Arrived Chiang Mai September 2008 towards the end of the rainy season and looking forward to getting back to Dreamlake and the excellent fishing on offer.First trip and first fish in the net was a 20 kilo+ was a pacu, what a lovely fish to catch – welcome back to Dreamlake off to a good start. For the next 6-8 weeks using Chinese sausage and popped-up cheesy hot-dog bought from the best bait shop Seven Eleven or for a more extensive range at Tesco Lotus. very productive catching Redtail cat fish, pacu alligator gar, feather back, giant gourami, Catching 2 to 3 fish every visit;

with my friend simon having a particularly good session albeit paying a high price for landing each fish, see the report ‘Painfully Good Day’.

On one occasion when fishing with Simon, with a line baited up with Chinese sausage, the right-hand rod produces a screaming run, strike into a very powerful fish. The fish headed off into a long deep run with me being unable to slow or turn the fish, could this be the elusive Arapaima as a Redtail will normally head for the snags by the bank!!!

The fish goes into a snag in the bottom right hand corner about 20 mtrs out and in about 3-5 mtrs of water. .Reiner has seen the run and walked around, he takes the rod while I strip down and change into my trunks (trying to ignore his sniggers – he knows I’ve got to go in) into the water I go! Have to walk in the water along the bank edge – no luck; the fish is still stuck tight.

Simon who was Pole Fishing (???) on the opposite bank walked around to help as he can see the fish is still stuck tight, he strips off down to his shorts, swims out following the line, diving down trying to un-snag (thank’s mate) after about 6-7 dives gradually un-snagging the line; the next obstacle was quite bit deeper and my being that much taller ???? (he bottled it), we swapped over! That done, we swapped back, so at last the fish is un-snagged – we now have a fish that is fully refreshed – Guess what - I’m not!!!

Another big run causing me to loose my footing in the water (luckily you can’t hear laughter under water); the fish headed straight into another snag – fortunately by the bank. Simon having made is way almost back to the bank follows the line to some over-hanging roots, first glimpse of the fish - ‘Redtail’. Not disappointed as over 20 kilo and a stunning specimen.