Fishing Holidays In Thialand

[bsacbob]

Whilst I agree with you to some extent, but you cannot tar everyone with the same brush, isn't the reason this and other forums exist so that like minded people can exchange information freely without financial gain or am I missing the point.

If you don't want to join the party then don't contribute, it's that simple, in the meantime I will continue to talk to fishing shop owners and Thais to share information openly.

[robblok]

Try bangkokhookers its a good site and the guy who runs it really anoys the crap out of fishing tour operators because he tells all the details where to go and what to pay. He is Thai and speaks perfect English.

Is this honestly what you think Robblok? Once again....completely missing the point! Its about offering a service. If anyone cares to look there are dozens and dozens of websites offering information about Thailands fishing scene, I should know our own website "spawned" most of them when we went online 6 or 7 years ago! The reaction to our website was pretty signifciant across all aspects of the Thai fishing scene becuase we actually named venues, whislt at the time the only other serious tour operator deliberately left the venues pages of thier website "under construction", to keep his knowledge to himself....at the time I thought that was selfish, now I reliase he was right.

You actually need to rephrase your comment to something like " Some websites have been set up by expat anglers or their Thai friends becuase they think it annoys the crap out of tour operators!" It would be a much more accurate description of how and why some (if not all) of these websites came about, as sad as that is, you've obviously been talking to some certain people I know who would have you believe tour operators give a crap about such things, they don't. You might have noticed our websites venue pages doesnt get updated so much so more. Well thats becuase I learned long ago I get know thanks for exposing venues,(all they do is keep hiking the prices on all of us in return for the free exposure!) not from the expat community(all they do is think they can "annoy the crap out of us "by following us everywhere we go, so now I largely take customers elsewhere and simply dont publish the details! Like the venue Im using thats two biggest carp are 84kg and 96kg, or my other venue that only has 2 species of fish available Stingray and thousands of Siamese Carp, or the other one that has 100 plus 50kg Arapaima in and is only 2000BHT a rod! All within an hour or two of Bangkok! So Robblok thats what you get for "annoying the crap" out of those that choose to fish for a living, an information drought!

That is your opinion, and you are certainly right to hide your lakes. I would too if i made my money that way. But i do seem to have hit a nerve because you act like bull in a china shop.

Fact is that if you can read thai and have thai friends you can get a lot of information. Fact is also you make a living by providing a service. I just question the value of a service like that with so much info available. You dont need to agree with me and i dont need to agree with you.

Fishing guides have their value tour operators too but in these economic times people look for alternatives.

Right now im fishing shadow, for me its not all about big fish and new places. I love to get the most out of places near my home. Relaxing not driven by the need for giants. I know they are here but for me its refining my skills at a certain lake. Like today im totally outfished by the thai next to me. Others are too... He has a better bait. (i think)

Do i like going to other places.... Maybe.. But i like going to the same place where i can try many things even more.

[ufishin]

I would have to agree that bankokhooker is a great website about all the large venues and has all the information you need to fish. Another one will be John-Tom website that has GPS coordinates of the places. Many places you can hire a guide or simply ask someone who is fishing. Although I do not speak Thai, I can always ask for help, and people are more than happy to help at the ponds. Generally guides are used when you are lazy and do not want to mix the bait or even have to cast your fishing pole. For some people like me, it is the fun part of fishing.

Happy fishing.

[robblok]

At rufnuf

You say you shared a lot of info. To be honest i have never seen you share any info. It could be that it is all on your site then i apologize. I just haven't seen it while most posters here do share info.

I seen an airipaima lake for the price you were talking about. Cheaper for the thais if they paid an entrance fee. However it was nothing more then a square hole in the ground. Its was not too far from my home. But im not into those fish pluse i like my lakes a bit more natural. As far as that goes. Even palm tree was nicer as that lake.

We might not be talking about the same lake.

Im not asking for info from tour-operators, i never do they make money by their information. That is their job and right but i wont keep things hidden if i find stuff out.

[rufanuf]

Here we go again...

btw Rufanuf you do realise that some expats talk to Thais. Some even live with them. They talk about things, even fishing venues. lol.

The point I am making Jack, is exactly that! What gets my goat is why most expats like yourself have to state the obvious about how to do research, yet deny the obvious that some of that research is of value to people who have niether the time nor inclination to do it themsleves, these people are called tourists!!

Robblok you have had fishing experiences SEVERAL in fact that are as a direct result of reading tour companies websites. You get a name or rough location of place and then go an find it yourselves AND THATS FINE, you live here your not a tourist and you can enjoy the task of taking that on, OUR CUSTOMERS CANT and you lot make them out to be fools for considering a tourist service, and then start giving them free misguided advice that ends up costing them as much money as they save.

Edited February 28, 2012 by rufanuf

[rufanuf]

Here we go again I'm married by the way Jack, and yes I too talk to my wife, and we have large cirlce of friends and family. We spend a lot of time researching venues we believe are off the radar for one reason or another....in our experience some of the most interesting places are not ever going to be found by Thai BKK anglers, there not advertised in any fishing magazines.....sometimes you'll find a mention on some Thai fishings forums but thats about it. This was true of Palm Tree Lagoon for many years, it was shown in John Wilson's Dream Fishing with his brother, and they made out it was just outside Hua Hin, and this ploy and the fake name kept farangs away for many years, and Dave was able to enjoy it to himself and a close circle of friends for some years after that TV programme until we found and promoted it....there are other venues similar to Palm Tree, but Ive learnt my lesson, I get know thanks for sharing the research I do, so now instead I moving towards having my own fishery and I'll keep my Thai venue secrets for my own pleasure!

[jackinbkk]

Here we go again I'm married by the way Jack, and yes I too talk to my wife, and we have large cirlce of friends and family. We spend a lot of time researching venues we believe are off the radar for one reason or another....in our experience some of the most interesting places are not ever going to be found by Thai BKK anglers, there not advertised in any fishing magazines.....sometimes you'll find a mention on some Thai fishings forums but thats about it. This was true of Palm Tree Lagoon for many years, it was shown in John Wilson's Dream Fishing with his brother, and they made out it was just outside Hua Hin, and this ploy and the fake name kept farangs away for many years, and Dave was able to enjoy it to himself and a close circle of friends for some years after that TV programme until we found and promoted it....there are other venues similar to Palm Tree, but Ive learnt my lesson, I get know thanks for sharing the research I do, so now instead I moving towards having my own fishery and I'll keep my Thai venue secrets for my own pleasure!

Yes I know the program. I have the video on my computer of Wilson fishing there. His brother gets a lovely thump off the arapaima in the face. Karma?

I think if guiding was so highly regarded then the venues would be an open resource. It's because guides are worried about being cut out that they hide them.

Luckily for me I have a number of places I like that are still low key.

The point is with a minimum wage of 300 baht a day which I know is for unskilled workers, guide services could be run cheaper for tourists. I certainly advise tourists to use a guide a few times until they know what to do.

[robblok]

Here we go again...

btw Rufanuf you do realise that some expats talk to Thais. Some even live with them. They talk about things, even fishing venues. lol.

The point I am making Jack, is exactly that! What gets my goat is why most expats like yourself have to state the obvious about how to do research, yet deny the obvious that some of that research is of value to people who have niether the time nor inclination to do it themsleves, these people are called tourists!!

Robblok you have had fishing experiences SEVERAL in fact that are as a direct result of reading tour companies websites. You get a name or rough location of place and then go an find it yourselves AND THATS FINE, you live here your not a tourist and you can enjoy the task of taking that on, OUR CUSTOMERS CANT and you lot make them out to be fools for considering a tourist service, and then start giving them free misguided advice that ends up costing them as much money as they save.

Actually all my fishing experiences even shadow lake come from going with Thai guys. So im sorry i dont fit that profile. I used to go out to all kind of venues with my Thai friends. Unfortunately one stopped fishing and the other moved away. Palm tree i went there because of Chin (singaporean guy) asked me. Gilhams, i read about here. Other then that ll the venues i have been with been with Thais.

I also read about new venues here on Thai visa. So no fishing tours have never helped me one bit. But actually im not that interested in finding new places, im content with the ones i know. I like to really do my thing and i can do that in shadow. BSR is fun if i want to catch many fish but its not really a challenge (i just hate lam on a float).

[ufishin]

It seems like someone likes to promote a tour company and says the only way you can have a good time is with a guide. In a day where the internet is full of information and people are out to share information, many people choose to spend their money on either a more expensive venue or using the money they saved towards a nice dinner. Their are people with money to blow where they do not mind spending a couple extra thousand baht a day, but sometimes you can meet up with someone who doesn't mind sharing information and making a new friend. In America, I have always posted an open seat on my boat for free when the fishing is good and offer help to people on the lakes when they are having a hard time catching a fish. I have friends that are guides that pretty much babysit people that are too lazy to bait their hooks and likes to sit in a 100k boat. Correct me if I am wrong, but many people who go on this forum to share information or looking for opinions on fishing areas and technique.

[jackinbkk]

It would certainly be more helpful for people who can't afford 5000 to 10,000 baht a day to be able to read about Thai fishing and techniques. When you look for this in English online you find 90% of information is tours advertising their services. The pictures in the gallerys are also misleading. Anyone who goes to Bungsamran can come away with a massive fish. The water is so packed full of fish that the bait mix etc isn't as important there.

The practices of tour companys just look bad. Renaming venues. Keeping locations hidden so they can line their pockets. Like protecting a monopoly. Hopefully more and more Thai information will become available in English so many more people can enjoy the sport.

[jackinbkk]

Try bangkokhookers its a good site and the guy who runs it really anoys the crap out of fishing tour operators because he tells all the details where to go and what to pay. He is Thai and speaks perfect English.

Is this honestly what you think Robblok? Once again....completely missing the point! Its about offering a service. If anyone cares to look there are dozens and dozens of websites offering information about Thailands fishing scene, I should know our own website "spawned" most of them when we went online 6 or 7 years ago! The reaction to our website was pretty signifciant across all aspects of the Thai fishing scene becuase we actually named venues, whislt at the time the only other serious tour operator deliberately left the venues pages of thier website "under construction", to keep his knowledge to himself....at the time I thought that was selfish, now I reliase he was right.

You actually need to rephrase your comment to something like " Some websites have been set up by expat anglers or their Thai friends becuase they think it annoys the crap out of tour operators!" It would be a much more accurate description of how and why some (if not all) of these websites came about, as sad as that is, you've obviously been talking to some certain people I know who would have you believe tour operators give a crap about such things, they don't. You might have noticed our websites venue pages doesnt get updated so much so more. Well thats becuase I learned long ago I get know thanks for exposing venues,(all they do is keep hiking the prices on all of us in return for the free exposure!) not from the expat community(all they do is think they can "annoy the crap out of us "by following us everywhere we go, so now I largely take customers elsewhere and simply dont publish the details! Like the venue Im using thats two biggest carp are 84kg and 96kg, or my other venue that only has 2 species of fish available Stingray and thousands of Siamese Carp, or the other one that has 100 plus 50kg Arapaima in and is only 2000BHT a rod! All within an hour or two of Bangkok! So Robblok thats what you get for "annoying the crap" out of those that choose to fish for a living, an information drought!

You have proof of these claims?

[jackinbkk]

p.s. Have a look at these Eagle rays...

[rufanuf]

Try bangkokhookers its a good site and the guy who runs it really anoys the crap out of fishing tour operators because he tells all the details where to go and what to pay. He is Thai and speaks perfect English.

Is this honestly what you think Robblok? Once again....completely missing the point! Its about offering a service. If anyone cares to look there are dozens and dozens of websites offering information about Thailands fishing scene, I should know our own website "spawned" most of them when we went online 6 or 7 years ago! The reaction to our website was pretty signifciant across all aspects of the Thai fishing scene becuase we actually named venues, whislt at the time the only other serious tour operator deliberately left the venues pages of thier website "under construction", to keep his knowledge to himself....at the time I thought that was selfish, now I reliase he was right.

You actually need to rephrase your comment to something like " Some websites have been set up by expat anglers or their Thai friends becuase they think it annoys the crap out of tour operators!" It would be a much more accurate description of how and why some (if not all) of these websites came about, as sad as that is, you've obviously been talking to some certain people I know who would have you believe tour operators give a crap about such things, they don't. You might have noticed our websites venue pages doesnt get updated so much so more. Well thats becuase I learned long ago I get know thanks for exposing venues,(all they do is keep hiking the prices on all of us in return for the free exposure!) not from the expat community(all they do is think they can "annoy the crap out of us "by following us everywhere we go, so now I largely take customers elsewhere and simply dont publish the details! Like the venue Im using thats two biggest carp are 84kg and 96kg, or my other venue that only has 2 species of fish available Stingray and thousands of Siamese Carp, or the other one that has 100 plus 50kg Arapaima in and is only 2000BHT a rod! All within an hour or two of Bangkok! So Robblok thats what you get for "annoying the crap" out of those that choose to fish for a living, an information drought!

You have proof of these claims?

Why would I want to share Jack? Theres a reason Im the only one of the fishing tour operators who contributes at all to the forums....all the others feel the people on here dont warrant the input becuase all they do is criticise what we do. I was only chatting to one of them yesterday about the latest fun thread about fishing holidays on Thai Visa....and they made a very valid point to me.....that being that all you guys need to do is ask one of many hundreds if not thousands of happy customers they have organised trips for over the years to really understand why someone would take up a guided fishing trip or organised tour, and the reasons are often a lot more extensive than expats give those people credit for.

Im not sure which claims your asking me to prove, but if its the venues I am describing, then no! Thats the whole point I am not going to publish one jot of information about these places only to find the next time I go there theres the odd farang fishing, and then before I know it theres mention of the venue on another website (be it Thai or Farang), and all you lot have to say is "we did our own research" and before you now it, "it was nothing to do with a few expat anglers finding venue names off tour companies fishing websites....we all do our own research."

If its the claims about spawning other websites....simply look up "who is" for the dates websites came into existance.....this gives you a very good indicator of how information on the web has evolved over recent years. You can also look at one particular farang website with info on it about fishing venues and fishing tour operators, and see which operator IS NOT MENTIONED on that site. The reason this person mentions other tour companies and not ours is becuase early on he used articles written with our co-operation to promote his own websites and not ours, despite assurances this was not his intention before the interview was conducted. After that spat he appeared to then make it his business to deliberately compete with us in the "information" stakes on the web, and several other websites written by Thai's rapidly followed suite.

What I found so bizarre about all this conduct, is the impression these people have that this somehow "annoys the crap" out of us. Why would it? What annoyed the crap out of me personally was the use of our own material to promote ones own website. Plagarism is a fact of life on the internet, and I dont personally care so much about it, but when someone has personally requested material, and has personally assured you it wont be used in a certain way and you later find it was used in such a way it really could damage your business(and no I dont mean by publishing details of venues, I mean by using pictures(not taken by us) of fish laying on dry hard wooden planks, in an article about us when at the time our key selling points was fish care! (yes some anglers would book a trip with one operator over another simply on this one key element of a service alone, much I am sure to the shock of expat anglers!)! then of course thats frustrating and annoying.

Edited March 1, 2012 by rufanuf

[rufanuf]

Your comments here Robblok are niave. You have been helped and you dont even realsie it! How did "Chin" No about Palm Tree to invite you there? How even did the guy who bought it know about it to buy it ! This place simply didnt exist to westerners just a few years ago, abit like Bungsamran didnt exist to westerners until around the mid 90s when JFHelios started bringing the place to the attention of western anglers.

There are still a handful of Thai fisheries that remain hidden from the eyes of westerners, this was what has always fascinted me about the Thai fishing scene, the fact you can go out and find a place where a farang has hardly ever been and find some incredible fish swimming around...but it is now gettig more difficult and you have to go a little bit further afield.

Edited March 1, 2012 by rufanuf

[rufanuf]

Id like to lay a challenge....can any one in Bangkok tell me the weherabouts of "Benjamin" Lake? If one of you can tell me where it is (its not necesarily a commercial fishery, but it has been fished by at least one tour operator) I will disclose where the stingray and siamese carp lake is!

[robblok]

Your comments here Robblok are niave. You have been helped and you dont even realsie it! How did "Chin" No about Palm Tree to invite you there? How even did the guy who bought it know about it to buy it ! This place simply didnt exist to westerners just a few years ago, abit like Bungsamran didnt exist to westerners until around the mid 90s when JFHelios started bringing the place to the attention of western anglers.

There are still a handful of Thai fisheries that remain hidden from the eyes of westerners, this was what has always fascinted me about the Thai fishing scene, the fact you can go out and find a place where a farang has hardly ever been and find some incredible fish swimming around...but it is now gettig more difficult and you have to go a little bit further afield.

I am saying that without a fishing tour i would have found it too because of my contacts with local anglers. You are saying that because a tour operater once found it all resulting visits are credited by the tour operartor. I am sure the tour operator heard it from a Thai person too. So in a way Thais are the source (should be as its their country) how can you claim then that you discovered it. You might have for a portion of the public but the other portion that can speak basic Thai and have Thai friends can come a long way themselves.

I will do some inquiries about that lake i might not get any results. But ill try.. im off fishing again. Need to break up those working days before i get too busy again.

[jackinbkk]

Id like to lay a challenge....can any one in Bangkok tell me the weherabouts of "Benjamin" Lake? If one of you can tell me where it is (its not necesarily a commercial fishery, but it has been fished by at least one tour operator) I will disclose where the stingray and siamese carp lake is!

You contribute nothing mate. You only try to justify expensive tour opeartors. A picture of a 96kg carp could give you some credit. I'm not asking you where the locations are. I don't care. I have lists of fishing venues longer than my arms.

[robblok]

Your comments here Robblok are niave. You have been helped and you dont even realsie it! How did "Chin" No about Palm Tree to invite you there? How even did the guy who bought it know about it to buy it ! This place simply didnt exist to westerners just a few years ago, abit like Bungsamran didnt exist to westerners until around the mid 90s when JFHelios started bringing the place to the attention of western anglers.

There are still a handful of Thai fisheries that remain hidden from the eyes of westerners, this was what has always fascinted me about the Thai fishing scene, the fact you can go out and find a place where a farang has hardly ever been and find some incredible fish swimming around...but it is now gettig more difficult and you have to go a little bit further afield.

I would like to add that your taking credit for an unwanted side effect. If it was up to the fishing companies no info would leak out. Because it damages your business. Your like the record companies who with the rise of internet got into problems because of their business model.

Yours is based on information knowing more then your clients and not really adding much that could not have been added if the person did good research and had some thai contacts. If this were not true you would have accurate descriptions of locations on your site.

Also you employ local guides those are for hire by others too. Its not that you yourself do the fishing and baiting. You just bring it all together and take your cut. Kinda like a broker.

I do admit that sometimes a tour operator is better, in general for people with money to burn no local knowledge. But return visitors with some basic thai can do the same. Unless of course you have secret ponds. So we are back again by your need to be secret while you claim you have helped others discover lakes while this of course was unintentoinally.

[zoso]

http://www.wat-the-fish.com/showthread.php/5477-Graniva-s-Fishing-Adventures-in-BKK/page3

http://www.fishingkaki.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=213335

Here are links to forums where hobbyists share their views,opinions etc etc of fishing

[jackinbkk]

http://www.wat-the-f...es-in-BKK/page3

http://www.fishingka...ic.php?t=213335

Here are links to forums where hobbyists share their views,opinions etc etc of fishing

Thanks Zoso,

all information helps. You've been quiet for a while on this forum?

[robblok]

Fishing tour companies do add convenience, other then that the local guides are the ones who make sure you catch the fish the hired driver makes sure you get there.

Question is always how does convenience rate against price. You talked about many happy clients, i wonder how happy they would be if they knew how much they would have paid if they rented a guide at BSR and paid for their own taxi.

People can be really happy if they don't know what they would have paid normally. If i buy something and i think i got a great deal i'm happy. If i find out later i still paid double of the going rate im not that happy anymore.

[tingtongfarang]

I have never used a guide from day one here and think there is no need, With all the info available on fishing websites these days there really is no need and many places have rod rental if they dont have gear with them, Also on some of the websites its very easy to just post and join others who are going to venues,

I often post inviting people to join me and share the travel costs be it a fishing park or wild fishing in one of thailands numerous dams....others do the same, Sometimes i get contacted by guys coming over on 1-2 week visits asking if they can tag along and i,m of the opinion as we have a common interest in the sport thats how it should be, I find most anglers very agreeable guys,

In the last weeks i spent almost everyday fishing so many different venues witha group of 8 guys, Some of the venues were way out of my price range and likely i would have never visited, These guys offered to pay all my fishing costs including hotels and food if i would arrange the travel, venues, hotel bookings and appart from 3 days at bsr in all we did 12 venues plus 2 days deep sea fishing, They had enough tackle with them to sink a ship ...very professional anglers infact i learned a lot from them,

A fishing guide company here would have been no use to them as they spoke niether thai or english.

[jackinbkk]

I have never used a guide from day one here and think there is no need, With all the info available on fishing websites these days there really is no need and many places have rod rental if they dont have gear with them, Also on some of the websites its very easy to just post and join others who are going to venues,

I often post inviting people to join me and share the travel costs be it a fishing park or wild fishing in one of thailands numerous dams....others do the same, Sometimes i get contacted by guys coming over on 1-2 week visits asking if they can tag along and i,m of the opinion as we have a common interest in the sport thats how it should be, I find most anglers very agreeable guys,

In the last weeks i spent almost everyday fishing so many different venues witha group of 8 guys, Some of the venues were way out of my price range and likely i would have never visited, These guys offered to pay all my fishing costs including hotels and food if i would arrange the travel, venues, hotel bookings and appart from 3 days at bsr in all we did 12 venues plus 2 days deep sea fishing, They had enough tackle with them to sink a ship ...very professional anglers infact i learned a lot from them,

A fishing guide company here would have been no use to them as they spoke niether thai or english.

That's good of you tingtongfarang. I've been reading quite a bit about land based shark fishing in the U.S. If I ever got to go over there then meeting up with a forum poster would be ideal. Handling bull/tiger sharks, finding the right beaches and having the tackle setup right is something the regulars would know best.

It was great that some of the cost saved by not hiring a guide service could be put towards paying for you to fish with them. I'm sure a lot of locals would be willing to do the same and that it would save the tourists a lot of money.

So what was the common language you all spoke?

[robblok]

I have never used a guide from day one here and think there is no need, With all the info available on fishing websites these days there really is no need and many places have rod rental if they dont have gear with them, Also on some of the websites its very easy to just post and join others who are going to venues,

I often post inviting people to join me and share the travel costs be it a fishing park or wild fishing in one of thailands numerous dams....others do the same, Sometimes i get contacted by guys coming over on 1-2 week visits asking if they can tag along and i,m of the opinion as we have a common interest in the sport thats how it should be, I find most anglers very agreeable guys,

In the last weeks i spent almost everyday fishing so many different venues witha group of 8 guys, Some of the venues were way out of my price range and likely i would have never visited, These guys offered to pay all my fishing costs including hotels and food if i would arrange the travel, venues, hotel bookings and appart from 3 days at bsr in all we did 12 venues plus 2 days deep sea fishing, They had enough tackle with them to sink a ship ...very professional anglers infact i learned a lot from them,

A fishing guide company here would have been no use to them as they spoke niether thai or english.

That's good of you tingtongfarang. I've been reading quite a bit about land based shark fishing in the U.S. If I ever got to go over there then meeting up with a forum poster would be ideal. Handling bull/tiger sharks, finding the right beaches and having the tackle setup right is something the regulars would know best.

It was great that some of the cost saved by not hiring a guide service could be put towards paying for you to fish with them. I'm sure a lot of locals would be willing to do the same and that it would save the tourists a lot of money.

So what was the common language you all spoke?

I know tingtong, he speaks better german as I do. So i guess that would be the language he used.

Yea there are always people wanting to help others. I know when i am at shadow i always help others or get helped by locals when something is not going well. Not everyone is as nice but in general there are a lot of nice people wanting to help anywhere on the world. Things are getting more expensive all the time and people know it so they are cutting costs and helping others.

[robblok]

For instance tingtong has been magging my avet reel for no cost at all (just the magnets). I return the courticy if i can help him with something. Life is not always about money.

Even in my work as an accountant if i see someone in trouble i wont charge him the full price. I am already real cheap but i will help people for a lower price if i really think they need help.

Greed and ripping people of seems to be all too normal in this world. I am not talking here about fishing tours only here. (not that they are all ripoffs but the 6000bt ones for Bungsamran are). Rod hire 1000.. thai guide 1000.. lam 300... bungalow 800 ... transport 600. That is a lot more as a 30% extra. (you get the rod with the guide)

[tingtongfarang]

Also none of the 3 venues just mentioned are present on any other websites Western or Thai and now never will be. You could trawl 100s of Thai fishing magazines and you might find a 1 off advert for 1 of them, or you could join a few Thai fishing forums, and you might see a mention, but if we dont publish in english, its unlikely the names and locations will ever be published, this is th lesson Ive learned from expats. All they want to do is criticise what we do, so then why do it? I now keep my knowledge and experience of venues to myself, and share only with people who are willing to place a value on that knowledge, not criticise the very thing that likely led them to some of the venues theyve fished in the first place. How do you think you know about Palm Tree to complain about it Robblok? The only reason you know it exists to complain about is becuase we exposed it. before that the original owner was charging 200BHT to catch a 350lb plus Arapaima! And all you could find was a single line listing on a Thai fishing forum directory that didnt even have an address or a telephone number that worked! My business partner spent 5 days in Ratchaburi and drove past it a dozen times before we finally found it, and even then we was not sure it was the place of legend that only one westerner had ever fished for a number of years, that westerner being Dave Wilson, who, being a gentleman actually congratulated us for finding it! The original owner subsequently sold his leased "pond" for 2 million baht and now you pay upwards of 4000BHT a day to fish it! Clearly we have not done the fishing scene any good at all have we?

I believe 1-2 of the venues you mentioned will soon be on websites complete with directions and GPS co-ords included...no longer hidden from the eye of expats or tourists,

Why do you dream others here dont have regular contact with the thai fanatic fishing community?

Myself i have no qualms about traveling around thailand or neighboring countries visiting venues along with thai fanatic fishing buddys both male and female,

BTW there are a couple of more venues in the pipeline that will soon be up and running that i,m 100% confident you have no knowledge about, Dont worry! information for them also will be up for public view youself included!

Edited March 4, 2012 by tingtongfarang

[tingtongfarang]

Quote...Clearly we have not done the fishing scene any good at all have we?

Little over a year ago a guy posted on this forum under the ruse of looking for a fishing budy for some snakehead fishing to which i replied, We exchanged emails with him plugging me for knowledge and destinations of good venues but on the 3rd mail he informed me he was actualy a fishing guide but would,nt be too expencive for me, I wont make his id or name public here as in my opinion he already did himself more PR damage than he bargained for,

Truth is i felt dismayed to understand fishing tour companys would stoop to such tactics in an effort to find customers and information about venues, I also realise they will even grass eachother up to the relative authorities for working unregistered or any other reason they can think of,

Since this realisation i have a total distrust of expat fishing tour companys in thailand and if asked my answer would be....mix with these people and your already swimming with the sharks.

[jackinbkk]

Also none of the 3 venues just mentioned are present on any other websites Western or Thai and now never will be. You could trawl 100s of Thai fishing magazines and you might find a 1 off advert for 1 of them, or you could join a few Thai fishing forums, and you might see a mention, but if we dont publish in english, its unlikely the names and locations will ever be published, this is th lesson Ive learned from expats. All they want to do is criticise what we do, so then why do it? I now keep my knowledge and experience of venues to myself, and share only with people who are willing to place a value on that knowledge, not criticise the very thing that likely led them to some of the venues theyve fished in the first place. How do you think you know about Palm Tree to complain about it Robblok? The only reason you know it exists to complain about is becuase we exposed it. before that the original owner was charging 200BHT to catch a 350lb plus Arapaima! And all you could find was a single line listing on a Thai fishing forum directory that didnt even have an address or a telephone number that worked! My business partner spent 5 days in Ratchaburi and drove past it a dozen times before we finally found it, and even then we was not sure it was the place of legend that only one westerner had ever fished for a number of years, that westerner being Dave Wilson, who, being a gentleman actually congratulated us for finding it! The original owner subsequently sold his leased "pond" for 2 million baht and now you pay upwards of 4000BHT a day to fish it! Clearly we have not done the fishing scene any good at all have we?

I believe 1-2 of the venues you mentioned will soon be on websites complete with directions and GPS co-ords included...no longer hidden from the eye of expats or tourists,

Why do you dream others here dont have regular contact with the thai fanatic fishing community?

Myself i have no qualms about traveling around thailand or neighboring countries visiting venues along with thai fanatic fishing buddys both male and female,

BTW there are a couple of more venues in the pipeline that will soon be up and running that i,m 100% confident you have no knowledge about, Dont worry! information for them also will be up for public view youself included!

He's saying Inflation is a good thing?

Funny he likes the idea of no westerner knowing where these places are. Yet it's only westerners aka richer clients, who they take fishing. If a westerner knows he can have the same thing but for cheaper he will always go cheaper. That's why these guides hide things and use the tactics they do.

I hope you do post the new venues Ting tong but if only we coould now hide them from the tours lol

[robblok]

@jack,

For sucessfull fishing in Thailand there are a few things that you should be able too.

- You should know the locations of the lakes.

- Be able to arange transportation

- Know how to fish there

- Have good gear

Most of these things are not available to the average tourist. Things do change when you have a thai girl / guy with you who can act as go between. Then you can pretty much forget about a tour guide. Because they can ask for a local guide most lake have those. They can arrange transportation and even rent you gear. So keeping locations hidden is their only advantage.

Most expats can do the same because they do speak some Thai. Anyway i just freely give out information. Just helped some Thais last time i was at ngau nam / shadow. I find the locals pretty nice most of the time.

[rufanuf]

Fishing tour companies do add convenience, other then that the local guides are the ones who make sure you catch the fish the hired driver makes sure you get there.

Question is always how does convenience rate against price. You talked about many happy clients, i wonder how happy they would be if they knew how much they would have paid if they rented a guide at BSR and paid for their own taxi.

People can be really happy if they don't know what they would have paid normally. If i buy something and i think i got a great deal i'm happy. If i find out later i still paid double of the going rate im not that happy anymore.

Same as using an accountant then Robblok? When I firt arrived in Thailand I used accountants that had some english language skills. They charged 3 times what I get charge for today becuase I use a pure Thai company with no farangs involved. So it has a cost advantage but a communication and ease of getting something done disadvantage.

Edited March 11, 2012 by rufanuf