This week we welcomed our first visitor from Bhutan. Studying for his MSc in Bangkok, Ricksel fished the Carp Channel and notched 14 fish in 5 hours.

His previous PB was a 23kg Mahseer so the challenge was on for TopCats to do the “business”.

We don’t like to brag, but even though he was only fishing 5 hours, his guide for the day, Tadpole was more than confident.  

He caught some traditional favourites; Siamese Carp, Redtails and the Chinese (Big Head) Carp. These boys are fun fish to catch, but if you think bream slime is smelly think again !

The big excitement  came on a double hook up in the middle of the session, which saw me skilfully land an Amazon Redtail and Ricksel landing a monster Arapaima. This one was breath-taking and like all Arapaima , the pictures do not do it justice. This one was longer than the net and incredibly broad. For sure this was the biggest Arapaima we have seen in 16 months since the wretched Covid started. The Lake record is over 400lbs and this one was estimated 300lb+ by Ben who helped with the unhooking.

Amazingly the brute was caught whilst general fishing, the Pallatrax end tackle which we are still testing stood up well, Gamma Polyflex line, in-line Stonze and the amazing Gripz wide gape hooks.

If you want to catch one of the beasts, now is the time to think about booking. Things are easing and any monies paid in deposits are fully transferable if you have re-arrange due to Covid