Half blind and rodless

10.00 am we met guides on public jetty. Rainforest park manager Fong was also there and we had short chat together before loading our gears to boat and off we go. Satu was concerned about spiders and ants which she can't stand at all. We stopped on floating shop where guides took some stuff with them. Then we had 45 minutes boat drive thru the lake. On the way we had stop as we were crossing to area which is strictly forbidden from others than Orang Asli people and fly fishermen which they take up to the river.

Eventually we arrived to AO village and change for smaller river boat, on that point, Rey the boatmaster joined us also. We had totally 4 guides, Hadi, Khairul, Roy and Rey. Or as we like to call them big boss, tracker, muscle man and boat master. You can figured out what were their special skills...

We had maybe 30 minutes more with river boat and then we landed ourselves. Akchep used to be AO village before elephants destroyed it, now it is more like picnic/rest place. We had good lunch there and when big boss arrived with other boat, all food etc with them, we started to walk thru rainforest.

Our main camping gears and clothes were in big  waterproof bag which would go up with river boat. Hadi and Khairul walked with us, with Hadi going first and Khai last, Satu and me between. Rey and Roy would bring boat up with all food and gears.

We skipped some part of river and went straight over hill to reach better fishing spots. When arriving again river Khai spotted mahseer for me but I wanted to walk more up as I wanted to get closer to first camping area when it was not extremely hot yet. Inside rainforest and by the river it was not so bad as it was at the lake in fact. After the while Khai spotted new fish and then put my rod together, of course I spooked the fish as I was too eager to wade, I fished area with dry thru and got one small fish which they couldn't name for me.

We continued upstream and little bit before first camp Khai spotted two mahseer again. I don't know how he could see those as he was not using sunglasses and water was brown, not like milk coffee but not clear either. Hadi put some elephant's shit on fire as they heard something, to let elephants know that people around.

I went fishing for those spotted fish, I saw kind of where those were and make a cast. It was not totally there, new one... not there either as fish had moved some. Third one and nailed, furious take short fight and I landed my first mahseer, not big one but neither small, okay fish to start.

We moved to first camping spot which was only 200 meters from that spot. Guides started tp build camp and I got our fishing gears ready. Suddenly Satu said, “don't move, you have something on your neck". I stood up and walked to Khairul, I pointed my neck, I knew it is a leech, he took it off and throwed somewhere. That was maybe last leech in rainforest as it was only one we had. Paul has been great collector as he said that he has had them even in a beard. We went fishing with Satu back down from camp before dark and dinner.

Guys had built camp, set up hammocks etc when we came back, had nice dinner and good sleep. Guides made some fires around and light up some candles around so everyone knew we are there.

Just before sleeping I realise that it is possible that from my right eye contact lens is gone. I started to see not so well. In the morning Satu checked my eye and she couldn't see lens or see it anywhere inside my eye. As result of that I couldn't see well on longer distance and also my abyss sight had problems. Well shit happens and as it is me... normal. 

We woke up next morning just after 7 am, guides made breakfast and unbuilt camp, as doing that there was mahseer rising on other side next to the bank under trees and hampala (jungle perch) chasing some fish in the middle. I went after mahseer without success.

So I started my day as half blind. I had to adjust my fishing and how I watch totally new way. We started to go up to river. We stopped in nice spot, I did some nymphing and that combined with sort of stream fishing with no success. I tried same spot with dries, no fish. Suddenly I heard and saw that in upstream Satu had fish. I left my rod on the rocks and start to jump on rocks to upstream, at the same time I got my phone from pocket. Last thing I heard was, be careful sir, that was something Hadi yelled to me when going upstream. There are two things that you don't have worry about when fishing with me... one is that if Satu has fish, I will be like goat in mountains.... the other one is if I have a fish on.... I'm flying... I find my footsteps exactly. I'm ready to swim with fish if needed. 

Satu got a nice mahseer, she said that it was easier to fish spots where she thinks the fish might be than sight fishing. I think it is because her casting falls apart when she see the fish. 

I caught smaller mahseer in the morning, we had nice lunch break in early afternoon and I even took small nap after lunch. It is just too hot for fishing and mahseer are not really active during hottest time. 

Just after 100 meter after lunch break we spotted fish for both of us. I got some rises on fly but just next... so fish made last minute call to reject. Satu had more difficult place to cast and I went show her bow and arrow.... When I was showing bow and arrow to her, her rod tip was broken and Satu was rodless. 

I had to gave my 6 weight to her and set up 8 weight for myself. We went over from waterfall and fished upper part while waiting that guides to get boat over waterfall. We saw some fish and I had again one rise to the fly. After boat was over, we continued to go upstream. Afterwhile I had chance to fish nice looking spot where I got small jungle perch with dry. When looking guide's faces it is not normal catch. 

After fishing day we arrived on second camp, guides built it up and I went to fish upstream, area which was told to be okay to fish. I spooked some good fish when wading as I never thought that fish could be in so low water area. I came on neck and saw rise. I made cast and as soon as fly landed I had take. It was not big one, decent anyway, I saw also that Hadi had came look after me. It is really nice that they come to watch after you as there are tigers and elephants, we saw tiger footprints all the way to the upstream and elephants can be even bigger problem. So you can concentrate fishing and guides take care of wildlife. 

Again nice dinner in the evening and good sleep after long day. 

Second full fishing day starts after good breakfast. I go upstream to fish area where I got evening fish. I spook one fish on the way up as I was careless when crossing river. Water is getting more clear, which has up and downs. I can see fish easier and other way round. 

On the way there is nice section faster stream and I try nymphing, won't get anything. Also I didn't give big chance for nymphing as dry fly fishing seems to be so much more fun. Stones are really slippery and even I have studs there are areas you have to be super careful. Just before that spot I had got okay size mahseer and I can see even nicer stretch just above of faster water. 

We have crossed river once again. We see some rises under the trees and just edge of them. Looks like 3 different spot to fish. I first try with 4 weight and klinhammer, I got rise but it is not on the fly exactly. One more with that one and same reaction. I took 6 weight rod with streaking caddis, this time I got push on fly, one more shot and rise next to the fly. Okay let's go bigger, on my T-seeker (8 weight), I have a grasshopper imitation on size 8 hook. I need to get under the trees and it will take few cast to make it smoothly. I haven't spooked fishes yet as I can still see some rises. 

When I make first proper cast under trees... fly drops on water and at the immediately there is strike. I land nice mahseer. As I fought with that in 20 meters area, that area was basically ruined for fishing. The whole tree stretch is about 50 meters long and I saw one fish rising really in the down part of section, there is also rock next to that and fish seems to be next to the rock. I made cast on that, I got rise and push. Guides shows that cast again, new cast new rise. I decide to make one more and if same reaction I will take lighter rod and fly instead grasshopper. Third cast and now fish takes the fly... and very same moment it is gone. I check fly and hook is missing point, hook has cut off from curve, not sure if it broke to fish or when I made the cast as I wanted to hit rock with fly where fish was. I thought that maybe that would make fish to decide to take as it did. 

We continue upstream to the lunch break, again nice lunch and we swim with Satu before lunch, day is really warm. Right next to the lunch place there is nice spot, as we continue, I made few cast for spotted fish but it doesn't show any interest for any flies I try. We move upstream, fishing spots now and then without success. 

We arrive to nice and long stretch with nice looking spots. Hadi tells to fish as there are lot of fish. Satu makes some fishing down and I start to fish from mid to up. I saw fish in the middle of river and as I make cast for that I spook 2 other fish when line passes them... chain reaction... fish on my sight is spooked also. 

On other side there is rock and I think there should be fish. I make casts around that but now I cast so I'm slowly getting closer exact line I want. I don't want spook fishes before the rock if there are any. Eventually I'm casting to rock and on first cast, I got rise and feel bigger fish on line and then nothing, line has broken. I have 10lbs tippet and tippet broke during take and counterstrike. I'm pissed as it was elk hair caddis made for blind man, it had burning orange top wing so even I could see as half blind. I have totally 5  of those with me. Two of those is all ready destroyed by fish caught and now lost one. 

I move 50 meters upstream where I can see fish rising. There are two fast side stream coming down and between them there shallow spot where the fish is. End of those fast waters there is really deep spot with huge cliff on the other side of the bank. I try shallow first with klink, I got rise next to fly, so I decide to put elk hair caddis for blind on the line. It has been easily the most effective fly during days. 

I make cast, rise, hook the fish and line is cut.... FUCK... 10 lbs line is okay, no it is not. I have lost two big fish in 15 minutes because of the tippet. I check tippet and there is no damage from sand or anything like that, it just couldn't hold. (Afterwards at the lake Paul test the tippet and it snaps way too easily as 10 lbs, I realize that there is absolutely no stretching which makes strike come way too heavily.) 

Well, I decide to reject that tippet totally and just go bigger one, no more games. I have 0.25 mm, which is about 12/14 lbs, tippet which I know and trust. I change tippet in 6 weight rod and put streaking caddis. I haven't fish that deep hole yet. 

I fish it first as dry fly technique but have no success. Now fly start to wet enough so it will go as small streamer, I let fly sink, and get it stuck on rock or log, I got it off and check tippet, everything okay. New cast even closer to the cliff, again I let fly sink and drift in abyss. Then start to take line in, as I do that I feel huge weight on line, I hook the fish, get slack fast on reel and at the same time huge fish start to run upstream, it is still in deep spot and I have no idea what I have, I'm thinking massive mahseer. 

I have played with few seconds before I let guide, Hadi, to know that I have big fish on. And at the very same moment when I yell big fish, there is no fish moment again. Line broken again... what the hell is this? Paul said have strong hooks... hooks are not the problem the tippet is, how fucking big fish this river holds. I check tippet and this time blood knot has failed, secind time in my life. First was in Varzina when Satu had big trout and now here in middle of rainforest. I put rod down nicely, start to walk downstream, throw my cap on rocks.... I would like yell as hell but that's not suitable in this environment. Hadi goes carefully to ask Satu if I'm okay, Satu tells that is normal behaviour when I lost big fish. I settle fast but pissed off. I have lost 3 big fish in 30 minutes. This is not my day. 

We go to next camping spot and start to check gears and plan how I will get fish up. I'm running out of great flies, and any tippet seems to be too light. There is fish starting rise in home pool and as boat hasn't arrive yet, I go fishing. It is really hot and even my eyeballs are sweating. I swipe my right eye to get sweat off... I feel something getting on my finger... I look carefully and my missing contact lense is on my finger, as it is when I want put it on. I yell to Satu for help and she holds my phone as mirror and I put lense back on the eye as it should be. At least I can see now. 

Boat arrives and it is time to put camp up and have dinner. I have to forget somehow problems during the day and concentrate on last fishing. A nice dinner again and early bed. 

There is one more day to come. Story will continue on next week.. 

Have a nice weekend and go fishing

Mika