A good ol camping and fishing trip

[buksida]

Decided to take my eldest on a little camping and fishing expedition to seek out untouched waters in search of the elusive wild snakehead (Pla Chon). We spent two nights in the jungle at a lake formed from quarrying many years ago.

Day one, setting up camp ... We had spent the previous two days clearing bush to create the swim and spaces for the tents.

First cast into the unknown - we knew there were fish in here from observing the previous day and locals had tried to catch them but with little success, wild fish are not used to regular baits (prawn, squid, corn, bread) so different tactics were needed here.

The swim ... estimated over ten meters deep in parts, this old quarry was now teeming with life above and below the surface. Egrets, Kingfishers, and Flycatchers all frequently spotted.

With no power we needed kerosene lamps for light as the sun dropped low.

Coconuts were plentiful so we chopped a few up for drinks and food.

As night fell the lamps and fire was lit ...

More to follow ...

[buksida]

As darkness fell the lake came alive with fireflies flitting in and out of foliage. Not possible to photograph though with the gear I'd taken along.

After a dinner of barbequed burgers we fished on into the night.

Eventually one of the floats went on a run and we had something on. Not a 'river monster' but to catch a snakehead in the wild on a float rig was a great experience, we were all in high spirits.

The temperature started to drop and an eerie mist swirled across the lake.

It was time to turn in for the night and look forward to tomorrow.

More to follow...

[Thistle]

An adventure i am sure your son will never forget.There will be many fathers thinking,i should do that,or,wish i had done that.Look forward to the continuation of your camping/fishing trip in great photographs,well done.

[Vital Spark]

What a great adventure for the kids (or even big kids). Thailand certainly has a lot more to offer than theme parks and shopping malls, it's just having the imagination to do something different. I echo Thistle's comment that this will be something that your children will remember for a long time. Thanks for sharing it with us.

VS

[migrant]

Always enjoyed camping and fishing with my kids, still do!

[Terry]

Great stuff Buksi - well done - what was the bait for the Chon?.

Several years back, I had a boat to fish on both Kaeng Krachan and Pranburi dams with very limited success. Simply because the locals insist on netting EVERYTHING - leaving precious little remaining - although there is a freshwater fish wet market in the village of Kaeng Krachan. All very interesting when you consider that netting off fish in National Parks is illegal...........T.I.T.

I have personally visited and fished 17 dams / lakes in a 30km or so radius of HH - very like the one you are fishing - most seem devoid of anything reasonable.

Likely catches are always small but interesting - Chon because they are predators and survive almost everywhere, Pla Duk (A small whiskered black catfish) and sometimes Tapien (Small silver Carp) - and of course the dreaded scourge Pla Nin - Nile Tilapia.

Let me know if you get any Arapaima

[buksida]

I'll be selling tickets if we find an Arapaima in there!

The wee Chon was actually hooked on a prawn well into the night, we'd played around with various lures before the light died and were probably casting from the wrong spot. We found some traces of "fishing" by the locals the next day ... pics to follow soon.

[playboy]

I love camping but may I ask if there is many mosquito ? I could not come out side my home during summer day or night without being sting! But you are in the jungle which I assume somewhere in Hua Hin area, do mosquito bother you? And how about snake? I clean my yard yesterday and saw snake in front of me! I thought it is winter so snake should be hibernating, isn't? So you are out there, see any of those?

[buksida]

The mozzies came out for an hour or so at dusk, but a few coils and a good spray kept them at bay - didn't get one bite. There were snakes around but the fire (which we kept going throughout the night) also kept them away. The biggest problem were the ants, within seconds they were over everything, we really had to be careful with the bait and had to tie our food bags in the trees.

But no, the campsite was nowhere near Hua Hin! More pics to follow ...

[buksida]

After a restless night the rods were cast at dawn, it was cold ... very cold.

I needed a call of nature and when in the woods you have to make like a bear ... no bum-gun out here, just a shovel and a bucket of lake water.

We decided to have a scout around the lake to look for more fishing spots ...

This is when we discovered where the local poachers were setting traps. Crude rigs made from plastic bottles, 40lb line and large hooks were found, they're essentially left there to snare snakeheads that will be stuck on the line for days. We pulled them all out and they went on the fire.

As the sun dropped we settled in for another night ...

Baked potatoes in the fire for dinner tonight ...

Another enjoyable firefly show and we switched to bottom baiting with squid to try and tempt a catfish.

The lake was quiet tonight with an unearthly stillness to it. We left the rods overnight but still those wild fish remained elusive, catching them in a relatively pristine lake is not easy.

Fishing aside it was fantastic to be out there in the wild amongst nature; no electric, no running water, no phone signals, no wifi, no poxy Facebook ... marvellous!

[Terry]

..............This is when we discovered where the local poachers were setting traps. Crude rigs made from plastic bottles, 40lb line and large hooks were found, they're essentially left there to snare snakeheads that will be stuck on the line for days. We pulled them all out and they went on the fire...........

Well done -BUT - be careful that you have not pi55ed off a local who has probably been netting that pond for years and it is HIS place by divine right.............

[buksida]

Well done -BUT - be careful that you have not pi55ed off a local who has probably been netting that pond for years and it is HIS place by divine right.............

The land isnt his and we had permission from the owner to remove any poacher traps and nets if we found them.

[buksida]

Had another fishing trip with the kids at the weekend; this time at sea on a floating village attached to a tiny island inhabited by a small fishing community in Chumphon.

Preparing for departure, all the essentials packed ...

The floating 'hamlet' ...

Campsite for the night was this pontoon ... not much room for a tent ...

An isolated temple on the beach on the neighbouring island ...

Time to get down to business and get the rods out ...

More to follow...

[Frank La Rue]

Absolutely facinating - Earnest Hemmingway on the off - tracks in Thailand!- this is what farang - life in Thailand can be made of.

The kids seem to be Lukung - your children with Thai wife?

Thanks for sharing

[buksida]

Yep, so much more to Thailand when you get out of the tourist traps.

The kids seem to be Lukung - your children with Thai wife?

Yes.

We weren't landing whoppers but had plenty of pan sized groupers, rabbitfish, sea perch, and a few I didn't recognize. Anything over palm sized and edible we kept, the rest went back in.

Went for a look around the islet, which took 10 minutes to circumnavigate!

A beautiful light as the sun went down ...

The community make their living from the ocean, fishing is their life.

The pontoon was crawling with cats - and the odd rooster.

More to follow ...