Des Taylor’s
Diary of a Countryman
AFTER my successful first few days in Thailand – which I told you about last week – I still had my sights on a 100lb-plus Siamese carp. I needn’t have worried…
MONDAY-WEDNESDAY
Run after run! The species tally was going up by the hour, with Chinese high-fin carp, vundu catfish, alligator garfish, Chinese black carp, black shark minnows, rohu, and a 150lb hybrid between a striped cat and a Mekong called a ‘Big Y’. This place was fishing its head off.
The average size of the fish I was catching, even on the waggler rod, was in excess of 20lb, with lots of them twice that, and they all fought better than anything you could hook back in England.
Every fish was new to me, all personal bests, and my arm was ready to drop off! However, all the time in the back of my mind was the thought of the last piece of the jigsaw… a 100lb Siamese carp.
THURSDAY
Rained again! This freshened the air but the fishing slowed.
Don’t get me wrong – we were still catching fish, but nowhere near as many as on previous days. To be honest I enjoyed the rest and a few cold lagers! When it rains in Thailand, it sheets it down, but the rain is still warm and it’s a pleasure to get wet because as soon as the sun comes out you are dry again within 30 minutes or less.
We all went for a real treat of a meal that night in a local restaurant, where the Thai food was superb and the waitress was as pretty as Kylie but had a voice as deep as that of a Barnsley miner. I slept like a baby that night, dreaming of big carp.
FRIDAY
We were leaving tomorrow and had planned an evening and a day in Bangkok sightseeing, with maybe a boat trip on the mighty Mekong river too, something I really wanted to do.
The fishing was as good as usual and I had a couple of Siamese carp of about 50lb, but I had become greedy – these were not the fish I wanted to catch.
Day turned into evening, then darkness fell and all was quiet before out of the blue came a ‘one-toner’ on a Nash Scopex Squid 20mm pop-up. As soon as I lifted the rod I said “good Mekong catfish”, but this fish didn’t run far or hit the surface early. After 20 minutes it was still about 40 yards out, fighting doggedly. I would gain 10 yards or so on it before it took it back, and this went on for another 15 minutes.
At this point I remember Tim standing next to me and saying: “This is your big carp, and I think it is one of the real big ones.”
I was tired. It was warm, it was dark, and I could not seem to make an inch on this fish. But, as in a lot of big-fish fights, out of the blue the fish came towards me and made an ‘I give up’ roll. This was the first time we’d seen the fish, and it was huge! Namwan expertly guided it into the landing net first, and then the keep cage.
“It’s the Warrior!” said Tim – a named fish that last time out weighted in at 192lb. I had almost caught two 100-pounders in one skin! Namwan and I held the fish up for the camera. It was so big that you can hardly see young Namwan behind the sheer depth of the carp. I had done it – I’d achieved all my targets and more,
and as I sat wet and happy with Steve we hugged each other like school kids who had just scored the winning goal in the Cup Final.
I thanked him for bringing me to this venue and again that night Benny, Tim, Steve and I enjoyed food and drink.
It was on me, as I’d been the lucky angler of the trip.
I had enjoyed my time at Palm
Tree Lagoon. This place does exactly what it says on the tin. If you want to catch some of the great fish of the world without travelling all over the planet, then Palm Tree is a must. All in glorious weather with a lager in your hand!
I know these venues have their knockers, but if the likes of John Wilson, Martin Bowler and now Des Taylor can enjoy them I’m sure most of you out there will have a great time. Don’t even think about it. You’re only here once, so book the flight and have a shot. You will not fail to catch fish, that’s for sure, and it could be you behind that huge fish in the photo over the mantlepiece.