ALL ANGLERS WILL NEED TO SIGN THE RULE BOOK ON ARRIVAL, PRIOR TO STARTING FISHING.
Please read these rules carefully and if you disagree with them then please do not fish here.
Gillhams Fishing Resort is a drug-free premises, this includes cannabis! Any person found in possession of drugs will be reported to the police and removed from the resort without refund.
If you take care of the fish, you give others who follow behind you the chance to catch specimen fish in pristine condition.
Everyone who fishes here will have a fishing guide close at hand, the guides work one guide between four anglers and to assist at whatever level they feel is required. We do NOT provide one on one guiding, it is NOT the guides job to cast, strike fish or bait up. If they are free they might be able to help with casting and baiting, but please do not expect it. Please listen to them and take note of what they tell you, as their decision on rigs and fish care is final.
All our staff here have English lessons, but they enjoy trying to learn more from you, so if there is a misunderstanding please be patient. Should you find this unacceptable, please speak to them in Thai.
Please tell us if you have a target species in mind, if not we will set you up two rods to target all species as we see fit on the given day and conditions. Remember we live and work here full time, so we are in tune with the going baits and methods.
Before starting to fish we will set your drags to the best settings, but remember that during the heat of the day, drag settings tighten, so we recommend you constantly check their settings.
We strongly advise you not to attempt to backwind these fish, as they make incredibly strong, fast runs. Some of the most experienced anglers in the world have fished for our fish, and they all agree it is virtually impossible to fish in this way.
When a fish is ready for netting our guides will perform this task and the fish will then be retained for as long as is necessary for the fish to recover. This is the time you must remove your watch, rings etc, and get your camera ready and work out what angle to take your pictures from. Our guide will tell you when you can enter the water, if you wish, but this is at your own risk. No fish are allowed to be taken onto the bank. When advised please take your pictures as quickly as possible. Keep the fish as low as you can to the water, and do not put your hands near the fish’s gills or mouths – many of our fish have sharp spikes and plates, so listen to the guide, and do not under any circumstances attempt to lift the fish on your own – listen to the guide and take his advice at all times.
We only weigh fish here if they have not been weighed in a long time or appear bigger than the last recorded weight. We decide if a fish needs weighing and if it is safe to weigh the fish, our decision is final. The fish here are so big it risks their lives to weigh them. We have many fish in excess of 100lb and weighing them can damage their internal organs. We have been farming and handling these fish for so long we are never more than 5lb in 100lb out in our estimations. Even in the case of the world record Mekong weighed here – we knew it would break the old record, which it did by 7lb, and which I think you will agree showed how close we are in estimates.
We have been working with various fishery research groups who have helped design a cradle type sling similar to the ones that move dolphins, and this cradle will weigh fish more safely, but we still see no point in risking the lives of the biggest, rarest fish in the world. Arapaima die if you bend them the wrong way, plus they suffer heart attacks due to stress, and all the catfish die if you push their stomachs inwards too far. We lose the odd one on photos when the client doesn’t listen to our instructions.
Our carp over 100lb are very precious and hard to replace, we will not subject them to undue stress just for a pound or two either way. All fish will be returned as soon as possible if the fish is stressed, and our guides are instructed to return the fish immediately without a photo to ensure the fish’s wellbeing. We will not sacrifice a fish for a photo, the fish’s welfare takes priority at all times. Our decision on when to release a fish is final.
Fishery Rules
These rules are final – if you do not agree with them please do not come here to fish. If you abuse these rules you will be asked to leave the fishery with no reimbursement. Remember the fish’s welfare takes priority at all times.
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Do not start fishing without informing a senior member of staff. We must know at all times when you are fishing to ensure you and the fish’s safety. Fishing times are 7am to 19-00pm for staying guests, 8am to 18-00pm for day tickets. Should you be found fishing outside of these times you will immediately be banned from the fishery without a refund.
2. Do not enter the fishing locations before 06-30am or after 19-30pm, strictly no baiting up outside of these times.
3. As soon as you have cast out, the reel spool must be set to run freely allowing a taking fish to take line, the rod pod must then be clipped to the anchor block behind. Failure to comply with this rule will result to the rod being pulled into the water, should the rod and reel not be recovered by the end of the day you will be charged the full market replacement cost!
4. No outside baits to be bought onto the fishery, all bait must be supplied by us, we do allow people to bring pop ups and wafters however they must be in a sealed container from recognised bait company. We do sell these items at the resort.
5. No live fish to be used this practice is banned, if you are caught abusing this rule you will immediately be banned from the fishery without a refund.
6. All fish must be netted by our staff, we do not allow anyone other than staff to net fish.
7. No treble hooks or multi-hook rigs. All hooks must be micro barbed, we also have a strict no curved shank hook patterns unless using deadbaits on predator rigs.
8. No wire traces. All hook-links not provided by us must be shown to us and approved prior to use, our decision is final regarding the use of your rigs and tackle.
9. All main line and braid must have tube protection or similar to a minimum of 800mm in length.
10. To avoid deep hooking no free-lined baits are allowed. All rods must be used with bite indicators or floats. Rods must be placed on the rod pods not on the ground. All rigs must pull free under light pressure – strictly no fixed rigs allowed.
11. You are welcome to use your own tackle, which will be checked on arrival. Minimum 6lbs test curve rods, large heavy-duty reels spooled with a minimum 240 meters of 40lb test mono, or 80lb test braid. Our decision is final regarding the use of your own tackle and rigs.
12. Fly and lure fishing is not permitted on the main lake.
13. Warm, temperate fish species suffer more than their cooler water cousins if you play them too soft, one firm strike is sufficient do not strike more than once, please take advice from the guides when you are fighting a fish. They will advise you how much pressure to apply to the fish and on your clutch (drag) settings.
14. All our fish are checked by our guides prior to release, and they will treat any wounds and inject any species that require this treatment as recommended by the Fisheries Department of Thailand. Do not under any circumstances release a fish without our approval.
15.No swimming or wading – only enter the water for fish care upon the guide’s instructions and at your own risk, should you require a life jacket to enter the lake please ask the guide.
16. No litter to be left at any time including cigarette ends and tea bags, use the litter bins provided. No glass allowed around the lake.
17. Do not use the work boats under any circumstances, bait boats are allowed these can be hired on a daily rate at the resort.
18. A responsible adult must accompany all juniors under 16 at all times. Gillhams Fishing Resorts accept no liability for juniors whilst on our premises.
19. We will not tolerate retaining fish, only our guides can perform this task. No fish to be removed from the fishery, the taking of fish will be regarded as theft, we will prosecute any offenders of this rule.
20. No music unless headphones are fitted, no loud and unruly behaviour will be tolerated. This includes calling across the lake.
21. Do not leave rods unattended at any time, this includes being in a neighbouring fishing area. Do not leave baited hooks out of the water, additional rods must be wound in when playing a fish.
22. Please report at once all dead and injured fish or any fish acting in an unusual manner. We would rather have a wasted call than a dead fish. Please also report any abuse of the rules to the management.
23. All food and drink must be purchased on site, no outside food or drinks are allowed to be brought on site.
24. Under no circumstances will an arapaima be lifted from the water – do not attempt to lift one. Listen to our guides’ advice at all times. All other fish over 90 pounds up to 150 pounds must have at least one guide and one angler to lift the fish. Fish in excess of 150 pounds must have a minimus of three people lifting, one must be a guide.
25. Fishing is only allowed from the designated fishing areas; if in doubt ask prior to fishing.
26. Plastic wraps or any form of mesh around baits is strictly prohibited.
SHOULD YOU KILL A FISH DUE TO ABUSING THESE RULES YOU WILL BE CHARGED ITS FULL REPLACEMENT COST AT A PRICE DEFINED BY US OR OUR AGENTS.
Please read the following information on what is expected of you and what to expect from us.
We were bought up to say please and thank you, please show us the courtesy to use the same, whilst staying at the resort. If you don’t wish to be polite please do not expect us to serve you, should you decide it is your right to be rude or abusive to any of our staff you will be asked to leave the resort without refund.
Please note as an angler you have come here fishing, you are expected to bait up your own fishing area. You are expected to cast your own rods and strike your own fish.
We only weigh fish that are bigger than normal, we do not weigh Arapaima large specimens are measured using a tested accurate formula. Our guides estimate all fish under what we consider to be an exceptional size, we will not weigh every fish caught as it causes stress to the fish.
After reading these rules and proceeding to fish you will have agreed to abide by the rules and accept their contents. You will also have accepted that Gillhams Fishing Resorts and their employees accept no responsibility for your safety in or around the lake and especially whilst handling the fish. You will be asked to sign our book as an agreement to these terms prior to fishing.
Thank you for reading the above, when visiting us here at Gillhams should you have any suggestions on how we can improve our services, please tell us.