Mahseer fishing on paste bait at all places, spinning in some. Vyasghat- "The Junction" is an ages old pilgrimage for fabulous pre-rain runs of pods and pods of mahseer. Best fish out of this place was a 78 lb golden on spun chilwa. Other great place for spinning is Phoolchatti, home to mahseer after the rains are over. The other great fishable is the Western Nayar all the way from The Junction up to the confluence with the Eastern Nayar below Lansdowne. Springfed tactics mean that chilwas are necessary, as are floating plugs.

Right outside and flowing into Corbett Tiger Reserve, the Western Ramganga is a classic springfed mahseer river. This is one of the few rivers where a Grand Slam of Mahseer, Indian Trout and Goonch is possible in the same day- you just need to get away from the pet fish and resort side pools. Combine a trip to the park to complete the Indian jungle experience- it's not unusual to fish alongside tigers sometimes. Best fishing, early February till early June and then October till mid November.

Home to both Redfin and Yellowfin Mahseers, the Dakpatthar beat also yields rare Indian Trout, Mulley and Goonch catfish. Other likely spots for fishing from here are the famous Tajuwala canal works (timing, timing) and Hathnikund. Overnight trips to the Giri river are also some great fishing routes. This area is also a birders delight- the Asan Barrage close by is home to the rare Greater Crested Grebe, among many other waterfowl both resident and migratory. Tributaries of the Yamuna- the Tonse, Pabbar and Giri rivers are fisheries in their own rights. The Giri is a famous springfed mahseer river and a long camping trek is the best way to get to know this beat. The Tonse and Pabbar rivers are chock full of brown trout in the upper reaches and are of the nature of large freestone rivers with fast, deep pools with big, tough fish.

Better known in India as brigand country, out beats on the Chambal are safe, scenic, adventurous and are filled with the major Central Indian fishes- Redfin Mahseer, all major and most minor catfishes and myriad carps responding to a wide array of tactics. Close by the Chambal is the Ranthambhore plateau, home to one of the country's premier Tiger Reserves, which is visitable from either the lodge at Ranthambhore Bagh or the camp at Mansarovar Reservoir

Rising from near Mansarovar Lake in Tibet, the Sutlej is as testy as Himalayan rivers go, from timing to fish sizes. Himachal has several spots where it leaves gorges and is fishable for a while. Paste bait seems to be the only thing that works here so followers of the spinning practice can avoid this water. The Sutlej is also home to very large barbell. Lower down at the Bhakhra Dam, it becomes home to the Redfin along with Yellowfin Mahseer, all major carps and several catfish, responding to nearly every method in the book.

Big, fast mahseer. Not fishable without a planned expedition, the righteous Eastern Ramganga itinerary takes one along pools fished maybe twice a year. The fishing is preserved by lack of habitation and its ills. This trip is not for the slight of constitution or the short of time.Balaghat gorge is our personal favourite- this is one of those places where the biggest fish are always seen but never seem to take. One of these days one of us is going to get really lucky and possibly, even land a record fish. Best fishing, March till early June and then in end September till late October, depending on the rains.

Angling regulations in Himachal Pradesh have a take quota for the fish you catch so long as they're not undersized. Local anglers do the job of taking the smaller fish, leaving the serious angler free to concentrate on the bigger fish. The river holds mahseer below Pandoh Dam all the way down into its dispersed canals in the Punjab. Beas Dam is our favourite here and it is customary for us to open season by fishing Beas Dam early spring for catfish, carps and mahseer.