A History of Gillhams Fishing Resort - by Stuart Gillham
We have complied a number of photos from the first to final phase of our journey building the resort. From buying the original land, digging the original lake, stocking our first fish, building our bungalows and restaurant, to finally having anglers fishing and first fish caught, including some of our first world-record breakers. We have also included when we extended the original lake. I hope you enjoy looking back at what we have created and we hope you come and experience what is generally regarded as the number one fishing venue in the world...
This was the view from the land when we first purchased it
We could only dream and wait whilst planning permission was waiting to be accepted.
The land was a little overgrown to say the least!
It looked a lot different back then!
In November 2005 we found the site we had been searching for here in Krabi, it was then a case of putting in our bid to purchase the 17 acres of land. The land was farmed for palm oil and rubber. At one end and one side there were two small hills complete with a valley which had a stream running through to a swamp on one side.
The first job was to make sure we could build our dream, and once planning permission had been granted we set about clearing the land and marking out where the lake, stock ponds, bungalows and restaurant would fit in.
The original stream that flowed through the land, from an existing spring. This would need to be diverted.
The first scoop - a dream becomes reality.
Dream Big!
We began to mark out and plan the layout of the lake prior to digging.
The swamp area on one side of the resort would need addressing.
At last the sun came out.
On November 2nd 2006 we began digging the swamp out, and we dug back to rock. Then we cut out half of the far hill for the red clay it held, using this clay to refill the swamp, compacting as we went. We then fitted special liners to the back edge of our boundary, to stop water seepage.
Once the outline of the nine-acre lake was dug, the bottom structures could be added. We wanted to create a lake that had features in every swim, as this would make fair angling with no one swim being better than any other. Also it would ensure that the angler who spent time with a plumbing rod finding his chosen spot, then feeding and casting accurately, would reap the rewards above the “chuck it and chance it” brigade.
Diverting the stream around the Main Lake and Stock Pond.
Constructing a filtration system.
We were constantly pumping water from the lake as the seven natural springs constantly worked against us, whilst we carved out the lake bed structures. At the same time we were building a concrete stream around the lake, plus fitting twin 1.5m pipes to divert the stream.
We constructed sluice systems so as we could be in total control of water levels and most importantly water quality. The only time we wanted to allow water in the lake via the stream was when we knew the water was 100% free from any danger to our fishes’ environment.
We also fitted four bottom drains to clean the lake water through our two large filter systems. All the soil inside the lake had a coating of lime powder, which was then left and later washed and the water pumped dry. Once the lime had been cleared we coated the lake bed with elephant dung to establish nutrients and plankton growth.
Shaping the bank.
Stock Pond complete and the springs are filling it up.
Digging the deepest part of the lake, in front of the proposed restaurant.
The top bay.
As the water rises we had to remove the plastic bank protection.
Banks all in shape and 50 tonne of elephant dung raked in to kick start the aquatic life.
I ordered rain and got rain!
Letting the stream into the lake.
One third filled.
Ready to add water now to the Main Lake.
The top bay dug.
Coming together nicely.
We got through tons of water hyacinths, this filters out all the dirt and particles.
Still a long way to go!
Once this stage was completed at the end of December 2006, we allowed the water levels to remain at around two meters and stocked 50 kilo of a specially transported freshwater shrimp from Bangkok.
Being surrounded by lime karsts, our water has very high calcium levels. The shrimps we stocked thrive on calcium, thus keeping the levels down, plus the shrimp make a good filter system and most importantly provide a highly nutritional diet for our fish.
Once the lake was dug all the made up banks were lined with a one-meter thick lining of blue clay. We also dug out a one-acre growing on pond for maintaining a level of new stock fish coming through for future stockings.
Stock Pond bridges and filters complete.
We completed the lake on the 15th March 2007, two weeks ahead of schedule. One week after completion the rainy season started, we had 24 hours of heavy rain, and the lake was half full. Within the next week the lake had filled, and whilst the lake was filling we constructed the fishing positions around the lake.
We also put large pens of water hyacinth in the lake, which constantly needed replacing. These water plants filter water and clean the suspended dirt particles from the water. With all the new banks creating so much suspended particle it was a case of changing the plants every two weeks.
Following the lake being dug, we started the construction of the resort bungalows, along with landscaping the gardens. With the lake now full, and the water cleaned of particles, we set to the task of netting our fish farm and stocking the lake’s first residents. This was the second week of April 2007.
Netting the fish farm.
Arapaima ready to move to their new home
Some of these Arapaima had grown to huge sizes already.
Stocking home grown Arapaima
Moving the Arapaima.
A truck full of goodies.
A taste of home Common Carp.
Giant Freshwater Stingray.
Mr. Egg, our agent who bought fish from all over Thailand, started to deliver the fish he had found for us. The third week in April Mr. Toe, Thailand’s most respected fish farmer, visited our lake to check all was well for the consignment of Amazon redtail catfish, Mekong catfish and Chao Phraya catfish he had been growing on for us at his fish farm outside Bangkok. He had hand picked the cream of his stock for our project, which is now reaping the rewards, and by July 2009 two of these fish have broken world records.
Mekong Catfish.
Amazon Red Tail Catfish.
Mekong Catfish from our ponds.
Siamese Carp have been stocked from day one.
Bungalows coming along and the fish are rolling.
Paths and lights around the lake.
Building standards were something we had to get right for our western guests.
Half done.
Chao Phraya Catfish.
Siamese Carp.
Shovel Nose Tiger Catfish.
Arapaima in their new home.
Laying grass and planting reeds.
Restaurant under construction.
New Sala underway
New Sala complete with fan and power point.
Work in progress, the Spa overlooking the lake and waterfall. Now Sean's family home.
Bedroom upgrade.
Front balcony.
At last the bungalows are finished.
Bedroom side window.
Bungalows upgraded and complete.
Side balcony.
With the bungalows completed in the last week of August 2007, we allowed the first anglers to fish the lake. My old friend Terry Eustace of Gold Label Tackle along with Joe Taylor of J&K Tackle were the first two fishermen other than Sean and I to fish the lake.
Terry Eustace with an Amazon Redtail Catfish
Good friend, Joe Taylor with his first fish from Gillhams
You will notice that we didn’t buy big fish we grew them on, surely the best way to go is to let your fish grow in the environment you created. I might be old fashioned but rather than show a picture this week of a big fish purchased, and then two weeks later show a beaming customer with the fish that was stocked a few weeks ago. Personally I have enjoyed watching our customers catching fish that have grown over a few years to huge sizes, as I am sure most of our customers enjoy the same. You will see the tremendous growth rates we have achieved on our fish.
Lake Extension
We are now moving onto 2010 as we start to prepare to make the lake bigger. However in May 2009 a surprise had entered my life, in the shape of a late addition to the Gillham clan, my son Jack Bernard Gillham had arrived into our hectic lives. So now not only was I running a fishing resort plus extending a lake, I was also a dad again at the tender age of 55!
I originally wanted a bigger lake but the guy next door didn’t want to sell me the land, unfortunately in his case, but fortunately for me he passed away in 2010 and his family sold me the land. This gave us room to extend the main lake, also to make the top stock pond bigger and turn it into a second fishing lake, plus we could build two new stock ponds. The way the land is laid out the small lake had to be the first job, so we drained the stock pond and increased the pond to nearly three times the size. Once this was complete we left the gardeners to landscape and moved onto the next phase.
On the left of this picture is where the lake extension will be made
One undesirable residence to demolish
Our second fishing lake starting to take shape
Time for the gardeners to put the finishing touches to the new Top Lake whilst it fills up
Need to clear this lot first
Draining our original stock pond to extend and make into a second fishing lake for our guests - now known as the Top Lake
The stock pond had been drained and extended into what is now the Top Lake
Top Lake done. We will add Sala's around the lake for guests.
We have a stream that runs round the lake, when we made the original lake we diverted the stream through twin 1 ½ meter pipes from the top of the lake to ¾ of the way down. This time we had a monumental task of moving the stream again; we had to run concrete pipes round the new part of the lake all the way to the stream at the far end of the site. This involved using close to a 1,000 concrete pipes, plus 4 large concrete turning points. Just this work alone took us over a year to complete, it was full of problems as we uncovered springs that had to be diverted, we even had to dynamite the last 50 meters when we ran into a seam of rock! Once the stream was successfully diverted, we landscaped over the pipes down to what would be the banks of the new part of the lake. This had to be done as by the time we finished, the extension had to look like it had always been there, 1,000s of turfs and plants, plus something like 50+ trees later we were ready to dig the new part of the lake.
Starting to dig the extension
Lake extension underway.
Here we go again
It got muddy at times
Ready to flood - time to join the extension with the existing Main Lake
Enter Michael Murray: Mick had been visiting us on fishing holidays, and it turned out he was a machine driver of the highest order. After checking out his credentials it was apparent that this guy knew his stuff, so a few fishing holidays in return for the work and we had a machine operator who I could talk to without a translator, and more importantly a guy I could leave to get on with the job while I concentrated on my other million jobs!
The idea was to dig the extension leaving a causeway to dig out later between the existing lake and the extension; once the extension was dug we would leave it for a year to let everything mature. With the plan being for Mick to return later to remove the causeway between old and new.
While the extension matured we added some more fish, plus a lot of small fish to feed them. Prior to joining the lakes Jack was old enough to start fishing, and as their had been an accidental stocking of pacu they had to be removed.
Fish on for Jack!
Come on Dad, grab it!
We did run into a slight problem, previously on all made up banks I had fitted liners 10 meters back from the lake edge. People told me this was unnecessary and stupidly I listened, once we had filled the new section with water we noticed the new section was dropping by a foot a day. Behind the extension we had back filled around two acres of ground, the back fill was five meters deep and water was being sucked into the made up ground. This resulted in two acres of unstable jelly, to cut a long story short we had to dig and lay three liners with rocks every three meters back by two meters deep. Once we had three rows in place we would have to work as fast as possible to dig down eight meters deep by 130 meters long, fit a complete liner to the length and depth and then back fill behind as quickly as possible. We ended up working through the night as a huge bulge was appearing as we fitted the liner, at one stage I must admit I was crapping myself. We had tons of mud and water over our heads and the bulge was growing, we couldn’t drain the water as the causeway between the extension and main lake would have collapsed. We were working with ropes tied around us and guys above ready to pull us out if the collapse happened, fortunately we got the job completed around four in the morning and I collapsed in bed that night still shaking!
Fixing the leak
Backfilling
Liner in place
We move on with the pictures as Michael Murray returns to take out the causeway, the first few days we used three diggers to clear the trees and manholes from the causeway. Then I had arranged for a whole herd of diggers to arrive, the plan was to use 11 machines chaining spoil down the causeway, plus two more leveling soil and loading lorries. We had to bring in machines from all over the province, as there were not enough machines locally!
As we started taking the causeway out, a net had to be fitted around the digging to stop fish getting caught in the bucket. I had just fitted the net on one side and decided to take a short cut over the causeway, I jumped from the bank into the margin and wallop a bloody great piece of reinforcing bar went through my foot. Another long story but fortunately Geoff Akroyd was working here, in an emergency situation Fireman Geoff is the man. I spent the next few days in a wheelchair as I had to keep the wound clean and dry, Geoff was my nurse and looked after me properly as you will see in the photo!
The rest of the job went to plan and we finished ahead of schedule, then it was more landscaping and finally digging two new stock ponds plus more trees and turfs etc. One week after completion, we had anglers fishing the new bank that looked like it had been there years!
Clearing the causeway
Stop for lunch while the water level balances between lake and extension
Lets get started...
No turning back
I hate doing nothing
This is when you need a skilled operator like Mick Murray
Looks like 11 dinosaurs!
All going to plan
More spoil than we need
The first cut
A herd of diggers rolled into town!
Chain the spoil out
Fitting the nets
Geoff Akroyd taking good care of me!
One slip and we are all in the shit!
Halfway mark
The end is in sight
Last few loads
Time to tidy up and clear the old stream pipes
Turf is all laid
One week after extension is completed, looking across to the new bank with anglers already fishing
Reeds are planted, just need the water to go clear
Job Done!
Stock Ponds
Moving on, the lake was now bigger and we had a second small lake for a bit of fun fishing. The year is 2013 onwards and we hadn’t any major projects (at the moment)! Starting today, we had new stock ponds to make.
We also had divers in for a week to clear any debris left from the causeway removal, we added an underground filter up the hill and built a waterfall back to the lake. Then we purchased some big trees, and planted them at the bottom end of the new part of the lake. There are lots of new lakes springing up in Thailand, we wont stand back and will always stay in front of them not only with the size of our fish but also with the facilities we have here.
For years I had been pissed off with continual power cuts, we invested in a generator big enough to power the whole resort, now power cuts are a thing of the past! We added a gym but I cant comment on it, in fact I have never set foot in it as I prefer the restaurant. I have shown a picture for those people who think six packs are better than the standard one pack (I am very proud of my one pack, not only did it cost a bloody fortune it also took me 62 years to develop)!
The fish continued to grow and I have included some photos of our early specimens from the Main Lake.
One of two new stock ponds. This will allow us to continue to grow monster fish for the future
Time to add water
Stock Pond Complete
Divers clearing any debris left from clearing the causeway during the lake extension phase
Waterfall complete
New waterfall being constructed
Now we need some more trees
More Trees - this is the corner of what is now Sala 2
Restaurant refit
Float fished bread and a 68lb Tambaqui
Not as big as Kirk Kirkland gets them. Alligator Gar
Gillhams no. 1 fan Darren Hunt with a 500lb+ Arapaima
Instant Trees
Generator - it doesn't look like much what a difference it has made!
I think they call this a gym
The Siamese Carp are piling on the weight
Amazon Retail Catfish
Main Lake and bungalows finished!
I know a question I am going to be asked will be; is that it? Is Gillhams complete? Hell no I am only a kid at 62 years old! I am not a bloke who sits back and stops work, I am immensely proud of what we have achieved here. I am told we are the top fishing resort in Thailand (some say the world), certainly I am seeing more and more fisheries springing up. Everyone here at Gillhams intends to keep us at the top, when the others copy us we go one better, as there fish grow so do ours! So with a dedicated team and my family behind me, I see no reason why we will get overtaken!
We are also building a Thai Cookery School and a Lakeside Spa - all this will be set in stunning landscaped gardens. 80% of our guests are couples and I decided we need something special for the ladies. The boys have huge fish so the girls need to be spoilt as well.
For all of you who want to see some fish pictures I have selected a few of my favorites, followed by some up to date resort shots.
We can even boast sea views, if you bring a drone!
Prior to the big trees being planted
Arapaima taking air
Long term visitor and friend, Robert Bell with a Siamese Carp
Firewood Catfish
Julians Golden Carp
Mekong Catfish - long-term employee Chris 'Chang' Pache and very good friend Bill Phillips
Amazon Redtail Catfish
The small lake as it looks today
View from the pool
The Main Lake looking down from the waterfall
An aerial shot showing half of the Main Lake and half of the Top Lake
Drone shot
View from the restaurant garden
My old mate Alan Atkins, prior to when we stopped lifting Arapaima for photos
Specimen sized Ripsaw Catfish
Freshwater Giant Asian Stingray
Asian Redtail Catfish
Specimen sized Pacu
October 2013 Keith Williams 134lb 7oz. The last world record allowed by the IGFA. The lake had just been extended, hence the brown water.
Not all about fishing!
An up to date shot looking down the lake to the restaurant
Looking down from the far end of the resort
The lake is finished...or is it?!
I hope you enjoyed seeing my creation and will come and experience the resort for yourself. We will continue to maintain the resort to the high standards that I demand. Our fish continue to grow and a continual stocking policy means the fisheries future is positive. We are always looking to the future. I am proud to have some of the biggest freshwater fish in the world available for anyone to access. We have now also added a lab on site so we can test our own water quality on a regular basis to ensure our fish are swimming in the best environment that I can provide. The amount of returning guests to the resort tells me that I have achieved what I set out to do. Good luck to everyone who fishes my lake, I hope you enjoy your stay and catch the fish of your dreams...
Part Two and Beyond, Coming Soon...