The announcement of the trip, the route
On 16th March afternoon, my friend and many years senior in the hobby, Madan Subramanium of Bangalore came out with a collection trip plan. Something we were all expecting and looking forward to. This time it was going to be big. No collection trip of this magnitude has ever happened on India soil before. By this magnitude, I mean, a 15 member team, 5 cars, 3 days 2 nights and 1000+ kms of hard core collection.
It was obviously very rigorous and we had covered nealy 50-60 sites for collection. Good to see was every one of us was ready for the ordeal with high level of interest.
The route for the trip was decided to be,
Check the Map for the location
http://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/karnataka/karnatakaphysical.jpg
10th Friday April 2009
Departure Bangalore : Yeshwantpur Metro 0500 Hrs
drive straight to Shimoga and save time. Quick Lunch at Shimoga.
Post Lunch: Shimoga - Manddagadde, Tirthahalli - Habitat study and collection trip begins from this stretch.
Night halt at Tirthahalli.
11th Saturday April 2009
Departure Tirthahalli 0500 Hrs
Tirthahalli - Koppa- Sringeri – Kudremukh* - Koppa – Tirthahalli
*We will be passing through Kudremukh National Park - absolutely no fish catching in the park. We are actually not allowed to even STOP our vehicles when in the park. Time to drive through the park is limited, clocked and verified by the Forest Dept.
Night halt at Tirthahalli
12th Sunday April 2009
Departure Tirthahalli 0500
Tirthahalli - Nagar - Hosanagara - Riponpet - Shimoga - Bangalore
Accomodation at Tirthahalli on both days, ie., 10th and 11th Nights.
Rules, rules and more rules
Well, in collection trip like these there are some rules which has to be adhered to very very strictly to make it a smooth affair. So that, you can accommodate all the spots with some time in hand, you do not have any major health issues etc etc.
The Basic rules that we follow in these collection trip are;
No diversions for tourist spots.
On Time Departures always.
Late comers catch up on the road.
Food as available and when available on the road.
Do not attempt to carry back all the fish you see. If you don't have tanks setup and ready back at home to accommodate the fish when you arrive, don't carry back any fish with you.
These trips are of real fatigue - if at any time, any one wants to break off they are welcomed to do so, collection trip takes priority over all else.
Passengers liaise with car owners for pick location, time, what to carry etc.
How we keep our fish alive
We diligently follow instructions on the trip. Assign one "water changer" per car.
Fish can be kept alive with zero mortality by following instructions strictly. There is no substitute to hardwork.
Things each car carry
Fish nets, Hand nets, Fish bags, Rubber bands, Small 3 liter bucket, Styrofoam boxes, Mug.
Plenty of Drinking water. Snacks. Umbrella, Hand towels, Towels, Dark glasses, Head gear, First AId Kit.
Car Papers and Insurance docs, Driving License. ID card. CASH.
Clothes to carry
Only comfortable clothes. Only cottons. Shorts and T- shirts are the thumb rule.
Plenty of extra inner wear. You will need it.
Proper water proof footwear. Keds/canvas shoes or strap ons.
Keep handy
Always carry a one liter bottle of drinking water by your side. Dehydration is always very high.
If you have delicate skin, get lotions for it. Make sure you use the lotion only when you are not handling the fish or getting into water.
Know your limits.
Model Code of Conduct
1. Prone to car sickness ?, take an Avomin tablet one hour before the trip starts.
2. No booze during the day. Smoking is as per the car owners discretion.
3. Food is last priority, carry food if you want meals on time. Eat same on the drive, no special stoppages.
4. Don't spare anyone, sarcasm & wit rule ! Take & Give back all that you get all day long. No hard feelings at the end of the day.
5. Don't sit with wet clothes on the car seat. Carry a large plastic sheet with you.
6. Do not step bare foot into water. Carry chappals if you are coming in shoes.
Following these simple yet mandatory rules we have managed to have the most satisfying trips while managing to bring back and rejuvenate almost 100% of wild caught live stock.
You can see the tour pictures
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#Album.aspx?uid=3890438703860345209&aid=1239971381
Hope this helps all you guys. If it helps you, please drop a comment.
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