Mahseer, or the golden mahseer (tor putitora) is a fresh water fish that thrives in the fast flowing himalayan rivers across the Himalayas and its range.There are many stories linked to its hard fighting powers that attracts anglers across the world today. In India s colonial days, the British, known to be keen fisherman, also came to try their SALMON fishing equipment (tackle – rods , reels, lines , lures) used back home in Britain, on the elusive himalayan Golden Mahseer, and were shocked to see their rods and tackle being shunted by this king of fresh water. So was the power of this predatory fish. Its also called RIVER TIGER .
Shape wise, its one of the most perfectly balanced hydrodynamic fish, that’s a marvel of nature’s design,which makes the fast flowing glacial rivers its perfect home. Its big head is balanced to 1/3 of the part to its body shape, its large Golden and Silver scales and double protruding lips are a sight to beckon at. One of its unique feature is on reverse migration, like that of the Salmon in America. The Mahseer, travels upstream in search of small streams upto 2500 metres to lay its eggs (spawn) in the summer months from March onwards. As monsoon arrives they spawn, and as the monsoon retreats they travel downstream back to the plains. It’s also known to be a combination of carp and a barbel.
Mahseer is an opportunistic feeder, it almost feeds on all that is vulnerable in this fast flowing river. From other fishes, to flesh, to plants, to algae, to small mammals, it can consume all, when hungry, particularly before spawning.
At the same time after spawning the female mamas are hungry again as they have just come out of pregnancy. They are known to eat only when the water temperature is right, and they need warmer water temperatures to feed. As winter sets in, they are known to be dormant feeders and are not in attacking mode and feed on the green matter of the river bed.
It is now a known fact that Mahseers are Intermittent feeders …. they feed at different timings and thats what is challenging to all anglers. So sometimes it as also called PERCENTAGE FISH or a FISH OF THOUSAND CASTS.
Mahseers are also fishes that easily get spooked , so clear water conditions can sometimes draw a blank as it is very hard to get them attracted to a lure. It’s the colored water or muddy water they are vulnerable at.
Also dusks dawns low light can all play their part in the feeding times for them.
Another name that this fish is famous for at Pancheshwar….is that it is called CONDITIONs FISH …. as there s a constant change on many factors, so you have to keep making minor changes in your style of fishing, tackle changes or lure changes.
So fishing for Mahseer, timing matters, the angler needs to be on the right time , at the right place, and must place his lure or bait in the right manner and must possess the right fishing tackle if targeting the trophy species of a bigger size. Its said the mahseer can grow to more than 200 pounds, and people have seen this kind of fish in rivers. In today’s times, realistically speaking, anglers do hook 50 pounds plus and can be termed as trophy fish. To add about the right place to fish, Pancheshwar holds the record of all the big mahsers hooked in last two decades . A 40 pounder mahseer,is a normal norm at Pancheshwar. The genetic pool of mahseer at Pancheshwar is unique, known for big fish. It is still baffling to anglers what is so unique about the Pancheshwar confluence where the Kali river meets the Saryu River. In older records of the 1900 s, it does mention PANCHESHWAR as the most favored destination for Mahseer as well. Mahseer is found in Ganges, Bhagirathi , Alaknanda, Brahmaputra , Ramganga and many other rivers, but none have the size that thrives at Pancheshwar. So in a way , its an uncrowned jewel of Uttarakhand, and sadly not many people in India even know about it. In fact fishing is such a rare sport in India, that its percent may be in point digits of math, in comparison to the population .
Artifical lures made of wood and plastic are easily recognized, they are known to have strong memory for lures. They sometimes even in summer months don’t take lures which are known to have hooked them earlier. They are finicky in nature and are supported by very strong eyesight. They are known to attack live bait like other small fish, chicken or other flesh materials like frogs, damsel flies.
Hooking a mahseer and landing a mahseer at Pancheshwar are two different chapters.The ratio to hook and land is 3:1, as its completely dependent on the fish and the luck of the angler, where it decides to give its first run ….if it chooses upstream run after getting hooked,chances are better that the angler may be able to land the fish, albeit if it decides the first run to be downstream , that’s the time its almost impossible to stop the mahseer and it takes a lot of line and the flow of the river makes it very hard and the angler is most certain that he may get spooled out. So a good spool of 180 to 200 mtrs of line is safe.
The himalayan Golden Mahseer is currently an endangered species under the Indian wildlife act , 1972 and enjoys highest protection as Schedule 1 species .
Of the many name connotation it has , locals believe, Mahseer means maha as great,big and seer as the big head. It also gets its mention in many Jim Corbett stories, as the most prized fish of Himalayas.
Rudyard Kipling, the author of the classic “The Jungle Book” wrote: “There he stood, the Mahseer of the Poonch, beside whom the Tarpon is a Herring and he who catches him can say he is a fisherman”
Notes : from the observation over last few years at Pancheshwar.