Fishing in Kashmir

Kashmir is lovingly called as ‘Heaven on Earth’ and is a land
which is traversed by wild mountains streams and high altitude lakes where Rainbow and Salmon thrive in ample. It is also very rightly said as Angler’s Paradise and the best season for the angling in the year is considered from May to October, have to have a permit issued by the Department of Fisheries and Jammu and Kashmir Government against a fix tariff is a pre – requisite. 

Fishing is a big business in Kashmir throughout the spring and summer. The British had bought up the brown and rainbow trout to the gushing streams of Kashmir, where they had flourished. Along with these they also introduced the system of anglers reserving ‘beats’ on their favorite river. Reservation for beats should be made before one arrives in Kashmir, through an Indian Government Tourist Office or directly to the tourists Reception Centre in Srinagar. 

The fishing season runs from April to October and only the artificial flies are allowed and each license give the right to the fishers to catch six fish a day, none being shorter than 7.5 cm. Beats may be reserved for a day or a week at a time in one of the three basic types of streams. Sindh or Liddar, the larger rivers are covered with snow which starts melting from May to July with a small pool under rocks. 

Spinning is granted here but the wet fly and the weighted cast tests the skill of the fishers which will produce good result here. During the month of April, August and September these rivers are very calm and its very good sign for the anglers as the big fish are said to lie in the calm waters. 

Water Channels adjacent to these main stream beats offer an unique type of fishing through the entire season, where only flies are allowed, with wet fly fishing which are considered good for all the season. 

The third types are the small spring fed streams and lakes at high altitude which suits both dry and wet fly tackle. Some of the major streams, lakes and rivers to name are Liddar, Sindh, Jhelum and Wangat. Dal, Vaishanshar, Nunkhol and Gangabal are the prime lakes where the adventures of fishing are enjoyed in Kashmir. 

Fishing in Kashmir is the most significant feature that most of the people may not know about. But its adventuresome has a universal appeal that draws the attention of numerous vacationers and anglers from across the globe. 

The administrator and the tourism department of this state have made fishing tours in Kashmir more entertaining and remarkable as they have made immense arrangements in providing fishing equipments as per the ease of the tourists and anglers. 

Thus if you are thinking for a trout fishing in Kashmir it is advisable to pre book the beats through the department of tourism and enjoy the tour in much enjoyable and cherished way.