Giant Snakehead Fishing in Thailand

 
Guided Giant Snakehead fishing in Thailand. Some of the best top water lure and fly fishing in Thailand for Giant snakehead can be found in south Thailand’s large jungle lakes.

Giant Snakehead is a monstrous and powerful fish, a top predator with extremely sharp teeth and a reputation for extreme aggression when the attacking its prey. Thailand is one of the most popular destinations for Giant Snakehead fishers from the rest of the world. Snakehead anglers will tell you that once you have a big Snakehead attack your surface lure, you’ll be hooked for life! If they don’t want to eat it, they want to kill it.

There is nothing more exciting for an angler than seeing that big fish explode on your surface bait. One of the reasons to the lake, is one of the best Giant Snakehead fishing destinations in Thailand is that; the Lake was created by flooding a valley.

The old jungle in this man-made lake has created excellent habitat for the Giant Snakehead. Our Giant Snakehead fishing trips is done from long tail boats with an electric engine, which in some ways can be compared to lure fishing for Pike or Bass.

The weedy and snaggy areas of the Lake are just perfect fishing waters for top water lures; it will attack everything that comes to close. They take the lure with an incredible power and will immediately try to dive to the nearest snag or cover

When you fishing Giant Snakehead

Your casting accuracy is important, because many times it is the shorelines weed and vegetation areas that provide holding and hiding places for the Giant Snakehead, from where it can attack unsuspecting prey. It hunts baitfish, frogs and whatever it can find in the weed areas. To catch the Giant Snakehead, on top water lures is a very exciting fishing technique, because the angler see’s the strike: One moment you’re working your lure back toward the boat and the next moment it explodes like a charge of dynamite. To properly work a top water lure, cast and immediately begin your retrieve with constant cranking, it is important to have contact with the lure when it hits the water, as many times the Giant Snakehead will strike immediately. For best hooking results wait until you feel the fish before setting the hook.

The best times for Giant Snakehead fishing

Are normally, early morning and in the evening, when it is cooler than the heat around mid-day. Snakehead go to deeper water then. Generally, the Giant Snakehead we catch are from 2 kg and up. Catching trophy fish is what drives many anglers. So, you will be glad to know, that there have been caught Giant Snakehead of 11 kg in the lake. The Giant Snakehead can also be at least as quirky and difficult to outwit as they are ferocious and greedy. They are a challenge for the serious predator angler.

The Jungle Lakes Water Level

The water level often fluctuates due to seasonal draw downs. When the water starts to draw down in the dry season it is difficult for shoreline weeds and vegetation to take hold. Consequently, because of the Giant Snakehead’s preferred hunting technique, the shallow brush, logs etc. they use for cover, from where it can attack the prey disappear. At this time Giant Snakehead tend to move offshore, and stay in deeper water, in areas with submerged trees or fallen logs. Now diving lures are a better choice, you can spot the Giant Snakehead, as it is coming up to the surface to breathe, casting to seen fish, can be an incredibly exciting technique, and can give some brutal strikes.

On our Giant Snakehead fishing trips you are also likely to catch the hard-fighting Hampala Barb also called Jungle Perch. The Lake has one of the largest populations of Barb in Thailand. These fish provide good action; you can often spot big shoals as they press shoals of bait fish to the surface when they are feeding. The Hampala Barb is a powerful a hungry predator and will take most lures that are cast to it.

Giant Snakehead Lure Fishing Equipment

When booking a guided Giant Snakehead fishing trip with Thai Fishing, all lure fishing equipment is included. We only use high quality fishing gear but you are obviously welcome to use your own fishing equipment if you prefer to do so. We have chosen to write exactly what equipment we provide so you can see the quality of the fishing equipment, we provide, free of charge:

Our fishing rods are manufactured on G. Loomis and Ocean Beast blanks. Reels: Shimano Biomaster and Stradic spinning reels loaded with Power Pro braided line. We have a huge selection of lures, Rapala wobblers and spoons and surface lures. All lures is assembled with Owner Hyper wire split rings, Owner ST-66-TN-4X treble hook, or VMC 8626-3X treble hook. Surface lures is assembled with Owner Double 3X hooks

Giant Snakehead Fly Fishing

Fly fishing for Giant Snakehead is an adrenaline-pumping angling experience that combines the excitement of fly fishing, with the challenge of targeting a formidable predator. The thrill of landing one of these hard-fighting fish on a fly is a reward like no other. Making them a highly sought-after catch for passionate fly anglers.

There are different ways to target Snakehead on fly, and they are a great fly-fishing species, as you can often sight-fish for them. The best and maybe also the most exciting way, is when they have fry (baby fish) in tow. Giant Snakehead are a predatory fish species, that become very aggressive and territorial when they are guarding their fry, also called “fry balls.” During this time, around July/September, both parents guard their fry, with a very aggressive strike behavior towards potential threats.

In the morning hours, you can sight-cast to cruising fish. As they leave the shallow water, to move into the depths, during the hottest time of the day. In the afternoon, it is the other way around, they come from deep water to the shallow water to hunt. Another way is casting to free-rising Snakehead when they come to the surface to breathe air. In all the methods above, speed and accurate casting are extremely important. Searching by blind casting in all the likely areas can give fish but is usually not the most efficient way.

Fly Fishing Equipment

To tackle Giant Snakehead by fly fishing successfully, it’s crucial to have the right fly tackle. A 9 ft fast action 8 to 9-weight fly rod and reel combo, will provide the strength and backbone. Which is required to handle the powerful strikes, and fierce battles with these fish. For most situations, the fly line needs to be an aggressive taper floating line to turn over the big flies. The fly leader setup for Snakeheads we like to use is a 6 ft leader, with a powerful butt section, tapered down to about 25 lbs. extended with 1-2 ft of something like Rio’s 40 lbs. Powerflex wire bite tippet, which works great and is easy to work with. Another thing you will need to remember, to successfully fly fish for Snakehead is the “strip set.”

GIANT SNAKEHEAD FISHING PACKAGE

What is Included in the Price:
– Round trip transfer from Phuket, Krabi or Surat Thani Airport area or from any hotel in Khao Lak, Ao Nang or Krabi town.
– Accommodation in our lake bungalows (bed linen provided free of charge)
– Three meals per day.
– Use of longtail boats. (With an electric engine)
– All lure fishing equipment (although you may bring your own equipment if you wish)
– All flies for Snakehead fly fishing
– Professional local Thai fishing guide (they are NOT fly fisherman)
– Bottled water, soft drinks, tea, coffee and fruit snacks

Not Included in the Package:
– International or Domestic airfare to Phuket, Thailand
– Alcoholic drinks (if you need, it must be bought before we leave the pier)

What to Bring on your Giant Snakehead fishing trip:
– Sunglasses (we recommend Polaroid)
– Sun block
– Towels
– Fishing hat
– Lightweight waterproof clothing
– Camera and your very best smile
– If you fly fish, you need to bring Fly rod, reel, line, leader and wire bite tippet

Peak season for Giant Snakehead fishing: July – December.
We recommend that your fishing trip takes up a minimum of three days because of the travel time to this locations.

 
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With our Giant Snakehead fishing trips there really are no hidden extras. The price quoted above includes all taxes, all lure fishing equipment, food, accommodation and transport (excluding flights into Phuket).