Fishing The Mekong
A guide took five of us for a day of fishing on the Mekong River. We boarded around 11 o’clock and headed through a maze of waterways between the islands. The point wasn’t so much to go fishing, as it was to get out on the Mekong and see stuff and play. You remember how to play don’t you? Nothing planned and every moment becomes a new adventure with a variable outcome.
We didn’t go very far to one of the guide’s fishing holes. After we beached the boat we all got out and followed the guide down a short trail to an eddy where the current isn’t so strong and the water somewhat returns upstream in a slow moving spiral. The guide told us to be quiet because we weren’t. We watched as he ‘chummed’ the water with an ant, bug and grub mix. We watched as fish broke the surface and the guide would throw more mix in a little closer bringing the fish out of the cool depths and within range.
It was hot and there were only two poles. The guide rarely let go of his so that left only one pole to work with amongst 5 of us. I explained to my British/Spanish friends about a dear friend of mine in Alaska who I think coined the term ‘banking’. Banking involves the intension of going fishing with the freedom to sit on the bank and drink copious amounts of beer and have no pending plans for the evening. We did manage to catch fish.
Here on Don Khone there are many attractions; Irrawaddy Dolphin congregate at the south end of the island about five km down the road from the main section of a few shops, a handful of restaurants and a couple tourist agencies to help you get on your way. There a couple places to rent bikes for 10,000 kip or 2 for 15,000 kip and there are a few motorbike rentals scattered about; the roads are all dirt and puddled after a rain. Once at the south end you can pay for a boat to take you pretty much to the border and no further. On the way you will come across a bridge to Don Det, a neighboring island. Hopefully the dolphins aren’t far from the border into Cambodia, preferably on this side. There are at least three separate waterfalls with lower pools to swim. The people are very friendly and want to help you spend your money offering activities such as a full day of kayaking or fishing. Fishing usually means catch fish, have a beer and go cook the fish, all for 50,000 kip/$7.50 USD. Dinner included but beverages are not. (Such a deal).
Banking in the Mekong doesn’t necessarily mean you stay on the bank; you might be more comfortable in the water. This is not true in Alaska, the water is cold and getting seriously wet has a tendency to ruin a day of fishing and banking. Not so on the Mekong.
As day turned to night our guide ferried us back Don Khone after a great fish dinner that his wife cooked. Once home we resumed our celebration of a fine day well spent on the Mekong River.
And a universal shout out, “Travel safely and look out for each other.”
Beer goggles.
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