FISHING / ANGLING IN HIMACHAL - A Source of Recreation

Fishing & Angling in Himachal is another popular adventure sport activity of India. It is the source of recreation to innumerable naturists belonging to different strata of the society. In Western Countries, fishing as a sport is being increasingly recognized by the medical authorities and more and more people are coming out of indoors to try their skill for this outdoor hobby. Angling became the favorite pursuit of the British during the nineteenth century and it was mainly for this reason that exotic species viz. brown and rainbow trouts were transplanted in Indian rivers and streams.The introduced species of trout not only soon established in Indian waters but also bred and propagated fastly in view of rich oxygenated waters and ideal ecological condition of these rivers.

Along with endemic mahseer (Tor putitora) the exotic trout (Salmo trutta fario and Salmo gairdnerii) started offering excellent fishing to the European anglers. The literature is replete with records that Himachal Rivers and streams provided exciting fishing to a large number of sport lovers / anglers and fishermen. Thomas (1897) brought a book "Rod in India" which incorporated his experiences of mahseer fishing in Northern Rivers.

The streams of Himachal Pradesh fall under two categories: General waters and Trout waters, with estimated length of 600 and 2400 kms respectively. The major State's streams include- Beas, Satluj, Ravi, Tirthan, Sainj, Uhl, Baspa, Pabar, Lambadug, Giri, Rana, Nugal Gai, Baner, Bata, etc.

The major fishes available in these streams are Trout fishes, Mahseer fishes, Nemacheilus spp, Barilus sp, Schizothoracids Crossocheilus sp. Glyptothorax spp. etc.Fishing in these streams is regularsied under the state fisheries Act. In trout water, licenses only for rod and line are permitted while in general water both rod and line as well as cast netting is allowed.

The department has identified the following stretches as potential fishing sports for trout and mahseer.Chirgaon has the trout hatchery, and other sites are - Seema, Mandil, Sandasu, Tikri and Dhamvari; all are within 5 to 25 kms of Rohru. Kinnaur's Baspa river in the Sangla valley also holds trout.

The fish also abounds in the UHL river near Barot. Good spots on this beat are - Luhandi, the Puran hachery. Tikkar and Kamand. The upper reaches of the river Beas in the Kullu valley, and its side streams like the Sarvari, Parbati, Sainj, Hurla and Tirthan - especially the areas around Aut, Patlikuhl, Katrain, Raison and Largi - are excellent for this adventure sport. These are all up-stream of the Pandoh reservoir and are close to, or on the Mandi-Manali highway.