"I listened intently to Jean-Francois' advice ".......ze Arapaima come into ze margins to feed on Tilapia. Zey lay very close to ze bank in ambush, usually almost motionless. You must stalk zem with great stealth watching for any small give away signs. Cast just beyond ze tail and slowly, slowly retrieve your lure down ze length of ze fish's body and as it passes ze 'ead, it will grab eet..........easy!" He forgot to mention the last bit about hanging on as the violent gyrations feel like your arm is about to be torn from your body.
I spotted movement in the far bank and hastily formed a mental picture of the long fish, making my way carefully to the corner of the lake where I could make a cast parallel with bankside. That first important cast was very respectable as the floating shallow-diving lure landed one metre beyond the Arapaima's tail.....so far so good.......I then commenced the slow retrieve down the length of the body, so calmly and expertly described by Jean-Francois.
.......Imagine my surprise when the tail immediately turned and devoured my lure with great gusto !.... I was confused, either Francois had failed to explain that these fish were arse-feeders or my mental picture was fundamentally flawed.
The chaos which ensued was spectacular as the thrashing brute sent spray in all directions in it's numerous attempts to get up speed and airborne. Great fun. This wonderful creature proved to be one of the smaller specimens around 25 kg and actually escaped from the holding pen before being photographed. I needn't have worried, more were to follow......"
Richard J. Pike, Pattaya, Thailand
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