New Or Exotic Fishing Opportunities

Article Date: November 2003

Here at The Angling Report, we're always on the lookout for new or exotic fishing opportunities. So when we heard about an agency that was organizing trips that combine fishing with such experiences as elephant rides through the jungles of Thailand, we decided to take a closer look. The company is called Fish Quest and is operated by Scott Swanson, who ended up in the business of booking fishing trips when he started a travel adventure company in 1986 called Lost World Adventures. In addition to such things as bird watching and mountain biking trips in the Amazon, Swanson also arranged fishing trips. When he sold Lost World Adventures 10 years later, he retained the fishing part of the company and created Fish Quest. And although Swanson no longer organizes strictly adventure tours, he continues to add an element of adventure to all of his angling trips.

Two of the most exotic trips he currently offers are to Thailand and Papau New Guinea. In Thailand, the fishing is for the giant snakehead. Swanson began offering this trip earlier this year and escorted his first group there this past May. Clients fly into Bangkok, where Swanson says they recover from jet lag while fishing for Siamese carp, or by relaxing with a traditional Thai massage and a comfortable stay in a first-class hotel. For the snakehead fishing, they travel about another six hours north to Khao Laem Lake, where anglers target the giant, cobra and striped snakehead, as well as jungle perch.

Swanson says fishing for snake- head is akin to traditional bass fishing, using small boats and casting top-water baits and subsurface lures; only the result is a "horrific" top-water strike. Because these fish strike on the surface, Swanson says it is possible to fish for them with fly tackle, al........(continued)

CONTACT DETAILS FOR COMPANIES/INDIVIDUALS MENTIONED IN ARTICLE (if any)

Scott Swanson, Fish Quest. Tel. 888-891-3474, 706-896-1403. Web: www.fishquest.com