Himalaya

India’s famous Western Ramganga River snakes its way through a beautiful broad valley into the Corbett National Tiger Reserve. Framed by the beautiful lower Himalayan ranges, mixed tropical forests and tall elephant grass, it becomes immediately clear that this fishing destination is unlike any other in the world. At first glance the river will remind you of a typical trout river; boulder strewn, deep winding pools, undercut banks, fast riffles and plenty of long dry-fly tail-outs. Only on closer inspection will you find what you are up against – Golden Himalayan Mahseer in the 10-50 pound bracket. Not only are they large, but the sheer volume is overwhelming. And our guides are the foremost experts on landing the big ones. Unlike most Himalayan rivers where the Golden Himalayan Mahseer can be found, the Western Ramganga lends itself totally to be fished with a single-handed fly rod. The Western Ramganga's proximity to the Corbett Tiger Reserve has helped preserve the ecosystem’s rich biodiversity to the fullest extent, hence offering some of the world’s finest circumstances to fly-fish for the Mahseer. On one of the afternoons, consider taking a game drive to explore the enormous, neighboring tiger reserve. According to the last tiger census there were roughly 143 tigers in this reserve.

The Western Ramganga River averages 50-90 feet wide for a majority of the year. It is hard to imagine a river this size that produces trophy fish in the 50-pound range. As a classic Golden Himalayan Mahseer river, the Western Ramganga offers terrific opportunities for sinking nymphs, swinging flies down and across for these monsters and even casting dry flies. This river also lends itself to sight fishing. In addition to fly-fishing for the Golden Himalayan Mahseer you may even catch some Indian Trout, Kalabaans and Asla.

Throughout the adventure, explore various parts of the river. Guides avoid fishing “known pools,” which are located close to easy access points. On most occasions our guests are driven in small 4WD vehicles over boulder strewn riverbeds, followed by short hikes to get to just the secret stashes of just the right water. All of the fishing is done by wading and from the banks, with the ability to cross the river whenever needed. Every angler is paired with a personal guide to ensure a seamless fishing experience.

Upon arrival at New Delhi International Airport, you will meet your EpicQuest host and transfer to a three star hotel before joining your group for the seven hour drive to camp.

On arrival to The Himalayan Outback Camp, you will settle into a comfortable tent before joining guides for a delicious dinner around the bonfire.

The temperatures in late winter should be around 38ºC/80ºF dropping to 10ºC/50ºF at night. The water temperatures in March should be close to 58ºF and warmer. Usually anglers do not choose to use waders. However, neoprene socks with build in gaiters are recommended to keep the gravel out. A lot of the good water is remote and very close to the game park, so also pack appropriate footwear for walking.