Fishing adventure in Kazakhstan

[SlackLines]

You know how it is - you are on a business trip to the back end of nowhere with a free weekend in the middle. You get chatting to the bloke next to you on the plane and casually mention your interest in fishing, and wonder if he knows anywhere you could hire some kit and go fishing near Almaty. Turns out that he is also into fishing and he invites you to join him on an expedition to the River Ili delta with some friends. Next thing you know you are in the back of a 4WD driving 300km up country (the last 50km off road!) and a few hours later you are pulling in the biggest wild carp, roach, zander, and catfish you have ever seen! (I'll post some pics later).

Accomodation was a hunting lodge shared with a group of Kazakh boar hunters and other fishermen - a great bunch, really friendly (especially when the vodka got flowing), and nothing like Borat!

[kentpaul]

sounds cool there is a chance ill be in kazakhstan next year for a little while

[marc portch]

hi mate,

just out of interest; how big did the catfish go to?

the general census of opinion is that most of the very big cats have been killed for food over the last 10 years but it would be nice to hear differently from someone who has fished there.

cheers, marc

[SlackLines]

Sorry for the delay in replying. The catfish we caught were nothing special - the biggest was as long as my arm (we didn't weigh anything), the rest were small.

[Scrudgy]

Did you drive up the big mountain that overlooks Almaty? and have a meal at the restaurant - a truly beautiful place - its a pity they are building all those huge villas everywhere up there.