CATCH AND RELEASE: Mahseer is an endangered species Illustration: Suman Choudhury

The mighty Jia Bhoroli river gurgling down the slopes to meet the Brahmaputra, the lush forests of the Nameri National Park staring down from the depths of its darkness and the flocks of white wing-tailed ducks flying overhead — where else do you think paradise exists?” rhapsodises Roma Sengupta, an environment biologist, on an angling trip to the Nameri eco-camp situated near Assam’s Jia Bhoroli river.

The river is famous for mahseer angling, since the time of the British, who popularised the sport. This perennial river enters Assam in the plains, near Bhalukpung after swirling through the rugged mountains of Arunachal. Sengupta and her friend Hiya Bose, are amateur anglers who had heard a lot about the eco-camp and its golden mahseer. “The rich avifauna of the region was also an added attraction, and prompted us to choose this spot as our first angling destination,” says Bose who is herself a bird enthusiast.

The camp is located at the foothills of the eastern Himalayas, and is adjacent to the Nameri National Park. The park, spread over an area of 200 sq. km., with the river Jia Bhoroli bifurcating it, is the most scenic of all the national parks of Assam.

“Angling along the Jia Bhoroli on the fringes of one of the most famous national parks of Assam is full of fun and adventure. One gets to learn about the golden mahseer, one of the rarest fishes found in Indian rivers,” says Subir Sen, a computer engineer by profession, an avid angler by hobby and a participant at the camp.

Set up in 1994 for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts, the eco-camp is a joint venture of the Forest Department and the Assam Angling & Conservation Association with financial support from the North-east Council. “A full-day angling trip at the eco-camp starts early in the morning with a rafting expedition down the river,” says Dengzo Pasa, one of the camp guides. “This is done to give a glimpse of the region so that anglers get a feel of the waters they would be angling in.” “Lessons in the catch-and-release method of golden mahseer are given to first-timers and an over-night stay at the eco-camp makes the trip heavenly,” adds Bose .

It is always pleasant and thrilling to raft down the Jia Bhoroli in a rubber dinghy amidst the vibrant, green and serene surroundings. “The snow-fed Jia Bhoroli flows along the southern periphery of the park and on a clear winter morning we saw the snow-capped peaks of the eastern Himalayas. We were simply awestruck,” reminisces a mesmerised Sengupta.

The exercise gives the angler ample scope to try his luck with rod and line, and the choice of several channels of the swift, crystal-clear river, which meet downstream forming some of the excellent spots for casting the line in a school of fish. “The Bhoroli record on rod and line is a 24.5 kg (52 lb.) golden mahseer,” informs Pasa.An annual angling competition is regularly held at Jia Bhoroli in which a number of anglers from both outside the state as well as abroad participate every year. Angling is so popular a sport here that there is an organised body by the name of ‘Assam Bhoroli Anglers Association’ which organises this sport in the month of November every year in collaboration with the state Forest Department. The department regulates angling and gives permission to anglers only on a select stretch. Strictly, the catch, record and release method is followed as the golden mahseer is an endangered species. Other sporting species found here are saal (murral), gorua (goonch), korang or sundari (Indian trout) and boka (chocolate mahseer).

IN AND AROUND

The best spots for angling are approached by rubber rafts and the most favourable time is October to April. Other than the angling competition, a rafting competition is also held by the Assam Anglers Association. Any tourist attending the eco-camp can participate in either of the competitions. “Other than golden mahseer the rich avifauna of Nameri attracts anglers and nature-lovers,” feels Pasa. Three hundred endangered and rare species of birds like the white wing-tailed ducks, hornbills, mynahs, bee-eaters, barbets, babblers, bulbuls, plovers, ibisbills, king vultures, fishing eagles and black-necked storks are found in and around the park.

There are other angling spots in the region. The seasonal fishing camp at Potasah is also an easily accessible choice, about two hours’ drive from the Kaziranga National Park and about 220 kilometres from Guwahati. Anglers have the choice of other base camps like the tourist bungalow at the picturesque hilly township of Bhalukpong on the banks of the Jia Bhorob river or the tourist lodge at Tezpur.

Where to contact:

• Himalayan Holidays: Little Rose Book Stall Complex, Naharlagun (near Itanagar), Arunachal Pradesh. Phone: 91-0360-44632. Fax: 91-0360-45050.

• Destination North-east: Guwahati, Assam. Phone: 91-03611-511 565.

If you like to go on your own, you can get permission from: Government of India Tourism Office, B. K. Kakall Road, Ulubari, Guwahati. Phone: 91-03611-547407. (The eco-camp is situated in a restricted area and hence one should acquire permission in advance.)