Join the Mahseer Trust and you will be entered into the draw to join Himalayan Outback on the Saryu River in the mountainous region of Uttarakhand in April 2014.
The Saryu River is one of several tributaries of the mighty Ganges, they all spill from the highest mountains on the India-Nepal border to help water the fertile Doab area of India.
The whole area is rich in wildlife and the lucky winner could be sharing the trip with leopards, crocodiles, otters and possibly tigers. Hopefully golden mahseer will also be on the itinerary, with the help of Himalayan Outback’s experience.
The Competition
Himalayan Outback in association with the Mahseer Trust are sending one lucky person on the trip of a lifetime. 12 days’ fishing for mahseer on the beautiful Saryu River are on offer for the winner of a random draw of Mahseer Trust members. Misty Dhillon of the Outback Team will cater for either lure fishing or fly fishing, including setting you up with the tackle needed, and will provide all transport, accommodation and meals while you are in India.
All you will need to do is be a member of the Mahseer Trust on or before the 31 January 2014, arrange for a valid Indian visa and appropriate travel insurance, and fly yourself to Delhi. Once you are in India, everything else is taken care of.
The competition is open to anyone who is a member of the Mahseer Trust, either lifetime or yearly, on the closing date, or anyone who joins before the closing date. Trustees and Officers of the Trust, and their immediate families, are not eligible to enter. Otherwise, the competition is open to all, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, religion or gender.
The trip is run from 25 April to 06 May 2014, and the winner must ensure they arrive in Delhi on the correct date. If the winner is not in Delhi on the 25th, they will need to arrange their own transport to the venue after consultation with Misty.
For more details of the trip take a look HERE and to enter, visit the membership page of the Trust’s website HERE and sign up.
The Mahseer Trust
Set up in 2008, the Mahseer Trust works with both scientists and anglers to help protect mahseer and the rivers they live in. Headed by scientist Adrian Pinder, assisted by a board of Trustees, including renowned Indian scientist Rajeev Raghavan, the Trust has a worldwide presence and campaigns on behalf of all Tor species.
Field studies to identify the various Tor species currently in India are ongoing. In late March and early April 2014, a series of catch-and-release workshops will be held in both north and south India to encourage the spread of more sustainable angling practise and encourage good scientific practise.
One of the current long-term aims of the Trust is to raise sufficient funds to initiate a small grant scheme. This will provide the opportunity for international students and established researchers to apply for support funding to advance the scientific research required to inform effective conservation strategies.
To find out more about the Mahseer Trust, visit their website HERE and you will find a wealth of detail about these fascinating fish. There are listings of books about mahseer, links to scientific papers and articles about fishing for mahseer.
Mahseer species
All members of the genus Tor are called mahseer. There are an estimated six or seven different mahseer in India, plus another four or five across the rest of southeast Asia. The complete spread and diversity of the genus is still the subject of ongoing debate, research and exploration.
Mahseer are recognised by large heads and mouths when compared to many other cyprinids; two pairs of barbules on their mouths and very large scales all over their bodies. Colouration had often been used as a guide to different species, but this is now considered to be unreliable.
