Included / Not Included –
Included: All transportation from New Delhi International Airport and back to New Delhi International Airport, including all transportation through the fishing trip in trains and vehicles. All meals and beverages, including bottled mineral water, fishing guide(s), all tackle (waders are not provided), and other specialized equipment for the trip including sleeping bags, permits and taxes.
Not Included: Air transportation to or from New Delhi, gratuities, alcoholic beverages, telephone calls, visas, and items of personal nature.
Travel Logistics:
Arrival Information To get to the Mahakali River you will need to make travel arrangements to and from New Delhi, India.
Getting to the Lodge: In New Delhi you will be met by a member of the Himalayan Outback team who will take you to your first night’s lodging.
Departure Information: At the end of your trip you will be taken back to the New Delhi airport to meet your departing flight.
Approximate Flying Times to Dehli: Los Angeles: 16 hours • Dallas: 17 hours • Miami: 17 hours • New York: 15 hours.
Documentation Requirements:
All travelers will need a passport (valid for 6 months after your travel date), and travel visa’s for both India and Nepal.
We recommend that you use G3 Visas for this process. To apply simply go to www.g3visas.com and follow the instructions. If you have any questions during this process please call G3 directly at 888.883.8472.
Currency:
The currency of India is the Rupee. We would recommend that you exchange approx $200.00 into Rupee’s. You can do this at home prior to your trip or in New Delhi. This will come in handy for small tips, snacks and other items while traveling or touring.
Travel Cash:
As a guideline we recommend that each guest travels with approximately $600 - $1,000 for staff & guide gratuities, alcohol, small items while travelling, souvenirs, etc.
Gratuities:
Guide gratuities should be approximately 10% of your package price or between $400.00 and $600.00 and can be paid to your head guide in US$.
Fishing Licenses:
Fishing licenses are included and the outfitter will issue your license when you arrive.
Climate:
Temperatures typically range from the mid 50’s to the mid 90’s. New Delhi will be warm and humid and on the river it is usually cool in the morning and evening and quite warm during the day.
Medical Facilities:
Please note that all trips to the outback of India are remote and proper medical facilities are limited. For this reason we strongly encourage emergency medical evacuation insurance. We recommend Global Rescue. We also suggest that travelers bring any prescription medication needed as well as medication for common ailments.
Power and Communications:
There is no power or communication while on river trips. There is Cell service in most areas while traveling, however there will be remote places on the river were you cannot get service. For this reason we strongly suggest bringing along a satellite phone if communication is important for you during the trip. The power in India is 220 so you will need to bring a universal adapter to use while in New Deli.
Water:
Do NOT drink the water in India! Mineral water is provided on all the expeditions.
Clothing:
While traveling in India it is best to dress in layers, as even in winter the sun tends to be very hot. We would advise that for fishing you have an assortment of quick drying outdoor trousers, which zip off to become shorts, and outdoor shirts with full sleeves. Camp is very informal so we find casual fishing clothes to be your best bet. Be sure to pack a fleece and/or waterproof jacket for the evenings. Sunglasses, a sun hat, sun block and mosquito repellent are recommended. If you wear prescription glasses or contact lenses, we recommend that you bring an extra pair of glasses as well as a copy of the prescription.
Should you be extending your stay before or after the fishing trip to visit other parts of the country, please bear in mind that you should dress conservatively, especially during the day while visiting temples or monuments (i.e. no short shorts or sleeveless shirts). We recommend that ladies pack a lightweight shawl to cover their shoulders as appropriate in places of worship. While visiting mosques, temples and places of religious significance, you may be required to remove your shoes. Though most places provide overshoes, we suggest you always carry an extra pair of socks with you.
Laundry:
Laundry service is not available. Please pack accordingly.
Beverages/Alcohol:
Alcoholic beverages are not provided by the outfitter. We recommend stopping at the duty free store in the Dehli airport.
Tackle/Equipment List:
Rods: 91/2-10 ft single hand rods for line weights 8-9, with eight weights being ideal. 12-15 ft two-handed spey rods for line weights 7-10.
Lines: Full floaters like the Mastery Steelhead taper, Mastery wet tip type 4 sink tip line, Teeny 200 - 400 grain heads, Rio Versi-tip system (or comparable interchangeable tip line), floating spey lines as well as ones with interchangeable sink tips. The most poplar spey tips will be type 6 or type 8. Custom spey tips made from Rio T14 in 12ft, 15ft, and 20ft lengths are also handy.
Reels: Any good reel with or without a disk drag and room for 100-200 yards of 30lb braided Dacron backing.
Leaders: 9-10 ft leaders tapering to 10-20 pounds for floating lines, 4-6 ft leaders tapering from 12-20 pounds for sinking lines. Maxima Ultra Green is the tippet material of choice. Rio makes nice hand tied steelhead leaders from Maxima for floating line fishing.
Flies: There is still much to be learned about fly choice for Mahaseer. It is known that the Mahaseers primary diet is aquatic insects as well as minnows. For this reason we recommend a full assortment of flies from nymphs to muddlers, to steelhead streamers. The guides will have all of their favorite patterns in camp as well. Nymphs: Morrish Dirty Bird in natural and rust, assorted golden stones, assorted dark stones and egg sucking stones, Morrish deep October caddis pupa, prince, copper johns in copper and red, bloody Mary, Morrish Anto-May, flash back PT’s, Bird’s nest (note all nymphs need to be on heavy wire hooks). Streamers: Egg sucking leech (black and purple), black leech, Morrish Sculpin patterns, Woolly Buggers, articulated leeches and hareball leeches in black, white and hot pink. Umpqua Swimming baitfish. Note; the river varies greatly from run to run so having flies of differing weights is very useful.
Waders & Boots: Waders are not needed on this river, as the water temp is 56f to 65f though felt sole booties or wadding boots are highly recommended. It is essential to bring a pair of stout walking shoes or boots.
Misc: Strike indicators, split shot, tape measure, hemostats, floatant, camera with spare batteries, head lamp.
