Ian Welch predator fishing Thailand – 03 04 2009
Ian Welch from the Anglers Mail in the UK joined the Fishsiam team at IT Lake Monsters in Ratchaburi in the filming of a show for Discovery channel.
After previously landing a monster Arapaima from the lake Ian returned to once again try to tempt a large Amazonian predator for the Discovery film team.
With an early morning start at 6am, Ian soon had two large mackerel sections mounted onto large Owner hooks attached to 1 metre fluorocarbon hooklengths fishing in the nearby margins.
Baiting little and often with chopped fish sections soon saw the swim come to life with a mass of swirls and bubbles filling the swim as several hungry predators ploughed up the bottom of the lake.
Only minutes after his initial casts the line on the left hand rod pulled tight as a large Redtail catfish exited the swim.
After a short ten minute battle the fish was safely netted and hoisted onto the bank.
The immaculate Redtail Catfish was estimated to weigh 25kg’s and was released after photography.
After repositioning the rods the angler was straight into another fish with an Asian Redtail Catfish soon being brought to the waiting net.
As the fish was being released, the other rod rattled off as another predator picked up the mackerel deadbait.
After a short but lively fight a good sized Sorubim was netted of an estimated 18kg’s adding yet another species to Ian’s haul.
A slow period followed for the next hour with only two small Redtail Catfish succumbing to the angler’s baits.
The fish seemed to now be showing further towards the centre of the lake due to the disturbance in the marginal swim.
The arrival of a pick-up truck full of live Tilapia soon saw the angler waiting in the corner of the lake as the fish were shoveled into the lake at regular intervals.
Hooking a small Tilapia livebait under the dorsal fin the angler gently cast the bait into the hordes of waiting fish that had now began to aggressively devour the free livebaits.
Immediately the rod was pulled round as another predator moved off with the bait!
After firmly ensuring the hook was set the angler tried to play the fish away from the feeding area.
A shaking sensation was transmitted up the line as an angry Arapaima thrashed from side to side in an attempt to shake free the hook!
A relatively brief ten minute battle ensued which saw the Arapaima jumping clear of the water on several occasions.
Soon after the fish was carefully netted and brought onto the waiting unhooking mat.
The Arapaima was much smaller than the monster that Ian had caught previously and was estimated to weigh 25kg’s.
After a short break for a late lunch Ian moved to a different part of the lake where a large Arapaima was seen to be regularily showing.
Casting single hookbaits into the nearby margin the angler kept a low profile and waited for further action.
A series of dropped runs followed with the line being pulled tight before falling limp back to the ground.
Yet another pick-up saw the angler firmly setting the hook into a large Alligator Gar which immediately leapt clear of the water!
The fish shaking its head aggressively charged up and down the nearby margins for a few minutes before being safely netted.
Even when in the net the carnivorous prehistoric predator continued to thrash wildly causing the anglers to exercise great caution in removing the hook.
The Alligator Gar was estimated to weigh 25lb’s and was released after a few trophy shots.
Ian continued to fish hard throughout the day catching a mixed bag of over twenty fish.
Using livebaits and deadbaits the angler managed to capture eight different species of fish with weights to an estimated 25kg’s+.
Sadly the large Arapaima did not make an appearance on this particular session but some quality footage of other predatory monster fish was captured by the film crew.
With the onset of darkness the anglers finished fishing ready for an early start the following morning
