for the day. 2 of them sat and drank and fished all day. Caught 3. One guy took me over to the "Bass Pro" Bait and tackle, Restaurant, Tea and Gas shop and this is the "Special" brew to catch fish in these parts...LMFAO!!!!



Instructions;

1. Pour all into a bucket
2. Mix thoroughly.
3. Pull out what you want to use for the day.
4. Add water to make it like cookie dough
5. Add to hook
6. Toss in river
7. Pull up chair
8. Get cooler within arms length with 6 Leo's on ice
9. Wait for the fish....

[fishlocker]

Nice fish I wish I had the time right now, good for you.

This is a pic from inside the tackle shop in Pakse Laos. I was shell shocked at the prices. These guys must take this stuff way too seriously. To pay 14usd for one lure. I think I'll take a case over next time and double my money. I pay about 4usd for one. No wonder they get teary eyed when I give the kids a box of the stuff and rods and reels from here to "play" with.